Overview:
Kyrgyzstan's small economy (less than 1% of the total for the former Soviet
Union) is oriented toward agriculture, producing mainly livestock such as
goats and sheep, as well as cotton, grain, and tobacco. Industry,
concentrated around Bishkek, produces small quantities of electric motors,
livestock feeding equipment, washing machines, furniture, cement, paper, and
bricks. Mineral extraction is small, the most important minerals being coal,
rare earth metals and gold. Kyrgyzstan is a net importer of many types of
food and fuel but is a net exporter of electricity. In 1992, the Kirghiz
leadership made progress on reform, primarily by privatizing business,
granting life-long tenure to farmers, and freeing most prices. Nonetheless,
in 1992 overall industrial and livestock output declined because of acute
fuel shortages and a widespread lack of spare parts.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-25% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
29% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
0.1% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers of
underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
wool, chemicals, cotton, ferrous and nonferrous metals, shoes, machinery,
tobacco
partners:
Russia 70%, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and others
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles,
footwear
partners:
other CIS republics
External debt:
$650 million (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA% (1992)
Electricity:
4,100,000 kW capacity; 11,800 million kWh produced, 2,551 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
small machinery, textiles, food-processing industries, cement, shoes, sawn
logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, and rare earth metals
Agriculture:
wool, tobacco, cotton, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle), vegetables, meat,
grapes, fruits and berries, eggs, milk, potatoes
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limited
government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit
drugs to Western Europel
Economic aid:
$300 million official and commitments by foreign donors (1992)
*Kyrgyzstan, Economy
Currency:
introduced national currency, the som (10 May 1993)
Exchange rates:
rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuations
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Kyrgyzstan, Communications
Railroads:
370 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
30,300 km total; 22,600 km paved or graveled, 7,700 km earth(1990)
Pipelines:
natural gas 200 km
Ports:
none; landlocked
Airports:
total:
52
useable:
27
with permanent-surface runways:
12
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
13
Telecommunications:
poorly developed; 56 telephones per 1000 persons (December 1990);
connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave and with other
countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch;
satellite earth stations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only); new
intelsat earth station provide TV receive-only capability for Turkish
broadcasts
*Kyrgyzstan, Defense Forces
Branches:
National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,093,694; fit for military service 890,961 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
$NA, NA% of GDP
*Laos, Geography
Location:
Southeast Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand
Map references:
Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
236,800 km2
land area:
230,800 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:
total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754
km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
boundary dispute with Thailand
Climate:
tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to
April)
Terrain:
mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
3%
forest and woodland:
58%
other:
35%
Irrigated land:
1,200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
deforestation; soil erosion; subject to floods
Note:
landlocked
*Laos, People
Population:
4,569,327 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.86% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
43.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
15.22 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
104.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
51.18 years
male:
49.67 years
female:
52.77 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.16 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Lao(s) or Laotian(s)
adjective:
Lao or Laotian
Ethnic divisions:
Lao 50%, Phoutheung (Kha) 15%, tribal Thai 20%, Meo, Hmong, Yao, and other
15%
Religions:
Buddhist 85%, animist and other 15%
Languages:
Lao (official), French, English
Literacy:
age 15-45 can read and write (1985)
total population:
84%
male:
92%
female:
76%
Labor force:
1-1.5 million
by occupation:
agriculture 85-90% (est.)
*Laos, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Lao People's Democratic Republic
conventional short form:
Laos
local long form:
Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao
local short form:
none
Digraph:
LA
Type:
Communist state
Capital:
Vientiane
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 municipality* (kampheng, nakhon, singular and
plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamsai, Champasak,
Houaphan, Khammouan, Louang Namtha, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali,
Saravan, Savannakhet, Sekong, Vientiane, Vientiane*, Xaignabouri,, Xiangkhoang
Independence:
19 July 1949 (from France)
Constitution:
promulgated August 1991
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of the Lao People's Democratic
Republic)
Political parties and leaders:
Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president;
includes Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC); other parties moribund
Other political or pressure groups:
non-Communist political groups moribund; most leaders fled the country in
1975
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Third National Assembly:
last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
president, prime minister and two deputy prime ministers, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
National Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President NOUHAK Phoumsavan (since 25 November 1992)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI Siphandon (since 15 August 1991)
Member of:
ACCT (associate), AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
*Laos, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador HIEM Phommachanh
chancery:
2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 332-6416 or 6417
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles B. SALMON, Jr.
embassy:
Rue Bartholonie, Vientiane
mailing address:
B. P. 114, Vientiane, or AMEMB, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone:
(856) 2220, 2357, 2384
FAX:
(856) 4675
Flag:
three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a
large white disk centered in the blue band
*Laos, Economy
Overview:
One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a Communist centrally
planned economy with government ownership and control of productive
enterprises of any size. In recent years, however, the government has been
decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise. Laos is a
landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure; that is, it has no
railroads, a rudimentary road system, limited external and internal
telecommunications, and electricity available in only a limited area.
Subsistence agriculture is the main occupation, accounting for over 60% of
GDP and providing about 85-90% of total employment. The predominant crop is
rice. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend for its
survival on foreign aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid
from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $900 million (1991)
National product real growth rate:
4% (1991)
National product per capita:
$200 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
21% (1989 est.)
Budget:
revenues $83 million; expenditures $188.5 million, including capital
expenditures of $94 million (1990 est.)
Exports:
$72 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
electricity, wood products, coffee, tin
partners:
Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, USSR, US, China
Imports:
$238 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)
commodities:
food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures
partners:
Thailand, USSR, Japan, France, Vietnam, China
External debt:
$1.1 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 12% (1991 est.); accounts for about 18% of GDP (1991 est.)
