current issues: NA
natural hazards: lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season
lasts from June to November
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Geographic note: the administration of the islands of the
Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
and Grenada
People
------
Population: 94,961 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 20,975; female 20,246)
15-64 years: 52% (male 26,089; female 23,068)
65 years and over: 5% (male 2,112; female 2,471) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.55% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 29.13 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.74 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -17.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.89 years
male: 68.39 years
female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.78 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic divisions: black African
Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican, other Protestant sects
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada
Data code: GJ
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint George's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou
and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George,
Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Independence: 7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution: 19 December 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a
hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Reginald
Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June
1995) was appointed from members of the House of Assembly by the
governor general
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government
and three by the leader of the opposition
House of Representatives: elections last held on 20 June 1995 (next
to be held by NA October 2000); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (15 total) NDC 5, GULP 2, NNP 8
Judicial branch: West Indies Associate States Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress (NDC),
George BRIZAN; Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY;
The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES; New National Party (NNP), Keith
MITCHELL; Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence
MARRYSHOW; New Democratic Party (NDP), James MITCHELL; Unity Labor
Party (ULP), Vincent BEACHE
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,
OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Denneth MODESTE
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to
Grenada; Charge d'Affaires Dennis CARTER
embassy: Point Salines, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I.
telephone: [1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178
FAX: [1] (809) 444-4820
Flag: a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top
and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a
red border around the flag; there are seven yellow five-pointed
stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in
the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the
center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the
hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer
of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven
administrative divisions
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy is essentially agricultural and
centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants.
Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and 80% of exports and
employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign
exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports. Manufacturing
remains relatively undeveloped, but is growing due to a favorable
private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an
impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has
slowed since 1992. The new MITCHELL government has moved forward
with a plan to eliminate personal income tax in the hope of spurring
domestic consumption.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $284 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 40.3%
services: 49.5% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 36,000
by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%,
manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $75.7 million (1996 est.)
expenditures: $126.7 million, including capital expenditures of $51
million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and beverages, textiles, light assembly
operations, tourism, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 12,500 kW
production: 60 million kWh
consumption per capita: 639 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root
crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Illicit drugs: produces and exports marijuana for US markets
Exports: $24.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing,
mace
partners: Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)
Imports: $162.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%,
chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
partners: US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)
External debt: $89.1 million (1995 est.)
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: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 994 km
paved: 597 km
unpaved: 397 km (1988 est.)
Ports: Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 3
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 5,650 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: automatic, islandwide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago
and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 80,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 30,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Guadeloupe
----------
(overseas department of France)
Map
---
Location: 16 15 N, 61 35 W -- Caribbean, islands in the eastern
Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico
Flag
----
Description: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a
wide red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are
separated from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a
five-pointed gold star is centered in the red band toward the hoist
side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Geography
---------
Location: Caribbean, islands in the eastern Caribbean Sea,
southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area: 1,780 sq km
land area: 1,706 sq km
comparative area: 10 times the size of Washington, DC
note: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, of
which Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, and Marie-Galante are the three
largest
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high
humidity
Terrain: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grand-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven
other islands are volcanic in origin
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,467 m
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that
foster tourism
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 5%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 40%
other: 24%
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: hurricanes (June to October); La Soufriere is an
active volcano
international agreements: NA
People
------
Population: 407,768 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26% (male 53,118; female 51,219)
15-64 years: 66% (male 132,846; female 136,147)
65 years and over: 8% (male 14,617; female 19,821) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.2% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 17.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.59 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 77.4 years
male: 74.37 years
female: 80.58 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian,
Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%,
Protestant sects 1%
Languages: French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982 est.)
