Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)
total population: 73%
male: 85%
female: 62%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Data code: TP
Type of government: republic
Capital: Sao Tome
Administrative divisions: 2 districts (concelhos, singular -
concelho); Principe, Sao Tome
Independence: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution: approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990
Legal system: based on Portuguese law system and customary law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Miguel TROVOADA (since 4 April 1991) was
elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last
held 3 March 1991 (next to be held 30 June 1996); results - Miguel
TROVOADA was elected without opposition in Sao Tome's first
multiparty presidential election
head of government: Prime Minister Armindo UAZ de ALMEIDA (since 29
December 1995) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameral
National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Popular Nacional) parliament
dissolved by President TROVOADA in July 1994; early elections held 2
October 1994 (next to be held NA); results - MLSTP 27%, PCD-GR
25.5%, ADI 25.5%; seats - (55 total) MLSTP 27, PCD-GR 14, ADI 14
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the
National Peoples Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Party for Democratic
Convergence-Reflection Group (PCD-GR), Daniel Lima Dos Santos DAIO,
secretary general; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and
Principe (MLSTP), Carlos da GRACA; Christian Democratic Front (FDC),
Alphonse Dos SANTOS; Democratic Opposition Coalition (CODO), leader
NA; Independent Democratic Action (ADI), Patrice TROVOADA; other
small parties
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,
NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US: Sao Tome and Principe does not
have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the
UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos AUGUSTO Ferreira, located at
122 East 42nd Street, Suite 1604, New York, NY 10168, telephone [1]
(212) 697-4211
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao
Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits
to the islands
Flag: three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double
width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by
side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle
based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of
Ethiopia
Economy
-------
Economic overview: This small poor island economy has remained
dependent on cocoa since independence 20 years ago. Since then,
however, cocoa production has gradually declined because of drought
and mismanagement, so that by 1987 annual output had fallen from
10,000 tons to 3,900 tons. As a result, a shortage of cocoa for
export has created a serious balance-of-payments problem. Production
of less important crops, such as coffee, copra, and palm kernels,
has also declined. The value of imports generally exceeds that of
exports by a ratio of 3 to 1 or more. The emphasis on cocoa
production at the expense of other food crops has meant that Sao
Tome has to import 90% of food needs. It also has to import all
fuels and most manufactured goods. Over the years, Sao Tome has been
unable to service its external debt and has had to depend on
concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Considerable potential
exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has
taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government
also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies and to
encourage market-based mechanisms, e.g., to facilitate the
distribution of imported food. Annual GDP growth has hovered around
1.5% since 1991.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $138 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 1.5% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,000 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 28%
industry: 14%
services: 58% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 38% (1994 est.)
Labor force: most of population mainly engaged in subsistence
agriculture and fishing; shortages of plantation labor and of
skilled workers
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $58 million
expenditures: $114 million, including capital expenditures of $54
million (1993 est.)
Industries: light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish
processing; timber
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1991)
Electricity:
capacity: 5,000 kW
production: 17 million kWh
consumption per capita: 105 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon,
pepper, coffee, bananas, papaya, beans; poultry; fish
Exports: $7.1 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: cocoa 85%-90%, copra, coffee, palm oil
partners: Netherlands, Germany, China, Portugal
Imports: $23.8 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, food products,
petroleum
partners: France, Belgium, Japan, Angola, Italy, US
External debt: $250 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 dobra (Db) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: dobras (Db) per US$1 - 1,610 (May 1995), 129.59 (1
July 1993), 230 (1992), 260.0 (November 1991), 122.48 (December
1988), 72.827 (1987)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 298 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 100 km (1987 est.)
note: roads on Principe are mostly unpaved and in need of repair
Ports: Santo Antonio, Sao Tome
Merchant marine:
total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,096 GRT/1,105 DWT
(1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 2,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: minimal system
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 33,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1992 est.)
