agricultural activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid deforestation
- People
Population: 118,819,377 (July 1990), growth rate 3.0% (1990)
Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 119 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 49 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Nigerian(s); adjective--Nigerian
Ethnic divisions: more than 250 tribal groups; Hausa and Fulani of the
north, Yoruba of the southwest, and Ibos of the southeast make up 65% of the
population; about 27,000 non-Africans
Religion: 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% indigenous beliefs
Language: English (official); Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and several
other languages also widely used
Literacy: 42.4%
Labor force: 42,844,000; 54% agriculture, 19% industry, commerce,
and services, 15% government; 49% of population of working age (1985)
Organized labor: 3,520,000 wage earners belong to 42 recognized trade
unions, which come under a single national labor federation--the Nigerian
Labor Congress (NLC)
- Government
Long-form name: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Type: military government since 31 December 1983
Capital: Lagos
Administrative divisions: 21 states and 1 territory*;
Abuja Capital Territory*, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bendel, Benue, Borno,
Cross River, Gongola, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun,
Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
Constitution: 1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic, and tribal law
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Executive branch: president of the Armed Forces Ruling Council,
Armed Forces Ruling Council, National Council of State, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch: National Assembly was dissolved after the military
coup of 31 December 1983
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--President and Commander in
Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA (since 27 August 1985)
Political parties and leaders: two political parties established by
the government in 1989--Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National
Republican Convention (NRC)
Suffrage: universal at age 21
Elections:
President--scheduled for 1 October 1992
Communists: the pro-Communist underground consists of a small fraction of
the Nigerian left; leftist leaders are prominent in the country's central
labor organization but have little influence on government
Member of: ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, Commonwealth, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO,
G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITC, ITU, IWC--International Wheat
Council, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Niger River Commission, NAM, OAU,
OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hamzat AHMADU; Chancery at
2201 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202) 822-1500;
there are Nigerian Consulates General in Atlanta, New York and San Francisco;
US--Ambassador Lannon WALKER; Embassy at 2 Eleke Crescent,
Victoria Island, Lagos (mailing address is P. O. Box 554, Lagos);
telephone [234] (1) 610097; there is a US Consulate General in Kaduna
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
- Economy
Overview: In 1989, despite rising oil prices, the economic
performance failed to meet government expectations because of higher
inflationary pressures fueled by a relatively poor agricultural
performance. Agricultural production was up only 4% following a 10%
decline in 1988, and manufacturing remained below the 1985 level
with only a 6% increase. The government is continuing an economic
adjustment program to reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil and to help
create a basis for sustainable noninflationary growth.
GNP: $30.0 billion, per capita $270; real growth rate 4% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 47.5% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1988 est.)
Budget: revenues $6.5 billion; expenditures $7.4 billion, including
capital expenditures of $1.9 billion (1988 est.)
Exports: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities--oil 95%,
cocoa, palm kernels, rubber; partners--EC 51%, US 32%
Imports: $5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities--consumer
goods,
capital equipment, chemicals, raw materials; partners--EC, US
External debt: $32 billion, medium and long-term (December 1989
est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1987 est.)