Electricity:
226,000 kW capacity; 990 million kWh produced, 220 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing,
construction
Agriculture:
accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force; subsistence
farming predominates; normally self-sufficient in nondrought years;
principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables,
corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock - buffaloes, hogs, cattle,
poultry
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade,
third-largest opium producer
*Laos, Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $605 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million
Currency:
1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates:
new kips (NK) per US$1 - 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September
1990), 576 (1989), 385 (1988), 200 (1987)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*Laos, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
about 27,527 km total; 1,856 km bituminous or bituminous treated; 7,451 km
gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 18,220 km unimproved earth and
often impassable during rainy season mid-May to mid-September
Inland waterways:
about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional
kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines:
petroleum products 136 km
Ports:
none
Airports:
total:
54
usable:
41
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:
15
Telecommunications:
service to general public practically non-existant; radio communications
network provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390
telephones (1986); broadcast stations - 10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite
earth station
*Laos, Defense Forces
Branches:
Lao People's Army (LPA; including naval, aviation, and militia elements),
Air Force, National Police Department
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 980,274; fit for military service 528,450; reach military
age (18) annually 43,849 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Latvia, Geography
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering on the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
Arctic Region, Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area: 64,100 km2
land area:
64,100 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217
km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
the Abrene section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
to Russia in 1944
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
low plain
Natural resources:
minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:
arable land:
27%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
13%
forest and woodland:
39%
other:
21%
Irrigated land:
160 km2 (1990)
Environment:
heightened levels of air and water pollution because of a lack of waste
conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted;
contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products
at military bases
*Latvia, People
Population:
2,735,573 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.5% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
13.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
12.73 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
22 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
69.23 years
male:
64.15 years
female:
74.55 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Latvian(s)
adjective:
Latvian
Ethnic divisions:
Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Belarusian 4.5%, Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%,
other 4.2%
Religions:
Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages:
Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
1.407 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43%
(1990)
*Latvia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Latvia
conventional short form:
Latvia
local long form:
Latvijas Republika
local short form:
Latvija
former:
Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
LG
Type: republic
Capital:
Riga
Administrative divisions:
none (all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction)
Independence:
6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
adopted NA May 1922, considering rewriting constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Labor Party of Latvia, Juris BOJARS, chairman; Inter-Front of the
Working People of Latvia, Igor LOPATIN, chairman (Inter-Front was banned
after the coup); Latvian National Movement for Independence, Eduards
BERKLAVS, chairman; Latvian Democratic Party, Janis DINEVICS, chairman;
Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party, Uldis BERZINS, chairman; Latvian
People's Front, Uldis AUGST-KALNS, chairman; Latvian Liberal Party, Georg
LANSMANIS, chairman
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held October 1988 (next to be held NA); note - Anatolijs V. GORBUNOVS
elected by Supreme Soviet; elected to restyled post of Chairman of the
Supreme Council on 3 May 1990; new elections have not been scheduled
Supreme Council:
last held 18 March 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next to be held 5-6 June
1993 for the Saeima); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (234
total) Latvian Communist Party 59, Latvian Democratic Workers Party 31,
Social Democratic Party of Latvia 4, Green Party of Latvia 7, Latvian
Farmers Union 7, Latvian Popular Front 126; note - the Supreme Council is an
interim 201-seats legislative body; a new parliament or Saiema to be elected
in June 1993
Congress of Latvia:
last held April 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (231 total) number of seats by party NA; note - the
Congress of Latvia is a quasi-governmental structure
Executive branch:
Chairman of Supreme Council (president), prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council
*Latvia, Government
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Chairman Supreme Council Anatolijs V. GORBUNOVS (since NA October 1988)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Ivars GODMANIS (since NA May 1990)
Member of:
CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, ILO, IMF, IOM (observer), ITU,
NACC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ojars KALNINS
chancery:
4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
(202) 726-8213 and 8214
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ints M, SILINS;
embassy:
Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050
mailing address:
APO AE 09862
telephone:
0-11 [358] (49) 311-348 (cellular)
FAX:
[358] (49) 314-665 (cellular), (7) (01-32) 220-502
note:
dialing to the Baltics still requires use of an international operator,
unless you use the cellular phone lines
Flag:
two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower
than other two bands)
*Latvia, Economy
Overview:
Latvia is in the process of reforming the centrally planned economy
inherited from the former USSR into a market economy. Prices have been
freed, and privatization of shops and farms has begun. Latvia lacks natural
resources, aside from its arable land and small forests. Its most valuable
economic asset is its work force, which is better educated and disciplined
than in most of the former Soviet republics. Industrial production is highly
diversified, with products ranging from agricultural machinery to consumer
electronics. One conspicuous vulnerability: Latvia produces only 10% of its
electric power needs. Latvia in the near term must retain key commercial
ties to Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine while moving in the long run toward
joint ventures with technological support from, and trade ties to the West.
Because of the efficiency of its mostly individual farms, Latvians enjoy a
diet that is higher in meat, vegetables, and dairy products and lower in
grain and potatoes than diets in the 12 non-Baltic republics of the former
USSR. Good relations with Russia are threatened by animosity between ethnic
Russians (34% of the population) and native Latvians. The cumulative
difficulties in replacing old sources of supply and old markets, together
with the phasing out of the Russian ruble as the medium of exchange, help
account for the sharp 30% drop in GDP in 1992.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-30% (1992)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
3.6% (March 1993); but large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
NA
partners:
NA
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
NA
partners:
NA
External debt:
$650 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -35% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
2,140,000 kW capacity; 5,800 million kWh produced, 2,125 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
employs 33% of labor force; highly diversified; dependent on imports for
energy, raw materials, and intermediate products; produces buses, vans,
street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery,
fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals,
processed foods, textiles
*Latvia, Economy
Agriculture:
employs 16% of labor force; principally dairy farming and livestock feeding;
products - meat, milk, eggs, grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables;
fishing and fish packing
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia to
Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic
consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
1 lat = 100 NA; introduced NA March 1993
Exchange rates:
lats per US$1 - 1.32 (March 1993)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Latvia, Communications
Railroads:
2,400 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
59,500 km total; 33,000 km hard surfaced 26,500 km earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
crude oil 750 km, refined products 780 km, natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports:
coastal - Riga, Ventspils, Liepaja; inland - Daugavpils
Merchant marine:
96 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 905,006 GRT/1,178,844 DWT; includes 14
cargo, 27 refrigerated cargo, 2 container, 9 roll-on/roll-off, 44 oil tanker
Airports:
total:
50
useable:
15
with permanent-surface runways:
11
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
7
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
7
Telecommunications:
NMT-450 analog cellular network is operational covering Riga, Ventspils,
Daugavpils, Rezekne, and Valmiera; broadcast stations - NA; international
traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway
switch and through new independent international automatic telephone
exchange in Riga and the Finnish cellular net
*Latvia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border
troops), Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 648,273; fit for military service 511,297; reach military
age (18) annually 18,767 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
176 million rubles, 3-5% of GDP; note - conversion of the military budget
into US$ using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
*Lebanon, Header
Note:
Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and
regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year
civil war in October 1990. Under the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for
national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable
political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the
political process. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed three
cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years. Most of
the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the
war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the
country. Hizballah, the radical Sh'ia party, is the only significant group
that retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of
Lebanon. Israel continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South
Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border.
The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20
kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzine. As of December 1992,
Syria maintained about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based
mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment
was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the
Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests,
and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the
constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to
withdraw its troops from Beirut.
*Lebanon, Geography
Location:
Middle East, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
10,400 km2
land area:
10,230 km2
comparative area:
about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total 454 km, Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline:
225 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Israeli troops in southern
Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern
Lebanon since October 1976
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon
mountians experience heavy winter snows
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and
Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region
Land use:
arable land:
21%
permanent crops:
9%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
8%
other:
61%
Irrigated land:
860 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous
factional groups based on religion, clan, ethnicity; deforestation; soil
erosion; air and water pollution; desertification
Note:
Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international
boundary
*Lebanon, People
Population:
3,552,369 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.81% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
27.86 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.66 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
41 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
69.01 years
male:
66.63 years
female:
71.52 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Lebanese
Ethnic divisions:
Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions:
Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite or Nusayri, Druze,
Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally recognized Christian
groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages:
Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
80%
male:
88%
female:
73%
Labor force:
650,000
by occupation:
industry, commerce, and services 79%, agriculture 11%, government 10% (1985)
*Lebanon, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Lebanon
