Flag:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as
the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors have been the basis
for a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote
d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
*France, Economy
Overview:
One of the world's most developed economies, France has substantial
agricultural resources and a highly diversified modern industrial sector.
Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and
subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in
Western Europe. France is largely self-sufficient in agricultural products
and is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector
generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has
become crucial to the economy. The French economy is entering its fourth
consecutive year of sluggish growth after a strong expansion in the late
1980s. Growth averaged only 1.3% in 1990-92 and is expected to drop to
between zero and -0.5% in 1993. The government budget deficit rose to 3.2%
of GDP in 1992 and is expected to be far larger than planned in the 1993
budget. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsch mark
parity, which has kept French interest rates high despite France's low
inflation. Although the pace of economic integration within the European
Community has slowed down, integration presumably will remain a major force
shaping the fortunes of the various economic sectors.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.08 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
1.1% (1992)
National product per capita:
$18,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.5% (end 1992)
Budget:
revenues $220.5 billion; expenditures $249.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $47 billion (1993 budget)
Exports:
$212.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural
products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing
partners:
Germany 18.6%, Italy 11.0%, Spain 11.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg 9.1%, UK 8.8%,
Netherlands 7.9%, US 6.4%, Japan 2.0%, former USSR 0.7% (1991 est.)
Imports:
$230.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron
and steel products
partners:
Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.9%, US 9.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, Spain 8.8%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 8.5%, UK 7.5%, Japan 4.1%, former USSR 1.3% (1991 est.)
External debt:
$270 billion (December 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 0.2% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
110,000,000 kW capacity; 426,000 million kWh produced, 7,430 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics,
mining, textiles, food processing, tourism
*France, Economy
Agriculture:
accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); one of the world's
top five wheat producers; other principal products - beef, dairy products,
cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; self-sufficient for most
temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce,
but overall net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons
ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion
Currency:
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
(1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*France, Communications
Railroads:
French National Railways (SNCF) operates 34,322 km 1.435-meter standard
gauge; 12,434 km electrified, 15,132 km double or multiple track; 99 km of
various gauges (1.000-meter), privately owned and operated
Highways:
1,551,400 km total; 33,400 km national highway; 347,000 km departmental
highway; 421,000 km community roads; 750,000 km rural roads; 5,401 km of
controlled-access divided autoroutes; about 803,000 km paved
Inland waterways:
14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km
Ports:
coastal - Bordeaux, Boulogne, Brest, Cherbourg, Dunkerque, Fos-Sur-Mer, Le
Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Sete, Toulon; inland - Rouen
Merchant marine:
130 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,224,945 GRT/5,067,252 DWT; includes
7 short-sea passenger, 10 cargo, 20 container, 1 multifunction large-load
carrier, 27 roll-on/roll-off, 36 oil tanker, 11 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied
gas, 2 specialized tanker, 10 bulk; note - France also maintains a captive
register for French-owned ships in the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern
and Antarctic Lands) and French Polynesia
Airports:
total:
471
usable:
461
with permanent-surface runways:
256
with runways over 3,659 m:
3
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
37
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
136
Telecommunications:
highly developed; extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks;
large-scale introduction of optical-fiber systems; satellite systems for
domestic traffic; 39,200,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 41 AM, 800
(mostly repeaters) FM, 846 (mostly repeaters) TV; 24 submarine coaxial
cables; 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for the
Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 3 for the Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT); HF radio
communications with more than 20 countries; INMARSAT service; EUTELSAT TV
service
*France, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air), Air Force, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 14,662,761; fit for military service 12,247,950; reach
military age (18) annually 386,504 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $36.6 billion, 3.1% of GDP (1993 est.)
*French Guiana, Header
Affiliation:
(overseas department of France)
*French Guiana, Geography
Location:
northern South America, bordering on the North Atlantic Ocean between
Suriname and Brazil
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
91,000 km2
land area:
89,150 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total 1,183 km, Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline:
378 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both
headwaters of the Lawa)
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Natural resources:
bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
82%
other:
18%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
mostly an unsettled wilderness
*French Guiana, People
Population:
133,376 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
4.42% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
26.46 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
4.72 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
22.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
16.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.87 years
male:
71.59 years
female:
78.32 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.54 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective:
French Guianese
Ethnic divisions:
black or mulatto 66%, Caucasian 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%,
other 10%
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
French
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1982)
total population:
82%
male:
81%
female:
83%
Labor force:
23,265
by occupation:
services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2%
(1980)
*French Guiana, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Department of Guiana
conventional short form:
French Guiana
local long form:
none
local short form:
Guyane
Digraph:
FG
Type:
overseas department of France
Capital:
Cayenne
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas department of France)
Independence:
none (overseas department of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Gerard HOLDER; Rally for the Republic (RPR),
Paulin BRUNE; Union of the Center Rally (URC); Union for French Democracy
(UDF), Claude Ho A CHUCK; Guyana Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
French National Assembly:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) PSG 1, RPR 1
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) PSG 1
Regional Council:
last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG 16
Executive branch:
French president, commissioner of the republic
Legislative branch:
unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Council
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeals (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction
over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government: Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA 1992)
Member of:
FZ, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US:
as an overseas department of France, the interests of French Guiana are
represented in the US by France
*French Guiana, Government
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas department of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
*French Guiana, Economy
Overview:
The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports.
Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most
important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products
(mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1987. The
large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an
expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation
of crops - rice, cassava, bananas, and sugarcane - is limited to the coastal
area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily
dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem,
particularly among younger workers.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $421 million (1986)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$4,390 (1986)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (1987)
Unemployment rate:
13% (1990)
Budget:
revenues $735 million; expenditures $735 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1987)
Exports:
$64.8 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence
partners:
France 36%, US 14%, Japan 6% (1990)
Imports:
$435 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods, producer goods,
petroleum
partners: France 62%, Trinidad and Tobago 9%, US 4%, FRG 3% (1987)
External debt:
$1.2 billion (1988)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
92,000 kW capacity; 185 million kWh produced, 1,450 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Agriculture:
some vegetables for local consumption; rice, corn, manioc, cocoa, bananas,
sugar; livestock - cattle, pigs, poultry
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$1.51 billion
Currency:
1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421
(1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*French Guiana, Communications
Highways:
680 km total; 510 km paved, 170 km improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal
steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
Ports:
Cayenne
Airports:
total:
10
usable:
10
with permanent-surface runways:
4
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system; 18,100 telephones;
broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
station
*French Guiana, Defense Forces
Branches:
French Forces, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males 15-49 39,005; fit for military service 25,477 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*French Polynesia, Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of France)
*French Polynesia, Geography
Location:
Oceania, halfway between Australia and South America
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
3,941 km2
land area:
3,660 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,525 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical, but moderate
Terrain:
mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Natural resources:
timber, fish, cobalt
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
19%
meadows and pastures:
5%
forest and woodland: 31%
other:
44%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
occasional cyclonic storm in January; includes five archipelagoes
Note:
Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands
in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and
Nauru
*French Polynesia, People
Population:
210,333 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.26% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
27.89 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
15 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
70.33 years
male:
67.95 years
female:
72.84 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.32 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
French Polynesian(s)
adjective:
French Polynesian
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions:
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Languages:
French (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy:
age 14 and over but definition of literacy not available (1977)
total population:
98%
male:
98%
female:
98%
Labor force:
76,630 employed (1988)
*French Polynesia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of French Polynesia
conventional short form:
French Polynesia
local long form:
Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form:
Polynesie Francaise
Digraph:
FP
Type:
overseas territory of France since 1946
Capital:
Papeete
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic
divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des
Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent
note:
Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
based on French system
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
People's Rally (Tahoeraa Huiraatira; Gaullist), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian
Union Party (Te Tiarama; centrist), Alexandre LEONTIEFF; New Fatherland
Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Polynesian Liberation Front (Tavini
Huiraatira), Oscar TEMARU; other small parties
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
French National Assembly:
last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1993); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally (Gaullist)
1, New Fatherland Party 1
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) party NA
Territorial Assembly:
last held 17 March 1991 (next to be held March 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (41 total) People's Rally (Gaullist) 18,
Polynesian Union Party 14, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4
Executive branch:
French president, high commissioner of the republic, president of the
Council of Ministers, vice president of the Council of Ministers, Council of
Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal, Court of the First Instance, Court of Administrative Law
*French Polynesia, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981); High Commissioner of the
Republic Michel JAU (since NA 1992)
Head of Government:
President of the Council of Ministers Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991);
Vice President of the Council of Ministers Joel BUILLARD (since 12 September
1991)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
as an overseas territory of France, French Polynesian interests are
represented in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
*French Polynesia, Economy
Overview:
Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French
Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high
proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports
the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary
source of hard currency earnings.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$6,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.9% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
14.9% (1988 est.)
