3,700 km gravel, 2,301 km improved earth, 12,399 km unimproved earth
and track
Inland waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products, 815 km
Ports: Port Sudan, Suakin
Merchant marine: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 91,107
GRT/122,222 DWT; includes 8 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo
Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft
Airports: 78 total, 68 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 4 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
31 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: large, well-equipped system by African standards,
but barely adequate and poorly maintained; consists of radio relay, cables,
radio communications, and troposcatter; domestic satellite system with 14
stations; 73,400 telephones; stations--4 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth
stations--1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT
- Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force
Military manpower: males 15-49, 5,621,469; 3,437,004 fit for military
service; 273,011 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: 7.2% of GDP, or $610 million (1989 est)
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Suriname
- Geography
Total area: 163,270 km2; land area: 161,470 km2
Comparative area: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: 1,707 km total; Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km,
Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims:
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and
Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area in Guyana between
New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the
Courantyne)
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,
bauxite, iron ore, and modest amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold
Land use: NEGL% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; NEGL% meadows and
pastures; 97% forest and woodland; 3% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: mostly tropical rain forest
- People
Population: 396,813 (July 1990), growth rate 1.4% (1990)
Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 40 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Surinamer(s); adjective--Surinamese
Ethnic divisions: 37.0% Hindustani (East Indian), 31.0% Creole (black and
mixed), 15.3% Javanese, 10.3% Bush black, 2.6% Amerindian, 1.7% Chinese,
1.0% Europeans, 1.1% other
Religion: 27.4% Hindu, 19.6% Muslim, 22.8% Roman Catholic,
25.2% Protestant (predominantly Moravian), about 5% indigenous beliefs
Language: Dutch (official); English widely spoken; Sranan Tongo
(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki) is native language of Creoles and much
of the younger population and is lingua franca among others; also Hindi
Suriname Hindustani (a variant of Bhoqpuri), and Javanese
Literacy: 65%
Labor force: 104,000 (1984)
Organized labor: 49,000 members of labor force
- Government
Long-form name: Republic of Suriname
Type: republic
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular--distrikt);
Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands; formerly Netherlands
Guiana or Dutch Guiana)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: NA
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Executive branch: president, vice president and prime minister,
Cabinet of Ministers, Council of State; note--commander in chief of the
National Army maintains significant power
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government--President Ramsewak SHANKAR
(since 25 January 1988); Vice President and Prime Minister Henck Alfonsus Eugene
ARRON (since 25 January 1988)
Political parties and leaders: 25 February Movement established by
Lt. Col. Desire Bouterse in November 1983, but much of its
activity taken over by New Democratic Party (NDP) in May 1987; leftists (all
small groups)--Revolutionary People's Party (RVP), Michael Naarendorp;
Progressive Workers and Farmers (PALU), Iwan Krolis; traditional
parties--Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath Lachmon; National Party
of Suriname (NPS), Henck Arron; Indonesian Peasants Party (KTPI), Willy Soemita;
the VHP, NPS, and KTPI formed a coalition known as The Front in July 1987 that
overwhelmingly defeated the NDP in the November 1987 elections
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections:
National Assembly--last held 25 November 1987 (next to be held
November 1992);
results--The Front 80%, others 20%;
seats--(51 total) The Front 40, NDP 3, PALU 4, Pendawa Llwa 4
Member of: ACP, ECLA, FAO, GATT, G-77, IBA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM,
OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT; Chancery
at Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 244-7488 or 7490 through 7492; there is a Surinamese
Consulate General in Miami;
US--Ambassador Richard HOWLAND; Embassy at Dr. Sophie Redmonstraat
129, Paramaribo (mailing address is P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo);
telephone [597] 72900 or 76459
Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red
(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow
five-pointed star centered in the red band
- Economy
Overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which
accounts for about 80% of export earnings and 40% of tax revenues. The
economy has been in trouble since the Dutch ended development aid in
1982. A drop in world bauxite prices that started in the late 1970s and
continued until late 1986, was followed by the outbreak of a guerrilla
insurgency in the interior. The guerrillas targeted the economic
infrastructure, crippling the important bauxite sector and shutting down
other export industries. These problems have created both high inflation
and high unemployment. A small gain in economic growth of 3.6% was
registered in 1988 due to reduced guerrilla activity and improved
international markets for bauxite.