conventional short form:
Lebanon
local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form:
none
Digraph:
LE
Type:
republic
Capital:
Beirut
Administrative divisions:
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Biqa, 'Al Janub, Ash
Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence:
22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French
administration)
Constitution:
26 May 1926 (amended)
Legal system:
mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no
judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Political parties and leaders:
political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines;
numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political
figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic
considerations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21
with elementary education
Elections:
National Assembly:
Lebanon's first legislative election in 20 years was held in the summer of
1992; the National Assembly is composed of 128 deputies, one-half Christian
and one-half Muslim; its mandate expires in 1996
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Cabinet; note - by custom, the president is a
Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of
the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab, French - Assemblee
Nationale)
Judicial branch:
four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and
one court for criminal cases)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 22 October 1992)
*Lebanon, Government
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Simon KARAM
chancery:
2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 939-6300
consulates general:
Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ryan C. CROCKER
mailing embassy:
Antelias, Beirut
address:
P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut, or Box B, FPO AE 09836
telephone:
[961] 417774 or 415802, 415803, 402200, 403300
Flag:
three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a
green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
*Lebanon, Economy
Overview:
Since 1975 civil war has seriously damaged Lebanon's economic
infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's
position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Following October
1990, however, a tentative peace has enabled the central government to begin
restoring control in Beirut, collect taxes, and regain access to key port
and government facilities. The battered economy has also been propped up by
a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale
manufacturers. Family remittances, banking transactions, manufactured and
farm exports, the narcotics trade, and international emergency aid are main
sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991,
industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed substantial
gains. The further rebuilding of the war-ravaged country was delayed in 1992
because of an upturn in political wrangling. Hope for restoring economic
momentum in 1993 rests with the new, business-oriented Prime Minister
HARIRI.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.8 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$1,400 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
100% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
35% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $533 million; expenditures $1.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)
Exports:
$490 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious and semiprecious metals
and jewelry, metals and metal products
partners:
Saudi Arabia 21%, Switzerland 9.5%, Jordan 6%, Kuwait 12%, US 5%
Imports:
$3.7 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
Consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
partners:
Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%
External debt:
$400 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
1,300,000 kW capacity; 3,413 million kWh produced, 990 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining, chemicals,
jewelry, some metal fabricating
Agriculture:
accounts for about one-third of GDP; principal products - citrus fruits,
vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish), sheep, goats; not
self-sufficient in grain
*Lebanon, Economy
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of opium, hashish, and heroin for the international drug
trade; opium poppy production in Al Biqa almost completely eradicated this
year; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, Israel, US, the
Middle East, and South America
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $356 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $664 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $962 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $9
million
Currency:
1 Lebanese pound (#L) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates:
Lebanese pounds (#L) per US$1 - 1,742.00 (April 1993), 1,712.80 (1992),
928.23 (1991), 695.09 (1990), 496.69 (1989), 409.23 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Lebanon, Communications
Railroads:
system in disrepair, considered inoperable
Highways:
7,300 km total; 6,200 km paved, 450 km gravel and crushed stone, 650 km
improved earth
Pipelines:
crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports:
Beirut, Tripoli, Ra'Sil'ata, Juniyah, Sidon, Az Zahrani, Tyre, Jubayl,
Shikka Jadidah
Merchant marine:
63 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 270,505 GRT/403,328 DWT; includes 39
cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 3 roll-on/roll-off, 1
container, 9 livestock carrier, 2 chemical tanker, 1 specialized tanker, 4
bulk, 1 combination bulk
Airports:
total:
9
usable:
8
with permanent-surface runways:
6
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding still
underway; 325,000 telephones (95 telephones per 1,000 persons); domestic
traffic carried primarily by microwave radio relay and a small amount of
cable; international traffic by satellite - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
station and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station (erratic operations),
coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond
Syria to Jordan, 3 submarine coaxial cables; broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3
FM, 13 TV (numerous AM and FM stations are operated sporadically by various
factions)
*Lebanon, Defense Forces
Branches:
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; including Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 798,299; fit for military service 495,763 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $271 million, 8.2% of GDP (1992 budget)
*Lesotho, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
30,350 km2
land area:
30,350 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total 909 km, South Africa 909 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain:
mostly highland with some plateaus, hills, and mountains
Natural resources:
some diamonds and other minerals, water, agricultural and grazing land
Land use:
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
0% meadows and pastures:
66%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
24%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in
overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification
Note:
landlocked; surrounded by South Africa; Highlands Water Project will
control, store, and redirect water to South Africa
*Lesotho, People
Population:
1,896,484 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
34.64 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
9.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
71.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
61.73 years
male:
59.91 years
female:
63.6 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.6 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective:
Basotho
Ethnic divisions:
Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions:
Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages:
Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1966)
total population:
59%
male: 44%
female:
68%
Labor force:
689,000 economically active
by occupation:
86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 60%
of active male labor force works in South Africa
*Lesotho, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form:
Lesotho
former:
Basutoland
Digraph:
LT
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Maseru
Administrative divisions:
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek,
Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence:
4 October 1966 (from UK)
Constitution:
4 October 1966, suspended January 1970
Legal system:
based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of
legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Political parties and leaders:
Basotho National Party (BNP), Evaristus SEKHONYANA; Basutoland Congress
Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE; National Independent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI;
Marematlou Freedom Party (MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United Democratic Party,
Charles MOFELI; Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), JCOB M. KENA
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
dissolved following the military coup in January 1986; military has pledged
elections will take place in March 1993
Executive branch:
monarch, chairman of the Military Council, Military Council, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
none - the bicameral Parliament was dissolved following the military coup in
January 1986; note - a National Constituent Assembly convened in June 1990
to rewrite the constitution and debate issues of national importance, but it
has no legislative authority
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King LETSIE III (since 12 November 1990 following dismissal of his father,
exiled King MOSHOESHOE II, by Maj. Gen. LEKHANYA)
Head of Government:
Chairman of the Military Council Gen. Elias Phisoana RAMAEMA (since 30 April
1991)
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
*Lesotho, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Designate Teboho KITLEI
chancery:
2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 797-5534
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Leonard H.O. SPEARMAN, Sr.
embassy:
address NA, Maseru
mailing address:
P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100 Lesotho
telephone:
[266] 312-666
FAX:
(266) 310-116
Flag:
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white
bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club;
the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
*Lesotho, Economy
Overview:
Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural
resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light
manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed in South Africa ($439
million in 1991). The great majority of households gain their livelihoods
from subsistence farming and migrant labor. Manufacturing depends largely on
farm products to support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries;
other industries include textile, clothing, and construction (in particular,
a major water improvement project which will permit the sale of water to
South Africa). Industry's share of GDP rose from 6% in 1982 to 15% in 1989.
Political and economic instability in South Africa raises uncertainty for
Lesotho's economy, especially with respect to migrant worker remittances -
recently the equivalent of nearly three-fourths of domestic output.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $620 million (1991 est.)
note:
GNP of $1.0 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
5.3% (1991 est.); GNP 2.2% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$340 (1991 est.); GNP $570 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17.9% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
at least 55% among adult males (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $388 million; expenditures $399 million, including capital
expenditures of $132 million (FY93)
Exports:
$57 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
wool, mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides, skins, baskets
partners:
South Africa 53%, EC 30%, North and South America 13% (1989)
Imports:
$805 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles, machinery, medicines,
petroleum
partners:
South Africa 95%, EC 2% (1989)
External debt:
$358 million (for public sector) (December 1990/91 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5.0% (1991 est.); accounts for 11% of GDP
Electricity:
power supplied by South Africa
Industries:
food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts, tourism
Agriculture:
accounts for 19% of GDP (1990 est.) and employs 60-70% of all households;
exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and livestock; principal
crops corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $268 million; US, $10.3 million
(1992), $10.1 million (1993 est.); Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF
bilateral commitments (1970-89), $819 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89),
$4 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $14 million
*Lesotho, Economy
Currency:
1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
Exchange rates:
maloti (M) per US$1 - 3.1576 (May 1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991),
2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988); note - the Basotho loti is at
par with the South African rand
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Lesotho, Communications
Railroads:
2.6 km; owned, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa
Highways:
7,215 km total; 572 km paved; 2,337 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized
soil; 1,806 km improved earth, 2,500 km unimproved earth
Airports:
total:
28
usable:
28
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
rudimentary system consisting of a few landlines, a small microwave system,
and minor radio communications stations; 5,920 telephones; broadcast
stations - 3 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Lesotho, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Lesotho Defense Force (RLDF; including Army, Air Wing), Royal Lesotho
Mounted Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 422,802; fit for military service 228,102 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $55 million, 13% of GDP (1990 est.)