Budget:
revenues $614 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1988)
Exports:
$88.9 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, shark meat
partners:
France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%
Imports:
$765 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
partners:
France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
75,000 kW capacity; 275 million kWh produced, 1,330 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
Agriculture:
coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit; poultry, beef, dairy
products
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88),
$3.95 billion
Currency:
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 99.65 (January
1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
(1988); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*French Polynesia, Communications
Highways:
600 km (1982)
Ports:
Papeete, Bora-bora
Merchant marine:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWT; includes 2
passenger-cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo; note - a captive subset of the French
register
Airports:
total:
43
usable:
41
with permanent-surface runways:
23
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
33,200 telephones; 84,000 radio receivers; 26,400 TV sets; broadcast
stations - 5 AM, 2 FM, 6 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*French Polynesia, Defense Forces
Branches:
French forces (including Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Note:
defense is responsibility of France
*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of France)
*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Geography
Location:
in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica,
and Australia
Map references:
Antarctic Region, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
7,781 km2
land area:
7,781 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delaware
note:
includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Crozet;
excludes Terre Adelie claim of about 500,000 km2 in Antarctica that is not
recognized by the US
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,232 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm from Iles Kerguelen only
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Terre Adelie claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain: volcanic
Natural resources:
fish, crayfish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Note:
remote location in the southern Indian Ocean
*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, People
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are researchers whose numbers vary
from 150 in winter (July) to 200 in summer (January)
*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
conventional short form:
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form:
Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
local short form:
Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Digraph:
FS
Type:
overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator
Bernard de GOUTTES (since May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member
Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council
Capital:
none; administered from Paris, France
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named
Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes Terre
Adelie claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Economy
Overview:
Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical
research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fishing catches
landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and
Reunion.
Budget:
revenues $17.5 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
$NA (1992)
*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:
16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 292,490 GRT/514,389 DWT; includes 2
cargo, 4 refrigerated cargo, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 oil tanker, 3 bulk,
1 multifunction large load carrier; note - a captive subset of the French
register
Telecommunications:
NA
*French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*Gabon, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator between the
Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
267,670 km2
land area:
257,670 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries: total 2,551 km, Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:
885 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed
sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Natural resources:
petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
18%
forest and woodland:
78%
other:
2%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
deforestation
*Gabon, People
Population:
1,122,550 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.45% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
28.63 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
14.08 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
97.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
54.19 years
male:
51.46 years female:
57.01 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.02 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Gabonese
Ethnic divisions:
Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou,
Bateke), Africans and Europeans 100,000, including 27,000 French
Religions:
Christian 55-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
Languages:
French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
61%
male:
74%
female:
48%
Labor force:
120,000 salaried
by occupation:
agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government
2.5%
note:
58% of population of working age (1983)
*Gabon, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Gabonese Republic
conventional short form:
Gabon
local long form:
Republique Gabonaise
local short form:
Gabon
Digraph:
GB
Type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)
Capital:
Libreville
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,
Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:
17 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
21 February 1961, revised 15 April 1975
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
National holiday:
Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese Democratic Party established)
Political parties and leaders:
Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), El Hadj Omar BONGO,
president; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons);
Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP); National Recovery Movement
(Morena-Original); Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG); Gabonese
Socialist Union (USG); Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP); Union for
Democracy and Development (UDD)
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held on 28 October 1990 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of
vote NA; seats - (120 total, 111 elected) PDG 62, National Recovery Movement
- Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons) 19, PGP 18, National Recovery Movement
(Morena-Original) 7, APSG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independents 3
President:
last held on 9 November 1986 (next to be held December 1993); results -
President Omar BONGO was reelected without opposition
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Casimir OYE-MBA (since 3 May 1990)
*Gabon, Government
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
chancery:
2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 797-1000
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador John C. WILSON IV
embassy:
Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville
mailing address:
B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone:
(241) 762003/4, or 743492
FAX:
[241] 745-507
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
*Gabon, Economy
Overview:
The economy, dependent on timber and manganese until the early 1970s, is now
dominated by the oil sector. In 1981-85, oil accounted for about 45% of GDP,
80% of export earnings, and 65% of government revenues on average. The high
oil prices of the early 1980s contributed to a substantial increase in per
capita national income, stimulated domestic demand, reinforced migration
from rural to urban areas, and raised the level of real wages to among the
highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. The subsequent slide of Gabon's economy,
which began with falling oil prices in 1985, was reversed in 1989-90, but
debt servicing obligations continue to limit prospects for further domestic
development. Real growth in 1991-92 was weak because of a combination of an
overstaffed bureaucracy, a large budget deficit, and the continued
underdevelopment of the whole economy outside the petroleum sector.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.6 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
13% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,200 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $1.4 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $247 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
crude oil 80%, manganese 7%, wood 7%, uranium 2%
partners:
France 48%, US 15%, Germany 2%, Japan 2%
Imports:
$702 million (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction materials,
manufactures, machinery
partners:
France 64%, African countries 7%, US 5%, Japan 3%
External debt: $4.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate - 10% (1988 est.); accounts for 45% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
315,000 kW capacity; 995 million kWh produced, 920 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
petroleum, food and beverages, lumbering and plywood, textiles, mining -
manganese, uranium, gold, cement
Agriculture:
accounts for 10% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); cash crops -
cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock not developed; importer of food; small
fishing operations provide a catch of about 20,000 metric tons; okoume (a
tropical softwood) is the most important timber product
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $68 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-90), $2,342 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million
Currency:
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
*Gabon, Economy
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Gabon, Communications
Railroads:
649 km 1.437-meter standard-gauge single track (Transgabonese Railroad)
Highways:
7,500 km total; 560 km paved, 960 km laterite, 5,980 km earth
Inland waterways:
1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports:
Owendo, Port-Gentil, Libreville
Merchant marine:
2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,563 GRT/25,330 DWT
Airports:
total:
68
usable:
56
with permanent-surface runways:
10
with runways over 3,659 m:
0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
22
Telecommunications:
adequate system of cable, radio relay, tropospheric scatter links and
radiocommunication stations; 15,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6
FM, 3 (5 repeaters) TV; satellite earth stations - 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
and 12 domestic satellite
*Gabon, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, National
Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 269,066; fit for military service 135,836; reach military
age (20) annually 9,680 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $102 million, 3.2% of GDP (1990 est.)