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Branches: Army, Navy, Security Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 34,986
males fit for military service: 18,343 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Saudi Arabia
------------
Map
---
Location: 25 00 N, 45 00 E -- Middle East, bordering the Persian
Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen
Flag
----
Description: green with large white Arabic script (that may be
translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of
God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist
side); green is the traditional color of Islam
Geography
---------
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea,
north of Yemen
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 1,960,582 sq km
land area: 1,960,582 sq km
comparative area: slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,415 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 728 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman
676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline: 2,640 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: large section of boundary with Yemen not
defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final,
defacto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh
and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; 1965
boundary with Qatar, renegotiated and revised in 1992, but not
official depiction
Climate: harsh, dry desert with great extremes of temperature
Terrain: mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 39%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 59%
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: desertification; depletion of underground water
resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies
has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination
facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
natural hazards: frequent sand and dust storms
international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous
Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Law of
the Sea
Geographic note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea
provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through
Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People
------
Population: 19,409,058 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 4,228,660; female 4,103,622)
15-64 years: 55% (male 6,393,384; female 4,240,535)
65 years and over: 2% (male 227,789; female 215,068) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.45% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.32 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.51 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.27 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69 years
male: 67.25 years
female: 70.84 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.45 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic divisions: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 62.8%
male: 71.5%
female: 50.2%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Data code: SA
Type of government: monarchy
Capital: Riyadh
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular -
mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah,
Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail,
Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution: none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have
been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD
bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982) is an absolute monarch;
Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since
13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is dominated by royal family members
appointed by the king
Legislative branch: a consultative council composed of 60 members
and a chairman who are appointed by the king for a term of four years
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: none allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,
AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond E. MABUS, Jr.
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy-Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE
09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-7360
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated
as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above
a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green
is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
-------
Economic overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with
strong government controls over major economic activities. About 40%
of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as
political) ties with the US are especially strong. The petroleum
sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and
90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of
petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the
largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For
the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been
in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private
economic activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an
important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and
banking sectors. For over a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and
international outlays have outstripped its income, and the
government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein
in domestic programs. For 1996, the country looks to its policies of
maintaining moderate fiscal reforms, restraining public spending,
and encouraging non-oil exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $189.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $10,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 9%
industry: 50%
services: 41% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 6 million-7 million
by occupation: government 40%, industry, construction, and oil 25%,
services 30%, agriculture 5%
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $35.1 billion
expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1996 est.)
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic
petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction,
fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate: 17% (1994 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 17,550,000 kW
production: 46 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 2,430 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus;
mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing
consumption of heroin and cocaine
Exports: $41.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90%
partners: US 17%, Japan 17%, South Korea 8%, Singapore 7%, France 5%
(1994)
Imports: $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, motor
vehicles, textiles
partners: US 21%, Japan 12%, UK 8%, Germany 8%, Italy 5% (1994)
External debt: $18.9 billion (December 1989 est., includes
short-term trade credits)
Economic aid:
donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate
since late 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways:
total: 1,390 km
standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways:
total: 151,532 km
paved: 60,613 km
unpaved: 90,919 km (1992 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural
gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al
Khafji, Al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 944,946 GRT/1,322,167
DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 5, container 3,
liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 4, oil tanker 22,
passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 13,
short-sea passenger 9 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 175
with paved runways over 3 047 m: 30
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 22
with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 4
with paved runways under 914 m: 13
with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1
with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4
with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 66
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 24 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 1.46 million (1993)
Telephone system: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and
fiber-optic cable systems
international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,
Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;
submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth
stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1
Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 5 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 80
Televisions: 4.5 million (1993 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public Security Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 5,405,828
males fit for military service: 3,005,900
males reach military age (18) annually: 165,010 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12.1 billion,
8.5% of GDP (1996)
======================================================================
@Senegal
-------
Map
---
Location: 14 00 N, 14 00 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Flag
----
Description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side),
yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the
yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Geography
---------
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 196,190 sq km
land area: 192,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau
338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: short section of the boundary with The
Gambia is indefinite; boundary with Mauritania in dispute
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (December to April)
has strong southeast winds; dry season (May to November) dominated
by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in
southeast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the Futa Jaldon foothills 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 30%
forest and woodland: 31%
other: 12%
Irrigated land: 1,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching;
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
overfishing
natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping
Geographic note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
People
------
Population: 9,092,749 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 48% (male 2,188,338; female 2,197,015)
15-64 years: 49% (male 2,111,330; female 2,336,987)
65 years and over: 3% (male 128,939; female 130,140) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.37% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 45.46 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.76 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 64 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.49 years
male: 53.75 years
female: 59.3 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.31 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic divisions: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%,
Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%
Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostly
Roman Catholic)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 33.1%
male: 43%
female: 23.2%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal
Data code: SG
Type of government: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region);
Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis,
Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence: 20 August 1960 (from France; The Gambia and Senegal
signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation
of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the
agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution: 3 March 1963, revised 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in Supreme Court, which also audits the
government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) was
elected for a seven-year term by universal suffrage; election last
held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); results -
Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
head of government: Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 9 May
1993 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other
7%; seats - (120 total) PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, Let Us Unite
Senegal 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)