two island groups - Curacas and Bonaire in the southern Caribbean Sea are
about 70 km north of Venezuela near Aruba and the rest of the country is
about 800 km to the northeast about one-third of the way between Antigua and
Barbuda and Puerto Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
960 km2
land area:
960 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than 5.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch
part of the island of Saint Martin)
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
12 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Natural resources:
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use:
arable land:
8%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0% forest and woodland:
0%
other:
92%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt, so rarely
threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes
from July to October
*Netherlands Antilles, People
Population:
184,990 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.4% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
17.23 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.69 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-7.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.73 years
male:
73.55 years
female:
78.03 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Netherlands Antillean(s)
adjective:
Netherlands Antillean
Ethnic divisions:
mixed African 85%, Carib Indian, European, Latin, Oriental
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:
Dutch (official), Papiamento a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect
predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1981)
total population:
94%
male:
94%
female:
93%
Labor force:
89,000
by occupation:
government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)
*Netherlands Antilles, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Netherlands Antilles
local long form:
none
local short form:
Nederlandse Antillen
Digraph:
NA
Type:
part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
Capital:
Willemstad
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Dutch realm)
Independence:
none (part of the Dutch realm)
Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
National holiday:
Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
Political parties and leaders:
political parties are indigenous to each island
Bonaire:
Patriotic Union of Bonaire (UPB), Rudy ELLIS; Democratic Party of Bonaire
(PDB), Franklin CRESTIAN
Curacao:
National People's Party (PNP), Maria LIBERIA-PETERS; New Antilles Movement
(MAN), Domenico Felip Don MARTINA; Workers' Liberation Front (FOL), Wilson
(Papa) GODETT; Socialist Independent (SI), George HUECK and Nelson MONTE;
Democratic Party of Curacao (DP), Augustin DIAZ; Nos Patria, Chin BEHILIA
Saba:
Windward Islands People's Movement (WIPM Saba), Will JOHNSON; Saba
Democratic Labor Movement, Vernon HASSELL; Saba Unity Party, Carmen SIMMONDS
Sint Eustatius:
Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius (DP-St.E), K. Van PUTTEN; Windward
Islands People's Movement (WIPM); St. Eustatius Alliance (SEA), Ralph BERKEL
Sint Maarten:
Democratic Party of Sint Maarten (DP-St.M), Claude WATHEY; Patriotic
Movement of Sint Maarten (SPA), Vance JAMES
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections: Staten:
last held on 16 March 1990 (next to be held March 1994); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (22 total) PNP 7, FOL-SI 3, UPB 3, MAN 2,
DP-St. M 2, DP 1, SPM 1, WIPM 1, DP-St. E 1, Nos Patria 1; note - the
government of Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS is a coalition of several
parties
Executive branch:
Dutch monarch, governor, prime minister, vice prime minister, Council of
Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral legislature (Staten)
*Netherlands Antilles, Government
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented by
Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS (since 17 May 1988, previously served
from September 1984 to November 1985)
Member of:
CARICOM (observer), ECLAC (associate), ICFTU, INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO
(associate), UPU, WMO, WTO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US:
as an autonomous part of the Netherlands, Netherlands Antillean interests in
the US are represented by the Netherlands
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Consul General Bernard J. WOERZ
consulate general:
Saint Anna Boulevard 19, Willemstad, Curacao
mailing address:
P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone:
[599] (9) 613066
FAX:
[599] (9) 616489
Flag:
white with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical
red band also centered; five white five-pointed stars are arranged in an
oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the
five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint
Maarten
*Netherlands Antilles, Economy
Overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of the
economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed
infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Unlike many
Latin American countries, the Netherlands Antilles has avoided large
international debt. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with
the US being the major supplier.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
4% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$8,700 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
16.4% (1991 est.)
Budget:
revenues $209 million; expenditures $232 million, including capital
expenditures of $8 million (1992 est.)
