Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff
barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be
imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 18% of GDP, employs 28% of the
labor force, and exports about 90% of its output. Real GDP growth averaged a
remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2%
in 1991 and 5.9% in 1992. Unemployment, which has been declining since the
mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward
pressure on prices and the cost of living. Short-term prospects remain
bright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably
prosperous.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $86 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
$14,600 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
2% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $17.4 billion; expenditures $14.7 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Exports:
$118 billion, including reexports of $85.1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances,
watches and clocks, toys
partners: US 29%, China 21%, Germany 8%, UK 6%, Japan 5% (1990)
Imports:
$120 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum
partners:
China 37%, Japan 16%, Taiwan 9%, US 8% (1990)
External debt:
$9.5 billion (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
9,566,000 kW capacity; 29,400 million kWh produced, 4,980 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Agriculture:
minor role in the economy; rice, vegetables, dairy products; less than 20%
self-sufficient; shortages of rice, wheat, water
Illicit drugs:
a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and major financial
and money-laundering center
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $923 million
Currency:
1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
*Hong Kong, Economy
Exchange rates:
Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1992), 7.771 (1991), 7.790 (1990),
7.800 (1989), 7.810 (1988), 7.760 (1987); note - linked to the US dollar at
the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Hong Kong, Communications
Railroads:
35 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, government owned
Highways:
1,100 km total; 794 km paved, 306 km gravel, crushed stone, or earth
Ports:
Hong Kong
Merchant marine:
176 ships (1,000 GRT or over), totaling 5,870,007 GRT/10,006,390 DWT;
includes 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 20 cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo,
29 container, 15 oil tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 6 combination ore/oil, 5
liquefied gas, 88 bulk, 2 combination bulk; note - a flag of convenience
registry; ships registered in Hong Kong fly the UK flag, and an estimated
500 Hong Kong-owned ships are registered elsewhere
Airports:
total:
2
useable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services;
3,000,000 telephones; microwave transmission links and extensive optical
fiber transmission network; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) repeater station and 1 British Forces
Broadcasting Service repeater station; 2,500,000 radio receivers; 1,312,000
TV sets (1,224,000 color TV sets); satellite earth stations - 1 Pacific
Ocean INTELSAT and 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; coaxial cable to Guangzhou,
China; links to 5 international submarine cables providing access to ASEAN
member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
*Hong Kong, Defense Forces
Branches:
Headquarters of British Forces, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Hong Kong
Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,635,516; fit for military service 1,256,057; reach
military age (18) annually 43,128 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $300 million, 0.5% of GDP (1989 est.); this
represents one-fourth of the total cost of defending itself, the remainder
being paid by the UK
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
*Howland Island, Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
*Howland Island, Geography
Location:
in the North Pacific Ocean, 2,575 km southwest of Honolulu, just north of
the Equator, about halfway between Hawaii and Australia
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total area:
1.6 km2
land area:
1.6 km2
comparative area:
about 2.7 times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
6.4 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m or the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:
low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing
reef; depressed central area
Natural resources:
guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
5%
other:
95%
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing
shrubs; small area of trees in the center; lacks fresh water; primarily a
nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine
wildlife; feral cats
*Howland Island, People
Population:
uninhabited; note - American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air
and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World
War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit
only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
*Howland Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Howland Island
Digraph:
HQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife
Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National
Wildlife Refuge System
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
*Howland Island, Economy
Overview:
no economic activity
*Howland Island, Communications
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only, one boat landing area along the middle of the
west coast
Airports:
airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the
round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae,
New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is
no longer serviceable
Note:
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was
partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt in
memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart
*Howland Island, Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast
Guard
*Hungary, Geography
Location:
Eastern Europe, between Slovakia and Romania
Map references:
Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe
Area:
total area:
93,030 km2
land area:
92,340 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total 1,952 km, Austria 366 km, Croatia 292 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and
Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km, Slovenia 82 km,
Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Gabcikovo Dam dispute with Slovakia; Vojvodina taken from Hungary and
awarded to the former Yugoslavia by treaty of Trianon in 1920
Climate:
temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling plains
Natural resources:
bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:
arable land:
50.7%
permanent crops:
6.1%
meadows and pastures:
12.6%
forest and woodland:
18.3%
other:
12.3%
Irrigated land:
1,750 km2 (1989)
Environment:
levees are common along many streams, but flooding occurs almost every year
Note:
landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western
Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean
basin
*Hungary, People
Population:
10,324,018 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
12.33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
13.02 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
13.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
70.86 years
male:
66.81 years
female:
75.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Hungarian(s)
adjective:
Hungarian
Ethnic divisions:
Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Languages:
Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
98%
Labor force:
5.4 million
by occupation:
services, trade, government, and other 44.8%, industry 29.7%, agriculture
16.1%, construction 7.0% (1991)
*Hungary, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Hungary
conventional short form:
Hungary
local long form:
Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form:
Magyarorszag
Digraph: HU
Type:
republic
Capital:
Budapest
Administrative divisions:
38 counties (megyek, singular - megye) and 1 capital city* (fovaros);, Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya,
Bekes, Bekescsaba, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest*,, Csongrad, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Fejer,
Gyor, Gyor-Moson-Sopron,
Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Hodmezovasarhely, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar,
Kecskemet, Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza,
Pecs, Pest, Somogy, Sopron, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,
Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala, Zalaegerszeg
Independence:
1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
Constitution:
18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October
1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks
on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of
parliamentary oversight
Legal system:
in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model
National holiday:
October 23 (1956) (commemorates the Hungarian uprising)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Forum, Jozsef ANTALL, chairman, Dr. Lajos FUR, executive
chairman; Independent Smallholders (FKGP), Jozsef TORGYAN, president;
Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), Gyula HORN, chairman; Christian Democratic
People's Party (KDNP), Dr. Lazlo SURJAN, president; Federation of Young
Democrats (FIDESZ), Viktor ORBAN, chairman; Alliance of Free Democrats
(SZDSZ), Ivan PETO, chairman
note:
the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party (MSZMP) renounced
Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSP) in October 1989;
there is still a small (fringe) MSZMP
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 3 August 1990 (next to be held NA 1995); results - President GONCZ
elected by parliamentary vote; note - President GONCZ was elected by the
National Assembly with a total of 295 votes out of 304 as interim President
from 2 May 1990 until elected President
National Assembly:
last held on 25 March 1990 (first round, with the second round held 8 April
1990); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (386 total) Democratic
Forum 162, Free Democrats 90, Independent Smallholders 45, Hungarian
Socialist Party (MSP) 33, Young Democrats 22, Christian Democrats 21,
independents or jointly sponsored candidates 13
*Hungary, Government
Executive branch:
president, prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Orszaggyules)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president
from 2 May 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Jozsef ANTALL (since 21 May 1990)
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, G-9, GATT,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pal TAR
chancery:
3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 362-6730
FAX:
(202) 966-8135
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles H. THOMAS
embassy:
V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest
mailing address:
Am Embassy, Unit 25402, APO AE 09213-5270
telephone:
[36] (1) 112-6450
FAX:
[36] (1) 132-8934
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
*Hungary, Economy
Overview:
Hungary is in the midst of a difficult transition from a command to a market
economy. Agriculture is an important sector, providing sizable export
earnings and meeting domestic food needs. Industry accounts for about 40% of
GDP and 30% of employment. Hungary claims that less than 25% of foreign
trade is now with former CEMA countries, while about 70% is with OECD
members. Hungary's economic reform programs during the Communist era gave it
a head start in creating a market economy and attracting foreign investment.
In 1991, Hungary received 60% of all foreign investment in Eastern Europe,
and in 1992 received the largest single share. The growing private sector
accounts for about one-third of national output according to unofficial
estimates. Privatization of state enterprises is progressing, although
excessive red tape, bureaucratic oversight, and uncertainties about pricing
have slowed the process. Escalating unemployment and high rates of inflation
may impede efforts to speed up privatization and budget reform, while
Hungary's heavy foreign debt will make the government reluctant to introduce
full convertibility of the forint before 1994 and to rein in inflation. The
government is projecting an end to the 5-year recession in 1993, and GDP is
forecast to grow 0%-3%.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $55.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,380 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.3% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $15.4 billion, including capital
expenditures $NA (1993 est.)
