highest natural rates of growth in population, but the statistics
have been complicated by the large-scale movement of nomadic groups
and of Somalis back and forth across the border. Population growth
has been accompanied by deforestation, deterioration in the road
system, the water supply, and other parts of the infrastructure. In
industry and services, Nairobi's reluctance to embrace IMF-supported
reforms had held back investment and growth in 1991-93. Nairobi's
push on economic reform in 1994, however, helped support a 3.3%
increase in output. The strong economy continued into 1995 with
inflation cut sharply and GDP growth at 5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $36.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 27%
industry: 19%
services: 54% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1995 est.)
Labor force:
by occupation: agriculture 75%-80% (1993 est.), non-agriculture
20%-25% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35% urban (1994 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.4 billion
expenditures: $2.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $740
million (1990 est.)
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture,
batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural
processing; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 810,000 kW
production: 3.3 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 117 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit,
vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of
marijuana and qat (chat); most locally consumed; transit country for
Southwest Asian heroin moving to West Africa and onward to Europe
and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South
Africa
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: tea 25%, coffee 18%, petroleum products 11% (1990)
partners: EC 47%, Africa 23%, Asia 11%, US 4%, Middle East 3% (1991)
Imports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 29%, petroleum
and petroleum products 15%, iron and steel 7%, raw materials, food
and consumer goods (1989)
partners: EC 46%, Asia 23%, Middle East 20%, US 5% (1991)
External debt: $7 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $589 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1 - 56.715 (January
1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994), 58.001 (1993), 32.217 (1992),
27.508 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 2,652 km
narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 62,573 km
paved: 8,322 km
unpaved: 54,251 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of
======================================================================
@Kingman Reef
------------
(territory of the US)
Map
---
Location: 6 24 N, 162 24 W -- Oceania, reef in the North Pacific
Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Flag
----
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half
of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 1 sq km
land area: 1 sq km
comparative area: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain: low and nearly level
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: none
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: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon;
closed to the public
People
------
Population: uninhabited
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Data code: KQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US
administered by the US Navy; however, it is awash the majority of
the time, so it is not usable and is uninhabited
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
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and
1938
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US
======================================================================
@Kiribati
--------
Map
---
Location: 1 25 N, 173 00 E -- Oceania, group of islands in the
Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator and the International Date
Line, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Flag
----
Description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird
flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with
three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean,
straddling the equator and the International Date Line, about
one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 717 sq km
land area: 717 sq km
comparative area: four times the size of Washington, DC
note: includes three island groups - Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive
reefs
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 51%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 3%
other: 46%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due
to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon
latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November
to March; occasional tornadoes
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Geographic note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean
Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands
in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia
and Nauru
People
------
Population: 80,919 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.89% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 27.13 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.31 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: 52.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.02 years
male: 60.25 years
female: 64.03 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic divisions: Micronesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 52.6%, Protestant (Congregational)
40.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985)
Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy: NA
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced kiribas
former: Gilbert Islands
Data code: KR
Type of government: republic
Capital: Tarawa
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,
Phoenix Islands
note: in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,
Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21
island councils (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru,
Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei,
Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa,
Teraina; note - one council for each of the inhabited islands)
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution: 12 July 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: President (Beretitenti)
Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994) was elected by popular vote;
note - the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates
from among their members and then those candidates compete in a
general election; election last held 30 September 1994 (next to be
held by NA 1999); results - Teburoro TITO 51.2%, Tewareka TENTOA
18.3%, Roniti TEIWAKI 16.0%, Peter Taberannang TIMEON 14.5%; Vice
President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October
1994) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president from among the
members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly (Maneaba Ni Maungatabu): elections last held 22
July 1994 (next to be held by NA 1999); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (40 total, 39 elected) Maneaban Te Mauri 13,
National Progressive Party 7, independents 19
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are
appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are
appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao
TEANNAKI; Christian Democratic Party, Teburoro TITO; New Movement
Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaban Te Mauri
Party, Roniti TEIWAKI
note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties
in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups
because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party
structures
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US: Kiribati does not have an embassy
in the US
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati
Flag: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over
a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three
horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
Economy
-------
Economic overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls,
Kiribati has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate
deposits were exhausted at the time of independence in 1979. Copra
and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The
economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP growth has
declined from about 10% in 1988 to about 2.6% in 1995. Economic
development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak
infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The
financial sector is at an early stage of development. Foreign
financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical
supplement to GDP, equal in amount to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $68 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $860 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence
farmers (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $32.5 million
