Televisions: 7 million (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps), Air
Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 18,722,509
males fit for military service: 13,221,513
males reach military age (20) annually: 767,056 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1 billion, 1.4%
of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Pitcairn Islands
----------------
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map
---
Location: 25 04 S, 130 06 W -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand
Flag
----
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the
outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light
blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 47 sq km
land area: 47 sq km
comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 51 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds;
rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land use:
arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
meadows and pastures: NA%
forest and woodland: NA%
other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: deforestation (only a small portion of the original
forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)
international agreements: NA
People
------
Population: 56 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutineers
Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages: English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Data code: PC
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Adamstown
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second
Saturday in June)
Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system: local island by-laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch, represented by UK High
Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the
Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994);
Commissioner (non-resident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaison
person between the governor and the Island Council)
head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island
Council Jay WARREN (since NA); the island magistrate is elected
every three years
Legislative branch: unicameral
Island Council: elections take place each December; election last
held NA December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1996); results -
percent of vote NA; seats - (11 total, 5 elected) all independents
Judicial branch: Island Court, island magistrate presides over the
court and is elected every three years
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International organization participation: SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the
UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the
outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light
blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and
subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide
variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane,
watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important
part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of
postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing
ships.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $NA
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 14 able-bodied men (1993)
by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public
works; subsistence farming and fishing
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $588,000
expenditures: $583,000, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1993/94 est.)
Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 110 kW
production: 300,000 kWh
consumption per capita: 5,360 kWh (1990)
Agriculture: wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Exports: $NA
commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios
partners: NA
Imports: $NA
commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar,
other foodstuffs
partners: NA
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.5138
(January 1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584
(1992), 1.7265 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 6.4 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 6.4 km
Ports: Bounty Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: none
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 24
Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Poland
------
Map
---
Location: 52 00 N, 20 00 E -- Central Europe, east of Germany
Flag
----
Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red;
similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and
white
Geography
---------
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 312,683 sq km
land area: 304,510 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total: 2,888 km
border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456
km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia
444 km, Ukraine 428 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters
with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and
thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver,
lead, salt
Land use:
arable land: 48%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 13%
forest and woodland: 29%
other: 10% (1992)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in
heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist
governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of
sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the
resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from
industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal
of hazardous wastes
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: party to - Air Pollution,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air
Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity,
Law of the Sea
Geographic note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat
terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
People
------
Population: 38,642,565 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 4,399,649; female 4,188,824)
15-64 years: 66% (male 12,754,272; female 12,930,275)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,654,526; female 2,715,019) (July 1996
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.14% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 11.92 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.08 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.1 years
male: 68.02 years
female: 76.41 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.69 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish
Ethnic divisions: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%,
Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern
Orthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
Languages: Polish
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1978 est.)
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 98%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska
Data code: PL
Type of government: democratic state
Capital: Warsaw
Administrative divisions: 49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular -
wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz,
Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora,
Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica,
Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka,
Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce,
Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg,
Tarnow, Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc,
Zielona Gora
Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution: interim "small constitution" came into effect in
December 1992 replacing the communist-imposed constitution of 22
July 1952; new democratic constitution being drafted
Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and
holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced
as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review
of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December
1995) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election
first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19 November 1995
(next to be held NA November 2000); results - second round
Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%
head of government: Prime Minister Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ (since 7
February 1996), Deputy Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI (since NA),
Grzegorz KOLODKO (since NA), and Miroslaw PIETRIEWICZ (since NA)
were appointed by the Sejm
cabinet: Council of Ministers is responsible to the president and
the Sejm; the prime minister appointed and the Sejm approved the
Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Zgromadzenie
Narodowe) post-communist parties (PSL 34, SLD 37), post-Solidarity
parties (UW 6, NSZZ 12, BBWR 2), non-communist, non-Solidarity
(independents 7, unaffiliated 1, vacant 1) post-communist parties
(SLD 171, PSL 132), post-Solidarity parties (UW 74, UP 41, BBWR 16),
non-communist, non-Solidarity (KPN 22)
note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German
parties
Sejm: elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held no