Exports:
$10.9 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 35.5%, machinery 13.5%, light
industry 23.3%, food and agricultural 24.8%, fuels and energy 2.8%
partners:
OECD 70.7%, (EC 50.1%, EFTA 15.0%), LDCs 5.1%, former CEMA members 23.2%,
others 1.0% (1991)
Imports:
$11.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
fuels and energy 14.9%, raw materials, semi-finished goods, chemicals 37.6%,
machinery 19.7%, light industry 21.5%, food and agricultural 6.3%
partners:
OECD 71.0%, (EC 45.4%, EFTA 20.0%), LDCs 3.9%, former CEMA members 23.9%,
others 1.2% (1991)
External debt:
$23.5 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate -10% (1992)
Electricity:
7,200,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 3,000 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles,
chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), buses, automobiles
*Hungary, Economy
Agriculture:
including forestry, accounts for 15% of GDP and 16% of employment; highly
diversified crop and livestock farming; principal crops - wheat, corn,
sunflowers, potatoes, sugar beets; livestock - hogs, cattle, poultry, dairy
products; self-sufficient in food output
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southeast Asia heroin transiting the Balkan route
Economic aid:
recipient - $9.1 billion in assistance from OECD countries (from 1st quarter
1990 to end of 2nd quarter 1991)
Currency:
1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates:
forints per US$1 - 83.97 (December 1992), 78.99 (1992), 74.74 (1991), 63.21
(1990), 59.07 (1989), 50.41 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Hungary, Communications
Railroads:
7,765 km total; 7,508 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 222 km narrow gauge
(mostly 0.760-meter), 35 km 1.520-meter broad gauge; 1,236 km double track,
2,249 km electrified; all government owned (1990)
Highways:
130,218 km total; 29,919 km national highway system (27,212 km asphalt, 126
km concrete, 50 km stone and road brick, 2,131 km macadam, 400 km unpaved);
58,495 km country roads (66% unpaved), and 41,804 km other roads (70%
unpaved) (1988)
Inland waterways:
1,622 km (1988)
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,204 km; natural gas 4,387 km (1991)
Ports:
Budapest and Dunaujvaros are river ports on the Danube; coastal outlets are
Rostock (Germany), Gdansk (Poland), Gdynia (Poland), Szczecin (Poland),
Galati (Romania), and Braila (Romania)
Merchant marine:
12 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) and 1 bulk totaling 83,091 GRT/115,950
DWT
Airports:
total:
92
usable:
92
with permanent-surface runways:
25
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
20
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
28
Telecommunications:
automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; 1,128,800
phones (1991); telephone density is at 19.4 per 100 inhabitants; 49% of all
phones are in Budapest; 608,000 telephones on order (1991); 12-15 year wait
for a phone; 14,213 telex lines (1991); broadcast stations - 32 AM, 15 FM,
41 TV (8 Soviet TV repeaters); 4.2 million TVs (1990); 1 satellite ground
station using INTELSAT and Intersputnik
*Hungary, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, Territorial Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,630,552; fit for military service 2,101,637; reach
military age (18) annually 91,979 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
66.5 billion forints, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of defense
expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
misleading results
*Iceland, Geography
Location:
in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and Norway
Map references:
Arctic Region, Europe, North America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
103,000 km2
land area:
100,250 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,988 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Ireland, and the UK
(Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate:
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp,
cool summers
Terrain:
mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply
indented by bays and fiords
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:
arable land:
1% permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
78%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to earthquakes and volcanic activity
Note:
strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European
country; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
*Iceland, People
Population:
261,270 (July 1993 est.)
note:
population data estimates based on average growth rate may differ slightly
from official population data because of volatile migration rates
Population growth rate:
0.88% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
16.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.74 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
78.69 years
male:
76.45 years
female:
81.04 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Icelander(s)
adjective:
Icelandic
Ethnic divisions:
homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norwegians and Celts
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 96%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, none 1%
(1988)
Languages:
Icelandic
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
total population:
100%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
127,900
by occupation:
commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%, manufacturing 12.5%, fishing
and fish processing 11.8%, construction 10.8%, agriculture 4.0% (1990)
*Iceland, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Iceland
conventional short form:
Iceland
local long form:
Lyoveldio Island
local short form:
Island
Digraph:
IC
Type:
republic
Capital:
Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:
23 counties (syslar, singular - sysla) and 14 independent towns*, (kaupstadhir, singular -
kaupstadhur); Akranes*, Akureyri*, Arnessysla,, Austur-Bardhastrandarsysla, Austur-Hunavatnssysla,
Austur-Skaftafellssysla,
Borgarfjardharsysla, Dalasysla, Eyjafjardharsysla, Gullbringusysla,
Hafnarfjordhur*, Husavik*, Isafjordhur*, Keflavik*, Kjosarsysla, Kopavogur*,, Myrasysla,
Neskaupstadhur*, Nordhur-Isafjardharsysla, Nordhur-Mulasys-la,, Nordhur-Thingeyjarsysla,
Olafsfjordhur*, Rangarvallasysla, Reykjavik*,, Saudharkrokur*, Seydhisfjordhur*, Siglufjordhur*,,
Skagafjardharsysla,
Snaefellsnes-og Hnappadalssysla, Strandasysla, Sudhur-Mulasysla,
Sudhur-Thingeyjarsysla, Vesttmannaeyjar*, Vestur-Bardhastrandarsysla,, Vestur-Hunavatnssysla,
Vestur-Isafjardharsysla, Vestur-Skaftafellssysla
Independence:
17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Constitution:
16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:
civil law system based on Danish law; does not accept compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Establishment of the Republic, 17 June (1944)
Political parties and leaders:
Independence Party (conservative), David ODDSSON; Progressive Party,
Steingrimur HERMANNSSON; Social Democratic Party, Jon Baldvin HANNIBALSSON;
People's Alliance (left socialist), Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON; Women's List
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held on 29 June 1988 (next scheduled for June 1996); results - there
was no election in 1992 as President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR was unopposed
Althing:
last held on 20 April 1991 (next to be held by April 1995); results -
Independence Party 38.6%, Progressive Party 18.9%, Social Democratic Party
15.5%, People's Alliance 14.4%, Womens List 8.3%, Liberals 1.2%, other 3.1%;
seats - (63 total) Independence 26, Progressive 13, Social Democratic 10,
People's Alliance 9, Womens List 5
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Althing)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Haestirettur)
*Iceland, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Vigdis FINNBOGADOTTIR (since 1 August 1980)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister David ODDSSON (since 30 April 1991)
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, FAO, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA,
NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
chancery:
2022 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265-6653 through 6655
FAX:
(202) 265-6656
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jon GUNDERSEN
embassy:
Laufasvegur 21, Box 40, Reykjavik
mailing address:
USEMB, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone:
[354] (1) 29100
FAX: [354] (1) 29139
Flag:
blue with a red cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
*Iceland, Economy
Overview:
Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an
extensive welfare system, relatively low unemployment, and comparatively
even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing
industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of
the workforce. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy -
Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. Iceland's
economy has been in recession since 1988. The recession deepened in 1992 due
to severe cutbacks in fishing quotas and falling world prices for the
country's main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon.