*Liberia, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Pacific Ocean between Cote d'Ivoire and
Sierra Leone
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area: total area:
111,370 km2
land area:
96,320 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total 1,585 km, Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline:
579 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights;
wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain:
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low
mountains in northeast
Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use:
arable land:
1%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
2%
forest and woodland:
39%
other:
55%
Irrigated land:
20 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
West Africa's largest tropical rain forest, subject to deforestation
*Liberia, People
Population:
2,874,881 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.37% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
43.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
12.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 115.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
57.28 years
male:
54.88 years
female:
59.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.42 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Liberian(s)
adjective:
Liberian
Ethnic divisions:
indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo,
Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians
5% (descendants of repatriated slaves)
Religions:
traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages:
English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group about 20 local languages
come from this group
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
40%
male:
50%
female:
29%
Labor force:
510,000 including 220,000 in the monetary economy
by occupation:
agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and commerce 4.5%, other 14.2%
note:
non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and
engineering jobs; 52% of population of working age
*Liberia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Liberia
conventional short form:
Liberia
Digraph:
LI
Type:
republic
Capital:
Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand
Kru,
Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence:
26 July 1847
Constitution:
6 January 1986
Legal system:
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the
modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for
indigenous sector
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman;
Liberian Action Party (LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP),
Carlos SMITH, chairman; United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus
MATTHEWS, chairman
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - Gen. Dr. Samuel
Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7%; note -
President Doe was killed by rebel forces on 9 September 1990
Senate:
last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (26 total) NDPL 21, LAP 3, UP 1, UPP 1
House of Representatives:
last held on 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (64 total) NDPL 51, LAP 8, UP 3, UPP 2
Executive branch:
president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
interim President Dr. Amos SAWYER (since 15 November 1990)
note:
this is an interim government appointed by the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) that will be replaced after elections are held under
a West African-brokered peace plan; a rebel faction led by Charles TAYLOR is
challenging the SAWYER government's legitimacy; former president, Gen. Dr.
Samuel Kanyon DOE, was killed on 9 September 1990 by Prince Y. JOHNSON
*Liberia, Government
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission:
Ambassador James TARPEH
chancery:
5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
(202) 723-0437 through 0440
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William H. TWADDELL
embassy:
111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
mailing address:
P. O. Box 98, Monrovia, or APO AE 09813
telephone:
[231] 222991 through 222994
FAX:
(231) 223710
Flag:
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white;
there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side
corner; the design was based on the US flag
*Liberia, Economy
Overview:
Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the
infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Businessmen have fled the country,
taking capital and expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed
with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to
agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products,
while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope.
Political instability threatens prospects for economic reconstruction and
repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian refugees who have fled to neighboring
countries. The political impasse between the interim government and rebel
leader Charles Taylor has prevented restoration of normal economic life,
including the re-establishment of a strong central government with effective
economic development programs.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $988 million (1988)
National product real growth rate:
1.5% (1988)
National product per capita:
$400 (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
43% urban (1988)
Budget:
revenues $242.1 million; expenditures $435.4 million, including capital
expenditures of $29.5 million (1989)
Exports:
$505 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)
commodities:
iron ore 61%, rubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee
partners:
US, EC, Netherlands
Imports:
$394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.)
commodities:
rice, mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, other
foodstuffs
partners:
US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS
External debt:
$1.6 billion (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.5% in manufacturing (1987); accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity:
410,000 kW capacity; 750 million kWh produced, 275 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
rubber processing, food processing, construction materials, furniture, palm
oil processing, mining (iron ore, diamonds)
Agriculture:
accounts for about 40% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); principal
products - rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava, palm oil,
sugarcane, bananas, sheep, goats; not self-sufficient in food, imports 25%
of rice consumption
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $665 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $870 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $25 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $77
million
*Liberia, Economy
Currency:
1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate since 1940); unofficial
parallel exchange rate of L$7 = US$1, January 1992
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Liberia, Communications
Railroads:
480 km total; 328 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 152 km 1.067-meter narrow
gauge; all lines single track; rail systems owned and operated by foreign
steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government
Highways:
10,087 km total; 603 km bituminous treated, 2,848 km all weather, 4,313 km
dry weather; there are also 2,323 km of private, laterite-surfaced roads
open to public use, owned by rubber and timber companies
Ports: Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, Harper (or Cape Palmas)
Merchant marine:
1,618 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 57,769,476 DWT/ 101,391,576 DWT;
includes 20 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger, 132 cargo, 56 refrigerated
cargo, 21 roll-on/roll-off, 58 vehicle carrier, 97 container, 3 barge
carrier, 499 oil tanker, 108 chemical, 68 combination ore/oil, 62 liquefied
gas, 6 specialized tanker, 456 bulk, 31 combination bulk; note - a flag of
convenience registry; all ships are foreign owned; the top 4 owning flags
are US 16%, Japan 14%, Norway 11%, and Hong Kong 9%
Airports:
total:
59
usable:
41
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:
4
Telecommunications:
telephone and telegraph service via radio relay network; main center is
Monrovia; broadcast stations - 3 AM, 4 FM, 5 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
earth station; most telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency
movement
*Liberia, Defense Forces
Branches:
the ultimate structure of the Liberian military force will depend on who is
the victor in the ongoing civil war
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 684,681; fit for military service 365,518 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Libya, Geography
Location:
Northern Africa, on the southern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, between
Egypt and Tunisia
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,759,540 km2
land area:
1,759,540 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total 4,383 km, Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km,
Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:
1,770 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12 nm
Gulf of Sidra closing line:
32 degrees 30 minutes north
International disputes:
claims and occupies the Aozou Strip in northern Chad; maritime boundary
dispute with Tunisia; Libya claims part of northern Niger and part of
southeastern Algeria
Climate:
Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:
mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
8%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
90%
Irrigated land:
2,420 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in
spring and fall; desertification; sparse natural surface-water resources
Note:
the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the
world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to
coastal cities
*Libya, People
Population:
4,872,598 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.73% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.37 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 65.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
63.47 years
male:
61.35 years
female:
65.7 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Libyan(s)
adjective:
Libyan
Ethnic divisions:
Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis,
Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages:
Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
64%
male:
75%
female:
50%
Labor force:
1 million includes about 280,000 resident foreigners
by occupation:
industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18%
*Libya, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form:
Libya
local long form:
Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishirakiyah
local short form:
none
Digraph:
LY
Type:
Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace
through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:
Tripoli
Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al
'Aziziyah,
Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al
Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan,
Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq,
Yafran, Zlitan
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from Italy)
Constitution:
11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:
based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious
courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Political parties and leaders:
none
Other political or pressure groups:
various Arab nationalist movements and the Arab Socialist Resurrection
(Ba'th) party with almost negligible memberships may be functioning
clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees
Executive branch:
revolutionary leader, chairman of the General People's Committee (premier),
General People's Committee (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Revolutionary Leader Col. Mu'ammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September
1969)
Head of Government:
Chairman of the General People's Committee (Premier) Abu Zayd 'umar DURDA
(since 7 October 1990)
*Libya, Government
Member of:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
none
US diplomatic representation:
none
Flag:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
*Libya, Economy
Overview:
The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about
one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at
$5,410, but GDP growth rates have slowed and fluctuate sharply in response
to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and inefficient
resource allocations have led to shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs,
although the reopening of the Libyan-Tunisian border in April 1988 and the
Libyan-Egyptian border in December 1989 have eased shortages. Austerity
budgets and a lack of trained technicians have undermined the government's
ability to implement a number of planned infrastructure development
projects. Windfall revenues from the hike in world oil prices in late 1990
improved the foreign payments position and resulted in a current account
surplus for the first time in five years. The nonoil manufacturing and
construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from
processing mostly agricultural products to include petrochemicals, iron,
steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it
employs about 20% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils
severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food
requirements.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $26.1 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
0.2% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$5,800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $8.1 billion; expenditures $9.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $3.1 billion (1989 est.)