total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
local short form: Guadeloupe
Data code: GP
Type of government: overseas department of France
Capital: Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Michel DIEFENBACHER (since NA March
1995), who was appointed by the French Ministry of Interior
head of government: President of the General Council Dominique
LARIFLA (since NA); President of the Regional Council Lucette
MICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and unicameral
Regional Council
General Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held
by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (43
total) FRUI.G 13, RPR/DUD 13, PPDG 8, FGPS 3, PCG 3, UPLG 1, PSG 1,
independent 1
Regional Council: elections last held 31 January 1994 (next to be
held by 16 March 1998); results - RPR/FGPS-dissadents 48.30%, FGPS
17.09%, FRUI.G 7.44%, PPDG 8.90%, UPLG 7.75% PCG 6.05%; seats - (41
total) RPR/FGPS-dissadents 22, FGPS/FRUI.G 9, PPDG 5, PCG 3, UPLG 2
French Senate: elections last held in September 1995 (next to be
held NA September 2004); Guadeloupe elects two representatives;
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PPDG 1,
FGPS 1
French National Assembly: elections last held on 21 and 28 March
1993 (next to be held NA March 1998); Guadeloupe elects four
representatives; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (4
total) FGPS 1, RPR 1, PPDG 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel) with jurisdiction
over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR),
Daniel BEAUBRUN; Communist Party of Guadeloupe (PCG), Christian
Medard CELESTE; Socialist Party (FGPS), Georges LOUISOR; Popular
Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), Claude MAKOUKE; FGPS
Dissidents (FRUI.G), Dominique LARIFLA; Union for French Democracy
(UDF), Marcel ESDRAS; Progressive Democratic Party (PPDG), Henri
BANGOU
Other political or pressure groups: Movement for Independent
Guadeloupe (MPGI); General Union of Guadeloupe Workers (UGTG);
General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers (CGT-G); Christian Movement
for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (KLPG)
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of
France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
Flag: three horizontal bands, a narrow green band (top), a wide
red band, and a narrow green band; the green bands are separated
from the red band by two narrow white stripes; a five-pointed gold
star is centered in the red band toward the hoist side; the flag of
France is used for official occasions
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy depends on agriculture, tourism,
light industry, and services. It is also dependent upon France for
large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most
tourists from the US. In addition, an increasingly large number of
cruise ships visit the islands. The traditionally important
sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as
bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant,
and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for
local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on
imported food, which comes mainly from France. Light industry
consists mostly of sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods
and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the
young.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $9,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 6%
industry: 9%
services: 85% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1990)
Labor force: 129,700
by occupation: agriculture 15%, industry 20%, services 65% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 31.3% (1995)
Budget:
revenues: $395 million
expenditures: $407 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industries: construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 320,000 kW
production: 650 million kWh
consumption per capita: 1,421 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables;
cattle, pigs, goats
Exports: $130 million (f.o.b., 1993)
commodities: bananas, sugar, rum
partners: France 70%, Martinique 17% (1991)
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1993)
commodities: foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other
consumer goods, construction materials
partners: France 60%, EC, US, Japan (1991)
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: substantial annual French subsidies
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.0056 (January
1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992),
5.6421 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways:
total: 2,082 km (national 329 km, regional 582 km, community/local
1171 km)
paved: 1,742 km
unpaved: 340 km (1985 est.)
Ports: Basse-Terre, Gustavia, Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 9
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2
with paved runways under 914 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 64,916 (1984 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities inadequate
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and
Martinique
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 8 (private stations licensed to
broadcast FM 30), shortwave 0
Radios: 100,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 150,000 (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of France
======================================================================
@Guam
----
(territory of the US)
Map
---
Location: 13 28 N, 144 47 E -- Oceania, island in the North
Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the
Philippines
Flag
----
Description: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red
border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed,
vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with
sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red
letters; US flag is the national flag
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 541.3 sq km
land area: 541.3 sq km
comparative area: three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by
northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season
from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively
flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with
steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising
hills in center, mountains in south
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism
(especially from Japan)
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 11%
meadows and pastures: 15%
forest and woodland: 18%
other: 45%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively
rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in
August)
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana
Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific
Ocean
People
------
Population: 156,974 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.34% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 24.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
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: 15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.29 years
male: 72.42 years
female: 76.13 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, white 10%, Chinese,
Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
Data code: GQ
Type of government: organized, unincorporated territory of the US
with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction
of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US
Department of the Interior
Capital: Agana
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March)
(1521); Liberation Day, 21 July
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote
in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of the United States) William Jefferson
CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.
(since 20 January 1993)
head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994)
and Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994)
were elected for a four-year term by popular vote; election last
held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998); results -
Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) defeated Tommy TANAKA (Republican) with
54.6% of the vote
cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with
the consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA
November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21
total) Democrats 14, Republican 7
US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994
(next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate;
results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1
total) Democrat 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court, judge is appointed by the
president; Territorial Superior Court, judges appointed for
eight-year terms by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the
legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), IOC,
SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on
all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical
ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a
palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US
flag is the national flag
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy depends mainly on US military
spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years, the
tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for
new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about
900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been
reflected in less vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60%
of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for
government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about
75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian
economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1991 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $14,000 (1991 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.)