GDP: $1.27 billion, per capita $3,215; real growth rate 3.6%
(1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: 27% (1988)
Budget: revenues $466 million; expenditures $716 million,
including capital expenditures of $123 million (1989 est.)
Exports: $425 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
commodities--alumina, bauxite, aluminum, rice, wood and wood
products, shrimp and fish, bananas;
partners--Netherlands 28%, US 22%, Norway 18%, Japan 11%,
Brazil 10%, UK 4%
Imports: $365 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.);
commodities--capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
consumer goods;
partners--US 34%, Netherlands 20%, Trinidad and Tobago 8%,
Brazil 5%, UK 3%
External debt: $65 million (1989 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate - 3.1% (1986)
Electricity: 458,000 kW capacity; 2,018 million kWh produced,
5,030 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production,
lumbering, food processing, fishing
Agriculture: accounts for 11% of both GDP and labor force; paddy
rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm
output; other products--bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains,
peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing
importance; self-sufficient in most foods
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.4 billion
Currency: Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (plural--guilders,
gulden, or florins); 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.)
per US$1--1.7850 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications
Railroads: 166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80
km 1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track
Highways: 8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel,
crushed stone, or improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay
Inland waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing
vessels with drafts ranging from 4.2 m to 7 m can navigate many of the principal
waterways
Ports: Paramaribo, Moengo
Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling
6,472 GRT/8,914 DWT; includes 2 cargo, 1 container
Civil air: 2 major transport aircraft
Airports: 47 total, 43 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: international facilities good; domestic radio relay
system; 27,500 telephones; stations--5 AM, 14 FM, 6 TV, 1 shortwave; 2 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
- Defense Forces
Branches: National Army (including Support Battalion, Infantry Battalion,
Mechanized Cavalry Unit, Military Police Brigade, Navy which is company-size,
small Air Force element)
Military manpower: males 15-49, 105,328; 62,896 fit for military service
Defense expenditures: 7.2% of GDP, or $91 million (1990 est.)
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Svalbard
(territory of Norway)
- Geography
Total area: 62,049 km2; land area: 62,049 km2; includes Spitsbergen
and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 10 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway,
not recognized by USSR;
Territorial sea: 4 nm
Disputes: focus of maritime boundary dispute between Norway
and USSR
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current;
cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north
coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;
west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures;
0% forest and woodland; 100% other; there are no trees and the only bushes are
crowberry and cloudberry
Environment: great calving glaciers descend to the sea
Note: located 445 km north of Norway where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,
Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet
- People
Population: 3,942 (July 1990), growth rate NA% (1990); about one-third of
the population resides in the Norwegian areas (Longyearbyen and Svea on
Vestspitsbergen) and two-thirds in the Soviet areas (Barentsburg and Pyramiden
on Vestspitsbergen); about 9 persons live at the Polish research station
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)
Ethnic divisions: 64% Russian, 35% Norwegian, 1% other (1981)
Language: Russian, Norwegian
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: none
- Government
Long-form name: none
Type: territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo,
through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty
(9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
Capital: Longyearbyen
Leaders:
Chief of State--King OLAV V (since 21 September 1957);
Head of Government Governor Leif ELDRING (since NA)
Flag: the flag of Norway is used
- Economy
Overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By
treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights
to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK,
Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies
still mining are Norwegian and Soviet. Each company mines about half a million
tons of coal annually. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company
towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the
Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and
provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal,
polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Electricity: 21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced,
11,420 kWh per capita (1989)
Currency: Norwegian krone (plural--kroner);
1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--6.5405 (January
1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987), 7.3947 (1986),
8.5972 (1985)
- Communications
Ports: limited facilities--Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay
Airports: 4 total, 4 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways;
none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 5 meteorological/radio stations;
stations--1 AM, 1 (2 relays) FM, 1 TV
- Defense Forces
Note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Swaziland
- Geography
Total area: 17,360 km2; land area: 17,200 km2
Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 535 km total; Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: none--landlocked
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, tin, hydroelelectric
power, forests, and small gold and diamond deposits
Land use: 8% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 67% meadows and pastures;
6% forest and woodland; 19% other; includes 2% irrigated
Environment: overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
- People
Population: 778,525 (July 1990), growth rate 3.1% (1990)
Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 126 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 55 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 6.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Swazi(s); adjective--Swazi
Ethnic divisions: 97% African, 3% European
Religion: 60% Christian, 40% indigenous beliefs
Language: English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in
English
Literacy: 67.9%
Labor force: 195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture;
about 92,000 wage earners (many only intermittently), with 36% agriculture and
forestry, 20% community and social services, 14% manufacturing, 9% construction,
21% other; 24,000-29,000 employed in South Africa (1987)
Organized labor: about 10% of wage earners
- Government
Long-form name: Kingdom of Swaziland
Type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended on
12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not
been formally presented to the people
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts,
Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Libandla) is advisory
and consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house or
House of Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State--King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Obed MFANYANA (since 12 July
1989)
Political parties: none; banned by the Constitution promulgated on
13 October 1978
Suffrage: none
Elections: no direct elections
Communists: no Communist party
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, Southern African Customs
Union, SADCC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Absalom Vusani MAMBA;
Chancery at 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 362-6683;
US--Ambassador (vacant), Deputy Chief of Mission Armajane KARAER;
Embassy at Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane (mailing address
is P. O. Box 199, Mbabane); telephone 22281 through 22285
Flag: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;
the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and
white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels,
all placed horizontally
- Economy
Overview: The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, which occupies
much of the labor force and contributes about 25% to GDP. Manufacturing, which
includes a number of agroprocessing factories, accounts for another 25% of GDP.
Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits
were depleted in 1978, and health concerns cut world demand for asbestos.
Exports of sugar and forestry products are the main earners of hard currency.
Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland
is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 90% of its imports
and to which it sends about one-third of its exports.
GNP: $539 million, per capita $750; real growth rate 5.7% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17% (1989 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $255 million; expenditures $253 million,
including capital expenditures of $NA million (FY91 est.)
Exports: $394 million (f.o.b., 1988);
commodities--sugar, asbestos, wood pulp, citrus, canned fruit,
soft drink concentrates;
partners--South Africa, UK, US
Imports: $386 million (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--motor vehicles,
machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, foodstuffs;
partners--South Africa, US, UK
External debt: $275 million (December 1987)
Industrial production: growth rate 24% (1986)
Electricity: 50,000 kW capacity; 130 million kWh produced,
170 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP and over 60% of labor force;
mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops--sugarcane, citrus fruit,
cotton, pineapples; other crops and livestock--corn, sorghum, peanuts,
cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $132 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $468 million
Currency: lilangeni (plural--emalangeni); 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1--2.5555 (January 1990),
2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985);
note--the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
- Communications
Railroads: 297 km plus 71 km disused, 1.067-meter gauge, single track
Highways: 2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or
stabilized soil, and 1,113 km improved earth
Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft
Airports: 23 total, 22 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced runways;
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;
none with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines
and low-capacity radio relay links; 15,400 telephones; stations--6 AM, 6 FM,
10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
- Defense Forces
Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force
Military manpower: males 15-49, 166,537; 96,239 fit for military service
Defense expenditures: NA
----------------------------------------------------
Country: Sweden
- Geography
Total area: 449,960 km2; land area: 411,620 km2
Comparative area: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: 2,193 km total; Finland 536 km, Norway 1,657 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool,
partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential
Land use: 7% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 2% meadows and pastures;
64% forest and woodland; 27% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: water pollution; acid rain
Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking
Baltic and North Seas
- People
Population: 8,526,452 (July 1990), growth rate 0.5% (1990)
Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun--Swede(s); adjective--Swedish
Ethnic divisions: homogeneous white population; small Lappish minority;
about 12% foreign born or first-generation immigrants (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes,
Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religion: 93.5% Evangelical Lutheran, 1.0% Roman Catholic, 5.5% other
Language: Swedish, small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants
speak native languages
Literacy: 99%
Labor force: 4,531,000 (1988); 32.8% private services, 30.0%
government services, 22.0% mining and manufacturing, 5.9% construction,
5.0% agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 0.9% electricity, gas, and
waterworks (1986)
Organized labor: 90% of labor force (1985 est.)
- Government
Long-form name: Kingdom of Sweden
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan,
Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan,
Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan,
Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan,
Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan, Sodermanlands Lan,
Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan, Vasterbottens Lan,
Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Independence: 6 June 1809, constitutional monarchy established
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Riksdag)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
Leaders:
Chief of State--King CARL XVI Gustaf (since 19 September 1973);
Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the
King (born 14 July 1977);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Ingvar CARLSSON (since 12 March 1986);
Deputy Prime Minister Kjell-Olof FELDT (since NA March 1986)