chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Saleh AHMAT
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Laurence E. POPE II
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09, (51) 90-52, (51) 92-33
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54
Flag: 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
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Climate, geographic remoteness, poor resource
endowment, and lack of infrastructure make Chad one of the most
underdeveloped countries in the world. Its economy is hobbled by
political turmoil, drought, and food shortages. Consequently the
economy has shown little progress in recent years in overcoming a
severe setback brought on by civil war in the late 1980s. More than
80% of the work force is involved in subsistence farming and
fishing. Cotton is the major cash crop, accounting for at least half
of exports. Chad is highly dependent on foreign aid, especially food
credits, given chronic shortages in several regions. Of all the
Francophone countries in Africa, Chad has benefited the least from
the 50% devaluation of their currencies on 12 January 1994. Despite
an increase in external financial aid and favorable price increases
for cotton - the primary source of foreign exchange - the corrupt
and enfeebled government bureaucracy continues to postpone payment
of public sector salaries and to dampen economic enterprise by
neglecting payments to domestic suppliers. The devaluation resulted
in stepped-up inflation of 41% in 1994; in contrast to other
Francophone countries, Chad continued to suffer high inflation in
1995 because of the government's lack of financial discipline. Oil
production in the Lake Chad area remains a distant prospect and the
subsistence-driven economy probably will continue to limp along in
the near term.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $600 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 49%
industry: 17%
services: 34%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 41% (1994 est.)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and
fishing)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $120 million
expenditures: $363 million, including capital expenditures of $104
million (1992 est.)
Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron
(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 40,000 kW
production: 80 million kWh
consumption per capita: 13 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes,
manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports: $132 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles, fish
partners: France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Sudan, Central African
Republic
Imports: $201 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 39%, industrial
goods 20%, petroleum products 13%, foodstuffs 9%; textiles; note -
excludes military equipment
partners: US, France, Nigeria, Cameroon, Italy, Germany
External debt: $757 million (December 1993 )
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: 31,141 km
paved: 32 km
unpaved: 31,109 km (1987 est.)
Waterways: 2,000 km navigable
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 47
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 11
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 18 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 5,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1987 est.)
note: limited TV service; many facilities are inoperative
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, Air Force, and
Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,562,052
males fit for military service: 809,210
males reach military age (20) annually: 63,254 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $74 million,
11.1% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Chile
-----
Map
---
Location: 30 00 S, 71 00 W -- Southern South America, bordering
the South Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina
and Peru
Flag
----
Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red;
there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the
hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white
five-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag
Geography
---------
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic
Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total area: 756,950 sq km
land area: 748,800 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
note: includes Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Land boundaries:
total: 6,171 km
border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: short section of the southern boundary
with Argentina is indefinite; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign
corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost
to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights;
territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory)
partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged
Andes in east
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious
metals, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 16%
forest and woodland: 21%
other: 56%
Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss
of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification
natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: strategic location relative to sea lanes between
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,
Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People
------
Population: 14,333,258 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 2,071,816; female 2,041,417)
15-64 years: 65% (male 4,599,173; female 4,651,030)
65 years and over: 6% (male 403,019; female 566,803) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.24% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 18.09 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.68 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.49 years
male: 71.26 years
female: 77.72 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean
Ethnic divisions: European and European-Indian 95%, Indian 3%,
other 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 95.2%
male: 95.4%
female: 95%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile
Data code: CI
Type of government: republic
Capital: Santiago
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular -
region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta,
Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo
O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule,
Region Metropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended
30 July 1989
Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and
subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Eduardo FREI
Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March 1994) elected for a four-year term by
popular vote; election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held
NA December 1997); results - Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%,
Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%, other 17.6%
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
Senate (Senado): election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be
held NA December 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (46 total, 38 elected) Coalition of Parties for Democracy 21 (PDC
13, PS 4, PPD 3, PR 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 15 (RN 11,
UDI 3, UCC 1), right-wing independents 10
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados): election last held 11
December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1997); results -
Coalition of Parties for Democracy 53.95% (PDC 27.16%, PS 12.01%,
PPD 11.82%, PR 2.96%), Union for the Progress of Chile 30.57% (RN
15.25%, UDI 12.13%, UCC 3.19%); seats - (120 total) Coalition of
Parties for Democracy 70 (PDC 37, PPD 15, PR 2, PS 15, left-wing
independent 1), Union for the Progress of Chile 47 (RN 30, UDI 15,
UCC 2), right-wing independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are
appointed by the president, the president of the Supreme Court is
elected by the 17-member court
Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy
(CPD) consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party (PDC),
Alejandro FOXLEY; Socialist Party (PS), Camilo ESCALONA; Party for
Democracy (PPD), Jorge SCHAULSOHN, Radical Party (PR); Union for the
Progress of Chile (UPP) consists mainly of three parties: National
Renewal (RN), Andres ALLAMAND; Independent Democratic Union (UDI),
Jovino NOVOA; Center Center Union (UCCP), Francisco Javier ERRAZURIZ
Other political or pressure groups: revitalized university student
federations at all major universities; labor - United Labor Central
(CUT) includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor
confederations; Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,
G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate member), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA,
RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador John BIEHL del Rio
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gabriel GUERRA-MONDRAGON