Real GDP declined 3.3% in 1992 and is forecast to contract another 1.5% in
1993. The center-right government's economic goals include reducing the
budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing
inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the
economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The recession has led to a
wave of bankruptcies and mergers throughout the economy, as well as the
highest unemployment of the post-World War II period. The national
unemployment rate reached 5% in early 1993, with some parts of the country
experiencing unemployment in the 9-10% range. Inflation, previously a
serious problem, declined from double digit rates in the 1980s to only 3.7%
in 1992.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $4.5 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
-3.3% (1992)
National product per capita:
$17,400 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5% (first quarter 1993)
Budget:
revenues $1.8 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
expenditures of $191 million (1992)
Exports:
$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite
partners:
EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports:
$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
textiles
partners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)
External debt:
$3.9 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.75% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
1,063,000 kW capacity; 5,165 million kWh produced, 19,940 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferro-silicon production, geothermal
power
*Iceland, Economy
Agriculture:
accounts for about 25% of GDP; fishing is most important economic activity,
contributing nearly 75% to export earnings; principal crops - potatoes,
turnips; livestock - cattle, sheep; self-sufficient in crops; fish catch of
about 1.4 million metric tons in 1989
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $19.1 million
Currency:
1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 63.789 (January 1993), 57.546 (1992),
58.996 (1991), 58.284 (1990), 57.042 (1989), 43.014 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Iceland, Communications
Highways:
11,543 km total; 2,690 km hard surfaced, 8,853 km gravel and earth
Ports:
Reykjavik, Akureyri, Hafnarfjordhur, Keflavik, Seydhisfjordhur,
Siglufjordhur, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:
10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 35,832 GRT/53,037 DWT; includes 3
cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 oil tanker, 1
chemical tanker
Airports:
total:
90
usable:
84
with permanent-surface runways:
8
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 12
Telecommunications:
adequate domestic service; coaxial and fiber-optical cables and microwave
radio relay for trunk network; 140,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 5
AM, 147 (transmitters and repeaters) FM, 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
TV; 2 submarine cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station carries all
international traffic; a second INTELSAT earth station is scheduled to be
operational in 1993
*Iceland, Defense Forces
Branches:
Police, Coast Guard
note:
no armed forces, Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic
Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 69,499; fit for military service 61,798 (1993 est.); no
conscription or compulsory military service
Defense expenditures:
none
*India, Geography
Location:
South Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between
Bangladesh and Pakistan
Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
3,287,590 km2
land area:
2,973,190 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total 14,103 km, Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China
3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline:
7,000 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
boundaries with Bangladesh and China; status of Kashmir with Pakistan;
water-sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges
and Pakistan over the Indus
Climate:
varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain:
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the
Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Natural resources:
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica,
bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone
Land use:
arable land:
55%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
23%
other:
17%
Irrigated land:
430,390 km2 (1989)
Environment:
droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; deforestation; soil
erosion; overgrazing; air and water pollution; desertification
Note:
dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes
*India, People
Population:
903,158,968 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.86% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
29.11 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
10.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
80.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
58.12 years
male:
57.69 years
female:
58.59 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.57 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective:
Indian
Ethnic divisions:
Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%
Religions:
Hindu 82.6%, Muslim 11.4%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, Jains
0.5%, other 0.4%
Languages:
English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for
national, political, and commercial communication, Hindi the national
language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, Bengali (official), Telugu
(official), Marathi (official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati
(official), Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official),
Punjabi (official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi
(official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani a popular variant of Hindu/Urdu,
is spoken widely throughout northern India
note:
24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous other
languages and dialects, for the most part mutually unintelligible
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
48%
male:
62%
female:
34%
Labor force:
284.4 million
by occupation:
agriculture 67% (FY85)
*India, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of India
conventional short form:
India
Digraph:
IN
Type:
federal republic
Capital:
New Delhi
Administrative divisions:
25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra, Pradesh, Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar, Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh,, Maharashtra, Manipur,
Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*,, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu,
Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)
Constitution:
26 January 1950
Legal system:
based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26 January (1950)
Political parties and leaders:
Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party,
M. M. JOSHI; Janata Dal Party; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M),
Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), C. Rajeswara RAO;
Telugu Desam (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), N. T. Rama RAO; All-India
Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK; a regional party in Tamil Nadu),
JAYALALITHA Jeyaram; Samajwadi Janata Party, CHANDRA SHEKHAR; Shiv Sena, Bal
THACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Bahujana
Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM; Congress (S) Party, leader NA; Communist
Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Satyanarayan SINGH; Dravida
Munnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI; Akali
Dal factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab; National
Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir), Farooq ABDULLAH;
Asom Gana Parishad (a regional party in Assam), Prafulla MAHANTA
Other political or pressure groups:
various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy;
numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam
Sena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
People's Assembly:
last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June 1991 (next to be held by November 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2
appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, Bharatiya Janata Party 119, Janata Dal
Party 39, Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20, CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13,
AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party 5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1, Congress (S)
Party 1, other 23, vacant 9
Executive branch:
president, vice president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
*India, Government
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Sansad) consists of an upper house or Council of
States (Rajya Sabha) and a lower house or People's Assembly (Lok Sabha)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992); Vice President K.R.
NARAYANAN (since 21 August 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21 June 1991)
Member of:
AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-19, AfDB, G-24,
G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM,
ONUSAL, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMOZ,
UNTAC, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Siddhartha Shankar RAY
chancery:
2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 939-7000
consulates general:
Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Thomas R. Pickering
embassy:
Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[91] (11) 600651
FAX:
[91] (11) 687-2028, 687-2391
consulates general:
Bombay, Calcutta, Madras
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue
chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of
Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band
*India, Economy
Overview:
India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modern
agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude
of support services. Faster economic growth in the 1980s permitted a
significant increase in real per capita private consumption. A large share
of the population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford an
adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990 and 1991 prompted government
austerity measures that slowed industrial growth but permitted India to meet
its international payment obligations without rescheduling its debt. Policy
reforms since 1991 have extended earlier economic liberalization and greatly
reduced government controls on production, trade, and investment.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $240 billion (FY93 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4% (FY93 est.)
National product per capita:
$270 (FY93 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.9% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $39.2 billion; expenditures $41.06 billion, including capital
expenditures of $10.2 billion (FY92)
Exports:
$19.8 billion (f.o.b., FY93 est.)
commodities:
gems and jewelry, clothing, engineering goods, leather manufactures, cotton
yarn, and fabric
partners:
USSR 16.1%, US 14.7%, West Germany 7.8% (FY91)
Imports:
$25.5 billion (c.i.f., FY93 est.)
commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, gems, fertilizer, chemicals, machinery
partners:
US 12.1%, West Germany 8.0%, Japan 7.5% (FY91)
External debt:
$73 billion (March 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.5% (FY93 est.); accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
82,000,000 kW capacity; 310,000 million kWh produced, 340 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment,
cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
Agriculture:
accounts for about 30% of GDP and employs 67% of labor force; principal
crops - rice, wheat, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;
livestock - cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catch of about 3
million metric tons ranks India among the world's top 10 fishing nations
Illicit drugs:
licit producer of opium poppy for the pharmaceutical trade, but some opium
is diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit country for
illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of
hashish
*India, Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $31.7 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million; USSR (1970-89), $11.6 billion;
Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 million
Currency:
1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Exchange rates:
Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 26.156 (January 1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742
(1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*India, Communications
Railroads:
61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad gauge, 24,051 km
1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter and 0.610 meter);
12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrified
Highways:
1,970,000 km total (1989); 960,000 km surfaced and 1,010,000 km gravel,
crushed stone, or earth
Inland waterways:
16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Pipelines:
crude oil 3,497 km; petroleum products 1,703 km; natural gas 902 km (1989)
Ports:
Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore, Port Blair (Andaman
Islands)
Merchant marine:
306 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,278,672 GRT/10,446,073 DWT;
includes 1 short-sea passenger, 6 passenger-cargo, 87 cargo, 1
roll-on/roll-off, 8 container, 63 oil tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 8
combination ore/oil, 114 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 6 liquefied gas
Airports:
total:
336
usable:
285
with permanent-surface runways:
205
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
58
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
90
Telecommunications:
domestic telephone system is poor providing only one telephone for about 200
persons on average; long distance telephoning has been improved by a
domestic satellite system which also carries TV; international service is
provided by 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations and by submarine cables
to Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates; broadcast stations - 96 AM, 4 FM,
274 TV (government controlled)
*India, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Security or Paramilitary Forces (including Border
Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 242,866,053; fit for military service 143,008,471; about
9,466,323 reach military age (17) annually (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $5.8 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY93/94)
*Indian Ocean, Geography
Location:
body of water between Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica
Map references:
Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
73.6 million km2
comparative area:
slightly less than eight times the size of the US; third-largest ocean
(after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Arctic
Ocean)
note:
includes Arabian Sea, Bass Straight, Bay of Bengal, Java Sea, Persian Gulf,
Red Sea, Straight of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
66,526 km
International disputes:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate:
northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October);
tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the north
Indian Ocean and January/February in the south Indian Ocean
Terrain:
surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of
currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in
the north Indian Ocean, low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from
hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and
southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern
Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and
northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the
Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge,
Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258
meters in the Java Trench
Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer
deposits, polymetallic nodules
Environment:
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales;
oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
Note:
major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of
Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait; ships
subject to superstructure icing in extreme south near Antarctica from May to
October
*Indian Ocean, Government
Digraph:
XO
*Indian Ocean, Economy
Overview:
The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East,
Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a
particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oil
fields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing
importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export.
Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian
Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being
tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western
Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes
from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore
placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly
India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Industries:
based on exploitation of natural resources, particularly marine life,
minerals, oil and gas production, fishing, sand and gravel aggregates,
placer deposits
*Indian Ocean, Communications
Ports:
Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka),
Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia), Jakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne
(Australia), Richard's Bay (South Africa)
Telecommunications:
submarine cables from India to United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, and from
Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia
*Indonesia, Geography
Location:
Southeast Asia, between Malaysia and Australia
Map references:
Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,919,440 km2
land area:
1,826,440 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total 2,602 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline:
54,716 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with Portugal
and not recognized by the UN; two islands in dispute with Malaysia
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:
mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains
Natural resources:
petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils,
coal, gold, silver
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
67%
other:
15%
Irrigated land:
75,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); occasional floods, severe
droughts, and tsunamis; deforestation
Note:
straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from
Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
*Indonesia, People
Population:
197,232,428 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.61% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
24.84 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.73 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
69.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
60.26 years
male:
58.28 years
female:
62.34 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Indonesian(s)
adjective:
Indonesian
Ethnic divisions:
Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%
Religions:
Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other
1% (1985)
Languages:
Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official), English, Dutch, local
dialects the most widely spoken of which is Javanese
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
77%
male:
84%
female:
68%
Labor force:
67 million
by occupation:
agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%, transport and
communications 3% (1985 est.)