Exports:
$9.71 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
partners:
Italy, former USSR, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium/Luxembourg, Turkey
Imports:
$8.66 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods
partners:
Italy, former USSR, Germany, UK, Japan, Korea
External debt:
$3.5 billion excluding military debt (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 10.5%; accounts for 7.6% of GDP (not including oil) (1990)
Electricity:
4,935,000 kW capacity; 14,385 million kWh produced, 2,952 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Agriculture:
5% of GNP; cash crops - wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus fruits,
peanuts; 75% of food is imported
*Libya, Economy
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87),
$242 million; no longer a recipient
Currency:
1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.2998 (January 1993), 0.3013 (1992), 0.2684
(1991), 0.2699 (1990), 0.2922 (1989), 0.2853 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Libya, Communications
Railroads:
Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems
having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a standard gauge
(1.435 m) line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then
inland to Sabha, center of a mineral rich area, but there has been no
progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line
from As Sallum, Egypt to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994, progress
unknown
Highways:
19,300 km total; 10,800 km bituminous/bituminous treated, 8,500 km crushed
stone or earth
Inland waterways:
none
Pipelines:
crude oil 4,383 km; natural gas 1,947 km; petroleum products 443 km
(includes liquified petroleum gas 256 km)
Ports:
Tobruk, Tripoli, Banghazi, Misratah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Ra's al
Unif
Merchant marine:
32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 694,883 GRT/1,215,494 DWT; includes 4
short-sea passenger, 11 cargo, 4 roll-on/roll-off, 10 oil tanker, 1 chemical
tanker, 2 liquefied gas
Airports:
total:
138
usable:
124
with permanent-surface runways:
56
with runways over 3,659 m: 9
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
27
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
47
Telecommunications:
modern telecommunications system using radio relay, coaxial cable,
tropospheric scatter, and domestic satellite stations; 370,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 17 AM, 3 FM, 12 TV; satellite earth stations - 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 14 domestic; submarine
cables to France and Italy; radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric
scatter to Greece; planned ARABSAT and Intersputnik satellite stations
*Libya, Defense Forces
Branches:
Armed Peoples of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriyah (including Army, Navy, Air and
Air Defense Command)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,058,134; fit for military service 628,285; reach military
age (17) annually 50,997 (1993 est.); conscription now being implemented
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $3.3 billion, 15% of GDP (1989 est.)
*Liechtenstein, Geography
Location:
Western Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
160 km2
land area:
160 km2
comparative area:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total 78 km, Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
claims 620 square miles of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family
in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before
February 1948, when the Communists seized power
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to
moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential
Land use:
arable land:
25%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
38%
forest and woodland:
19%
other:
18%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
Note:
landlocked
*Liechtenstein, People
Population:
29,894 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
13.15 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.62 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.29 years
male:
73.65 years
female:
80.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective:
Liechtenstein
Ethnic divisions:
Alemannic 95%, Italian and other 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 87.3%, Protestant 8.3%, unknown 1.6%, other 2.8% (1988)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
age 10 and over can read and write (1981)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
19,905 of which 11,933 are foreigners; 6,885 commute from Austria and
Switzerland to work each day
by occupation:
industry, trade, and building 53.2%, services 45%, agriculture, fishing,
forestry, and horticulture 1.8% (1990)
*Liechtenstein, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form:
Liechtenstein
local long form:
Furstentum Liechtenstein
local short form:
Liechtenstein
Digraph:
LS
Type:
hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Vaduz
Administrative divisions:
11 communes (gemeinden, singular - gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin,
Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
Constitution:
5 October 1921
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Political parties and leaders:
Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto HASLER; Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP),
Emanuel VOGT; Free Electoral List (FL)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Diet:
last held on 7 February 1993 (next to be held by March 1997); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (25 total) FBP 12, VU 11, FL 2
Executive branch: reigning prince, hereditary prince, head of government, deputy head of
government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Diet (Landtag)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for criminal cases, Superior Court
(Obergericht) for civil cases
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989; assumed executive powers 26
August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11
June 1968)
Head of Government:
Markus BUECHEL (since 7 February 1993); Deputy Head of Government Dr.
Herbert WILLE (since 2 February 1986)
Member of:
CE, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, UN,
UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US:
in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtenstein is represented in the US by the
Swiss Embassy
*Liechtenstein, Government
US diplomatic representation:
the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but the US
Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz
Flag:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the
hoist side of the blue band
*Liechtenstein, Economy
Overview:
The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale light industry and
tourism. Industry accounts for 53% of total employment, the service sector
45% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture and forestry 2%. The sale of
postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10 million annually. Low
business taxes (the maximum tax rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules
have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to
establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated
solely for tax purposes, provide 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied
closely to Switzerland's economy in a customs union, and incomes and living
standards parallel those of the more prosperous Swiss groups.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $630 million (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$22,300 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
1.5% (1990)
Budget:
revenues $259 million; expenditures $292 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1990)
Exports:
$1.6 billion
commodities:
small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery
partners:
EFTA countries 20.9% (Switzerland 15.4%), EC countries 42.7%, other 36.4%
(1990)
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
partners:
NA
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
23,000 kW capacity; 150 million kWh produced, 5,230 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food
products, precision instruments, tourism
Agriculture:
livestock, vegetables, corn, wheat, potatoes, grapes
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates:
Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.4781 (January 1993),
1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Liechtenstein, Communications
Railroads:
18.5 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, electrified; owned, operated, and
included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways
Highways:
130.66 km main roads, 192.27 km byroads
Airports:
none
Telecommunications:
limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system; 25,400 telephones;
linked to Swiss networks by cable and radio relay for international
telephone, radio, and TV services
*Liechtenstein, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is responsibility of Switzerland
*Lithuania, Geography
Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia
Map references:
Asia, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
65,200 km2
land area:
65,200 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
total 1,273 km, Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia
(Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:
108 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
dispute with Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) over the position of the Neman
River border presently located on the Lithuanian bank and not in midriver as
by international standards
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain:
lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Natural resources:
peat
Land use:
arable land:
49.1%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
22.2%
forest and woodland:
16.3%
other:
12.4%
Irrigated land:
430 km2 (1990)
Environment:
risk of accidents from the two Chernobyl-type reactors at the Ignalina
Nuclear Power Plant; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
products and chemicals at military bases
*Lithuania, People
Population:
3,819,638 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
14.95 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
10.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
16.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.12 years
male:
66.39 years
female:
76.08 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.03 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Lithuanian(s)
adjective:
Lithuanian
Ethnic divisions:
Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%, Belarusian 1.5%, other 2.1%
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Lutheran, other
Languages:
Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
1.836 million
by occupation:
industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40%
(1990)
*Lithuania, Government
Names: conventional long form:
Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form:
Lithuania
local long form:
Lietuvos Respublika
local short form:
Lietuva
former:
Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
LH
Type:
republic
Capital:
Vilnius
Administrative divisions:
NA districts
Independence:
6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
Independence Day, 16 February
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democratic Party, Egidijus KLUMBYS, chairman; Democratic Labor
Party of Lithuania, Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman; Lithuanian
Democratic Party, Sauluis PECELIUNAS, chairman; Lithuanian Green Party,
Irena IGNATAVICIENE, chairwoman; Lithuanian Humanism Party, Vytautas
KAZLAUSKAS, chairman; Lithuanian Independence Party, Virgilijus CEPAITIS,
chairman; Lithuanian Liberty League, Antanas TERLECKAS; Lithuanian Liberal
Union, Vytautus RADZVILAS, chairman; Lithuanian Nationalist Union, Rimantas
SMETONA, chairman; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, Aloizas SAKALAS,
chairman; Union of the Motherland, Vytavtas LANDSBERGIS, chairman
Other political or pressure groups:
Sajudis; Lithuanian Future Forum; Farmers Union
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Algirdas
BRAZAUSKAS was elected
Seimas (parliament):
last held 26 October and 25 November 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
Democratic Labor Party 51%; seats - (141 total) Democratic Labor Party 73
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Seimas (parliament)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Seimas Chairman and Acting President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 15
November 1992); Deputy Seimas Chairmen Aloyzas SAKALAS (since NA December
1992) and Egidius BICKAUSKAS (since NA December 1992)
*Lithuania, Government
Head of Government:
Premier Adolfas SLEZEVICIUS (since NA)
Member of:
CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, ITU, NACC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Stasys LOZORAITIS, Jr.
chancery:
2622 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 234-5860, 2639
FAX:
(202) 328-0466
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Darryl N. JOHNSON
embassy:
Akmenu 6, Vilnius 232600
mailing address:
APO AE 09723
telephone:
011 [7] (012-2) 222-031
FAX:
011 [7] (012-2) 222-779
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
*Lithuania, Economy
Overview:
Lithuania is striving to become an independent privatized economy. Although
it was substantially above average in living standards and technology in the
old USSR, Lithuania historically lagged behind Latvia and Estonia in
economic development. The country has no important natural resources aside
from its arable land and strategic location. Industry depends entirely on
imported materials that have come from the republics of the former USSR.