*The Gambia, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely
surrounded by Senegal
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
11,300 km2
land area:
10,000 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
80 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
18 nm
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November
to May)
Terrain:
flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land:
16%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
9%
forest and woodland:
20%
other:
55%
Irrigated land:
120 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
deforestation
Note:
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
*The Gambia, People
Population:
930,249 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
46.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
16.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
126.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
49.61 years
male:
47.41 years
female:
51.87 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Gambian(s)
adjective:
Gambian
Ethnic divisions:
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other
4%), non-Gambian 1%
Religions:
Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
27%
male:
39%
female:
16%
Labor force:
400,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%
note:
55% population of working age (1983)
*The Gambia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form:
The Gambia
Digraph:
GA
Type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Banjul
Administrative divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank,, Upper River,
Western
Independence:
18 February 1965 (from UK; 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)
Constitution:
24 April 1970
Legal system:
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Political parties and leaders:
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general;
National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; Gambian People's Party
(GPP), Hassan Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic
Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA; People's
Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992); results - PPP
56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP
31, NCP 5
President:
last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results - Sir Dawda
JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA
(GPP) 13.7%
Executive branch:
president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice
President Saihou SABALLY (since NA)
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH
*The Gambia, Government
chancery:
Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
(202) 842-1356 or 842-1359
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Arlene RENDER
embassy:
Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul
mailing address:
P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone:
[220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971
FAX:
(220) 92475
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
*The Gambia, Economy
Overview:
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a
limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a
per capita income of about $325. About 75% of the population is engaged in
crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 30% to GDP.
Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing peanuts, fish, and hides -
accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia
imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods.
Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $292 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1991)
National product per capita:
$325 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $94 million; expenditures $80 million, including capital
expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
$133 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
commodities:
peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
partners:
Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports:
$174 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport
equipment
partners:
Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)
External debt:
$336 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
Electricity:
30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly,
woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Agriculture:
accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports
one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; other
principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels;
livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully
exploited
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
Currency:
1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs
Exchange rates:
dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.673 (October 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990),
7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)
*The Gambia, Economy
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*The Gambia, Communications
Highways:
3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km
unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
400 km
Ports:
Banjul
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast
stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*The Gambia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 201,026; fit for military service 101,642 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Gaza Strip, Header
Note:
The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in
control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan
Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David accords and reaffirmed by
President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a
peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will
resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process,
it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
has yet to be determined. In the US view, the term West Bank describes all
of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian administration before
the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. With respect to negotiations envisaged in the
framework agreement, however, it is US policy that a distinction must be
made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank because of the city's
special status and circumstances. Therefore, a negotiated solution for the
final status of Jerusalem could be different in character from that of the
rest of the West Bank.
*Gaza Strip, Geography
Location:
Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Israel
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total area:
380 km2
land area:
380 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total 62 km, Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
Israeli occupied with status to be determined
International disputes:
Israeli occupied with status to be determined
Climate:
temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:
flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
13%
permanent crops:
32%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
55%
Irrigated land: 200 km2
Environment:
desertification
*Gaza Strip, People
Population:
705,834 (July 1993 est.)
note:
in addition, there are 4,000 Jewish settlers in the Gaza Strip (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.56% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.26 years
male:
66.01 years
female:
68.57 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.51 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
Palestinian Arab and other 99.8%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 99%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.3%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers), English (widely understood)
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
small industry, commerce and business 32.0%, construction 24.4%, service and
other 25.5%, agriculture 18.1% (1984)
note:
excluding Israeli Jewish settlers
*Gaza Strip, Government
Note:
The Gaza Strip is currently governed by Israeli military authorities and
Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the final status of the
Gaza Strip will be determined by negotiations among the concerned parties.
These negotiations will determine how this area is to be governed.
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Gaza Strip
local long form:
none
local short form:
Qita Ghazzah
Digraph:
GZ
*Gaza Strip, Economy
Overview:
In 1990 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed across the border by
Israeli industrial, construction, and agricultural enterprises, with worker
remittances accounting for about one-third of GNP. The construction,
agricultural, and industrial sectors account for about 15%, 12%, and 8% of
GNP, respectively. Gaza depends upon Israel for some 90% of its external
trade. Unrest in the territory in 1988-93 (intifadah) has raised
unemployment and substantially lowered the standard of living of Gazans. The
Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks also have dealt severe blows to Gaza
since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf states have plunged,
unemployment has increased, and exports have fallen dramatically. The area's
economic outlook remains bleak.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $380 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-30% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$590 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (1990 est.)