*Indonesia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Indonesia
conventional short form:
Indonesia
local long form:
Republik Indonesia
local short form:
Indonesia
former name:
Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Digraph:
ID
Type:
republic
Capital:
Jakarta
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions*, (daerah-daerah
istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital
city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya,, Jakarta Raya**,,
Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan
Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung,
Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan,
Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera
Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*, Independence:
17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, Indonesia
became legally independent from the Netherlands)
Constitution:
August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional
Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
Legal system:
based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and
by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen. (Ret.)
WAHONO, general chairman; Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI - federation of
former Nationalist and Christian Parties), SOERYADI, chairman; Development
Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties), Ismail Hasan
METAREUM, chairman
Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held on 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - GOLKAR 68%,
PPP 17%, PDI 15%; seats - (500 total, 400 elected, 100 appointed) GOLKAR
282, PPP 62, PDI 56
Executive branch:
president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR); note -
the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR)
includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected members who meet every five
years to elect the president and vice president and, theoretically, to
determine national policy
*Indonesia, Government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968); Vice President Gen.
(Ret.) Try SUTRISNO (since 11 March 1993)
Member of:
APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOSOM, UNTAC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Abdul Rachman RAMLY
chancery:
2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone:
(202) 775-5200
consulates general:
Houston, New York, and Los Angeles
consulates:
Chicago and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert L. BARRY
embassy:
Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakarta
mailing address:
APO AP 96520
telephone:
[62] (21) 360-360
FAX:
[62] (21) 360-644
consulates:
Medan, Surabaya
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of
Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white
(top) and red
*Indonesia, Economy
Overview:
Indonesia is a mixed economy with many socialist institutions and central
planning but with a recent emphasis on deregulation and private enterprise.
Indonesia has extensive natural wealth, yet, with a large and rapidly
increasing population, it remains a poor country. Real GDP growth in 1985-92
averaged about 6%, quite impressive, but not sufficient to both slash
underemployment and absorb the 2.3 million workers annually entering the
labor force. Agriculture, including forestry and fishing, is an important
sector, accounting for almost 20% of GDP and over 50% of the labor force.
The staple crop is rice. Once the world's largest rice importer, Indonesia
is now nearly self-sufficient. Plantation crops - rubber and palm oil - and
textiles and plywood are being encouraged for both export and job
generation. Industrial output now accounts for almost 40% of GDP and is
based on a supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil, natural
gas, timber, metals, and coal. Of these, the oil sector dominates the
external economy, generating more than 20% of the government's revenues and
40% of export earnings in 1989. However, the economy's growth is highly
dependent on the continuing expansion of nonoil exports. Japan remains
Indonesia's most important customer and supplier of aid. Rapid growth in the
money supply in 1989-90 prompted Jakarta to implement a tight monetary
policy in 1991, forcing the private sector to go to foreign banks for
investment financing. Real interest rates remained above 10% and off-shore
commercial debt grew. The growth in off-shore debt prompted Jakarta to limit
foreign borrowing beginning in late 1991. Despite the continued problems in
moving toward a more open financial system and the persistence of a fairly
tight credit situation, GDP growth in 1992 is estimated to have stayed at
6%.
National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $133 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$680 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3% ; underemployment 45% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $17.2 billion; expenditures $23.4 billion, including capital
expenditures of $8.9 billion (FY91)
Exports:
$29.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum and liquefied natural gas 40%, timber 15%, textiles 7%, rubber 5%,
coffee 3%
partners:
Japan 37%, Europe 13%, US 12%, Singapore 8% (1991)
Imports:
$24.6 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
machinery 39%, chemical products 19%, manufactured goods 16%
partners:
Japan 25%, Europe 23%, US 13%, Singapore 5% (1991)
External debt:
$50.5 billion (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11.6% (1989 est.); accounts for almost 40% of GDP
*Indonesia, Economy
Electricity:
11,600,000 kW capacity; 38,000 million kWh produced, 200 kWh per capita
(1990)
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers,
plywood, food, rubber
Agriculture:
accounts for almost 20% of GDP; subsistence food production; small-holder
and plantation production for export; main products are rice, cassava,
peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, other tropical products,
poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade, but not a
major player; government actively eradicating plantings and prosecuting
traffickers
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $175
million
Currency:
1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)
Exchange rates:
Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,064.7 (January 1993), 2,029.9 (1992),
1,950.3 (1991), 1,842.8 (1990), 1,770.1 (1989), 1,685.7 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Indonesia, Communications
Railroads:
6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter gauge, 78 km
0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; all government
owned
Highways:
119,500 km total; 11,812 km state, 34,180 km provincial, and 73,508 km
district roads
Inland waterways:
21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460
km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; natural gas 1,703 km (1989)
Ports:
Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Ujungpandang, Semarang,
Surabaya
Merchant marine:
401 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,766,201 GRT/2,642,529 DWT; includes
6 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo, 238 cargo, 10 container, 4
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 78 oil tanker, 6 chemical tanker,
6 liquefied gas, 7 specialized tanker, 1 livestock carrier, 26 bulk, 2
passenger
Airports:
total:
435
usable:
411
with permanent-surface runways:
119
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
11
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
67
Telecommunications:
interisland microwave system and HF police net; domestic service fair,
international service good; radiobroadcast coverage good; 763,000 telephones
(1986); broadcast stations - 618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV; satellite earth stations -
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
station; and 1 domestic satellite communications system
*Indonesia, Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 53,160,364; fit for military service 31,395,254; reach
military age (18) annually 2,148,927 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $2.1 billion, 1.5% of GNP (FY93/94 est.)
*Iran, Geography
Location:
Middle East, between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea
Map references:
Asia, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1.648 million km2
land area:
1.636 million km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total 5,440 km, Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan (north) 432
km, Azerbaijan (northwest) 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey
499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline:
2,440 km
note:
Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
50 nm in the Sea of Oman; continental shelf limit, continental shelf
boundaries, or median lines in the Persian Gulf
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to
work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their
eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom
of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies
two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Tunb as Sughra (Arabic),
Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek (Persian) or Lesser Tunb, and Tunb al Kubra
(Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg (Persian) or Greater Tunb; it jointly
administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE,
Abu Musa (Arabic) or Jazireh-ye Abu Musa (Persian); in 1992 the dispute over
Abu Musa and the Tunb Islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried
to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu
Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant
diplomatic support for the UAE in the region; periodic disputes with
Afghanistan over Helmand water rights,
Climate:
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small,
discontinuous plains along both coasts
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese,
zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
27%
forest and woodland:
11%
*Iran, Geography
other:
54%
Irrigated land:
57,500 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification
*Iran, People
Population:
63,369,809 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.49% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
43 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.06 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
62.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.26 years
male:
64.37 years
female:
66.19 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.4 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Iranian(s)
adjective:
Iranian
Ethnic divisions:
Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%,
Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Religions:
Shi'a Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and
Baha'i 1%
Languages:
Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish
9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
54%
male:
64%
female:
43%
Labor force:
15.4 million
by occupation:
agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%
note:
shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)
*Iran, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form:
Iran
local long form:
Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form:
Iran
Digraph:
IR
Type:
theocratic republic
Capital:
Tehran
Administrative divisions:
24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,
Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari,
Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,
Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence:
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
Constitution:
2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and
eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system:
the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government
National holiday:
Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Political parties and leaders:
there are at least 18 licensed parties; the three most important are -
Tehran Militant Clergy Association, Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI; Militant
Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar
MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin Islam Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI
Other political or pressure groups:
groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Hizballah,
Hojjatiyeh Society, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students
Following the Line of the Imam; armed political groups that have been almost
completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq
Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society
for the Defense of Freedom
Suffrage:
15 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held July 1989 (next to be held 11 June 1993); results - Ali Akbar
HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with only token opposition
Islamic Consultative Assembly:
last held 8 April 1992 (next to be held April 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
supreme leader (velay-t-e faqih), president, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
*Iran, Government
Leaders:
Supreme Leader and functional Chief of State:
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali HOSEINI-KHAMENEI (since 4
June 1989)
Head of Government:
President Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI (since 3 August 1989)
Member of:
CCC, CP, ESCAP, ECO, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy in Washington, DC
chancery:
Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 965-4990
US diplomatic representation:
protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national
emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in
the white band; Allah Alkbar (God is Great) in white Arabic script is
repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along
the top edge of the red band
*Iran, Economy
Overview:
Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and
other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private
trading and service ventures. After a decade of economic decline, Iran's
real GDP grew by 10% in FY90 and 6% in FY91, according to Iranian Government
statistics. An oil windfall in 1990 combined with a substantial increase in
imports contributed to Iran's recent economic growth. Iran has also begun
implementing a number of economic reforms to reduce government intervention
(including subsidies) and has allocated substantial resources to development
projects in the hope of stimulating the economy. Lower oil revenues in 1991
- oil accounts for more than 90% of export revenues - together with a surge
in imports greatly weakened Iran's international financial position. By
mid-1992 Iran was unable to meet its obligations to foreign creditors.
