international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic
network
international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific
Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access
to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN
member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western
Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation
repeater 1; British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy, Royal
Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong
Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 1,895,535
males fit for military service: 1,442,072
males reach military age (18) annually: 46,248 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $207 million,
0.2% of GDP (FY92/93); this represents 65% of the total cost of
defending the colony, the remainder being paid by the UK
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK until 1 July
1997, when China will assume command
======================================================================
@Howland Island
--------------
(territory of the US)
Map
---
Location: 0 48 N, 176 38 W -- Oceania, island in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Flag
----
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 1.6 sq km
land area: 1.6 sq km
comparative area: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded
by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 5%
other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:
current issues: no natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate
vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center;
primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,
shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
People
------
Population: uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in
1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II;
occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the
war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally
restricted to scientists and educators
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US
administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department
of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag: the flag of the US is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation
--------------
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat
landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan
- they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen
again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Transportation note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle
of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II,
but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia
Earhart
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited
annually by the US Coast Guard
======================================================================
@Hungary
-------
Map
---
Location: 47 00 N, 20 00 E -- Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Flag
----
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
green
Geography
---------
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 93,030 sq km
land area: 92,340 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 2,009 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,
Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on
the Slovakian border
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:
arable land: 51%
permanent crops: 6%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 18%
other: 12%
Irrigated land: 1,750 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: an early-1996 government study identified 179 areas
that suffer from air pollution, 54 areas with polluted soil, and 32
areas with polluted underground water; the study estimated clean-up
costs at $350 million, but the 1996 government budget allocates only
about $7 million for this purpose
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, 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 - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land
routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as
between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
People
------
Population: 10,002,541 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 907,963; female 867,536)
15-64 years: 68% (male 3,325,529; female 3,464,588)
65 years and over: 14% (male 538,106; female 898,819) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: -0.68% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.72 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.06 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.91 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.02 years
male: 64.23 years
female: 74.04 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.51 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic divisions: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,
Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%,
atheist and other 7.5%
Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
Type of government: republic
Capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 38 counties (megyek, singular - megye)
and 1 capital city* (fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes,
Bekescsaba, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*, Csongrad, Debrecen,
Dunaujvaros, Eger, Fejer, Gyor, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar,
Heves, Hodmezovasarhely, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar, Kecskemet,
Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs,
Pest, Somogy, Sopron, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged,
Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas,
Veszprem, Zala, Zalaegerszeg
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August
(commemorates the founding of Hungarian state circa 1000 AD)
Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19
April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for
individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime
minister and also established the principle of parliamentary
oversight
Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law
based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;
previously interim president from 2 May 1990) was elected for a
four-year term by the National Assembly; election last held 19 June
1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - President GONCZ elected by
parliamentary vote with a total of 259 votes out of 335
head of government: Prime Minister Gyula HORN (since 15 July 1994)
was elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was elected by the National Assembly
on recommendation of the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Orszaggyules): elections last held on 8 and 29
May 1994 (next to be held spring 1998); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (386 total) MSzP 209, SzDSz 70, MDF 37, FKgP 26,
KDNP 22, FiDeSz 20, other 2
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF),
Lajos FUR, chairman; Independent Smallholders (FKgP), Jozsef
TORGYAN, president; Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP), Gyula HORN,
president; Christian Democratic People's Party (KDNP), Gyorgy GICZY,
president; Federation of Young Democrats (FiDeSz), Viktor ORBAN,
chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats (SzDSz), Ivan PETO, chairman
note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSzMP)
renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSzP)
in October 1989; there is still a small MMP
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gyorgy BANLAKI
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald M. BLINKEN
embassy: V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address: Am Embassy, Unit 1320, APO AE 09213-1320
telephone: [36] (1) 267-4400, 269-9331
FAX: [36] (1) 269-9326
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Hungary, probably the most Western-oriented
economy in East Europe before the transition to a market system
began in 1990, made good progress in the initial years of
transition. The reform process slowed in 1993-94, however, in part
because of the May 1994 elections and the resulting change in
government. By 1994 the privatization of state firms had ground to a
halt, while both the budget and current account deficits soared to
unsustainable levels - about 8% and 10% of GDP, respectively. The
situation improved sharply in 1995; an austerity program introduced
in March reduced both deficits, and a renewed privatization effort
later in 1995 resulted in more than $3 billion worth of sales of
state firms to foreign investors - money that will be used to reduce
Hungary's large foreign debt. As for other macroeconomic
developments, real GDP increased 2.9% in 1994 - following several
years of steep decline - and about 1.5% in 1995. Unemployment
reached 14% in early 1993 before gradually falling back to 10% in
1995. Inflation has oscillated; it reached 40% in mid-1991, dropped
to 17% in early 1994, and then jumped back to 31% by mid-1995.
Prospects for 1996 are good. With the government still committed to
austerity, both the budget and current account deficits should fall
to about 4% of GDP. Economic growth is expected to be about 2% and
unemployment at about 10%, with inflation falling to 20% by yearend.