Budget:
revenues $33.8 million; expenditures $33.3 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
$30 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
citrus
partners: Israel, Egypt
Imports:
$255 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
partners:
Israel, Egypt
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 10% (1989); accounts for about 8% of GNP
Electricity:
power supplied by Israel
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood
carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some
small-scale modern industries in an industrial center
Agriculture:
accounts for about 12% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
beef, dairy products
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.6480 (November 1992), 2.4591 (1992),
2.2791 (1991), 2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
*Gaza Strip, Communications
Railroads:
one line, abandoned and in disrepair, some trackage remains
Highways:
small, poorly developed indigenous road network
Ports:
facilities for small boats to service the city of Gaza
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
0
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - no AM, no FM, no TV
*Gaza Strip, Defense Forces
Branches:
NA
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 136,311; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Georgia, Header
Note:
Georgia is currently besieged by conflicts driven by separatists in its
Abkazian and South Ossetian enclaves, and supporters of ousted President
GAMAKHURDIA control much of western Georgia
*Georgia, Geography
Location:
Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Map references:
Africa, Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
69,700 km2
land area:
69,700 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total 1,461 km, Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252
km
Coastline:
310 km
Maritime claims:
note:
12 nm in 1973 USSR-Turkish Protocol concerning the sea boundary between the
two states in the Black Sea; Georgia claims the coastline along the Black
Sea as its international waters, although it cannot control this area and
the Russian navy and commercial ships transit freely
International disputes:
none
Climate:
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:
largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser
Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland opens to the Black Sea in
the west; Kura River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood
plains, foothills of Kolkhida lowland
Natural resources: forest lands, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ores, copper, minor coal
and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and
citrus growth
Land use:
arable land:
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
4,660 km2 (1990)
Environment:
air pollution, particularly in Rustavi; heavy pollution of Kura River, Black
Sea
*Georgia, People
Population:
5,634,296 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.85% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
16.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.68 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) note - this data may be low
because of movement of Ossetian, Russian, and Abkhaz refugees due to ongoing
conflicts
Infant mortality rate:
24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
72.58 years
male:
68.89 years
female:
76.46 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Georgian(s)
adjective:
Georgian
Ethnic divisions:
Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz
1.8%, other 5%
Religions: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Russian Orthodox 10%, Muslim 11%, Armenian Orthodox
8%, unknown 6%
Languages:
Armenian 7%, Azerbaijani 6%, Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, other 7%
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
2.763 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44%
(1990)
*Georgia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Georgia
conventional short form:
Georgia
local long form:
Sakartvelo Respublika
local short form:
Sakartvelo
former:
Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
GG
Type:
republic
Capital:
T'bilisi (Tbilisi)
Administrative divisions:
2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika);
Abkhazia (Sukhumi), Ajaria (Batumi)
note:
the administrative centers of the autonomous republics are included in
parentheses; there are no oblasts - the rayons around T'bilisi are under
direct republic jurisdiction; also included is the South Ossetia Autonomous
Oblast
Independence:
9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
adopted NA 1921; currently amending constitution for Parliamentary and
popular review by late 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system
National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 April 1991
Political parties and leaders:
All-Georgian Merab Kostava Society, Vazha ADAMIA, chairman; All-Georgian
Traditionalists' Union, Akakiy ASATIANI, chairman; Georgian National Front -
Radical Union, Ruslan GONGADZE, chairman; Georgian Social Democratic Party,
Guram MUCHAIDZE, chairman; Green Party, Zurab ZHVANIA, chairman;
Monarchist-Conservative Party (MCP), Temur ZHORZHOLIANI, chairman; Georgian
Popular Front (GPF), Nodar NATADZE, chairman; National Democratic Party
(NDP), Georgi CHANTURIA, chairman; National Independence Party (NIP), Irakli
TSERETELI and Irakli BATIASHVILI, chairmen; Charter 1991 Party, Tedo
PAATASHVILI, chairman; Democratic Georgia Party, Georgiy SHENGELAYA,
Chairman; Peace Bloc; Unity; October 11
Other political or pressure groups:
supporters of ousted President GAMSAKHURDIA boycotted the October elections
and remain an important source of opposition and instability
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Chairman of Parliament:
last held NA October 1992 (next to be held NA); results - Eduard
SHEVARDNADZE 95%
*Georgia, Government
Georgian Parliament (Supreme Soviet):
last held 11 October 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (225 total) number of seats by party NA; note -
representatives of 26 parties elected; Peace Bloc, October 11, Unity,
National Democratic Party, and the Greens Party won the largest
representation
Executive branch:
chairman of Parliament, Council of Ministers, prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Chairman of Parliament Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (since 10 March
1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Tengiz SIGUA (since NA January 1992); First Deputy Prime
Minister Roman GOTSIRIDZE (since NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Aleksandr
KAVADZE, Avtandil MARGIANI, Zurab KERVALISHVILI (since NA)
Member of:
BSEC, CSCE, EBRD, IBRD, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
NA
chancery:
NA
telephone:
NA
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kent N. BROWN
embassy:
#25 Antoneli Street, T'bilisi
mailing address:
APO AE 09862
telephone:
(7) 8832-74-46-23
Flag:
maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle
divided horizontally with black on top, white below
*Georgia, Economy
Overview:
Among the former Soviet republics, Georgia has been noted for its Black Sea
tourist industry, its large output of citrus fruits and tea, and an
industrial sector that accounted, however, for less than 2% of the USSR's
output. Another salient characteristic of the economy has been a flourishing
private sector (compared with the other republics). About 25% of the labor
force is employed in agriculture. Mineral resources consist of manganese and
copper, and, to a lesser extent, molybdenum, arsenic, tungsten, and mercury.
Except for very small quantities of domestic oil, gas, and coal, fuel must
be imported from neighboring republics. Oil and its products have been
delivered by pipeline from Azerbaijan to the port of Batumi for export and
local refining. Gas has been supplied in pipelines from Krasnodar and
Stavropol'. The dismantling of central economic controls has been delayed by
political factionalism, marked by bitter armed struggles. In early 1993 the
Georgian economy was operating at well less than half capacity due to
disruptions in fuel supplies and vital transportation links as a result of
conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, antigovernment activity in Western
Georgia, and Azerbaijani pressure against Georgian assistance for Armenia.
To restore economic viability, Georgia must establish domestic peace and
must maintain economic ties to the other former Soviet republics while
developing new links to the West.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-35% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
50% per month (January 1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3% but large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
citrus fruits, tea, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery;
ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles
partners:
Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan (1992)
Imports: $NA
commodities:
machinery and parts, fuel, transport equipment, textiles
partners:
Russia, Ukraine (1992)
External debt:
$650 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -50% (1992)
Electricity:
4,875,000 kW capacity; 15,800 million kWh produced, about 2,835 kWh per
capita (1992)
*Georgia, Economy
Industries:
heavy industrial products include raw steel, rolled steel, cement, lumber;
machine tools, foundry equipment, electric mining locomotives, tower cranes,
electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation, meat packing,
dairy, and fishing industries; air-conditioning electric motors up to 100 kW
in size, electric motors for cranes, magnetic starters for motors; devices
for control of industrial processes; trucks, tractors, and other farm
machinery; light industrial products, including cloth, hosiery, and shoes
Agriculture:
accounted for 97% of former USSR citrus fruits and 93% of former USSR tea;
berries and grapes; sugar; vegetables, grains, potatoes; cattle, pigs,
sheep, goats, poultry; tobacco
Illicit drugs:
illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for domestic consumption;
used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
coupons introduced in April 1993 to be followed by introduction of the lari
at undetermined future date; Russian ruble remains official currency until
introduction of the lari
Exchange rates:
rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Georgia, Communications
Railroads:
1,570 km, does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
33,900 km total; 29,500 km hard surfaced, 4,400 km earth (1990)
Pipelines:
crude oil 370 km, refined products 300 km, natural gas 440 km (1992)
Ports:
coastal - Batumi, Poti, Sukhumi
Merchant marine: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 658,192 GRT/1,014,056 DWT; includes 16
bulk cargo, 30 oil tanker, and 1 specialized liquid carrier
Airports:
total:
37
useable:
26
with permanent-surface runways:
19
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
10
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
9
Telecommunications:
poor telephone service; as of 1991, 672,000 republic telephone lines
providing 12 lines per 100 persons; 339,000 unsatisfied applications for
telephones (31 January 1992); international links via landline to CIS
members and Turkey; low capacity satellite earth station and leased
international connections via the Moscow international gateway switch;
international electronic mail and telex service established
Note:
transportation network is disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities,
and fuel shortages
*Georgia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, National Guard, Interior Ministry Troops
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,338,606; fit for military service 1,066,309; reach
military age (18) annually 43,415 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GNP
Note:
Georgian forces are poorly organized and not fully under the government's
control
*Germany, Geography
Location:
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea between France and Poland
Map references:
Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
356,910 km2
land area:
349,520 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Montana
note:
includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the German
Democratic Republic, and Berlin following formal unification on 3 October
1990
Land boundaries:
total 3,621 km, Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km,
Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland
456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline:
2,389 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm in North Sea and Schleswig-Holstein coast of Baltic Sea (extends, at
one point, to 16 nm in the Helgolander Bucht); 12 nm in remainder of Baltic
Sea
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional
warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
Terrain:
lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Natural resources:
iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt,
nickel
Land use:
arable land:
34%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
16%
forest and woodland:
30%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
4,800 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
air and water pollution; groundwater, lakes, and air quality in eastern
Germany are especially bad; significant deforestation in the eastern
mountains caused by air pollution and acid rain
*Germany, Geography
Note:
strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the
Baltic Sea
*Germany, People
Population:
80,767,591 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
11 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76 years
male:
73 years
female:
79 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
German(s)
adjective:
German
Ethnic divisions:
German 95.1%, Turkish 2.3%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other
1.1% (made up largely of people fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia)
Religions:
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or other 18%
Languages:
German
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1977 est.)