Electricity: 4,737,000 kW capacity; 11,270 million kWh produced,
100 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: mining--crude oil, natural gas, coal, tin, columbite;
primary processing industries--palm oil, peanut, cotton, rubber, petroleum,
wood, hides and skins; manufacturing industries--textiles, cement, building
materials, food products, footwear, chemical, printing, ceramics, steel
Agriculture: accounts for 28% of GNP and half of labor force; inefficient
small-scale farming dominates; once a large net exporter of food and
now an importer; cash crops--cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber; food
crops--corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams; livestock--cattle,
sheep, goats, pigs; fishing and forestry resources extensively exploited
Illicit drugs: illicit heroin and some cocaine trafficking;
marijuana cultivation for domestic consumption and export; major transit
country for heroin en route from Southwest Asia via Africa to Western
Europe and the US; growing transit route for cocaine from South America
via West Africa to Western Europe and the US
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $662 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.9 billion;
Communist countries (1970-88), $2.2 billion
Currency: naira (plural--naira); 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1--7.6221 (December 1989), 7.3647
(1989), 4.5370 (1988), 4.0160 (1987), 1.7545 (1986), 0.8938 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications
Railroads: 3,505 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways: 107,990 km total 30,019 km paved (mostly bituminous-surface
treatment); 25,411 km laterite, gravel, crushed stone, improved earth;
52,560 km unimproved
Inland waterways: 8,575 km consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and
smaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines: 2,042 km crude oil; 500 km natural gas; 3,000 km refined
products
Ports: Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele
Merchant marine: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 428,116
GRT/680,343 DWT; includes 19 cargo, 1 refrigerated, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo,
5 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 bulk
Civil air: 76 major transport aircraft
Airports: 84 total, 72 usable; 32 with permanent-surface runways;
1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: above-average system limited by poor maintenance;
major expansion in progress; radio relay and cable routes; 155,000 telephones;
stations--37 AM, 19 FM, 38 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT, domestic, with 19 stations; 1 coaxial submarine cable
- Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Police Force
Military manpower: males 15-49, 27,282,248; 15,587,485 fit for military
service; 1,263,883 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: 1% of GNP, or $300 million (1990 est.)
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Niue
(free association with New Zealand)
- Geography
Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims:
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: 61% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 4% meadows and
pastures; 19% forest and woodland; 12% other
Environment: subject to typhoons
Note: one of world's largest coral islands; located about 460 km
east of Tonga
- People
Population: 2,019 (July 1990), growth rate NA (1990)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Niuean(s); adjective--Niuean
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian, with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and
Tongans
Religion: 75% Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church)--a Protestant
church closely related to the London Missionary Society, 10% Mormon, 5% Roman
Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist
Language: Polynesian tongue closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Literacy: NA%, but education compulsory between 5 and 14 years of age
Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.); most work on family plantations; paid work
exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development
Board
Organized labor: NA
- Government
Long-form name: none
Type: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (self-governing territory in free association with
New Zealand)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution
Legal system: English common law
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty), 6 February (1840)
Executive branch: British monarch, premier, Cabinet
Legislative branch: Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
by New Zealand Representative John SPRINGFORD (since 1974);
Head of Government--Premier Sir Robert R. REX (since NA October
1974)
Suffrage: universal adult at age 18
Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party,
leader NA
Elections:
Legislative Assembly--last held on 28 March 1987 (next to be
held NA 1990);
results--percent of vote NA;
seats--(20 total, 6 elected) independents 5, Niue People's Action Party 1
Member of: ESCAP (associate member), SPF
Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in free
association with New Zealand)
Flag: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the
flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars--a large one on a blue
disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
- Economy
Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New
Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the
shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand--the grants are used to pay
wages to the 80% or more of the work force employed in public service.
The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some
cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories
to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of
postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue.
The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population
because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
GNP: $2.1 million, per capita $1,000; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (1984)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (FY85 est.)
Exports: $175,274 (f.o.b., 1985); commodities--canned coconut cream,
copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs,
stamps, handicrafts; partners--NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $3.8 million (c.i.f., 1985); commodities--food, live
animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs;
partners--NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced,
1,420 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourist, handicrafts
Agriculture: copra, coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence
crops--taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments
(1970-87), $58 million
Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural--dollars);
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1--1.6581 (January 1990),
1.6708 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
- Communications
Highways: 123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway of 1,650 m
Telecommunications: single-line telephone system connects all villages on
island; 383 telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.); stations--1 AM, 1 FM,
no TV
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Norfolk Island
(territory of Australia)
- Geography
Total area: 34.6 km2; land area: 34.6 km2
Comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 32 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Natural resources: fish
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 25% meadows and
pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 75% other
Environment: subject to typhoons (especially May to July)