Subsequently the government has tried to boost oil exports, curb imports
(especially of consumer goods), and renegotiate terms of its foreign debts.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $90 billion (FY92)
National product real growth rate:
6% (FY91)
National product per capita:
$1,500 (FY91)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23.7% (September 1991-September 1992)
Unemployment rate:
30% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $63 billion; expenditures $80 billion, including capital
expenditures of $23 billion (FY90 est.)
Exports:
$17.2 billion (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides
partners:
Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg, Spain, and Germany
Imports:
$21.0 billion (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
commodities:
machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals,
technical services, refined oil products
partners:
Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, France
External debt:
$17 billion (FY91 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 12% (1990 est.); accounts for almost 30% of GDP, including
petroleum
Electricity: 15,649,000 kW capacity; 43,600 million kWh produced, 710 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other building materials,
food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production),
metal fabricating
Agriculture:
accounts for about 20% of GDP; principal products - wheat, rice, other
grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not
self-sufficient in food
*Iran, Economy
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and international drug
trade; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.675 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million; note - aid fell sharply
following the 1979 revolution
Currency:
1 Iranian rial (IR) = 10 tomans
Exchange rates:
Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 67.095 (January 1993), 65.552 (1992), 67.505
(1991), 68.096 (1990), 72.015 (1989), 68.683 (1988); black-market rate 1,400
(January 1991); note - in March 1993 the Iranian government announced a new
single-parity exchange rate system with a new official rate of 1,538 rials
per dollar
Fiscal year:
21 March - 20 March
*Iran, Communications
Railroads:
4,852 km total; 4,760 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km 1.676-meter gauge; 480 km
under construction from Bafq to Bandar-e Abbas, rail construction from Bafq
to Sirjan has been completed and is operational; section from Sirjan to
Bandar-e Abbas still under construction
Highways:
140,200 km total; 42,694 km paved surfaces; 46,866 km gravel and crushed
stone; 49,440 km improved earth; 1,200 km (est.) rural road network
Inland waterways:
904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about
130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use
Pipelines:
crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km; natural gas 4,550 km
Ports:
Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Bandar Beheshti,
Bandar-e Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Torkeman
(Caspian Sea port), Khorramshahr (repaired after being largely destroyed in
fighting during 1980-88 war) has been in limited operation since November
1992
Merchant marine:
135 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,480,726 GRT/8,332,593 DWT; includes
39 cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 32 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3
refrigerated cargo, 48 bulk, 2 combination bulk, 1 liquefied gas
Airports:
total:
219
usable:
194
with permanent-surface runways:
83
with runways over 3,659 m:
16
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
20
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
70
Telecommunications:
microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system centered in Tehran;
2,143,000 telephones (35 telephones per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations -
77 AM, 3 FM, 28 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey,
Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber optic
cable to UAE
*Iran, Defense Forces
Branches:
Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force,
Revolutionary Guards (including Basij militia and own ground, air, and naval
forces), Law Enforcement Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 13,812,367; fit for military service 8,218,286; reach
military age (21) annually 575,392 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
hard currency expenditures on defense are 7-10% of total hard currency
expenditures; rial expenditures on defense are 8-13% of total rial
expenditures (1992 est.)
note:
conversion of rial expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing
exchange rate could produce misleading results
*Iraq, Geography
Location:
Middle East, between Iran and Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
437,072 km2 land area:
432,162 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho
Land boundaries:
total 3,631 km, Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 242 km, Saudi Arabia
814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km
Coastline:
58 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to
work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their
eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom
of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; in April 1991
official Iraqi acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which
demands that Iraq accept the inviolability of the boundary set forth in its
1963 agreement with Kuwait, ending earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah
Islands or to all of Kuwait; the 20 May 1993 final report of the UN
Iraq/Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission was welcomed by the Security
Council in Resolution 833 of 27 May 1993, which also reaffirmed that the
decisions of the commission on the boundary were final, bringing to a
completion the official demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary; Iraqi
officials still make public statements claiming Kuwait; periodic disputes
with upstream riparian Syria over Euphrates water rights; potential dispute
over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
Climate:
mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers;
northernmost regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold
winters with occasionally heavy snows
Terrain:
mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains along borders
with Iran and Turkey
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur
Land use:
arable land:
12%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
9%
forest and woodland:
3%
other:
75%
Irrigated land:
25,500 km2 (1989 est)
*Iraq, Geography
Environment:
development of Tigris-Euphrates Rivers system contingent upon agreements
with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water pollution; soil
degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification
*Iraq, People
Population:
19,161,956 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.73% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
44.57 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
7.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
71.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
64.96 years
male:
64.2 years
female:
65.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Iraqi(s)
adjective:
Iraqi
Ethnic divisions:
Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%
Religions:
Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian or other 3%
Languages:
Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
60%
male:
70%
female:
49%
Labor force:
4.4 million (1989)
by occupation:
services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%
note:
severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force was about 1,600,000 (July
1990); since then, it has declined substantially
*Iraq, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Iraq
conventional short form:
Iraq
local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form:
Al Iraq
Digraph:
IZ
Type:
republic
Capital:
Baghdad
Administrative divisions:
18 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al
Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil,
Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din,
Wasit
Independence:
3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Constitution:
22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim Constitution); new
constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted
Legal system:
based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system
elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
Ba'th Party
Other political or pressure groups:
political parties and activity severely restricted; possibly some opposition
to regime from disaffected members of the regime, Army officers, and Shi'a
religious and Kurdish ethnic dissidents; the Green Party
(government-controlled)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA); results - Sunni Arabs 53%,
Shi'a Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.; seats - (250 total) number
of seats by party NA
note:
in northern Iraq, a "Kurdish Assembly" was elected in May 1992 and calls for
Kurdish self-determination within a federated Iraq
Executive branch:
president, vice president, chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council,
vice chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, prime minister, first
deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)
Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation
*Iraq, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President SADDAM Husayn (since 16 July 1979); Vice President Taha Muhyi
al-Din MA'RUF (since 21 April 1974); Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN
(since 23 March 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 13 September 1991); Deputy
Prime Minister Tariq 'AZIZ (since NA 1979)
Member of:
ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Iraq has an Interest Section in the Algerian embassy in Washington, DC
chancery:
Iraqi Interests Section, 1801 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 483-7500
FAX:
(202) 462-5066
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); note - operations have been temporarily suspended; a US Interests
Section is located in Poland's embassy in Baghdad
embassy:
Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad
mailing address:
P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad
telephone:
[964] (1) 719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green
five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the
phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the
right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was
added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of
Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a
plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic
eagle centered in the white band
*Iraq, Economy
Overview:
The Ba'thist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of
industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale
industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The
economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally
provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s, financial
problems caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and
damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the government to implement
austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt
payments. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually
increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged
facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages,
salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and
collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high
priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's
seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic
embargoes, and military action by an international coalition beginning in
January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Industrial and
transportation facilities suffered severe damage and have been only
partially restored. Oil exports remain at less than 10% of the previous
level. Shortages of spare parts continue. Living standards deteriorated even
further in 1992 and early 1993; consumer prices at least tripled in 1992.
The UN-sponsored economic embargo has reduced exports and imports and has
contributed to the sharp rise in prices. The government's policies of
supporting large military and internal security forces and of allocating
resources to key supporters of the regime have exacerbated shortages. In
brief, per capita output in early 1993 is far below the 1989-90 level, but
no reliable estimate is available.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $35 billion (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
10% (1989 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,940 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
200% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
less than 5% (1989 est.)
