Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and
all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and
banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore
control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key
port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by
a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and
medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking services,
manufactured and farm exports, and international aid are the main
sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991,
industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed
substantial gains. The rebuilding of the war-ravaged country was
delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in political wrangling. In
October 1992, Rafiq al-HARIRI was appointed prime minister. A
billionaire entrepreneur, al-HARIRI, announced ambitious plans for
Lebanon's reconstruction, which involve a substantial influx of
foreign aid and investment. The economy has posted considerable
gains since 1992, with GDP rebounding, inflation falling, and
foreign capital inflows jumping. Signs of strain have emerged in
recent years, however, as the government budget deficit has risen
and grassroots economic dissatisfaction has grown. Meantime, the
future fate of Lebanon and its economy is being determined largely
by outside forces - in Syria, other Arab nations, Israel, and the
West.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 13%
industry: 28%
services: 59% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 650,000
by occupation: services 60%, industry 28%, agriculture 12% (1990
est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1995 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.4 billion
expenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)
Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil
refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 1,220,000 kW
production: 2.5 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 676 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: citrus, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp
(hashish); sheep, goats
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the
international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western
Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; a key locus of
cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian 1994
eradication campaign practically eliminated the opium crop and
caused a 50% decrease in the cannabis crop
Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious
and semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products
partners: Saudi Arabia 13%, Switzerland 12%, UAE 11%, Syria 9%, US 5%
Imports: $7.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment,
petroleum products
partners: Italy 14%, France 9%, US 8%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%
External debt: $1.2 billion (July 1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1 - 1,584.0 (March
1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8
(1992), 928.2 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 222 km
standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)
Highways:
total: 7,370 km
paved: 6,265 km
unpaved: 1,105 km (1990 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports: Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani,
Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:
total: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 192,075 GRT/296,256 DWT
ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 39, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 4,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker
1, vehicle carrier 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 7
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by
civil war; rebuilding still underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean
and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria;
microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to
Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1
note: more than 100 AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by
various factions
Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air
Force)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 889,517
males fit for military service: 553,538 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $278 million,
5.5% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@Lesotho
-------
Map
---
Location: 29 30 S, 28 30 E -- Southern Africa, an enclave of South
Africa
Flag
----
Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
the upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large
shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal
blue band with a green triangle in the corner
Geography
---------
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 30,350 sq km
land area: 30,350 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 909 km
border country: South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some
diamonds and other minerals
Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 66%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 24%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal
areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion;
desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and
redirect water to South Africa
natural hazards: periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Endangered Species, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping
Geographic note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
People
------
Population: 1,970,781 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 404,733; female 402,813)
15-64 years: 54% (male 519,493; female 553,618)
65 years and over: 5% (male 37,237; female 52,887) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 32.7 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.74 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 81.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.08 years
male: 50.08 years
female: 54.14 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.32 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho
Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu,
Xhosa
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 71.3%
male: 81.1%
female: 62.3%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland
Data code: LT
Type of government: modified constitutional monarchy
Capital: Maseru
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,
Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek,
Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;
judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of
Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); the king is
the former Crown Prince David Monato BERENG Seeiso and succeeded his
father King MOSHOESHOE II, who died in an automobile accident on 16
January 1996; King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November
1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile
note: the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the
constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election,
he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under
traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority
vote of the College of Chiefs
head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of 33 members (the 22 principal chiefs and 11 other
members appointed by the ruling party)
Assembly: members elected by popular vote; election last held NA
March 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats (65 total) BCP 65
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court;
customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP),
Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basotho Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE;
National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom
Party (MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United Democratic Party, Charles
MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob M. KENA
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK
embassy: address NA, Maseru
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 312666
FAX: [266] 310116
Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the
upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield
with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band
with a green triangle in the corner
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has
no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is
based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from
laborers employed in South Africa (these remittances supplement
domestic income by as much as 45%). The great majority of households
gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a
large portion of the adult male work force is employed in South
African mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products which
support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Although
drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years,
improvement of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of
water to South Africa and will support the economy's continued
expansion.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.8 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 13.5% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,430 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.4%
industry: 48.8%
services: 40.8% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.5% (January 1995)
Labor force: 689,000 economically active
by occupation: 86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence
agriculture; roughly 60% of the active male wage earners work in
South Africa
Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment
Budget:
revenues: $445 million
expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $128
million (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction;
tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 12.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity: power supplied by South Africa
Agriculture: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Exports: $142 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: clothing, furniture, footwear, wool
partners: South Africa 39%, EC 22%, North and South America 33%
(1993)
Imports: $1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles,
machinery, medicines, petroleum products
partners: South Africa 83%, Asia 12%, EC 3% (1993)
External debt: $512 million (1993)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996),
3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563
(1991); note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the
statistics of South Africa
narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 5,324 km
paved: 799 km
unpaved: 4,525 km (1993 est.)