Exports:
$200 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum products 98%
partners:
US 40%, UK 7%, Guadeloupe 5%
Imports:
$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures
partners:
Venezuela 42%, US 21%, Netherlands 8%
External debt:
$701 million (December 1987)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
125,000 kW capacity; 365 million kWh produced, 1,980 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tourism (Curacao and Sint Maarten), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum
transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing
(Curacao)
Agriculture:
hampered by poor soils and scarcity of water; chief products - aloes,
sorghum, peanuts, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit; not self-sufficient in
food
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$513 million
Currency:
1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins (NAf.) per US$1 - 1.79
(fixed rate since 1989; 1.80 fixed rate 1971-88)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Netherlands Antilles, Communications
Highways:
950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth
Ports:
Willemstad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk
Merchant marine:
89 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 781,646 GRT/962,138 DWT; includes 4
passenger, 29 cargo, 14 refrigerated cargo, 7 container, 7 roll-on/roll-off,
12 multifunction large-load carrier, 5 chemical tanker, 6 liquefied gas, 2
bulk, 1 oil tanker, 1 railcar carrier, 1 combination ore/oil; note - all but
a few are foreign owned, mostly in the Netherlands
Airports:
total:
5
usable:
4
with permanent-surface runways:
4
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications:
generally adequate facilities; extensive interisland microwave radio relay
links; broadcast stations - 9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 2 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic
Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*Netherlands Antilles, Defense Forces
Branches:
Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National
Guard, Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 48,965; fit for military service 27,531; reach military age
(20) annually 1,638 (1993 est.)
Note:
defense is responsibility of the Netherlands
*New Caledonia, Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of France)
*New Caledonia, Geography
Location:
in the South Pacific Ocean, 1,750 km east of Australia
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
19,060 km2
land area:
18,760 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,254 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains
Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
14%
forest and woodland:
51%
other:
35%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
typhoons most frequent from November to March
*New Caledonia, People
Population:
178,056 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.83% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
22.7 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.01 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
15.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.22 years
male:
69.92 years
female:
76.7 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.67 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
New Caledonian(s)
adjective:
New Caledonian
Ethnic divisions:
Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,
Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:
French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
total population:
91%
male:
91%
female:
90%
Labor force:
50,469 foreign workers for plantations and mines from Wallis and Futuna,
Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)
by occupation:
NA
*New Caledonia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form:
New Caledonia
local long form:
Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form:
Nouvelle-Caledonie
Digraph:
NC
Type:
overseas territory of France since 1956
Capital:
Noumea
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative
divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named
Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France; a referendum on independence will be
held in 1998)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands;
formerly under French law
National holiday:
National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Political parties and leaders:
white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledonie dans la Republique (RPCR),
conservative, Jacques LAFLEUR - affiliated to France's Rassemblement pour la
Republique (RPR); Melanesian proindependence Kanaka Socialist National
Liberation Front (FLNKS), Paul NEAOUTYINE; Melanesian moderate Kanak
Socialist Liberation (LKS), Nidoish NAISSELINE; National Front (FN), extreme
right, Guy GEORGE; Caledonie Demain (CD), right-wing, Bernard MARANT; Union
Oceanienne (UO), conservative, Michel HEMA; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak
(FULK), proindependence, UREGEI; Union Caledonian (UC), Francois BURCK
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
French Senate:
last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held September 2001); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPCR 1
French National Assembly:
last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held 21 and 28 March 1993); results
- RPR 83.5%, FN 13.5%, other 3%; seats - (2 total) RPCR 2
Territorial Assembly:
last held 11 June 1989 (next to be held 1993); results - RPCR 44.5%, FLNKS
28.5%, FN 7%, CD 5%, UO 4%, other 11%; seats - (54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19,
FN 3, other 5; note - election boycotted by FULK
Executive branch:
French president, high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
*New Caledonia, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:
High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Alain
CHRISTNACHT (since 15 January 1991)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: as an overseas territory of France, New Caledonian interests are
represented
in the US by France
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
*New Caledonia, Economy
Overview:
New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's known nickel resources. In
recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international
demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a
negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts
for about 25% of imports.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $1 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
2.4% (1988)
National product per capita:
$6,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.1% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
16% (1989)
Budget:
revenues $224.0 million; expenditures $211.0 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1985)
Exports:
$671 million (f.o.b., 1989)
commodities:
nickel metal 87%, nickel ore
partners:
France 52.3%, Japan 15.8%, US 6.4%
Imports:
$764 million (c.i.f., 1989)
commodities:
foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment
partners:
France 44.0%, US 10%, Australia 9%
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 12,790 kWh per capita
(1990)
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Agriculture:
large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60%
self-sufficient in beef
Illicit drugs:
illicit cannabis cultivation is becoming a principal source of income for
some families