later than 19 September 1997); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (460 total)
Senate (Senat): elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be
held no later than 19 September 1997); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (100 total)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the National Council of Judiciary
Political parties and leaders:
post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) (Social Democracy of
Poland), Jozef OLEKSY; Polish Peasant Party (PSL), Waldemar PAWLAK
post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union (UW; Democratic Union and
Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union), Leszek
BALCEROWICZ; Christian-National Union (ZCHN), Marian PILKA; Center
Alliance Party (PC), Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI; Peasant Alliance (PL),
Gabriel JANOWSKI; Solidarity Caucus (NSZZ), Marian KRZAKLEWSKI;
Union of Labor (UP), Ryszard BUGAJ; Christian-Democratic Party
(PCHD), Pawel LACZKOWSKI; Conservative Party, Aleksander HALL;
Nonparty Reform Bloc (BBWR)
non-Communist non-Solidarity: Confederation for an Independent
Poland (KPN), Leszek MOCZULSKI; German Minority (MN), Georg PORYLKA;
Union of Real Politics (UPR), Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE; Democratic Party
(SD), Antoni MACKIEWICZ
Other political or pressure groups: powerful Roman Catholic
Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance
(OPZZ), trade union
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU
(applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,
UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate
partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REY
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, Unit 1340, APO AE
09213-1340
telephone: [48] (2) 628-30-41
FAX: [48] (2) 628-82-98
consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar
to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Economy
-------
Economic overview: In 1995, Poland continued to make good progress
in the difficult transition to a market economy that began on 1
January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted "shock
therapy" by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and
drastically reducing import barriers. Although real GDP fell sharply
in 1990 and 1991, in 1992 Poland became the first country in the
region to resume economic growth with a 2.6% increase. Growth
advanced to 3.8% in 1993, 5.2% in 1994, and 6.5% in 1995. Most of
the growth since 1991 had come from the booming private sector,
which now accounts for about 60% of GDP, due in large part to the
creation of new private firms. The slow pace of privatization picked
up somewhat in 1995, as 512 smaller state enterprises were
transferred to private National Investment Funds under the Mass
Privatization Program, but large-scale industry remains largely in
state hands. Industrial production increased 10.2% in 1995,
following a 13.2% rise in 1994, yet remains about 13% below the 1989
level. Inflation, which had approached 1,200% annually in early
1990, fell to 21.6% in December 1995, as the government held the
1995 budget deficit to less than 3% of GDP. After peaking at 16.9%
in July 1994, unemployment gradually fell to 14.9% in December 1995
- although the rate still approaches 30% in some regions. The trade
and current account balances officially are in deficit but in fact
both have comfortable surpluses because of large, unrecorded sales
to cross-border visitors. Prospects for 1996 are good, with the
government promising to push privatization and social welfare
reform. Economic growth should remain above 5%, with inflation
dropping below 20% by yearend 1996 and unemployment continuing its
slow decline. As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced
by reschedulings and write-offs of both private and official debt
during 1991-94.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $226.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 7%
industry: 38%
services: 55% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 21.6% (December 1995)
Labor force: 17.743 million (1994 annual average)
by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%,
trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other
25.7% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 14.9% (December 1995)
Budget:
revenues: $34.5 billion
expenditures: $37.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining,
chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 10.2% (1995)
Electricity:
capacity: 31,120,000 kW
production: 133.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 3,000 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: potatoes, milk, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry
and eggs; pork, beef
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium for domestic consumption
and amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point
for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe;
producer of precursor chemicals
Exports: $22.2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: intermediate goods 27.5%, machinery and transport
equipment 19.8%, miscellaneous manufactures 20.5%, foodstuffs 11.6%,
fuels 9.1% (1994)
partners: Germany 35.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, Russia 5.4%, Italy 4.9%
(1994)
Imports: $23.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment 28.9%, intermediate
goods 20.2%, chemicals 14.7%, fuels 10.4%, miscellaneous
manufactures 9.9%
partners: Germany 27.5%, Italy 8.4%, Russia 6.8%, UK 5.3% (1994)
External debt: $42.1 billion (yearend 1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: Western governments and institutions pledged $22 billion
in grants and loans during 1990-94, but much of the money has not
been disbursed
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.55 (January 1996) 2.4250
(1995); note - a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000
old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626
(1992), 10,576 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 25,166 km
broad gauge: 656 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 22,655 km 1.435-m gauge (11,496 km electrified;
8,978 km double track)
narrow gauge: 1,855 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,
0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1995)
Highways:
total: 367,000 km (excluding farm, factory, and forest roads)
paved: 235,247 km (including 257 km of expressways)
unpaved: 131,753 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural
gas 4,600 km (1992)
Ports: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie,
Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw
Merchant marine:
total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,093,491
GRT/3,167,660 DWT
ships by type: bulk 73, cargo 36, chemical tanker 4, container 7,
oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea
passenger 5
note: Poland owns an additional 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 179,913 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas,
Liberia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Vanuatu, and Cyprus (1995
est.)
Airports:
total: 134
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 30
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 27
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3
with paved runways under 914 m: 7
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 5
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32
with unpaved runways under 914 m: 18 (1994 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 5 million (1994)
Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government
aims to have 10 million phones in service by the year 2000
domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, NA Eutelsat,
1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and 1 Intersputnik
(Atlantic Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 27, shortwave 0
Radios: 10.9 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 40 (Russian repeaters 5)
Televisions: 9.6 million
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 10,267,551
males fit for military service: 7,994,460
males reach military age (19) annually: 324,960 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.4 billion,
2.4% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Portugal
--------
Map
---
Location: 39 30 N, 8 00 W -- Southwestern Europe, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Flag
----
Description: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths)
and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on
the dividing line
Geography
---------
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
west of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:
total area: 92,080 sq km
land area: 91,640 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Land boundaries:
total: 1,214 km
border country: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor
Province) disputed with Indonesia and not recognized by the UN
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and
drier in south
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico in Azores 2,351 m