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$10.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur
partners:
US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Netherlands, Spain (1990)
Imports:
$6.6 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
manufactures, food
partners:
Germany, US, Turkey, France, UK (1990)
External debt:
$45 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt of about $35 billion owed to Arab
Gulf states
Industrial production: NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GNP (1989)
*Iraq, Economy
Electricity:
7,300,000 kW available out of 9,902,000 kW capacity due to Gulf war; 12,900
million kWh produced, 700 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
petroleum production and refining, chemicals, textiles, construction
materials, food processing
Agriculture:
accounts for 11% of GNP and 30% of labor force; principal products - wheat,
barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit, cotton, wool; livestock -
cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in food output
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $647 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion
Currency:
1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates:
Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1 - 3.2 (fixed official rate since 1982);
black-market rate (April 1993) US$1 = 53.5 Iraqi dinars
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Iraq, Communications
Railroads:
2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge
Highways:
34,700 km total; 17,500 km paved, 5,500 km improved earth, 11,700 km
unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
1,015 km; Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about
130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 meters and is in use; Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers have navigable sections for shallow-draft watercraft; Shatt
al Basrah canal was navigable by shallow-draft craft before closing in 1991
because of the Persian Gulf war
Pipelines:
crude oil 4,350 km; petroleum products 725 km; natural gas 1,360 km
Ports:
Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, Al Basrah (closed since 1980)
Merchant marine:
41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 930,780 GRT/1,674,878 DWT; includes 1
passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 15 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3
roll-on/roll-off cargo, 19 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker; note - none of the
Iraqi flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as of 1 January 1993
Airports:
total:
114
usable: 99
with permanent-surface runways:
74
with runways over 3,659 m:
9
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
52
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
reconstitution of damaged telecommunication facilities began after Desert
Storm, most damaged facilities have been rebuilt; the network consists of
coaxial cables and microwave radio relay links; 632,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 16 AM, 1 FM, 13 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean GORIZONT
in the Intersputnik system and 1 ARABSAT; coaxial cable and microwave radio
relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey, Kuwait line is probably
non-operational
*Iraq, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, Border Guard
Force, Internal Security Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 4,235,321; fit for military service 2,379,999; reach
military age (18) annually 211,776 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP
*Ireland, Geography
Location:
in the North Atlantic Ocean, across the Irish Sea from Great Britain
Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
70,280 km2
land area:
68,890 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total 360 km, UK 360 km
Coastline:
1,448 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
not specified
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute
involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a
boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate:
temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool
summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain:
mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low
mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Natural resources:
zinc, lead, natural gas, petroleum, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone,
dolomite, peat, silver
Land use:
arable land:
14%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
71%
forest and woodland:
5%
other:
10%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
deforestation
Note:
strategic location on major air and sea routes between North American and
northern Europe
*Ireland, People
Population:
3,529,566 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.26% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
14.39 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.38 years
male:
72.56 years
female: 78.36 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.02 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Irishman(men), Irishwoman(men), Irish (collective plural)
adjective:
Irish
Ethnic divisions:
Celtic, English
Religions:
Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)
Languages:
Irish (Gaelic), spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard,
English is the language generally used
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
total population:
98%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1.37 million
by occupation:
services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 28%, agriculture, forestry,
and fishing 13.5%, energy and mining 1.5% (1992)
*Ireland, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Ireland
Digraph:
EI
Type:
republic
Capital:
Dublin
Administrative divisions:
26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry,
Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath,
Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath,
Wexford, Wicklow
Independence:
6 December 1921 (from UK)
Constitution:
29 December 1937; adopted 1937
Legal system:
based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts;
judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Left, Proinsias DE ROSSA; Fianna Fail, Albert REYNOLDS; Labor
Party, Richard SPRING; Fine Gael, John BRUTON; Communist Party of Ireland,
Michael O'RIORDAN; Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS; Progressive Democrats, Desmond
O'MALLEY
note:
Prime Minister REYNOLDS heads a coalition consisting of the Fianna Fail and
the Labor Party
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results - Mary
Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%
Senate:
last held on NA February 1992 (next to be held February 1997); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 26,
Fine Gael 16, Labor 9, Progressive Democrats 2, Democratic Left 1,
independents 6
House of Representatives:
last held on 25 November 1992 (next to be held by June 1995); results -
Fianna Fail 39.1%, Fine Gael 24.5%, Labor Party 19.3%, Progressive Democrats
4.7%, Democratic Left 2.8%, Sinn Fein 1.6%, Workers' Party 0.7%,
independents 5.9%; seats - (166 total) Fianna Fail 68, Fine Gael 45, Labor
Party 33, Progressive Democrats 10, Democratic Left 4, Greens 1,
independents 5
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an upper house or Senate
(Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dail
Eireann)
*Ireland, Government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Albert REYNOLDS (since 11 February 1992)
Member of:
Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, COCOM (cooperating country), CSCE, EBRD, EC,
ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO,
IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NEA, NSG,
OECD, ONUSAL, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
UNPROFRO, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dermot A. GALLAGHER chancery:
2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 462-3939
consulates general:
Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William Henry G. FITZGERALD; Ambassador Designate Jean Kennedy
SMITH (17 March 1993)
embassy:
42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[353] (1) 687122
FAX:
[353] (1) 689946
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar
to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors
reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag
of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and
red
*Ireland, Economy
Overview:
The economy is small and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most
important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37% of GDP,
about 80% of exports, and employs 28% of the labor force. Since 1987, real
GDP growth, led by exports, has averaged 4% annually. Over the same period,
inflation has fallen sharply and chronic trade deficits have been
transformed into annual surpluses. Unemployment, at 22.7% remains a serious
problem, however, and job creation is the main focus of government policy.
To ease unemployment, Dublin aggressively courts foreign investors and
recently created a new industrial development agency to aid small indigenous
firms. Government assistance is constrained by Dublin's continuing deficit
reduction measures. After five years of fiscal restraint, total government
debt still exceeds GDP. Growth probably will moderate in 1993 as the heavily
indebted and trade-dependent economy is highly sensitive to changes in
exchange rates and world interest rates. Exports to the UK, Ireland's major
export market, probably will be hurt by the recent appreciation of the Irish
currency against sterling - for the first time since 1979 the value of the
Irish pound exceeds that of its British counterpart.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $42.4 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
2% (1992)
National product per capita:
$12,000 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.5% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 22.7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $16.0 billion; expenditures $16.6 billion, including capital
expenditures of $1.6 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
$28.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals,
animal products
partners:
EC 75% (UK 32%, Germany 13%, France 10%), US 9%
Imports:
$23.3 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
food, animal feed, data processing equipment, petroleum and petroleum
products, machinery, textiles, clothing
partners:
EC 66% (UK 41%, Germany 8%, Netherlands 4%), US 15%
External debt:
$15 billion (1990)
Industrial production:
growth rate 8.0% (1992 est.); accounts for 37% of GDP
Electricity:
5,000,000 kW capacity; 14,500 million kWh produced, 4,120 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
food products, brewing, textiles, clothing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
machinery, transportation equipment, glass and crystal
*Ireland, Economy
Agriculture:
accounts for 11% of GDP and 13% of the labor force; principal crops -
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; livestock - meat and dairy
products; 85% self-sufficient in food; food shortages include bread grain,
fruits, vegetables
Economic aid:
donor - ODA commitments (1980-89), $90 million
Currency:
1 Irish pound (#Ir) = 100 pence
Exchange rates:
Irish pounds (#Ir) per US$1 - 0.6118 (January 1993), 0.5864 (1992), 0.6190
(1991), 0.6030 (1990), 0.7472 (1989), 0.6553 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Ireland, Communications
Railroads:
Irish National Railways (CIE) operates 1,947 km 1.602-meter gauge,
government owned; 485 km double track; 37 km electrified
Highways: 92,294 km total; 87,422 km paved, 4,872 km gravel or crushed stone
Inland waterways:
limited for commercial traffic
Pipelines:
natural gas 225 km
Ports:
Cork, Dublin, Waterford
Merchant marine:
57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 154,647 GRT/186,432 DWT; includes 4
short-sea passenger, 33 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 4 container, 3 oil
tanker, 3 specialized tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 5 bulk
Airports:
total:
40
usable:
39
with permanent-surface runways:
13
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
6
Telecommunications:
modern system using cable and digital microwave circuits; 900,000
telephones; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 45 FM, 86 TV; 2 coaxial submarine
cables; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Ireland, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (including Naval Service and Air Corps), National Police (Garda
Siochana)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 903,536; fit for military service 731,085; reach military
age (17) annually 33,932 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $569 million, 1-2% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Israel, Header
Affiliation:
(also see separate Gaza Strip and West Bank entries)
Note:
The Arab territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included
in the data below. 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 Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a
peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
concerned parties. The Camp David Accords further specify that these
negotiations will resolve the location of the respective boundaries. Pending
the completion of this process, it is US policy that the final status of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip has yet to be determined (see West Bank and Gaza
Strip entries). On 25 April 1982, Israel relinquished control of the Sinai
to Egypt. Statistics for the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights are included in
the Syria entry.