Lithuania benefits from its ice-free port at Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea and
its rail and highway hub at Vilnius, which provides land communication
between Eastern Europe and Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and Belarus. Industry
produces a small assortment of high-quality products, ranging from complex
machine tools to sophisticated consumer electronics. Because of nuclear
power, Lithuania is presently self-sufficient in electricity, exporting its
surplus to Latvia and Belarus; the nuclear facilities inherited from the
USSR, however, have come under world scrutiny as seriously deficient in
safety standards. Agriculture is efficient compared with most of the former
Soviet Union. Lithuania held first place in per capita consumption of meat,
second place for eggs and potatoes, and fourth place for milk and dairy
products. Grain must be imported to support the meat and dairy industries.
Lithuania is pressing ahead with plans to privatize at least 60% of
state-owned property (industry, agriculture, and housing), having already
sold almost all housing and many small enterprises using a voucher system.
Other government priorities include encouraging foreign investment by
protecting the property rights of foreign firms and redirecting foreign
trade away from Eastern markets to the more competitive Western markets. For
the moment, Lithuania will remain highly dependent on Russia for energy, raw
materials, grains, and markets for its products. In 1992, output plummeted
by 30% because of cumulative problems with inputs and with markets, problems
that were accentuated by the phasing out of the Russian ruble as the medium
of exchange.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-30% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
10%-20% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
1% (February 1993); but large numbers of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues $258.5 million; expenditures $270.2 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
$NA
commodities:
electronics 18%, petroleum products 5%, food 10%, chemicals 6% (1989)
partners:
Russia 40%, Ukraine 16%, other former Soviet republics 32%, West 12%
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
oil 24%, machinery 14%, chemicals 8%, grain NA% (1989)
partners:
Russia 62%, Belarus 18%, former Soviet republics 10%, West 10%
External debt:
$650 million (1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -50% (1992 est.)
*Lithuania, Economy
Electricity:
5,925,000 kW capacity; 25,000 million kWh produced, 6,600 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
employs 25% of the labor force; shares in the total production of the former
USSR are: metal-cutting machine tools 6.6%; electric motors 4.6%; television
sets 6.2%; refrigerators and freezers 5.4%; other branches: petroleum
refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food
processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment,
electronic components, computers, and amber
Agriculture:
employs around 20% of labor force; sugar, grain, potatoes, sugarbeets,
vegetables, meat, milk, dairy products, eggs, fish; most developed are the
livestock and dairy branches, which depend on imported grain; net exporter
of meat, milk, and eggs
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia to
Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic
consumption
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-86), $NA million;
Communist countries (1971-86), $NA million
Currency:
using talonas as temporary currency (March 1993), but planning introduction
of convertible litas (late 1993)
Exchange rates:
NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Lithuania, Communications
Railroads:
2,100 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)
Highways:
44,200 km total 35,500 km hard surfaced, 8,700 km earth (1990)
Inland waterways:
600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines:
crude oil 105 km, natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports:
coastal - Klaipeda; inland - Kaunas
Merchant marine:
46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 282,633 GRT/332,447 DWT; includes 31
cargo, 3 railcar carrier, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 11 combination bulk
Airports:
total:
96
useable:
19
with permanent-surface runways:
12
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
11
Telecommunications:
better developed than in most other former USSR republics; operational
NMT-450 analog cellular network in Vilnius; fiber optic cable installed
beween Vilnius and Kaunas; 224 telephones per 1000 persons; broadcast
stations - 13 AM, 26 FM, 1 SW, 1 LW, 3 TV; landlines or microwave to former
USSR republics; leased connection to the Moscow international switch for
traffic with other countries; satellite earth stations - (8 channels to
Norway); new international digital telephone exchange in Kaunas for direct
access to 13 countries via satellite link out of Copenhagen, Denmark
*Lithuania, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Security Forces (internal and border
troops), National Guard (Skat)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 933,245; fit for military service 739,400; reach military
age (18) annually 27,056 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, 5.5% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Luxembourg, Geography
Location:
Western Europe, between Belgium and Germany
Map references:
Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
2,586 km2
land area:
2,586 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
total 359 km, Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
none
Climate:
modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:
mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to
slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in
the southeast
Natural resources:
iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use:
arable land:
24%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
21%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
deforestation
Note:
landlocked
*Luxembourg, People
Population:
398,220 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
12.96 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
9.56 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
6.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.43 years
male:
72.71 years
female:
80.3 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.63 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Luxembourger(s)
adjective:
Luxembourg
Ethnic divisions:
Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, and
European (guest and worker residents)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages:
Luxembourgisch, German, French, English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
100%
male: 100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
177,300 one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal,
Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany
by occupation:
services 65%, industry 31.6%, agriculture 3.4% (1988)
*Luxembourg, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form:
Luxembourg
local long form:
Grand-Duche de Luxembourg
local short form:
Luxembourg
Digraph:
LU
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:
1839
Constitution:
17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system:
based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's
birthday)
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Social Party (CSV), Jacques SANTER; Socialist Workers Party
(LSAP), Jacques POOS; Liberal (DP), Colette FLESCH; Communist (KPL), Andre
HOFFMANN; Green Alternative (GAP), Jean HUSS
Other political or pressure groups:
group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale
Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor
unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
Chamber of Deputies:
last held on 18 June 1989 (next to be held by June 1994); results - CSV
31.7%, LSAP 27.2%, DP 16.2%, Greens 8.4%, PAC 7.3%, KPL 5.1%, other 4.1%;
seats - (60 total) CSV 22, LSAP 18, DP 11, Greens 4, PAC 4, KPL 1
Executive branch:
grand duke, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Deputes); note - the Council of
State (Conseil d'Etat) is an advisory body whose views are considered by the
Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch:
Superior Court of Justice (Cour Superieure de Justice)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of
Grand Duke Jean, born 16 April 1955)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Jacques SANTER (since 21 July 1984); Vice Prime Minister
Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984)
*Luxembourg, Government
Member of:
ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CCC, CE, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB,
FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD,
PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Alphonse BERNS
chancery:
2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265-4171
FAX:
(202) 328-8270
consulates general:
New York and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward M. ROWELL
embassy:
22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address:
PSC 11, APO AE 09132-5380
telephone:
[352] 460123
FAX:
[352] 461401
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to
the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design
was based on the flag of France
*Luxembourg, Economy
Overview: The stable economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and negligible
unemployment. Agriculture is based on small but highly productive
family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by
steel, has become increasingly more diversified, particularly toward
high-technology firms. During the past decade, growth in the financial
sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services,
especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy.