total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
36.75 million
by occupation:
industry 41%, agriculture 6%, other 53% (1987)
*Germany, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form:
Germany
local long form:
Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form:
Deutschland
Digraph:
GM
Type:
federal republic
Capital:
Berlin
note:
the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of years with
Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several ministries
Administrative divisions:
16 states (laender, singular - land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin,
Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen,
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,
Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringen
Independence:
18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of
occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II;
Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and
included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic
(GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR
zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October
1990; all four power rights formally relinquished 15 March 1991
Constitution:
23 May 1949, provisional constitution known as Basic Law
Legal system:
civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative
acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
German Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Helmut KOHL, chairman; Christian Social
Union (CSU), Theo WAIGEL, chairman; Free Democratic Party (FDP), Klaus
KINKEL, chairman; Social Democratic Party (SPD); Green Party, Ludger VOLMER,
Christine WEISKE, co-chairmen (after the 2 December 1990 election the East
and West German Green Parties united); Alliance 90 united to form one party
in September 1991, Petra MORAWE, chairwoman; Party of Democratic Socialism
(PDS), Gregor GYSI, chairman; Republikaner, Franz SCHOENHUBER; National
Democratic Party (NPD), Walter BACHMANN; Communist Party (DKP), Rolf PRIEMER
Other political or pressure groups:
expellee, refugee, and veterans groups
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
*Germany, Government
Elections:
Federal Diet: last held 2 December 1990 (next to be held October 1994); results - CDU
36.7%, SPD 33.5%, FDP 11.0%, CSU 7.1%, Green Party (West Germany) 3.9%, PDS
2.4%, Republikaner 2.1%, Alliance 90/Green Party (East Germany) 1.2%, other
2.1%; seats - (662 total, 656 statutory with special rules to allow for
slight expansion) CDU 268, SPD 239, FDP 79, CSU 51, PDS 17, Alliance
90/Green Party (East Germany) 8; note - special rules for this election
allowed former East German parties to win seats if they received at least 5%
of vote in eastern Germany
Executive branch:
president, chancellor, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral parliament (no official name for the two chambers as a whole)
consists of an upper chamber or Federal Council (Bundesrat) and a lower
chamber or Federal Diet (Bundestag)
Judicial branch:
Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Dr. Richard von WEIZSACKER (since 1 July 1984)
Head of Government:
Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October 1982)
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB
(non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-5,
G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS,
MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNHCR, UNTAC, UPU, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Juergen RUHFUS
chancery:
4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 298-4000
consulates general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
San Francisco, Seattle
consulates:
Manila (Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands) and Wellington (America
Samoa)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert M. KIMMITT
embassy:
Deichmanns Avenue, 5300 Bonn 2, Unit 21701
mailing address:
APO AE 09080
telephone:
[49] (228) 3391
FAX:
[49] (228) 339-2663
branch office:
Berlin
consulates general:
Frankfurt, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, and Stuttgart
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and yellow
*Germany, Economy
Overview:
With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989, prospects seemed
bright for a fairly rapid incorporation of East Germany into the highly
successful West German economy. The Federal Republic, however, continues to
experience difficulties in integrating and modernizing eastern Germany, and
the tremendous costs of unification have sunk western Germany deeper into
recession. The western German economy grew by less than 1% in 1992 as the
Bundesbank set high interest rates to offset the inflationary effects of
large government deficits and high wage settlements. Eastern Germany grew by
6.8% in 1992 but this was from a shrunken base. Despite government transfers
to the east amounting to nearly $110 billion annually, a self-sustaining
economy in the region is still some years away. The bright spots are eastern
Germany's construction, transportation, telecommunications, and service
sectors, which have experienced strong growth. Western Germany has an
advanced market economy and is a world leader in exports. It has a highly
urbanized and skilled population that enjoys excellent living standards,
abundant leisure time, and comprehensive social welfare benefits. Western
Germany is relatively poor in natural resources, coal being the most
important mineral. Western Germany's world-class companies manufacture
technologically advanced goods. The region's economy is mature: services and
manufacturing account for the dominant share of economic activity, and raw
materials and semimanufactured goods constitute a large portion of imports.
In recent years, manufacturing has accounted for about 31% of GDP, with
other sectors contributing lesser amounts. Gross fixed investment in 1992
accounted for about 21.5% of GDP. GDP in the western region is now $20,000
per capita, or 85% of US per capita GDP. Eastern Germany's economy appears
to be changing from one anchored on manufacturing into a more
service-oriented economy. The German government, however, is intent on
maintaining a manufacturing base in the east and is considering a policy for
subsidizing industrial cores in the region. Eastern Germany's share of
all-German GDP is only 7% and eastern productivity is just 30% that of the
west even though eastern wages are at roughly 70% of western levels. The
privatization agency for eastern Germany, Treuhand, has privatized more than
four-fifths of the almost 12,000 firms under its control and will likely
wind down operations in 1994. Private investment in the region continues to
be lackluster, resulting primarily from the deepening recession in western
Germany and excessively high eastern wages. Eastern Germany has one of the
world's largest reserves of low-grade lignite coal but little else in the
way of mineral resources. The quality of statistics from eastern Germany is
improving, yet many gaps remain; the federal government began producing
all-German data for select economic statistics at the start of 1992. The
most challenging economic problem is promoting eastern Germany's economic
reconstruction - specifically, finding the right mix of fiscal, monetary,
regulatory, and tax policies that will spur investment in eastern Germany -
without destabilizing western Germany's economy or damaging relations with
West European partners. The government hopes a "solidarity pact" among labor
unions, business, state governments, and the SPD opposition will provide the
right mix of wage restraints, investment incentives, and spending cuts to
stimulate eastern recovery. Finally, the homogeneity of the German economic
culture has been changed by the admission of large numbers of immigrants.