*Israel, Geography
Location:
Middle East, bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and
Lebanon
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
20,770 km2
land area:
20,330 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total 1,006 km, Egypt 255 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79
km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km
Coastline:
273 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
separated from Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank by the 1949 Armistice Line;
differences with Jordan over the location of the 1949 Armistice Line that
separates the two countries; West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli occupied
with status to be determined; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Israeli
troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; water-sharing issues with Jordan
Climate:
temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas
Terrain:
Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift
Valley
Natural resources:
copper, phosphates, bromide, potash, clay, sand, sulfur, asphalt, manganese,
small amounts of natural gas and crude oil
Land use:
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
40%
forest and woodland:
6%
other: 32%
Irrigated land:
2,140 km2 (1989)
Environment:
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; limited arable land and
natural water resources pose serious constraints; deforestation
Note:
there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank, 38 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 18 in the Gaza Strip, and 14 Israeli-built
Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem
*Israel, People
Population:
4,918,946 (July 1993 est.)
note:
includes 102,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, 14,000 in the
Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 4,000 in the Gaza Strip, and 134,000 in East
Jerusalem (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.08% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
20.72 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.45 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
16.51 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:
77.77 years
male:
75.72 years
female:
79.93 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Israeli(s)
adjective:
Israeli
Ethnic divisions:
Jewish 83%, non-Jewish 17% (mostly Arab)
Religions:
Judaism 82%, Islam 14% (mostly Sunni Muslim), Christian 2%, Druze and other
2%
Languages:
Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most
commonly used foreign language
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1983)
total population: 92%
male:
95%
female:
89%
Labor force:
1.4 million (1984 est.)
by occupation:
public services 29.3%, industry, mining, and manufacturing 22.8%, commerce
12.8%, finance and business 9.5%, transport, storage, and communications
6.8%, construction and public works 6.5%, personal and other services 5.8%,
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.5%, electricity and water 1.0% (1983)
*Israel, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
State of Israel
conventional short form:
Israel
local long form:
Medinat Yisra'el
local short form:
Yisra'el
Digraph:
IS
Type:
republic
Capital:
Jerusalem
note:
Israel proclaimed Jerusalem its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all
other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv
Administrative divisions:
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem,
Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv
Independence:
14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)
Constitution:
no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled
by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the basic laws of the parliament
(Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law
Legal system:
mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal
matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985,
Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1948 (Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948,
but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May)
Political parties and leaders:
members of the government:
Labor Party, Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN; MERETZ, Minister of Education
Shulamit ALONI; SHAS, Minister of Interior Arieh DERI
opposition parties:
Likud Party, Binyamin NETANYAHU; Tzomet, Rafael EITAN; National Religious
Party, Zevulun HAMMER; United Torah Jewry, Avraham SHAPIRA; Democratic Front
for Peace and Equality (Hadash), Hashim MAHAMID; Moledet, Rehavam ZEEVI;
Arab Democratic Party, Abd al Wahab DARAWSHAH
note:
Israel currently has a coalition government comprising 3 parties that hold
62 seats of the Knesset's 120 seats
Other political or pressure groups:
Gush Emunim, Jewish nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West
Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now, critical of government's West Bank/Gaza
Strip and Lebanon policies
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 24 March 1993 (next to be held NA March 1999); results - Ezer
WEIZMAN elected by Knesset
*Israel, Government
Knesset:
last held June 1992 (next to be held by NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (120 total) Labor Party 44, Likud bloc 32, Meretz 12,
Tzomet 8, National Religious Party 6, Shas 6, United Torah Jewry 4,
Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3, Moledet 3, Arab Democratic Party
2
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, vice prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral parliament (Knesset)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Ezer WEIZMAN (since 13 May 1993)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Yitzhak RABIN (since July 1992)
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, CERN (oberver), EBRD, ECE, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OAS (observer), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Itamar RABINOVICH
chancery:
3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 364-5500
consulates general:
Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Philadelphia, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission:
Acting Ambassador William BROWN
embassy:
71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv
mailing address:
APO AE 09830
telephone:
[972] (3) 654338
FAX:
[972] (3) 663449
consulate general:
Jerusalem
Flag:
white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen
David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands
near the top and bottom edges of the flag
*Israel, Economy
Overview:
Israel has a market economy with substantial government participation. It
depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military
equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively
developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years.
Industry employs about 20% of Israeli workers, agriculture 5%, and services
most of the rest. Diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural
products (fruits and vegetables) are leading exports. Israel usually posts
balance-of-payments deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments
from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's $17
billion external debt is owed to the United States, which is its major
source of economic and military aid. To earn needed foreign exchange, Israel
has been targeting high-technology niches in international markets, such as
medical scanning equipment. The influx of Jewish immigrants from the former
USSR, which topped 400,000 during the period 1990-92, has increased
unemployment, intensified housing problems, and widened the government
budget deficit. At the same time, a considerable number of the immigrants
bring to the economy valuable scientific and professional expertise.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $57.4 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$12,100 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $33.9 billion; expenditures $36.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $9.3 billion (FY93)
Exports:
$11.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
polished diamonds, citrus and other fruits, textiles and clothing, processed
foods, fertilizer and chemical products, military hardware, electronics
partners:
US, EC, Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland
Imports:
$19.6 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
military equipment, rough diamonds, oil, chemicals, machinery, iron and
steel, cereals, textiles, vehicles, ships, aircraft
partners:
US, EC, Switzerland, Japan, South Africa, Canada, Hong Kong
External debt:
$25 billion of which government debt is $17 billion (December 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 9.4% (1992 est.); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity:
5,835,000 kW capacity; 21,840 million kWh produced, 4,600 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
food processing, diamond cutting and polishing, textiles, clothing,
chemicals, metal products, military equipment, transport equipment,
electrical equipment, miscellaneous machinery, potash mining,
high-technology electronics, tourism
*Israel, Economy
Agriculture:
accounts for about 3% of GDP; largely self-sufficient in food production,
except for grains; principal products - citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
cotton; livestock products - beef, dairy, poultry
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $18.2 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.8 billion
Currency:
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.8000 (December 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)
*Israel, Communications
Railroads:
600 km 1.435-meter gauge, single track; diesel operated
Highways:
4,750 km; majority is bituminous surfaced
Pipelines:
crude oil 708 km; petroleum products 290 km; natural gas 89 km
Ports:
Ashdod, Haifa
Merchant marine:
35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 678,584 GRT/785,220 DWT; includes 8
cargo, 24 container, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off; note - Israel
also maintains a significant flag of convenience fleet, which is normally at
least as large as the Israeli flag fleet; the Israeli flag of convenience
fleet typically includes all of its oil tankers
Airports:
total:
53
usable:
46
with permanent-surface runways:
28
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
most highly developed in the Middle East although not the largest; good
system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; 1,800,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 14 AM, 21 FM, 20 TV; 3 submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT
*Israel, Defense Forces
Branches:
Israel Defense Forces (including ground, naval, and air components)
note:
historically, there have been no separate Israeli military services
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,240,757; females age 15-49 1,218,610; males fit for
military service 1,018,212; females fit for military service 996,089; males
reach military age (18) annually 46,131; females reach military age (18)
annually 44,134 (1993 est.); both sexes are liable for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $12.5 billion, 18% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Italy, Geography
Location:
Southern Europe, a peninsula in the central Mediterranean Sea
Map references:
Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
301,230 km2
land area:
294,020 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Arizona
note:
includes Sardinia and Sicily
Land boundaries:
total 1,899.2 km, Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2
km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
4,996 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
small vocal minority in northern Italy seeks the return of parts of
southwestern Slovenia
Climate:
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Natural resources:
mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil
reserves, fish, coal
Land use:
arable land:
32%
permanent crops:
10%
meadows and pastures:
17%
forest and woodland:
22%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
31,000 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, snowslides, earthquakes,
volcanic eruptions, flooding, pollution; land sinkage in Venice
Note:
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea
and air approaches to Western Europe
*Italy, People
Population:
58,018,540 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.2% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
10.65 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
9.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.43 years
male:
74.22 years
female:
80.85 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Italian(s)
adjective:
Italian
Ethnic divisions:
Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians
in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south),
Sicilians, Sardinians
Religions:
Roman Catholic 100%
Languages:
Italian, German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly
German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta
region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
97%
male:
98%
female:
96%
Labor force:
23.988 million
by occupation:
services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)
*Italy, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Italian Republic
