literacy not available (1977 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
Data code: FP
Type of government: overseas territory of France since 1946
Capital: Papeete
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel
des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du
Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
Polynesia
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: based on French system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995); represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul
RONCIERE (since 8 August 1994) who was appointed by the French
Ministry of Interior
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of
French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of
the Territorial Assembly Tinomana EBB (since NA)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers
Legislative branch: unicameral
Territorial Assembly: elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to be
held NA March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(41 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian
Union Party 12, New Fatherland Party 7, other 4
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) party NA
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993
(next to be held NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; Court of the First Instance;
Court of Administrative Law
Political parties and leaders: People's Rally for the Republic
(Tahoeraa Huiraatira), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party
(includes Te Tiarama and Here Ai'a Party), Jean JUVENTIN; New
Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Independent Party (Ia
Mana Te Nunaa), Jacques DROLLET; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa, Tinomana EBB;
Haere i Mua, Alexandre LEONTIEFF; other small parties
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,
ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of
France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band;
centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave
pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the
upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave
pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military
personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a
subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work
force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist
industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary
source of hard currency earnings. The territory will continue to
benefit from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France
aimed principally at creating new jobs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.76 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $8,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)
Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988)
by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1992
est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $686 million
expenditures: $884 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1989)
Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 75,000 kW
production: 334 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,189 kWh (1994)
Agriculture: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef,
dairy products
Exports: $230 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: cultured pearls 41.6%, coconut products,
mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1992)
partners: France 34%, US 10% (1992)
Imports: $912 million (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
partners: ECE 64% (France 45.4%), US 13.6%, Australia 6.9%, NZ 5.8%,
Japan 5% (1992)
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96
(1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 792 km
paved: 792 km (1995 est.)
Ports: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWT
ships by type: passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 41
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 5
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13
with paved runways under 914 m: 15
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 33,200 (1983 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 116,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6
Televisions: 35,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),
Gendarmerie
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@French Southern and Antarctic Lands
-----------------------------------
(overseas territory of France)
Map
---
Location: 43 00 S, 67 00 E -- Southern Africa, islands in the
southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica,
and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands includes
Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in
the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of
Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French
claim to "Adelie Land"
Flag
----
Description: the flag of France is used
Geography
---------
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean,
about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note -
French Southern and Antarctic Lands includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile
Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian
Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie
Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
Geographic coordinates: 43 00 S, 67 00 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:
total area: 7,781 sq km
land area: 7,781 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
note: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles
Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in
Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,232 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not
recognized by the US
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources: fish, crayfish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct
volcanoes
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: remote location in the southern Indian Ocean
People
------
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there were 145
(1995) mostly researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to
summer (January)
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and
Antarctic Lands
conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Francaises
local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Data code: FS
Type of government: overseas territory of France since 1955;
governed by High Administrator Christian DORS (since 4 December 1991)
Capital: none; administered from Paris, France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles
Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land"
claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing
meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and
other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by
foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.
Budget:
revenues: $22.6 million
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Transportation
--------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,133,942 GRT/3,617,863
DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 7, container 10,
liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil
tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13,
specialized tanker 1
note: a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships to
operate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations than
permissable under the main French register (1995 est.)
