Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 856 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2
note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1995
est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 60,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: submarine cable and satellite communications;
satellite earth stations - NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
Radios: 105,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 65,000 (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US
======================================================================
@Wake Island
-----------
(territory of the US)
Map
---
Location: 19 17 N, 166 36 E -- Oceania, island in the North
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the
Northern Mariana Islands
Flag
----
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 6.5 sq km
land area: 6.5 sq km
comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by the Republic of the Marshall
Islands
Climate: tropical
Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater
volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 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: occasional typhoons
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People
------
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; there are 302 US military
and contract personnel (July 1995 est.)
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
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
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island
Data code: WQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US
administered by the US Army and Strategic Defense Command since 1
October 1994
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Independence: none (territory of the US)
Flag: the flag of the US is used
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to providing
services to US military personnel and contractors located on the
island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity: supplied by US military
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Ports: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Merchant marine: none
Airports:
total: 1
with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Transportation note: formerly an important commercial aviation
base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, as well
as the US Army Space and Strategic Defense Command for missile
launches
Communications
--------------
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) television
service provided by satellite
Televisions: NA
Defense
-------
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US
======================================================================
@Wallis and Futuna
-----------------
(overseas territory of France)
Map
---
Location: 13 18 S, 176 12 W -- Oceania, islands in the South
Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Flag
----
Description: a white modified Maltese cross centered on a red
background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in
the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official
occasions
Geography
---------
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area: 274 sq km
land area: 274 sq km
comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool,
dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80%
humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Singavi 765 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 75%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original
forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as
the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests,
the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
natural fresh water resources
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: both island groups have fringing reefs
People
------
Population: 14,659 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.11% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 24.38 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.23 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: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 72.76 years
male: 72.16 years
female: 73.4 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 100%
Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1969 est.)
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50%
Government
----------
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna
Data code: WF
Type of government: overseas territory of France
Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the
US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Administrator Leon-Alexandre LEGRAND
(since NA) was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Mikaele
TAUHAVILI (since NA)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
members appointed by the high administrator on advice of the
Territorial Assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
Legislative branch: unicameral
Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale): elections last held
22 March 1992 (next to be held NA March 1997); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 9, Taumu'a Lelei 11
French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be
held by NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (1 total) RPR 1
French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1992
(next to be held by NA September 1996); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1; note - Wallis and Futuna elect
one deputy
Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French
law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings
administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union
Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF);
Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche (MRG);
Taumu'a Lelei
International organization participation: FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of
France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag: a white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background;
the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper
hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
-------
Economic overview: The economy is limited to traditional
subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning
its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock
(mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed
in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies,
licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes,
and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and
Futuna imports food - particularly sugar, rice, and beef - fuel,
clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are
negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government
4% (est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $14.04 million
expenditures: $14.04 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1994 est.)
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: 1,200 kW
production: 1 million kWh
consumption per capita: 70 kWh (1990)
Agriculture: yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: copra, handicrafts
partners: NA
Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation
equipment, fuel, clothing
partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per
US$1 - 91.00 (January 1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96
(1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991); note - linked at the rate of
18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)
unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Waterways: none
Ports: Leava, Mata-Utu
Merchant marine:
total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,000 GRT/40,000
DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: 340 (1985 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
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 France
======================================================================
@West Bank
---------
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,
provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of
Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West
Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996.
Map
---
Location: 32 00 N, 35 15 E -- Middle East, west of Jordan
Geography
---------
Location: Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total area: 5,860 sq km
land area: 5,640 sq km
comparative area: slightly smaller than Delaware
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter
of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and
Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of
depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Land boundaries:
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli
occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian
Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through
further negotiation
Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with
altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west,
but barren in east
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 27%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 32%
forest and woodland: 1%
other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for
Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 202 Israeli settlements and
civilian land use sites in the West Bank and 26 in East Jerusalem
(August 1995 est.)
People
------
Population: 1,427,741 (July 1996 est.)
note: in addition, there are 127,600 Israeli settlers in the West
Bank and 153,700 in East Jerusalem (August 1995 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 45% (male 332,628; female 315,968)
15-64 years: 51% (male 368,180; female 362,880)
65 years and over: 4% (male 20,495; female 27,590) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.99% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.78 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 15.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.76 years
male: 70.17 years
female: 73.44 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic divisions: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian
and other 8%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English
(widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government
----------
Government note: Under the Israeli-PLO Declaration of Principles
on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), Israel agreed
to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian
Authority, a Palestinian Legislative Council, elected in January
1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for
the Gaza Strip and Jericho has taken place pursuant to the
Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the
Jericho Area. A transfer of powers and responsibilities in certain
spheres for the rest of the West Bank has taken place pursuant to
the Israel-PLO 29 August 1994 Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of
Powers and Responsibilities. A transfer of powers and
responsibilities in additional areas of the West Bank has taken
place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim
Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility
during the transitional period for external security and for
internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis.
Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations
within five years.
Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank
Data code: WE
Economy
-------
Economic overview: Economic progress in the West Bank has been
hampered by Israeli military administration and the effects of the
Palestinian uprising (intifadah). Industries using advanced
technology or requiring sizable investment have been discouraged by
a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli policies. Capital
investment consists largely of residential housing, not productive
assets that would enable local Palestinian firms to compete with
Israeli industry. GDP has been substantially supplemented by
remittances of workers employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states.
Such transfers from the Gulf dropped after Iraq invaded Kuwait in
August 1990. In the wake of the Persian Gulf crisis, many
Palestinians have returned to the West Bank, increasing
unemployment, and export revenues have dropped because of the
decline of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. The area's
economic situation has worsened since Israel imposed stringent
border restrictions in 1995 and 1996.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3%-4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: 33%
industry: 7%
services: 60% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1995 est.)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: construction 28.2%, agriculture 21.8%, industry
14.5%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12.6%, other services 22.9%
(1991)
note: excluding Israeli settlers
Unemployment rate: 25%-30% (1995 est.)
Budget: $NA
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement,
textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs;
the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in
the settlements and industrial centers
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:
capacity: NA kW
production: NA kWh
consumption per capita: NA kWh
note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric
Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East
Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric
Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and
military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants
Agriculture: olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables; beef,
dairy products
Exports: $116 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables
partners: Jordan, Israel
Imports: $791 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.)
commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
partners: Jordan, Israel
External debt: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
note: $410 million (est.) disbursed from international aid pledged
in 1995 (includes aid to Gaza Strip)
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian
dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 3.1295
(January 1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993), 2.4591
(1992), 2.2791 (1991); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1 - 0.7090
(January 1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993), 0.6797
(1992), 0.6808 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Transportation
--------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: small road network; Israelis have developed many highways to
service Jewish settlements
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with paved runways under 914 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
--------------
Telephones: NA
note: 8% of Palestinian households have telephones (1992 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
note: Israeli company BEZEK is responsible for communication
services in the West Bank
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note - 82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992
est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
note: 1 broadcast station is planned for Jericho
Televisions: NA; note - 54% of Palestinian households have
televisions (1992 est.)
Defense
-------
Branches: NA
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: NA
males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Western Sahara
--------------
Map
---
Location: 24 30 N, 13 00 W -- Northern Africa, bordering the North
Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geography
---------
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:
total area: 266,000 sq km
land area: 266,000 sq km
comparative area: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes: claimed and administered by Morocco, but
sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a
referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in
effect since September 1991
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents
produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or
sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 19%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: sparse water and arable land
natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility
international agreements: NA
People
------
Population: 222,631 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.46% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 46.51 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 18.02 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)