National product:
Germany:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.398 trillion (1992)
western:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.294 trillion (1992)
eastern:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $104 billion (1992)
*Germany, Economy
National product real growth rate:
Germany:
1.5% (1992)
western:
0.9% (1992)
eastern:
8% (1992)
National product per capita:
Germany:
$17,400 (1992)
western:
$20,000 (1992)
eastern:
$6,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
western:
4% (1992)
eastern:
NA%
Unemployment rate:
western:
7.1% (1992)
eastern:
13.5% (December 1992)
Budget:
western (federal, state, local):
revenues $684 billion; expenditures $704 billion, including capital
expenditures $NA (1990)
eastern:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$378.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
manufactures 86.6% (including machines and machine tools, chemicals, motor
vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural products 4.9%, raw
materials 2.3%, fuels 1.3%
partners:
EC 54.3% (France 12.9%, Netherlands 8.3%, Italy 9.3%, UK 7.7%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 7.4%), other Western Europe 17.0%, US 6.4%, Eastern
Europe 5.6%, OPEC 3.4% (1992)
Imports:
$354.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities: manufactures 68.5%, agricultural products 12.0%, fuels 9.7%, raw materials
7.1%
partners:
EC 52.0 (France 12.0%, Netherlands 9.6%, Italy 9.2%, UK 6.8%,
Belgium-Luxembourg 7.0%), other Western Europe 15.2%, US 6.6%, Eastern
Europe 5.5%, OPEC 2.4% (1992)
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
western:
growth rates -5% (1992 est.)
eastern:
$NA
Electricity:
134,000,000 kW capacity; 580,000 million kWh produced, 7,160 kWh per capita
(1992)
*Germany, Economy
Industries:
western:
among world's largest producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals,
machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics; food and beverages
eastern:
metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine building,
food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining
Agriculture:
western:
accounts for about 2% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); diversified
crop and livestock farming; principal crops and livestock include potatoes,
wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage, cattle, pigs, poultry; net
importer of food; fish catch of 202,000 metric tons in 1987
eastern:
accounts for about 10% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); principal
crops - wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; livestock products
include pork, beef, chicken, milk, hides and skins; net importer of food;
fish catch of 193,600 metric tons in 1987
Illicit drugs:
source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors
Economic aid:
western:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.5 billion
eastern:
donor - $4.0 billion extended bilaterally to non-Communist less developed
countries (1956-89)
Currency:
1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige
Exchange rates:
deutsche marks (DM) per US$1 - 1.6158 (January 1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595
(1991), 1.6157 (1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Germany, Communications
Railroads:
western:
31,443 km total; 27,421 km government owned, 1.435-meter standard gauge
(12,491 km double track, 11,501 km electrified); 4,022 km nongovernment
owned, including 3,598 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (214 km electrified)
and 424 km 1.000-meter gauge (186 km electrified)
eastern:
14,025 km total; 13,750 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 275 km 1.000-meter or
other narrow gauge; 3,830 (est.) km 1.435-meter standard gauge double-track;
3,475 km overhead electrified (1988)
Highways:
western:
466,305 km total; 169,568 km primary, includes 6,435 km autobahn, 32,460 km
national highways (Bundesstrassen), 65,425 km state highways
(Landesstrassen), 65,248 km county roads (Kreisstrassen); 296,737 km of
secondary communal roads (Gemeindestrassen)
eastern:
124,604 km total; 47,203 km concrete, asphalt, stone block, of which 1,855
km are autobahn and limited access roads, 11,326 km are trunk roads, and
34,022 km are regional roads; 77,401 km municipal roads (1988)
Inland waterways:
western:
5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton
capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is
an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea
eastern:
2,319 km (1988)
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km; natural gas 97,564 km
(1988)
Ports:
coastal - Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Cuxhaven, Emden, Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel,
Lubeck, Wilhelmshaven, Rostock, Wismar, Stralsund, Sassnitz; inland - 31
major on Rhine and Elbe rivers
Merchant marine:
565 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,928,759 GRT/6,292,193 DWT; includes
5 short-sea passenger, 3 passenger, 303 cargo, 10 refrigerated cargo, 134
container, 28 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 railcar carrier, 7 barge carrier, 9
oil tanker, 21 chemical tanker, 17 liquefied gas tanker, 5 combination
ore/oil, 6 combination bulk, 12 bulk; note - the German register includes
ships of the former East and West Germany; during 1991 the fleet underwent
major restructuring as surplus ships were sold off
Airports:
total:
499
usable:
492
with permanent-surface runways:
271
with runways over 3,659 m:
5
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
59 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
67
*Germany, Communications
Telecommunications:
western:
highly developed, modern telecommunication service to all parts of the
country; fully adequate in all respects; 40,300,000 telephones; intensively
developed, highly redundant cable and microwave radio relay networks, all
completely automatic; broadcast stations - 80 AM, 470 FM, 225 (6,000
repeaters) TV; 6 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 12
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT antennas, 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT antennas,
EUTELSAT, and domestic systems; 2 HF radiocommunication centers;
tropospheric links
eastern:
badly needs modernization; 3,970,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 23 AM,
17 FM, 21 TV (15 Soviet TV repeaters); 6,181,860 TVs; 6,700,000 radios; 1
satellite earth station operating in INTELSAT and Intersputnik systems
*Germany, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 20,295,655; fit for military service 17,577,570; reach
military age (18) annually 411,854 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $42.4 billion, 2.2% of GDP (1992)
*Ghana, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cote d'Ivoire and
Togo
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
238,540 km2
land area:
230,020 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total 2,093 km, Burkina 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline:
539 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in
southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Natural resources:
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use:
arable land:
5%
permanent crops:
7%
meadows and pastures:
15%
forest and woodland:
37%
other:
36%
Irrigated land:
80 km2 (1989)
Environment:
recent drought in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities;
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; dry, northeasterly harmattan wind
(January to March)
Note:
Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
*Ghana, People
Population:
16,699,105 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.12% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
44.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
12.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
84.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
55.19 years
male: 53.27 years
female:
57.17 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.21 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Ghanaian(s)
adjective:
Ghanaian
Ethnic divisions:
black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga
8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages:
English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe,
and Ga)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
60%
male:
70%
female:
51%
Labor force:
3.7 million
by occupation:
agriculture and fishing 54.7%, industry 18.7%, sales and clerical 15.2%,
services, transportation, and communications 7.7%, professional 3.7%
note:
48% of population of working age (1983)
*Ghana, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Ghana
conventional short form:
Ghana
former:
Gold Coast
Digraph:
GH
Type:
constitutional democracy
Capital:
Accra
Administrative divisions:
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern,
Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:
6 March 1957 (from UK)
Constitution:
new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Congress, Jerry John Rawlings; New Patriotic Party,
Albert Adu BOAHEN; People's Heritage Party, Alex Erskine; various other
smaller parties
Suffrage:
universal at 18
Elections:
President:
last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held NA)
National Assembly:
last held 29 December 1992 (next to be held NA)
Executive branch:
president, cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 3 November 1992)
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,
ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dr. Joseph ABBEY
chancery:
3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 686-4520
consulate general:
New York
*Ghana, Government
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kenneth L. BROWN
embassy:
Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra
mailing address:
P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone:
[233] (21) 775348, 775349, 775295 or 775298
FAX: [233] (21) 776008
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large
black five-pointed star centered in the gold band; uses the popular
pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a
coat of arms centered in the yellow band
*Ghana, Economy
Overview:
Supported by substantial international assistance, Ghana has been
implementing a steady economic rebuilding program since 1983, including
moves toward privatization and relaxation of government controls. Heavily
dependent on cocoa, gold, and timber exports, economic growth so far has not
spread substantially to other areas of the economy. The costs of sending
peacekeeping forces to Liberia and preparing for the transition to a
democratic government have boosted government expenditures and undercut
structural adjustment reforms. Ghana opened a stock exchange in 1990.