conventional short form:
Italy
local long form:
Repubblica Italiana
local short form:
Italia
former:
Kingdom of Italy
Digraph:
IT
Type:
republic
Capital:
Rome
Administrative divisions:
20 regions (regioni, singular - regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata, Calabria,
Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia,
Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto
Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
Independence:
17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed)
Constitution:
1 January 1948
Legal system:
based on civil law system, with ecclesiastical law influence; appeals
treated as trials de novo; judicial review under certain conditions in
Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Republic, 2 June (1946)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party (DC), Fermo Mino MARTINAZZOLI, general secretary;
Rosa Russo JERVOLINO, president; Socialist Party (PSI), Giorgio BENVENUTO,
party secretary; Social Democratic Party (PSDI), Enrico FERRI, party
secretary; Liberal Party (PLI); Democratic Party of the Left (PDS - was
Communist Party, or PCI, until January 1991), Achille OCCHETTO, secretary
general; Italian Social Movement (MSI), Gianfranco FINI, national secretary;
Republican Party (PRI), Giorgio BOGI, political secretary; Lega Nord
(Northern League), Umberto BOSSI, president; Communist Renewal (RC), Sergio
GARAVINI
Other political or pressure groups:
the Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union confederations (CGIL -
formerly Communist dominated, CISL - Christian Democratic, and UIL - Social
Democratic, Socialist, and Republican); Italian manufacturers association
(Confindustria); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori, Confagricoltura)
Suffrage:
18 years of age, universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum
age is 25)
Elections:
Senate:
last held 5-6 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - DC
27.3%, PDS 17.0%, PSI 13.6%, Northern Leagues 8.2%, other 33.9%; seats -
(326 total; 315 elected, 11 appointed senators-for-life) DC 107, PDS 64, PSI
49, Leagues 25, other 70
*Italy, Government
Chamber of Deputies:
last held 5-6 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - DC
29.7%, PDS 16.1%, PSI 13.6%, Northern Leagues 8.7%, RC 5.6%, MSI 5.4%, PRI
4.4%, PLI 2.8%, PSDI 2.7%, other 11%; seats - (630 total) DC 206, PDS 107,
PSI 92, Northern Leagues 55, RC 35, MSI 34, PRI 27, PLI 17, PSDI 16, other
41
Executive branch:
president, prime minister (president of the Council of Ministers)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Parlamento) consists of an upper chamber or Senate of
the Republic (Senato della Repubblica) and a lower chamber or Chamber of
Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (Corte Costituzionale)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Oscar Luigi SCALFARO (since 28 May 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (29 April 1993)
Member of:
AfDB, AG (observer), Australia Group, AsDB, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional),
CE, CEI, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-7, G-10,
GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IEA, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),
LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTSO, UPU,
WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Boris BIANCHERI CHIAPPORI
chancery:
1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 328-5500
consulates general:
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San
Francisco
consulates:
Detroit, New Orleans, and Newark (New Jersey)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
Via Veneto 119/A, 00187, Rome
mailing address:
PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
telephone:
[39] (6) 46741
FAX:
[39] (6) 488-2672
consulates general:
Florence, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Palermo (Sicily)
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to
the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and
orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors
reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
*Italy, Economy
Overview:
Since World War II the economy has changed from one based on agriculture
into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the same total and per
capita output as France and the UK. The country is still divided into a
developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and an
undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by large public enterprises.
Services account for 48% of GDP, industry 35%, agriculture 4%, and public
administration 13%. Most raw materials needed by industry and over 75% of
energy requirements must be imported. After growing at an annual average
rate of 3% in 1983-90, growth slowed to about 1% in 1991 and 1992. In the
second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying
to participate in EC plans for economic and monetary union later in the
decade; thus it finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Thanks
to the determination of Prime Minister AMATO, the government adopted a
fairly stringent budget for 1993, abandoned its highly inflationary wage
indexation system, and started to scale back its extremely generous social
welfare programs, including pension and health care benefits. Monetary
officials, who were forced to withdraw the lira from the European monetary
system in September 1992 when it came under extreme pressure in currency
markets, remain committed to bringing the currency back into the grid as
soon as conditions warrant. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of
refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing pollution in major
industrial centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces accompanying
the ongoing economic integration of the European Community.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.012 trillion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
0.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
$17,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
11% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $447 billion; expenditures $581 billion, including capital
expenditures of $46 billion (1992 est.)
Exports:
$168.8 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
textiles, wearing apparel, metals, production machinery, motor vehicles,
transportation equipment, chemicals, other
partners:
EC 58.3%, US 6.8%, OPEC 5.1% (1992)
Imports:
$169.7 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum, industrial machinery, chemicals, metals, food, agricultural
products
partners:
EC 58.8%, OPEC 6.1%, US 5.5% (1992)
External debt:
$42 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate -0.5% (1992 est.); accounts for almost 35% of GDP
Electricity:
58,000,000 kW capacity; 235,000 million kWh produced, 4,060 kWh per capita
(1992)
*Italy, Economy
Industries:
machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor
vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Agriculture:
accounts for about 4% of GDP and about 10% of the work force;
self-sufficient in foods other than meat, dairy products, and cereals;
principal crops - fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets,
soybeans, grain, olives; fish catch of 525,000 metric tons in 1990
Illicit drugs:
increasingly important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering
the European market
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $25.9 billion
Currency:
1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates:
Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992),
1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990), 1,372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Italy, Communications
Railroads:
20,011 km total; 16,066 km 1.435-meter government-owned standard gauge
(8,999 km electrified); 3,945 km privately owned - 2,100 km 1.435-meter
standard gauge (1,155 km electrified) and 1,845 km 0.950-meter narrow gauge
(380 km electrified)
Highways:
298,000 km total; autostrada (expressway) 6,000 km, state highways 46,000
km, provincial highways 103,000 km, communal highways 143,000 km; 270,000 km
paved, 23,000 km gravel and crushed stone, 5,000 km earth
Inland waterways:
2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic, although of limited
overall value
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km; natural gas 19,400 km
Ports:
Cagliari (Sardinia), Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Palermo (Sicily),
Taranto, Trieste, Venice
Merchant marine:
536 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,788,938 GRT/10,128,468 DWT;
includes 15 passenger, 36 short-sea passenger, 87 cargo, 4 refrigerated
cargo, 21 container, 69 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 vehicle carrier, 1
multifunction large-load carrier, 138 oil tanker, 34 chemical tanker, 45
liquefied gas, 10 specialized tanker, 9 combination ore/oil, 57 bulk, 2
combination bulk
Airports:
total:
137
usable: 133
with permanent-surface runways:
92
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
36
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
39
Telecommunications:
modern, well-developed, fast; 25,600,000 telephones; fully automated
telephone, telex, and data services; high-capacity cable and microwave radio
relay trunks; broadcast stations - 135 AM, 28 (1,840 repeaters) FM, 83
(1,000 repeaters) TV; international service by 21 submarine cables, 3
satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT with 3 Atlantic Ocean
antennas and 2 Indian Ocean antennas; also participates in INMARSAT and
EUTELSAT systems
*Italy, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 14,898,913; fit for military service 12,989,142; reach
military age (18) annually 425,286 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $24.5 billion, 2% of GDP (1992)
*Jamaica, Geography
Location:
in the northern Caribbean Sea, about 160 km south of Cuba
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
10,990 km2
land area:
10,830 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,022 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Natural resources:
bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use:
arable land:
19%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
18%
forest and woodland:
28%
other:
29%
Irrigated land:
350 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to hurricanes (especially July to November); deforestation; water
pollution
Note:
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea
lanes for Panama Canal
*Jamaica, People
Population:
2,529,981 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.96% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
22.24 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.72 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-6.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
17.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
74.09 years
male:
71.92 years
female:
76.36 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic divisions:
African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indian and Afro-East Indian 3%,
white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%, other 1.2%
Religions:
Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%, Anglican 7.1%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%, Methodist 3.1%, United Church
2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%, other, including some spiritual cults
39.1% (1982)
Languages:
English, Creole
Literacy:
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990)
total population:
98%
male:
98%
female:
99%
Labor force:
1,062,100
by occupation:
services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%, unemployed 17.5% (1989)
*Jamaica, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Jamaica
Digraph:
JM
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Kingston
Administrative divisions:
14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint
Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint
Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
Independence:
6 August 1962 (from UK)
Constitution:
6 August 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day (first Monday in August)
Political parties and leaders:
People's National Party (PNP) P. J. PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP),
Edward SEAGA
Other political or pressure groups:
Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held 30 March 1993 (next to be held by February 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Sir Howard COOKE (since 1 August 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister P. J. PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992)
Member of:
ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-19, G-77, GATT, G-15, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO,
ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Richard BERNAL
chancery:
Suite 355, 1850 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:
(202) 452-0660
*Jamaica, Government
consulates general:
Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Glen A. HOLDEN
embassy:
Kingston
mailing address:
3rd Floor, Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, Kingston
telephone:
(809) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX:
(809) 926-6743
Flag:
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and
bottom) and black (hoist side and fly side)
*Jamaica, Economy