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 29
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 23
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay
system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 66,000
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing),
Lesotho Mounted Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 455,218
males fit for military service: 245,774 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Liberia
-------
Years of civil strife have destroyed much of Liberia's economic
infrastructure, made civil administration nearly impossible, and
brought economic activity virtually to a halt. The deterioration of
economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of
most business people with their expertise and capital. Civil order
ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel
forces. The ensuing civil war persisted until August 1995 when the
major factions signed the Abuja peace accord and, in September 1995,
formed a transitional coalition government under Wilton SANKAWULO.
The war was resumed in April 1996, when forces loyal to faction
leaders Charles TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival factions in
Monrovia, further damaging the capital's already dilapidated
infrastructure and causing panic among the remaining foreign
residents, thousands of whom sought refuge in US facilities.
Prospects for peace became extremely uncertain again.
Map
---
Location: 6 30 N, 9 30 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Flag
----
Description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue
square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the
US flag
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 111,370 sq km
land area: 96,320 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone
306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool
to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 3%
meadows and pastures: 2%
forest and woodland: 39%
other: 55%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil
erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of rivers from the dumping
of iron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage
natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to March)
international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation
People
------
Population: 2,109,789 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 475,138; female 470,970)
15-64 years: 52% (male 557,855; female 532,143)
65 years and over: 3% (male 35,544; female 38,139) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.13% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.72 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.95 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note: until the Ghanaian-led peace negotiations are successful, many
Liberian refugees will be unable to return from exile
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 58.59 years
male: 56.05 years
female: 61.22 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.23 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Ethnic divisions: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle,
Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai,
and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)
Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages: English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group
about 20 local languages come from this group
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Data code: LI
Type of government: republic
Capital: Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution: 6 January 1986
Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American
common law for the modern sector and customary law based on
unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Council of
State Wilton SANKAWULO (since NA September 1995); president was to
be elected for a six-year term by universal suffrage at the end of
1995; election last held 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA August
1996); results - Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP)
26.4%, other 22.7%
note: constitutional government ended in September 1990 when
President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; civil war
ensued and in August 1995 the Abuja peace accord was signed by the
major warring factions; a transitional coalition government under
Wilton SANKAWULO was formed in September 1995; presidential
elections are scheduled for August 1996
cabinet: Cabinet was selected by the leaders of the major factions
in the civil war
Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly,
the members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major
factions in the civil war
note: the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and is
unlikely to be reconstituted soon
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of
Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman; Liberian Action Party
(LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Joseph KOFA,
chairman; United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS,
chairman; National Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles TAYLOR, chairman;
Liberian Peoples Party (LPP), Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Konah K.
BLACKETT
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission William MILAM
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
mailing address: P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia
telephone: [231] 226-370
FAX: [231] 226-148
Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)
alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue
square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the
US flag
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of
Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around
Monrovia. Businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and
expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed with
water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to
agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic
products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been
small in scope. Political instability threatens prospects for
economic reconstruction and repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian
refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. The continued
political turmoil has prevented restoration of normal economic life,
including the re-establishment of a strong central government with
effective economic development programs. The economy deteriorated
further in 1995.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.3 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $770 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 510,000 including 220,000 in the monetary economy
by occupation: agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and
commerce 4.5%, other 14.2%
note: non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level
management and engineering jobs
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $285 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)
Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction
materials, furniture, palm oil processing, iron ore, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: NA% (1993-94)