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiago
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is
a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side
end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in
the center; design was based on the US flag
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market
economy, with the degree of government intervention varying
according to the philosophy of the different regimes. Under the
center-left government of President AYLWIN, which took power in
March 1990, spending on social welfare rose steadily. At the same
time business investment, exports, and consumer spending also grew
substantially. The new president, FREI, who took office in March
1994, has emphasized social spending even more. Growth in real GDP
in 1991-95 has averaged more than 6.5% annually, with an estimated
one million Chileans having moved out of poverty in the last four
years. Copper remains vital to the health of the economy; Chile is
the world's largest producer and exporter of copper. Success in
meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of
5% depends on world copper prices, the level of confidence of
foreign investors and creditors, and the government's own ability to
maintain a conservative fiscal stance.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $113.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 8.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $8,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 36.4%
services: 56.2% (1985)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.1% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 4.728 million
by occupation: services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry
and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining
2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 5.4% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $17 billion
expenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing,
iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement,
textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 4.3% (1993 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 4,810,000 kW
production: 22 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 1,499 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes,
fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; 1991 fish catch of 6.6 million
metric tons
Illicit drugs: a minor transshipment country for cocaine destined
for the US and Europe; booming economy has made it more attractive
to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits
Exports: $15.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: copper 41%, other metals and minerals 8.7%, wood
products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1991)
partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20% (1995 est.)
Imports: $14.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, raw materials
15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7%
partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26% (1995 est.)
External debt: $21.1 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $62 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1 - 408.64 (December
1995), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994), 404.35 (1993), 362.59 (1992),
349.37 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 6,782 km
broad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 km
electrified) (1995)
Highways:
total: 79,593 km
paved: 10,984 km
unpaved: 68,609 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 725 km
Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; natural
gas 320 km
Ports: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanarol, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto
Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:
total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 529,512 GRT/925,364 DWT
ships by type: bulk 11, cargo 8, chemical tanker 4, combination
ore/oil 2, container 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 4,
roll-on/roll-off cargo 3, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 344
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 17
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 16
with paved runways under 914 m: 220
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 68 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 1.5 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave radio
relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite
system with 3 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 159, FM 0, shortwave 11
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 131
Televisions: 2.85 million (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes Naval Air,
Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation, Carabineros of
Chile (National Police), Investigations Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 3,808,655
males fit for military service: 2,832,198
males reach military age (19) annually: 123,443 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $970 million,
2.0% of GDP (1994 est.)
======================================================================
@China
-----
(also see separate Taiwan entry)
Map
---
Location: 35 00 N, 105 00 E -- Eastern Asia, bordering the East
China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North
Korea and Vietnam
Flag
----
Description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four
smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward
the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,
Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total area: 9,596,960 sq km
land area: 9,326,410 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries:
total: 22,143.34 km
border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,
Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakstan 1,533 km, North Korea
1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia
4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605
km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
Coastline: 14,500 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: claim to shallow areas of East China Sea and
Yellow Sea
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: boundary with India in dispute; disputed
sections of the boundary with Russia remain to be settled; boundary
with Tajikistan in dispute; short section of the boundary with North
Korea is indefinite; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly
Islands with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; maritime boundary dispute with Vietnam in the Gulf of
Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam
and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku
Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does Taiwan
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains,
deltas, and hills in east
lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, mercury, tin,
tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite,
aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 31%
forest and woodland: 14%
other: 45%
Irrigated land: 478,220 sq km (1991)
Environment:
current issues: air pollution from the overwhelming use of
high-sulfur coal as a fuel, produces acid rain which is damaging
forests; water shortages experienced throughout the country,
particularly in urban areas; future growth in water usage threatens
to outpace supplies; water pollution from industrial effluents; much
of the population does not have access to potable water; less than
10% of sewage receives treatment; deforestation; estimated loss of
one-fifth of agricultural land since 1957 to soil erosion and
economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species
natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along
southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis;
earthquakes; droughts
international agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: world's third-largest country (after Russia and
Canada)
People
------
Population: 1,210,004,956 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 167,448,148; female 151,601,650)
15-64 years: 67% (male 421,455,418; female 393,913,510)
65 years and over: 7% (male 35,056,409; female 40,529,821) (July
1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.98% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 17.01 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.11 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 39.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.62 years
male: 68.33 years
female: 71.06 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese
Ethnic divisions: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi,
Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities
8.1%
Religions: Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1%
(est.)
note: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the
Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei
(Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects,
minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 81.5%
male: 89.9%
female: 72.7%
Government
----------