Luxembourg participates in an economic union with Belgium on trade and most
financial matters and is also closely connected economically to the
Netherlands.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $8.5 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
2.5% (1992)
National product per capita:
$21,700 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
1.4% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $3.5 billion; expenditures $3.5 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities:
finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other
industrial products
partners:
EC 76%, US 5%
Imports:
$8.3 billion (c.i.f., 1991 est.)
commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
partners:
Belgium 37%, FRG 31%, France 12%, US 2%
External debt:
$131.6 million (1989 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -0.5% (1990); accounts for 25% of GDP
Electricity:
1,238,750 kW capacity; 1,375 million kWh produced, 3,450 kWh per capita
(1990)
Industries:
banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products,
engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Agriculture:
accounts for less than 3% of GDP (including forestry); principal products -
barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; cattle raising
widespread
Illicit drugs:
money-laundering hub
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes
*Luxembourg, Economy
Exchange rates:
Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 33.256 (January 1993), 32.150 (1992),
34.148 (1991), 33.418 (1990), 39.404 (1989), 36.768 (1988); note - the
Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely
in Luxembourg
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Luxembourg, Communications
Railroads:
Luxembourg National Railways (CFL) operates 272 km 1.435-meter standard
gauge; 178 km double track; 178 km electrified
Highways:
5,108 km total; 4,995 km paved, 57 km gravel, 56 km earth; about 80 km
limited access divided highway
Inland waterways:
37 km; Moselle River
Pipelines:
petroleum products 48 km
Ports:
Mertert (river port)
Merchant marine:
53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,570,466 GRT/2,614,154 DWT; includes
2 cargo, 5 container, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 6 oil tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3
combination ore/oil, 8 liquefied gas, 2 passenger, 8 bulk, 6 combination
bulk, 4 refrigerated cargo
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried
cables; 230,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 3 TV; 3
channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable; 1 direct-broadcast
satellite earth station; nationwide mobile phone system
*Luxembourg, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 103,607; fit for military service 86,003; reach military age
(19) annually 2,227 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.2% of GDP (1992)
*Macau, Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of Portugal)
*Macau, Geography
Location:
East Asia, 27 km west-southwest of Hong Kong on the southeast coast of China
bordering the South China Sea
Map references:
Asia, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
16 km2
land area:
16 km2
comparative area:
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total 0.34 km, China 0.34 km
Coastline:
40 km
Maritime claims:
not specified
International disputes:
none
Climate:
subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:
generally flat
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
essentially urban; one causeway and one bridge connect the two islands to
the peninsula on mainland
*Macau, People
Population:
477,850 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.44% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
14.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
4.05 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
79.64 years
male:
77.24 years
female:
82.17 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.44 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Macanese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Macau
Ethnic divisions:
Chinese 95%, Portuguese 3%, other 2%
Religions:
Buddhist 45%, Roman Catholic 7%, Protestant 1%, none 45.8%, other 1.2%
(1981)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Cantonese is the language of commerce
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
total population:
90%
male:
93%
female:
86%
Labor force:
180,000 (1986)
by occupation:
NA
*Macau, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Macau
local long form:
none
local short form:
Ilha de Macau
Digraph:
MC
Type:
overseas territory of Portugal scheduled to revert to China in 1999
Capital:
Macau
Administrative divisions:
2 districts (concelhos, singular - concelho); Ilhas, Macau
Independence:
none (territory of Portugal; Portugal signed an agreement with China on 13
April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in the joint
declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social and economic
systems and lifestyle for 50 year after transition)
Constitution:
17 February 1976, Organic Law of Macau; basic law drafted primarily by
Beijing awaiting final approval
Legal system:
Portuguese civil law system
National holiday:
Day of Portugal, 10 June
Political parties and leaders:
Association to Defend the Interests of Macau; Macau Democratic Center; Group
to Study the Development of Macau; Macau Independent Group
Other political or pressure groups:
wealthy Macanese and Chinese representing local interests, wealthy
pro-Communist merchants representing China's interests; in January 1967 the
Macau Government acceded to Chinese demands that gave China veto power over
administration
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Legislative Assembly:
last held on 10 March 1991; results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(23 total; 8 elected by universal suffrage, 8 by indirect suffrage, and 7
appointed by the governor) number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
president of Portugal, governor, Consultative Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State:
President (of Portugal) Mario Alberto SOARES (since 9 March 1986)
Head of Government:
Governor Gen. Vasco Joachim Rocha VIEIRA (since 20 March 1991)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), GATT, IMO (associate), WTO (associate)
*Macau, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:
as Chinese territory under Portuguese administration, Macanese interests in
the US are represented by Portugal
US diplomatic representation:
the US has no offices in Macau, and US interests are monitored by the US
Consulate General in Hong Kong
Flag:
the flag of Portugal is used
*Macau, Economy
Overview:
The economy is based largely on tourism (including gambling) and textile and
fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify have spawned other small
industries - toys, artificial flowers, and electronics. The tourist sector
has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothing industry has provided
about two-thirds of export earnings; the gambling industry represented well
over 40% of GDP in 1992. Macau depends on China for most of its food, fresh
water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kong are the main suppliers of raw
materials and capital goods.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $3.1 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
3.1% (1991)
National product per capita:
$6,700 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.2% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $305 million; expenditures $298 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exports:
$1.8 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
textiles, clothing, toys
partners:
US 36%, Hong Kong 13%, Germany 12%, France 8% (1991)
Imports:
$2.0 billion (1992 est.)
commodities:
raw materials, foodstuffs, capital goods
partners:
Hong Kong 35%, China 22%, Japan 17% (1991)
External debt:
$91 million (1985)
Industrial production:
NA
Electricity:
258,000 kW capacity; 855 million kWh produced, 1,806 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
clothing, textiles, toys, plastic products, furniture, tourism
Agriculture:
rice, vegetables; food shortages - rice, vegetables, meat; depends mostly on
imports for food requirements
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 pataca (P) = 100 avos
Exchange rates:
patacas (P) per US$1 - 8.034 (1991), 8.024 (1990), 8.030 (1989), 8.044
(1988), 7.993 (1987); note - linked to the Hong Kong dollar at the rate of
1.03 patacas per Hong Kong dollar
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Macau, Communications
Highways:
42 km paved
Ports:
Macau
Airports:
none useable, 1 under construction; 1 seaplane station
Telecommunications:
fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and
international services; 52,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3 FM,
no TV (TV programs received from Hong Kong); 115,000 radio receivers (est.);
international high-frequency radio communication facility; access to
international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Macau, Defense Forces
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 137,738; fit for military service 77,159 (1993 est.)
Note:
defense is responsibility of Portugal
*Macedonia, Header
Macedonia has proclaimed independent statehood but has not been formally
recognized as a state by the United States.