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$4,185 million
Currency:
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais duPacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 99.65 (January
1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
(1988); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*New Caledonia, Communications
Highways:
6,340 km total; only about 10% paved (1987)
Ports:
Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio
Airports:
total:
29
usable:
27
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:
2
Telecommunications:
32,578 telephones (1987); broadcast stations - 5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific
Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*New Caledonia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Gendarmerie, Police Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*New Zealand, Geography
Location:
Oceania, southeast of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area: total area:
268,680 km2
land area:
268,670 km2
comparative area:
about the size of Colorado
note:
includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell
Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
15,134 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Climate:
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:
predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Natural resources:
natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
53%
forest and woodland:
38%
other:
7%
Irrigated land:
2,800 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe
*New Zealand, People
Population:
3,368,774 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.61% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
15.93 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
8.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
76.11 years
male:
72.46 years
female:
79.95 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.07 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
New Zealander(s)
adjective:
New Zealand
Ethnic divisions:
European 88%, Maori 8.9%, Pacific Islander 2.9%, other 0.2%
Religions:
Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist
2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 9% (1986)
Languages:
English (official), Maori
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1,603,500 (June 1991)
by occupation:
services 67.4%, manufacturing 19.8%, primary production 9.3% (1987)
*New Zealand, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
New Zealand
Abbreviation:
NZ
Digraph:
NZ
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri,,
Ashburton,
Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha,
Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston,
Franklin, Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,, Hawke's Bay,
Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui,, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood,
Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,
Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton,, Matamata, Mount
Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*,, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,
Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*,, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga, Saint Kilda,,
Silverpeaks, Southland,
Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo,
Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,, Waikato, Waikohu,
Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa,
Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*,, Waitotara, Wallace,
Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei,, Whangaroa, Woodville
Dependent areas:
Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:
26 September 1907 (from UK)
Constitution:
no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including
certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986
was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system:
based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for
Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty)
Political parties and leaders:
National Party (NP; government), James BOLGER; New Zealand Labor Party
(NZLP; opposition), Michael MOORE; NewLabor Party (NLP), Jim ANDERTON;
Democratic Party, Dick RYAN; New Zealand Liberal Party, Hanmish MACINTYRE
and Gilbert MYLES; Green Party, no official leader; Mana Motuhake, Martin
RATA; Socialist Unity Party (SUP; pro-Soviet), Kenneth DOUGLAS
note:
the New Labor, Democratic, and Mana Motuhake parties formed a coalition
called the Alliance Party, Jim ANDERTON, president, in September 1991; the
Green Party joined the coalition in May 1992
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
*New Zealand, Government
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held on 27 October 1990 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
NP 49%, NZLP 35%, Green Party 7%, NLP 5%; seats - (97 total) NP 67, NZLP 29,
NLP 1
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister,
Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly called Parliament)
Judicial branch:
High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General
Dame Catherine TIZARD (since 12 December 1990)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister James BOLGER (since 29 October 1990); Deputy Prime Minister
Donald McKINNON (since 2 November 1990)
Member of:
ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC,
AsDB, Australia Group, C, CCC, CP, COCOM (cooperating country), EBRD, ESCAP,
FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MTCR,
NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Denis Bazely Gordon McLEAN
chancery:
37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 328-4800
consulates general:
Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001
telephone:
[64] (4) 722-068
FAX:
[64] (4) 723-537
consulate general:
Auckland
Flag:
blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red
five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag;
the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
*New Zealand, Economy
Overview:
Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent
on a guaranteed British market to an open free market economy that can
compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth
would boost real incomes, broaden and deepen the technological capabilities
of the industrial sector, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the
expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is
down from double-digit levels, but growth was sluggish in 1988-91, and
unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has exceeded 10% since May
1991. In 1992, growth picked up to 3%, a sign that the new economic approach
is beginning to pay off.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $49.8 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
3% (1992)
National product per capita:
$14,900 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
10.1% (September 1992)
Budget:
revenues $14.0 billion; expenditures $15.2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$3.65 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
commodities:
wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals,
forestry products
partners:
EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%, China 3.6%, South Korea
3.1%
Imports:
$3.99 billion (f.o.b., FY92)
commodities:
petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment
partners:
Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0%
External debt:
$38.5 billion (September 1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 1.9% (1990); accounts for about 20% of GDP
Electricity:
8,000,000 kW capacity; 31,000 million kWh produced, 9,250 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,
transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Agriculture:
accounts for about 9% of GDP and about 10% of the work force; livestock
predominates - wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops - wheat,
barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; surplus producer of farm
products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $526 million
Currency:
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
*New Zealand, Economy
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992),
1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*New Zealand, Communications
Railroads:
4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double track; 113 km
electrified; over 99% government owned
Highways:
92,648 km total; 49,547 km paved, 43,101 km gravel or crushed stone
Inland waterways:
1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines:
natural gas 1,000 km; petroleum products 160 km; condensate (liquified
petroleum gas - LPG) 150 km
Ports:
Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga
Merchant marine:
18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 182,206 GRT/246,446 DWT; includes 2
cargo, 5 roll-on/roll-off, 1 railcar carrier, 4 oil tanker, 1 liquefied gas,
5 bulk
Airports:
total:
120
usable:
120
with permanent-surface runways:
33
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
42
Telecommunications:
excellent international and domestic systems; 2,110,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to
Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*New Zealand, Defense Forces
Branches:
New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 878,028; fit for military service 741,104; reach military
age (20) annually 29,319 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $792 million, 2% of GDP (FY90/91)
*Nicaragua, Geography
Location:
Central America, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean, South America
Area:
total area:
129,494 km2
land area:
120,254 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than New York State
Land boundaries:
total 1,231 km, Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline:
910 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain)
continental shelf:
not specified
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y
Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; International Court of Justice (ICJ)
referred the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca to an
earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite
resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be
required
Climate:
tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:
extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains;
narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Natural resources:
gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use:
arable land:
9%
permanent crops:
1%
meadows and pastures:
43%
forest and woodland:
35%
other:
12%
Irrigated land:
850 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional
severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
*Nicaragua, People
Population:
3,987,240 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.74% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
35.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
54.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
63.5 years
male:
60.7 years
female:
66.41 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.48 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Nicaraguan(s)
adjective:
Nicaraguan
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Indian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Languages:
Spanish (official)
note:
English- and Indian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
total population:
57%
male:
57%
female:
57%
Labor force:
1.086 million
by occupation:
service 43%, agriculture 44%, industry 13% (1986)
*Nicaragua, Government
Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form:
Nicaragua
local long form:
Republica de Nicaragua
local short form:
Nicaragua
Digraph:
NU
Type:
republic
Capital:
Managua
Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Boaco, Carazo,
Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua,
Masaya, Matagalpa, North Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAN), Nueva
Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, South Atlantic Coast Autonomous Zone (RAAS)
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
January 1987
Legal system:
civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
ruling coalition:
National Opposition Union (UNO) is a 10-party alliance - moderate parties:
National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano MATAMOROS Lacayo, president;
Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto SOMARRIBA, Arnold
ALEMAN; Christian Democratic Union (UDC), Luis Humberto GUZMAN, Agustin
JARQUIN, Azucena FERREY, Roger MIRANDA, Francisco MAYORGA; National
Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto URROZ; National Action Party (PAN),
Duilio BALTODANO; NOU - hardline parties: Independent Liberal Party (PLI),
Wilfredo NAVARRO,Virgilio GODOY Reyes; Social Democratic Party (PSD),
Guillermo POTOY, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre, secretary general; Conservative
Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Myriam ARGUELLO; Communist Party of Nicaragua
(PCdeN), Eli ALTIMIRANO Perez; Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA
Esquivel
opposition parties:
Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGA; Central American
Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS; Democratic Conservative Party of
Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose BRENES; Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN),
Eduardo CORONADO; Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco SAMPER;
Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick RAMIREZ; Revolutionary Workers' Party
(PRT), Bonifacio MIRANDA; Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando
AGUERRO; Popular Action Movement - Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro TELLEZ;
Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio DIAZ
*Nicaragua, Government
Other political or pressure groups:
National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor
unions: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC);
Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE);
National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of Journalists
of Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional
Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers
(UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four
non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS);
Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent General
Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS);
Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union; Superior
Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results -
Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN)
40.8%, other 4.5%
National Assembly:
last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results - UNO
53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats - (92 total) UNO 42, FSLN 39,