Meanwhile, declining world commodity prices for Ghana's exports has placed
the government under severe financial pressure.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.6 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.9% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$410 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $1.0 billion; expenditures $905 million, including capital
expenditures of $200 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
cocoa 45%, gold, timber, tuna, bauxite, and aluminum
partners:
Germany 29%, UK 12%, US 12%, Japan 5%
Imports:
$1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 16%, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods, capital equipment
partners:
UK 23%, US 11%, Germany 10%, Japan 6%
External debt:
$4.6 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 4.6% in manufacturing (1991); accounts for almost 15% of GDP
Electricity:
1,180,000 kW capacity; 4,490 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum, food processing
Agriculture: accounts for about 50% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); the major
cash crop is cocoa; other principal crops - rice, coffee, cassava, peanuts,
corn, shea nuts, timber; normally self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $455 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $78 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $106
million
Currency:
1 cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates:
ceolis per US$1 - 437 (July 1992)
*Ghana, Economy
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Ghana, Communications
Railroads:
953 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 32 km double track; railroads undergoing
major renovation
Highways:
32,250 km total; 6,084 km concrete or bituminous surface, 26,166 km gravel,
laterite, and improved earth surfaces
Inland waterways:
Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for
launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder
waterways
Pipelines:
none
Ports:
Tema, Takoradi
Merchant marine:
6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,293 GRT/78,246 DWT; includes 5
cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
total:
10
usable:
9
with permanent-surface runways:
5
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
6
Telecommunications:
poor to fair system handled primarily by microwave radio relay links; 42,300
telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 4 (8 translators) TV; 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Ghana, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Civil Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 3,766,073; fit for military service 2,105,865; reach
military age (18) annually 171,145 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $30 million, less than 1% of GDP (1989 est.)
*Gibraltar, Header
Affiliation:
(dependent territory of the UK)
*Gibraltar, Geography
Location:
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the
North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of
Spain
Map references:
Africa, Europe
Area:
total area:
6.5 km2
land area:
6.5 km2
comparative area:
about 11 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total 1.2 km, Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:
12 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
3 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK
Climate:
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:
a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
natural freshwater sources are meager, so large water catchments (concrete
or natural rock) collect rain water
Note:
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic
Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
*Gibraltar, People
Population:
31,508 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.53% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
15.68 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.89 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.06 years
male:
73.18 years
female:
78.91 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Gibraltarian(s)
adjective:
Gibraltar
Ethnic divisions:
Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions:
Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Moslem
8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages:
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian,
Portuguese, Russian
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
note:
UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the
labor force
*Gibraltar, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Gibraltar
Digraph:
GI
Type:
dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
Gilbraltar
Administrative divisions:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution:
30 May 1969
Legal system:
English law
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Political parties and leaders:
Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association
for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader NA; Gibraltar Social
Democrats, Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar National Party, Joe GARCIA
Other political or pressure groups:
Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives
Organization
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or
more
Elections:
House of Assembly:
last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be held January 1996); results - SL
73.3%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor, chief minister, Gibraltar Council, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and
Commander in Chief Adm. Sir Derek REFFELL (since NA 1989)
Head of Government:
Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
Member of:
INTERPOL (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation:
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag:
two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a
three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the
castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
*Gibraltar, Economy
Overview:
The economy depends heavily on British defense expenditures, revenue from
tourists, fees for services to shipping, and revenues from banking and
finance activities. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public
sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of
employment. Construction workers are particularly affected when government
expenditures are cut.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $182 million (FY87)
National product real growth rate:
5% (FY87)
National product per capita:
$4,600 (FY87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1988)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $136 million; expenditures $139 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
$82 million (f.o.b., 1988)
commodities:
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
partners:
UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports:
$258 million (c.i.f., 1988)
commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
partners:
UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
External debt:
$318 million (1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
47,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 6,740 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK
naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port; light
manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer,
and canned fish
Agriculture:
none
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $0.8 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $188 million
Currency:
1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992),
0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988); note - the
Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*Gibraltar, Communications
Railroads:
1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only
Highways:
50 km, mostly good bitumen and concrete
Pipelines:
none
Ports:
Gibraltar
Merchant marine:
32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 642,446 GRT/1,141,592 DWT; includes 4
cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 18 oil tanker, 2 chemical tanker,
5 bulk; note - a flag of convenience registry
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international
radiocommunication and microwave facilities; 9,400 telephones; broadcast
stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Gibraltar, Defense Forces
Branches:
British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
*Glorioso Islands, Header
Affiliation:
(possession of France)
*Glorioso Islands, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean just north of Madagascar
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total area:
5 km2
land area:
5 km2
comparative area:
about 8.5 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
note:
includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock, and South Rock
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
35.2 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by Madagascar
Climate:
tropical
Terrain: NA
Natural resources:
guano, coconuts
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms)
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
subject to periodic cyclones
*Glorioso Islands, People
Population:
unihabited
*Glorioso Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Glorioso Islands
local long form:
none
local short form:
Iles Glorieuses
Digraph:
GO
Type:
French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic, resident in
Reunion
Capital:
none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence:
none (possession of France)
*Glorioso Islands, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
*Glorioso Islands, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
0
with runsways over 3,6359 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
*Glorioso Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*Greece, Geography
Location:
Southern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea between Turkey and Bulgaria
Map references:
Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
131,940 km2
land area:
130,800 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:
total 1,210 km, Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia
228 km
Coastline:
13,676 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
6 nm, but Greece has threatened to claim 12 nm
International disputes:
air, continental shelf, and territorial water disputes with Turkey in Aegean
Sea; Cyprus question; northern Epirus question with Albania; Macedonia
question with Bulgaria and Macedonia
Climate:
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:
mostly mountains with ranges extending into sea as peninsulas or chains of
islands
Natural resources:
bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble
Land use:
arable land:
23%
permanent crops:
8%
meadows and pastures:
40%
forest and woodland:
20%
other:
9%
Irrigated land:
11,900 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to severe earthquakes; air pollution
Note:
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to
Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about
2,000 islands
*Greece, People
Population:
10,470,460 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.95% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
10.42 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
9.36 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
8.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.5 years
male:
75.02 years
female:
80.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Greek(s)
adjective: Greek
Ethnic divisions:
Greek 98%, other 2%
note:
the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions:
Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:
Greek (official), English, French
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
93%
male:
98%
female:
89%
Labor force:
3,966,900
by occupation:
services 45%, agriculture 27%, industry 28% (1990)
*Greece, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Hellenic Republic
conventional short form:
Greece
local long form:
Elliniki Dhimokratia
local short form:
Ellas
former:
Kingdom of Greece
Digraph:
GR
Type:
presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum 8
December 1974
Capital:
Athens
Administrative divisions:
52 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia,
Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Dhrama, Evritania, Evros,
Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina,
Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki,
Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa,
Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Piraievs,
Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki,
Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos, autonomous region: Agion Oros (Mt.
