domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form
trunk network
international: 19 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations
- 7 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
Regions); note - Denmark shares the Inmarsat earth station with the
other Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 2.04 million (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air
Force, Home Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,338,791
males fit for military service: 1,150,996
males reach military age (20) annually: 34,324 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion,
1.8% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Djibouti
--------
Map
---
Location: 11 30 N, 43 00 E -- Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf
of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Flag
----
Description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and
light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bearing a red five-pointed star in the center
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red
Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 22,000 sq km
land area: 21,980 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts
Land boundaries:
total: 508 km
border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
lowest point: Asal -155 m
highest point: Mousa Alli 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 9%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 91%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification
natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic
disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but not
ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping
lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into
Ethiopia; a vast wasteland
People
------
Population: 427,642 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 91,687; female 91,242)
15-64 years: 55% (male 123,699; female 110,530)
65 years and over: 2% (male 5,389; female 5,095) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.5% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 106.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 50.15 years
male: 48.24 years
female: 52.12 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic divisions: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian,
and Italian 5%
Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 46.2%
male: 60.3%
female: 32.7%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Data code: DJ
Type of government: republic
Capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular -
cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4
September 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional
practices, and Islamic law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June
1977); election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);
results - President HASSAN GOULED reelected to a six-year term by
universal suffrage
head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30
September 1978)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is responsible to the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes): elections last held 18
December 1992; results - RPP (the ruling party) dominated; seats -
(65 total) RPP 65
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: People's Progress Assembly (RPP), Hassan GOULED Aptidon
other parties: Democratic Renewal Party (PRD), Mohamed Jama ELABE;
Democratic National Party (PND), ADEN Robleh Awaleh
Other political or pressure groups: Front for the Restoration of
Unity and Democracy (FRUD) and affiliates; Movement for Unity and
Democracy (MUD)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,
AL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,
ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Martin L. CHESHES
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light
green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
bearing a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy is based on service activities
connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free
trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live
in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders.
Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and
most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a
transit port for the region and an international transshipment and
refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry.
The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance
(an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of
payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate
of over 30% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption
dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of
recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including
immigrants and refugees).
GDP: purchasing power parity - $500 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -3% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,200 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 21%
services: 76% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1993 est.)
Labor force: 282,000
by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991
est.)
Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $164 million
expenditures: $201 million, including capital expenditures of $16
million (1993 est.)
Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as
dairy products and mineral-water bottling
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 90,000 kW
production: 170 million kWh
consumption per capita: 398 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports: $184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
partners: Somalia 48%, Yemen 42%
Imports: $384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals,
petroleum products
partners: France, UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea
External debt: $227 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed
rate since 1973)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 2,879 km
paved: 363 km
unpaved: 2,516 km (1991 est.)
Ports: Djibouti
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 11
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 7,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are
adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying
areas of the country
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: submarine cable to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth
stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 17,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force),
National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite), National
Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 102,528
males fit for military service: 60,076 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $26 million, NA%
of GDP (1989)
======================================================================
@Dominica
--------
Map
---
Location: 13 30 N, 61 20 W -- Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the
way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Flag
----
Description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands -
the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the
horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in
the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot
encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10
stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Geography
---------
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to
Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 750 sq km
land area: 750 sq km
comparative area: more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy
rainfall
Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber
Land use:
arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 13%
meadows and pastures: 3%
forest and woodland: 41%
other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive
hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Whaling
People
------
Population: 82,926 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28% (male 11,986; female 11,521)
15-64 years: 64% (male 27,206; female 25,841)
65 years and over: 8% (male 2,608; female 3,764) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 18.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.32 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.55 years
female: 80.4 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.93 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic divisions: black, Carib Indians
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%,
Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%),
none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica
Data code: DO
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Roseau
Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,
Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,
Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution: 3 November 1978
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October
1993) was elected for a five-year term by the House of Assembly;
election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998);
results - percent of vote NA
head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June
1995); prime minister is appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held
by October 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (30
total; 9 appointed senators and 21 elected representatives) UWP 11,
DLP 5, DFP 5
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa
Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside
over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party (DFP), Brian
ALLEYNE; Dominica Labor Party (DLP), Rosie DOUGLAS; United Workers
Party (UWP), Edison JAMES
Other political or pressure groups: Dominica Liberation Movement
(DLM), a small leftist group
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom,
CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: Dominica does not have an embassy
in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown
(Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica
Flag: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the
vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the
horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in
the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot
encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10
stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and
thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions. Agriculture
accounts for 26% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force.
Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the
rugged coastline and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane
Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995;
tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as
well. The newly elected government is attempting to develop an
offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's
production base.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $200 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,450 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 26%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.4% (1995)
Labor force: 25,000
by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services
28% (1984)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $80 million
expenditures: $95.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY95/96 est.)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement
blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 7,000 kW
production: 30 million kWh
consumption per capita: 347 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts;
forestry and fisheries potential not exploited
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US
and Europe; minor cannabis producer
Exports: $48.3 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
partners: UK 55%, Caricom countries, Italy, US
Imports: $98.8 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food,
chemicals
partners: US 25%, Caricom, UK, Japan, Canada
External debt: $92.8 million (1992)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70
(fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 800 km
paved: 500 km
unpaved: 300 km
Ports: Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 14,613 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: fully automatic network
international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to
Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint
Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 45,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 cable
Televisions: 5,200 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Dominican Republic
------------------
Map
---
Location: 19 00 N, 70 40 W -- Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the
island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Flag
----
Description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges,
divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist
side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a
small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
Geography
---------
Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of
Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean,
east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 48,730 sq km
land area: 48,380 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries:
total: 275 km
border country: Haiti 275 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 6 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation;
seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys
interspersed
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land: 23%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 43%
forest and woodland: 13%
other: 14%
Irrigated land: 2,250 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages
coral reefs; deforestation
natural hazards: occasional hurricanes (July to October)
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Law of the Sea
Geographic note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern
two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
People
------
Population: 8,088,881 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 1,401,322; female 1,355,530)
15-64 years: 62% (male 2,541,356; female 2,460,509)
65 years and over: 4% (male 156,238; female 173,926) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.73% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23.51 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.53 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: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.06 years
male: 66.89 years
female: 71.34 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.66 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican
Ethnic divisions: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 82.1%
male: 82%
female: 82.2%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: none
Data code: DR
Type of government: republic
Capital: Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona,
Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo,
Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La
Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte
Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez
Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago,
Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution: 28 November 1966
Legal system: based on French civil codes
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married
persons regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President Joaquin BALAGUER
Ricardo (since 16 August 1986, sixth elected term began 16 August
1994); Vice President Jacinto PEYNADO Garrigoza (since 16 August
1994); president is elected for a four-year term by direct vote;
election last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held 16 May 1996);
results - Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 42.6%, Juan BOSCH Gavino (PLD)
13.2%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 41.9%, Jacobo MAJLUTA (PRI)
2.3%
cabinet: Cabinet was nominated by the president