*Macedonia, Geography
Location:
Southern Europe, between Serbia and Montenegro and Greece
Map references:
Ethnic Groups in Eastern Europe, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
25,333 km2
land area:
24,856 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
total 748 km, Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 228 km, Serbia and
Montenegro 221 km (all with Serbia)
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Greece claims republic's name implies territorial claims against Aegean
Macedonia
Climate:
hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain:
mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; there are three
large lakes, each divided by a frontier line
Natural resources:
chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, tungsten, nickel, low-grade iron ore,
asbestos, sulphur, timber
Land use:
arable land:
5%
permanent crops:
5%
meadows and pastures:
20%
forest and woodland:
30%
other:
40%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
Macedonia suffers from high seismic hazard; air pollution from metallurgical
plants
Note:
landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to
Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe
*Macedonia, People
Population:
2,193,951 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.91% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
15.91 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.79 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
29.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.19 years
male:
71.15 years
female:
75.41 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Macedonian(s)
adjective:
Macedonian
Ethnic divisions:
Macedonian 67%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 4%, Serb 2%, other 6%
Religions:
Eastern Orthodox 59%, Muslim 26%, Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 10%
Languages:
Macedonian 70%, Albanian 21%, Turkish 3%, Serbo-Croatian 3%, other 3%
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
507,324
by occupation:
agriculture 8%, manufacturing and mining 40% (1990)
*Macedonia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form:
Macedonia local long form:
Republika Makedonija
local short form:
Makedonija
Digraph:
MK
Type:
emerging democracy
Capital:
Skopje
Administrative divisions:
34 districts (opcine, singular - opcina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar,
Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Gevgelija, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani,
Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep,
Probistip, Radovis, Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos,
Skopje-Kisela Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole,
Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica
Independence:
20 November 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991
Legal system:
based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
NA
Political parties and leaders:
Social-Democratic League of Macedonia (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko
CRVENKOVSKI, president; Party for Democratic Prosperity in Macedonia (PDPM),
Nevzat HALILI, president; National Democratic Party (PDP), Ilijas HALINI,
president; Alliance of Reform Forces of Macedonia (SRSM), Stojan ANDOV,
president; Socialist Party of Macedonia (SPM), Kiro POPOVSKI, president;
Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for
Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), Ljupco GEORGIEVSKI, president; Party
of Yugoslavs in Macedonia (SJM), Milan DURCINOV, president
Other political or pressure groups:
Movement for All Macedonian Action (MAAK); League for Democracy; Albanian
Democratic Union-Liberal Party
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 27 January 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Kiro GLIGOROV was
elected by the Assembly
Assembly:
last held 11 and 25 November and 9 December 1990 (next to be held NA);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) VMRO-DPMNE 37,
SDSM 31, PDPM 25, SRSM 17, SJM 1, SPM 5, others 4
Executive branch:
president, Council of Ministers, prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly (Sobranje)
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court, Judicial Court of the Republic
*Macedonia, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since NA September 1992), Deputy Prime
Ministers Jovan ANDONOV (since NA March 1991), Stevo CRVENKOVSKI (since NA
September 1992), and Becir ZUTA (since NA March 1991)
Member of:
EBRD, ICAO, IMF, UN, UNCTAD, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
none; US does not recognize Macedonia
US diplomatic representation:
none; US does not recognize Macedonia
Flag:
16-point gold sun (Vergino, Sun) centered on a red field
*Macedonia, Economy
Overview:
Macedonia, although the poorest among the six republics of a dissolved
Yugoslav federation, can meet basic food and energy needs through its own
agricultural and coal resources. It will, however, move down toward a bare
subsistence level of life unless economic ties are reforged or enlarged with
its neighbors Serbia and Montenegro, Albania, Greece, and Bulgaria. The
economy depends on outside sources for all of its oil and gas and its modern
machinery and parts. Continued political turmoil, both internally and in the
region as a whole, prevents any swift readjustments of trade patterns and
economic programs. Inflation in early 1992 was out of control, the result of
fracturing trade links, the decline in economic activity, and general
uncertainties about the future status of the country; prices rose 38% in
March 1992 alone. In August 1992, Greece, angry at the use of "Macedonia" as
the republic's name, imposed a partial blockade for several months. This
blockade, combined with the effects of the UN sanctions on Serbia and
Montenegro, cost the economy approximately $1 billion in 1992 according to
official figures. Macedonia's geographical isolation, technological
backwardness, and potential political instability place it far down the list
of countries of interest to Western investors. Resolution of the dispute
with Greece and an internal commitment to economic reform would help to
encourage foreign investment over the long run. In the immediate future, the
worst scenario for the economy would be the spread of fighting across its
borders.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-18% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,110 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
114.9% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
20% (1991 est.)
Budget: revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$578 million (1990)
commodities:
manufactured goods 40%, machinery and transport equipment 14%, miscellaneous
manufactured articles 23%, raw materials 7.6%, food (rice) and live animals
5.7%, beverages and tobacco 4.5%, chemicals 4.7%
partners:
principally Serbia and Montenegro and the other former Yugoslav republics,
Germany, Greece, Albania
Imports:
$1,112 million (1990)
commodities:
fuels and lubricants 19%, manufactured goods 18%, machinery and transport
equipment 15%, food and live animals 14%, chemicals 11.4%, raw materials
10%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 8.0%, beverages and tobacco 3.5%
partners:
other former Yugoslav republics, Greece, Albania, Germany, Bulgaria
External debt:
$845.8 million
Industrial production:
growth rate -18% (1991 est.)
Electricity:
1,600,000 kw capacity; 6,300 million kWh produced, 2,900 kWh per capita
(1992)
*Macedonia, Economy
Industries:
low levels of technology predominate, such as, oil refining by distillation
only; produces basic liquid fuels, coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, and
ferronickel; light industry produces basic textiles, wood products, and
tobacco
Agriculture:
provides 12% of GDP and meets the basic need for food; principal crops are
rice, tobacco, wheat, corn, and millet; also grown are cotton, sesame,
mulberry leaves, citrus fruit, and vegetables; Macedonia is one of the seven
legal cultivators of the opium poppy for the world pharmaceutical industry,
including some exports to the US; agricultural production is highly labor
intensive
Illicit drugs:
NA
Economic aid:
$10 million from the US for humanitarian and technical assistance; EC
promised a 100 ECU million economic aid package
Currency:
1 denar (abbreviation NA) = 100 NA
Exchange rates:
denar per US$1 - 240 (January 1991)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Macedonia, Communications
Railroads:
NA
Highways:
10,591 km total (1991); 5,091 km paved, 1,404 km gravel, 4,096 km earth
Inland waterways:
NA km
Pipelines:
none
Ports:
none; landlocked
Airports:
total:
17
useable:
17
with permanent-surface runways:
9
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
125,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 2 FM, 5 (2 relays) TV;
370,000 radios, 325,000 TV; satellite communications ground stations - none
*Macedonia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 597,024; fit for military service 484,701; reach military
age (19) annually 18,979 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
7 billion denars, NA% of GNP (1993 est.); note - conversion of the military
budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce
misleading results
*Madagascar, Geography
Location:
in the western Indian Ocean, 430 km east of Mozambique in Southern Africa
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
587,040 km2
land area:
581,540 km2 comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
4,828 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island, and Tromelin Island (all administered by France)
Climate:
tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center
Natural resources:
graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious
stones, mica, fish
Land use:
arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
58%
forest and woodland:
26%
other:
11%
Irrigated land:
9,000 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to periodic cyclones; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification
Note:
world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel
*Madagascar, People
Population:
13,005,989 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.2% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
45.66 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
13.71 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
91 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
53.52 years
male:
51.65 years
female:
55.45 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective:
Malagasy
Ethnic divisions:
Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African,
Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka,
Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%
Languages:
French (official), Malagasy (official)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
80%
male:
88%
female:
73%
Labor force:
4.9 million 90% nonsalaried family workers engaged in subsistence
agriculture; 175,000 wage earners
by occupation:
agriculture 26%, domestic service 17%, industry 15%, commerce 14%,
construction 11%, services 9%, transportation 6%, other 2%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)
*Madagascar, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form:
Madagascar
local long form:
Republique de Madagascar
local short form:
Madagascar
former:
Malagasy Republic
Digraph:
MA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Antananarivo
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces - Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina,
Toliary
Independence:
26 June 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
12 September 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and traditional Malagasy law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 26 June (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
some 30 political parties now exist in Madagascar, the most important of
which are Advance Guard of the Malagasy Revolution (AREMA), Didier
RATSIRAKA; Congress Party for Malagasy Independence (AKFM),
RAKOTOVAO-ANDRIATIANA; Movement for National Unity (VONJY), Dr. Marojama
RAZANABAHINY; Malagasy Christian Democratic Union (UDECMA), Norbert
ANDRIAMORASATA; Militants for the Establishment of a Proletarian Regime
(MFM), Manandafy RAKOTONIRINA; National Movement for the Independence of
Madagascar (MONIMA), Monja JAONA; National Union for the Defense of
Democracy (UNDD), Albert ZAFY
Other political or pressure groups:
National Council of Christian Churches (FFKM), leader NA; Federalist
Movement, leader NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held on 10 February 1993 (next to be held 1998); results - Albert ZAFY
(UNDD), 67%; Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA), 33%
Popular National Assembly:
last held on 28 May 1989 (next to be held May 1993); results - AREMA 88.2%,
MFM 5.1%, AKFM 3.7%, VONJY 2.2%, other 0.8%; seats - (137 total) AREMA 120,
MFM 7, AKFM 5, VONJY 4, MONIMA 1
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, Council of Ministers
*Madagascar, Government