Airports: none (1994 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@Gabon
-----
Map
---
Location: 1 00 S, 11 45 E -- Western Africa, bordering the
Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow,
and blue
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the
Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 267,670 sq km
land area: 257,670 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea
350 km
Coastline: 885 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial
Guinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and
south
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber,
iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 18%
forest and woodland: 78%
other: 2%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: deforestation; poaching
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
People
------
Population: 1,172,798 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 197,188; female 196,562)
15-64 years: 61% (male 364,033; female 353,451)
65 years and over: 5% (male 30,270; female 31,294) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.47% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 28.22 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 90.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 55.59 years
male: 52.72 years
female: 58.56 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic divisions: Bantu tribes including four major tribal
groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and
Europeans 100,000, including 27,000 French
Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke,
Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon
Data code: GB
Type of government: republic; multiparty presidential regime
(opposition parties legalized 1990)
Capital: Libreville
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,
Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,
Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese
Democratic Party established)
Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law;
judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the
Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage on 5 December
1993 (next election to be held 1998); results - President Omar BONGO
received 51% of the vote
head of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9
December 1994) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
Legislative branch: unicameral; note - the provision of the
constitution for the establishment of a senate has not been
implemented
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5
December 1993 (next to be held by July 1996, according to the
October 1994 Paris Accords; however, President BONGO has indicated
that date might slip); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats
- (120 total) PDG 64, National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks
(Morena-Bucherons/RNB) 17, PGP 12, National Recovery Movement
(Morena-Original) 2, PUP 4, CLR 1, FAR 4, UPG 1, independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG,
former sole party), Simplice Guedet MANZELA, secretary general;
Circle of Liberal Reformers (CLR), General Jean Boniface ASSELE;
People's Unity Party (PUP), Louis Gaston MAYILA; Gabonese Socialist
Union (USG), Dr. Serge Mba BEKALE; National Recovery Movement -
Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE; Gabonese
Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE, president;
National Recovery Movement (Morena-Origina), note - this party won 2
seats in the 5 December 1993 elections for the National Assembly but
is no longer very active; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre
Louis AGONDJO OKAWE; African Forum for Reconstruction (FAR), Leon
MBOU-YEMBI, secretary general; Gabonese People's Union (UPG), Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,
CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elizabeth RASPOLIC
embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic
problems, Gabon enjoys a per capita income more than three times
that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber
and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.
The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth has been
feeble since 1992 and Gabon continues to face the problem of
fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium
exports. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable
rate of population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal
management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and
Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a
cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private
creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12
January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate
dropped to 15% in 1995. Nevertheless, the government must continue
to keep a tight rein on spending and wage increases. The IMF and
France are considering offering financial assistance in 1996 if
Gabon shows progress in privatization and fiscal discipline.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 44.7%
services: 47.1% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 120,000 salaried
by occupation: agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%,
services 2.5%, government 2.5%
Unemployment rate: 10%-14% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.3 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311
million (1993 est.)
Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood;
cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and
gold mining; chemicals; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: -3% (1991)
Electricity:
capacity: 315,000 kW
production: 910 million kWh
consumption per capita: 757 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil; rubber; okoume (a
tropical softwood); cattle; small fishing operations (provide a
catch of about 20,000 metric tons)
Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: crude oil 80%, timber 14%, manganese 6%, uranium
partners: US 50%, France 16%, Japan 8%, Spain 6%, Germany NA (1994
est.)
Imports: $800 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products,
construction materials, manufactures, machinery
partners: France 35%, African countries, US, Japan, Netherlands
(1994)
External debt: $3.8 billion (1993 )
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $75 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January
1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),
282.11 (1991)
note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF
100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since
1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 649 km Gabon State Railways (OCTRA)
standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)
Highways:
total: 7,456 km
paved: 560 km
unpaved: 6,896 km (1988 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports: Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo,
Port-Gentil
Merchant marine:
total: 3 bulk (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,976 GRT/60,319 DWT
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 54
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 7
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 21
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 8
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 15 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 22,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,
tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a
domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 250,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (repeaters 5)
Televisions: 40,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National
Gendarmerie, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 273,662
males fit for military service: 139,439
males reach military age (20) annually: 10,966 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $154 million,
2.4% of GDP (1993)
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip
----------
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996.
Map
---
Location: 31 25 N, 34 20 E -- Middle East, bordering the
Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel
Geography
---------
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Israel
Geographic coordinates: 31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 360 sq km
land area: 360 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline: 40 km
Maritime claims: Israeli occupied with current status subject to
the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be
determined through further negotiation
International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli
occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through
further negotiation
Climate: temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain: flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 13%
permanent crops: 32%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 55%
Irrigated land: 115 sq km (1992 est.)