Note: located 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific
Ocean
- People
Population: 2,533 (July 1990), growth rate 1.7% (1990)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Norfolk Islander(s); adjective--Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutiny; more recently,
Australian and New Zealand settlers
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Uniting Church in
Australia, and Seventh-Day Adventist
Language: English (official) and Norfolk--a mixture of 18th century
English and ancient Tahitian
Literacy: NA%, but probably high
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: NA
- Government
Long-form name: Territory of Norfolk Island
Type: territory of Australia
Capital: Kingston (administrative center), Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1957
Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under the
Norfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court
National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia,
administrator, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented
by Administrator H. B. MACDONALD (since NA 1989), who is appointed
by the Governor General of Australia;
Head of Government--Assembly President and Chief Minister John
Terence BROWN (since NA)
Political parties and leaders: NA
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
Legislative Assembly--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) percent of seats by party NA
Diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a
large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band
- Economy
Overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought
a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The
number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached almost
30,000 in 1986. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance
of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the
production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
GNP: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $3.4 million; expenditures $3.4 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (FY88)
Exports: $1.8 million (f.o.b., FY85); commodities--postage
stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia Palm, small quantities of
avocados;
partners--Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
Imports: $16.3 million (c.i.f., FY85); commodities--NA;
partners--Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
External debt: NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced,
3,210 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourism
Agriculture: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals,
vegetables, fruit, cattle, poultry
Aid: none
Currency: Australian dollar (plural--dollars);
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1--1.2784 (January 1990),
1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988), 1.4267 (1987), 1.4905 (1986), 1.4269 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
- Communications
Highways: 80 km of roads, including 53 km of sealed roads; remainder are
earth formed or coral surfaced
Ports: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
(Australian owned)
Telecommunications: 1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service
with Sydney; 987 telephones (1983); stations--1 AM, no FM, no TV
- Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Northern Mariana Islands
(commonwealth associated with the US)
- Geography
Total area: 477 km2; land area: 477 km2; includes Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 m;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little
seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to July, rainy season
July to October
Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing
coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters
(Mt. Tagpochu on Saipan)
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: 1% arable land; NA% permanent crops; 19% meadows and
pastures; NA% forest and woodland; NA% other
Environment: Mt. Pagan is an active volcano (last erupted in October
1988); subject to typhoons during the rainy season
Note: strategic location 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu in the
North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and
the Philippines
- People
Population: 22,719 (July 1990), growth rate 3.4% (1990)
Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 70 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: undetermined
Ethnic divisions: Chamorro majority; Carolinians and other Micronesians;
Spanish, German, Japanese admixtures
Religion: Christian with a Roman Catholic majority, although traditional
beliefs and taboos may still be found
Language: English, but Chamorro and Carolinian are also spoken in the
home and taught in school
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 17,533, including 10,000 foreign workers (1988 est.)
Organized labor: NA
- Government
Long-form name: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Type: commonwealth associated with the US and administered by the
Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Capital: Saipan
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986
Legal system: NA
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Executive branch: governor, lieutenant governor
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State--President George BUSH (since 20 January 1989);
Vice President Dan QUAYLE (since 20 January 1989);
Head of Government--Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since 1978);
Lieutenant Governor Pedro A. TENORIO (since NA)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Antonio S. Guerrero;
Republican Party, Alonso Igisomar
Suffrage: universal at age 18; indigenous inhabitants are US
citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Elections:
Governor--last held on NA (next to be held NA);
results--Pedro P. TENORIO (Democratic Party) was elected;
Senate--last held on NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(9 total) number of seats by party NA;
House of Representatives--last held on NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(14 total) number of seats by party NA;
US House of Representatives--last held NA (next to be held NA);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(1 total) party of nonvoting delegate NA
Diplomatic representation: none
Flag: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray
silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building)
in the center
- Economy
Overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance
from the US. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitles the islands to
$228 million for capital development, government operations, and special
programs. Another major source of income is the tourist industry, which
employs about 10% of the work force. The agricultural sector is made up of
cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and
melons. Industry is small scale in nature--mostly handicrafts and fish
processing.
GNP: $165 million, per capita $9,170; real growth rate NA% (1982)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $70.6 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1987)
Exports: $NA; commodities--vegetables, beef, pork;
partners--NA
Imports: $NA; commodities--NA;
partners--NA
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced,
1,640 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Agriculture: coffee, coconuts, fruits, tobacco, cattle
Aid: none
Currency: US currency is used
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
- Communications
Highways: 300 km total (53 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local)
Ports: Saipan, Rota, Tinian
Airports: 6 total, 4 usable; 3 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with
runways 1,220-2,439 m