expenditures: $54.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 5,000 kW
production: 13 million kWh
consumption per capita: 131 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables;
fish
Exports: $6.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: copra 50%, seaweed 16%, fish 15%
partners: Denmark, Fiji, US
Imports: $38.6 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous
manufactured goods, fuel
partners: Australia 40%, Japan 18%, Fiji 17%, NZ 6%, US 4% (1991)
External debt: $2 million (December 1989 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3477 (January
1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2835 (1991)
Fiscal year: NA
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 640 km (1987 est.)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands
Ports: Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,248 GRT/4,496 DWT
ships by type: oil tanker 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 20
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 5
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 1,400 (1984 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 0 (1988 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out
law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police
posts are on all islands)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Korea, North
------------
Map
---
Location: 40 00 N, 127 00 E -- Eastern Asia, northern half of the
Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan,
between China and South Korea
Flag
----
Description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple
width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side
of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
Geography
---------
Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula
bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and
South Korea
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total area: 120,540 sq km
land area: 120,410 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries:
total: 1,673 km
border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline: 2,495 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive
economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and
aircraft without permission are banned
International disputes: short section of boundary with China is
indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow
valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite,
magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 74%
other: 7%
Irrigated land: 14,000 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate
industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable
water
natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe
flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ship Pollution; signed,
but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection
Geographic note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea,
and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible,
and sparsely populated
People
------
Population: 23,904,124 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30% (male 3,605,972; female 3,465,038)
15-64 years: 66% (male 7,871,783; female 7,956,935)
65 years and over: 4% (male 355,284; female 649,112) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.74% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 22.86 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.45 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.32 years
male: 67.23 years
female: 73.57 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.31 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean
Ethnic divisions: racially homogeneous
Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and
syncretic Chondogyo
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;
government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of
religious freedom
Languages: Korean
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write Korean (1990 est.)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: none
note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to
their country
abbreviation: DPRK
Data code: KN
Type of government: Communist state; Stalinist dictatorship
Capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural)
and 3 special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang
Province), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo
(South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province),
Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong
City), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),
P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (South
P'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do
(Yanggang Province)
Independence: 9 September 1948
note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and
celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: DPRK Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972,
revised again in April 1992
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese
influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of
legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: KIM Chong-il [defacto]; note - President KIM Il-song
was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994
leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor; however the
son has not assumed the titles that his father held and no new
elections have been held or scheduled
head of government: Premier KANG Song-san (since NA December 1992)
was elected by the Supreme People's Assembly
cabinet: State Administration Council was appointed by the Supreme
People's Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral
Supreme People's Assembly (Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui): elections last held
7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (687 total) the KWP approves a single list of
candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a
few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the Supreme
People's Assembly
Political parties and leaders: major party - Korean Workers' Party
(KWP), KIM Chong-il, secretary, Central Committee; Korean Social
Democratic Party, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party,
YU Mi-yong, chairwoman
International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO,
ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU,
NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - North Korea has a
Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by PAK Kil-yon
US diplomatic representation: none
Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width),
and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the
red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
Economy
-------
Economic overview: More than 90% of this command economy is
socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned
industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of
economic affairs is unusually tight even for a communist country
because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the
strict rule of KIM Il-song in the past and now his son, KIM
Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%,
but output declined by an average of 4%-5% annually during 1989-95
because of systemic problems and disruptions in socialist-style
economic relations and technological links with the former USSR and
China. The leadership has insisted on maintaining its high level of
military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious
drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector
have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production.
Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of
industrial development since World War II. Manufacturing is centered
on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry
lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties,
expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North
Korea has not yet become self-sufficient in food production. Indeed,
a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, and a
cumbersome distribution system have resulted in chronic food
shortages. The year 1995 was marked by serious summer floods that
worsened an already tenuous food situation. Substantial grain
shipments from Japan and South Korea offset a portion of the losses.
North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development
and living standards.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $21.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $920 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 25%
industry: 60%
services: 15% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 9.615 million
by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $19.3 billion
expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1992 est.)
Industries: military products; machine building, electric power,
chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper,
zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food
processing
Industrial production growth rate: -7% to -9% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 9,500,000 kW
production: 50 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 2,053 kWh (1993)