Athos)
Independence:
1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Constitution:
11 June 1975
Legal system:
based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and
administrative courts
National holiday:
Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)
Political parties and leaders:
New Democracy (ND; conservative), Konstantinos MITSOTAKIS; Panhellenic
Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas PAPANDREOU; Left Alliance, Maria
DAMANAKI; Democratic Renewal (DIANA), Konstantinos STEFANOPOULOS; Communist
Party (KKE), Aleka PAPARIGA; Ecologist-Alternative List, leader rotates
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
President:
last held 4 May 1990 (next to be held May 1995); results - Konstantinos
KARAMANLIS was elected by Parliament
Chamber of Deputies:
last held 8 April 1990 (next must be held by May 1994); results - ND 46.89%,
PASOK 38.62%, Left Alliance 10.27%, PASOK/Left Alliance 1.02%,
Ecologist-Alternative List 0.77%, DIANA 0.67%, Muslim independents 0.5%;
seats - (300 total) ND 150, PASOK 123, Left Alliance 19, PASOK-Left Alliance
4, Muslim independents 2, DEANA 1, Ecologist-Alternative List 1
note:
deputies shifting from one party to another and the dissolution of party
coalitions have resulted in the following seating arrangement: ND 152, PASOK
124, Left Alliance 14, KKE 7, Muslim deputies 2, Ecologist-Alternative List
1
*Greece, Government
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Greek Chamber of Deputies (Vouli ton Ellinon)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Court, Special Supreme Tribunal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Konstantinos KARAMANLIS (since 5 May 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Konstantinos MITSOTAKIS (since 11 April 1990)
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, BSEC, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
FAO, G-6, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR,
NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Christos ZACHARAKIS
chancery:
2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone:
(202) 939-5800
FAX:
(202) 939-5824
consulates general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate:
New Orleans
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires James A. WILLIAMS
embassy:
91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens
mailing address:
PSC 108, Box 56, APO AE 09842
telephone:
[30] (1) 721-2951 or 721-8401
FAX:
[30] (1) 645-6282
consulate general:
Thessaloniki
Flag:
nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a
blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross
symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country
*Greece, Economy
Overview:
Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the basic entrepreneurial system
overlaid in 1981-89 by a socialist system that enlarged the public sector
from 55% of GDP in 1981 to about 70% when Prime Minister MITSOTAKIS took
office. Tourism continues as a major source of foreign exchange, and
agriculture is self-sufficient except for meat, dairy products, and animal
feedstuffs. Since 1986, real GDP growth has averaged only 1.6% a year,
compared with the Europen Community average of 3%. The MITSOTAKIS government
has made little progress during its two and one-half years in power in
coming to grips with Greece's main economic problems: an inflation rate
still four times the EC average, a large public sector deficit, and a
fragile current account position. In early 1991, the government secured a
three-year, $2.5 billion assistance package from the EC under the strictest
terms yet imposed on a member country, as the EC finally ran out of patience
with Greece's failure to put its financial affairs in order. On the advice
of the EC Commission, Greece delayed applying for the second installment
until 1993 because of the failure of the government to meet the 1992
targets. Although MITSOTAKIS faced down the unions in mid-1992 in a dispute
over privatization plans, social security reform, and tax and price
increases, and his new economics czar, Stephanos MANOS, is a respected
economist committed to renovating the ailing economy. However, a national
elections due by May 1994 will probably prompt MITSOTAKIS to backtrack on
economic reform. In 1993, the GDP growth rate likely will remain low; the
inflation rate probably will continue to fall, while remaining the highest
in the EC.
National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $82.9 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
1.2% (1992)
National product per capita:
$8,200 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $37.6 billion; expenditures $45.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $5.4 billion (1993)
Exports:
$6.8 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
manufactured goods 53%, foodstuffs 31%, fuels 9%
partners:
Germany 24%, France 18%, Italy 17%, UK 7%, US 6%
Imports:
$21.5 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
manufactured goods 71%, foodstuffs 14%, fuels 10%
partners:
Germany 20%, Italy 14%, France 8%, UK 5%, US 4%
External debt:
$23.7 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1.0% (1991); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
10,500,000 kW capacity; 36,400 million kWh produced, 3,610 kWh per capita
(1992)
*Greece, Economy
Industries:
food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism,
mining, petroleum
Agriculture:
including fishing and forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 27% of the labor
force; principal products - wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives,
tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; self-sufficient in food except meat,
dairy products, and animal feedstuffs; fish catch of 116,600 metric tons in
1988
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and limited opium; mostly for domestic
production; serves as a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis
and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor
chemicals to the East; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $525 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,390 million
Currency:
1 drachma (Dr) = 100 lepta
Exchange rates:
drachma (Dr) per US$1 - 215.82 (January 1993), 190.62 (1992), 182.27 (1991),
158.51 (1990), 162.42 (1989), 141.86 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Greece, Communications
Railroads:
2,479 km total; 1,565 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, of which 36 km
electrified and 100 km double track; 892 km 1.000-meter gauge; 22 km
0.750-meter narrow gauge; all government owned
Highways:
38,938 km total; 16,090 km paved, 13,676 km crushed stone and gravel, 5,632
km improved earth, 3,540 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
80 km; system consists of three coastal canals; including the Corinth Canal
(6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting the Gulf of Corinth
with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage from the Adriatic to
Piraievs (Piraeus) by 325 km; and three unconnected rivers
Pipelines:
crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports:
Piraievs (Piraeus), Thessaloniki
Merchant marine:
998 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,483,768 GRT/47,047,285 DWT;
includes 14 passenger, 66 short-sea passenger, 2 passenger-cargo, 128 cargo,
26 container, 15 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle
carrier, 214 oil tanker, 19 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 42 combination
ore/oil, 3 specialized tanker, 424 bulk, 22 combination bulk, 1 livestock
carrier; note - ethnic Greeks also own large numbers of ships under the
registry of Liberia, Panama, Cyprus, Malta, and The Bahamas
Airports:
total:
78
usable:
77
with permanent-surface runways:
63
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
20
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
24
Telecommunications:
adequate, modern networks reach all areas; 4,080,000 telephones; microwave
radio relay carries most traffic; extensive open-wire network; submarine
cables to off-shore islands; broadcast stations - 29 AM, 17 (20 repeaters)
FM, 361 TV; tropospheric links, 8 submarine cables; 1 satellite earth
station operating in INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean antenna),
and EUTELSAT systems
*Greece, Defense Forces
Branches:
Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, National Guard, Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,606,267; fit for military service 1,996,835; reach
military age (21) annually 73,541 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $4.2 billion, 5.1% of GDP (1992)
*Greenland, Header
Affiliation:
(part of the Danish realm)
*Greenland, Geography
Location:
in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Canada and Norway
Map references:
Arctic Region, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
2,175,600 km2
land area:
341,700 km2 (ice free)
comparative area:
slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
44,087 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan
Mayen
Climate:
arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:
flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous,
barren, rocky coast
Natural resources:
zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, cryolite, uranium, fish
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
99%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
sparse population confined to small settlements along coast; continuous
permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Note:
dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe
*Greenland, People
Population:
56,533 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
19.62 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
7.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
66.19 years
male:
61.79 years
female:
70.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Greenlander(s)
adjective:
Greenlandic
Ethnic divisions:
Greenlander 86% (Eskimos and Greenland-born Caucasians), Danish 14%
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Eskimo dialects, Danish
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA% female:
NA%
Labor force:
22,800
by occupation:
largely engaged in fishing, hunting, sheep breeding
*Greenland, Government