In March 1996 the IMF signed a new standby loan agreement with
Budapest, and the OECD approved Hungary's application for admission.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $72.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 1.5% (1995)
GDP per capita: $7,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.3%
industry: 37.5%
services: 55.2%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28.3% (1995)
Labor force: 4.8 million (1995)
by occupation: services, trade, government, and other 47.2%,
industry 29.7%, agriculture 16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 10.4% (yearend 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $12.6 billion
expenditures: $13.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed
foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor
vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 6,740,000 kW
production: 31 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,012 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets;
pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian
heroin and transit point for South American cocaine destined for
Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals
Exports: $13 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: raw materials and semi-finished goods 36.4%, consumer
goods 26.7%, food and agriculture 20.5%, capital goods 13.1%, fuels
and energy 3.3% (1994)
partners: Germany 28.2%, Austria 10.9%, Italy 8.5%, Russia 7.5%, US
4.0% (1994)
Imports: $15 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: fuels and energy 11.0%, raw materials and semi-finished
goods 36.9%, capital goods 23.3%, consumer goods 22.0%, food and
agriculture 6.8% (1994)
partners: Germany 23.4%, Austria 12.0%, Russia 12.0%, Italy 7.0%, UK
4.0% (1994)
External debt: $32.7 billion (October 1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $136 million (1993)
note: assistance received from OECD countries and international
organizations, $3,700 million (1990-93)
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates: forints per US$1 - 144 (January 1996), 125.681
(1995),105.160 (1994), 91.933 (1993), 78.988 (1992), 74.735 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 7,685 km
broad gauge: 35 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,474 km 1.435-m gauge (2,162 km electrified; 1,236
km double track)
narrow gauge: 176 km mostly 0.760-m gauge (1995)
note: Hungry and Austria jointly manage the cross-border
standard-gauge railway between Gyor, Sopron, Ebenfurti, and Vasut, a
distance of about 100 km
Highways:
total: 158,711 km
paved: 69,992 km (including 441 km of expressways)
unpaved: 88,719 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports: Budapest, Dunaujvaros
Merchant marine:
total: 10 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 46,121 GRT/61,613
DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 78
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 9
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 14
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 34 (1994 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 1.52 million (1993 est.)
Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network
based on microwave radio relay system; 608,000 telephones on order;
12-15 year wait for a telephone; 49% of all telephones are in
Budapest (1991 est.); note - the former state-owned
telecommunications firm MATAV - now privatized and managed by a
US/German consortium - has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate
system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the
Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new phone lines during
1996-98
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat and 1
Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0
Radios: 6 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (Russian repeaters 8)
Televisions: 4.38 million (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard,
Territorial Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 2,552,794
males fit for military service: 2,036,399
males reach military age (18) annually: 82,040 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $620 million,
1.7% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Iceland
-------
Map
---
Location: 65 00 N, 18 00 W -- Northern Europe, island between the
Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Flag
----
Description: blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends
to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted
to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Geography
---------
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates: 65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total area: 103,000 sq km
land area: 100,250 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have
signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate: temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild,
windy winters; damp, cool summers
Terrain: mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks,
icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m
Natural resources: fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 20%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 78%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
wastewater treatment
natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanic activity
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but not
ratified - Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life
Conservation
Geographic note: strategic location between Greenland and Europe;
westernmost European country; more land covered by glaciers than in
all of continental Europe
People
------
Population: 270,292 (July 1996 est.)
note: population data estimates based on average growth rate may
differ slightly from official population data because of volatile
migration rates
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24% (male 33,605; female 31,933)
15-64 years: 64% (male 88,064; female 85,724)
65 years and over: 12% (male 13,916; female 17,050) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.83% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 16.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.08 years
male: 77.68 years
female: 82.6 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.24 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic divisions: homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians
and Celts
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3%, none 1% (1988)
Languages: Icelandic
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.)
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lyoveldio Island
local short form: Island
Data code: IC
Type of government: republic
Capital: Reykjavik
Administrative divisions: 23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla)
and 14 independent towns* (kaupstadhir, singular - kaupstadhur);
Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla,
Austur-Hunavatnssysla, Austur-Skaftafellssysla, Borgarfjardharsysla,
Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla, Hafnarfjordhur*,
Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,
Myrasysla, Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla,
Nordhur-Mulasys-la, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Olafsfjordhur*,
Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*,
Siglufjordhur*, Skagafjardharsysla, Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla,
Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla, Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Independence: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Establishment of the
Republic, 17 June (1944)
Constitution: 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system: civil law system based on Danish law; does not
accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August
1980) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage;
election last held 29 June 1988 (next to be held June 1996); results
- there was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR
was unopposed
head of government: Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April
1991) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Althing): elections last held on 8 April 1995 (next to
be held by April 1999); results - Independence Party 37.1%,
Progressive Party 23.3%, Social Democratic Party 11.4%, Socialists
14.3%, People's Movement 7.2%, Women's Party 4.9%; seats - (63
total) Independence 25, Progressive 15, Social Democratic 7,
Socialists 9, People's Movement 4, Women's Party 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Haestirettur), justices are
appointed for life by the president