PSC 1, MUR 1, "Centrist" (Dissident UNO) 9
Executive branch:
president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Violeta Barrios de CHAMORRO (since 25 April 1990); Vice President
Virgilio GODOY Reyes (since 25 April 1990)
Member of:
BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA
(observer), LORCS, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Roberto MAYORGA (since January 1993)
chancery:
1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 939-6570
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Charge d'Affaires Ronald GODARD
embassy:
Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua
mailing address:
APO AA 34021
telephone:
[505] (2) 666010 or 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032
through 34
FAX:
[505] (2) 666046
*Nicaragua, Government
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the
national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and
AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which
features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN
LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of
Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the
white band
*Nicaragua, Economy
Overview:
Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although
the CHAMORRO government has pledged to greatly reduce intervention. Four
private banks have been licensed, and the government has liberalized foreign
trade and abolished price controls on most goods. In early 1993, fewer than
50% of the agricultural and industrial firms remain state owned. Sandinista
economic policies and the war had produced a severe economic crisis. The
foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural
commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7%
in 1989 and 4% in 1990, and remained about even in 1991-92. The agricultural
sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 15% of GDP and 80% of
export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and
contributes about 25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989, fell slightly in
1990, and remained flat in 1991-92; output still is below pre-1979 levels.
External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In
1992 the inflation rate was 8%, down sharply from the 766% of 1991.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
0.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$425 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
13% underemployment 50% (1991)
Budget:
revenues $347 million; expenditures $499 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA million (1991)
Exports:
$280 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals
partners:
OECD 75%, USSR and Eastern Europe 15%, other 10%
Imports:
$720 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing
partners:
Latin America 30%, US 25%, EC 20%, USSR and Eastern Europe 10%, other 15%
(1990 est.)
External debt:
$10 billion (December 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%; accounts for about 25% of GDP
Electricity:
434,000 kW capacity; 1,118 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum
refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Agriculture:
accounts for 15% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops - coffee, bananas,
sugarcane, cotton; food crops - rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans;
variety of animal products - beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; normally
self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs:
minor transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US
*Nicaragua, Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $294 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1,381 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $3.5 billion
Currency:
1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates:
cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 6 (10 January 1993), 25,000,000 (March 1992),
21,354,000 (1991), 15,655 (1989), 270 (1988), 102.60 (1987); note - new gold
cordoba issued in 1992
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Nicaragua, Communications
Railroads:
373 km 1.067-meter narrow gauge, government owned; majority of system not
operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect
with mainline)
Highways:
25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved, 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km
earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved; Pan-American highway 368.5 km
Inland waterways:
2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines:
crude oil 56 km
Ports:
Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama
Merchant marine:
2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161 GRT/2,500 DWT
Airports:
total:
226
usable:
151
with permanent-surface runways:
11
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
12
Telecommunications:
low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection into
Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; broadcast stations -
45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1
Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
*Nicaragua, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 911,397; fit for military service 561,448; reach military
age (18) annually 44,226 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $40 million, 2.7% of GDP (1992 budget)
*Niger, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, between Algeria and Nigeria
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1.267 million km2
land area:
1,266,700 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total 5,697 km, Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina 628 km, Chad 1,175 km,
Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger; demarcation of
international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has led to border
incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification by Cameroon,
Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary
demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
Climate:
desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:
predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south;
hills in north
Natural resources:
uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
2%
other:
88%
Irrigated land:
320 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
recurrent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal
agricultural activities; overgrazing; soil erosion
Note:
landlocked
*Niger, People
Population:
8,337,352 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.49% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
57.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
22.44 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
112.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
44.15 years
male:
42.6 years
female:
45.75 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Nigerien(s)
adjective:
Nigerien
Ethnic divisions:
Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab,
Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 4,000 French expatriates
Religions:
Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages:
French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
28%
male:
40%
female:
17%
Labor force:
2.5 million wage earners (1982)
by occupation:
agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
note:
51% of population of working age (1985)
*Niger, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Niger
conventional short form:
Niger
local long form:
Republique du Niger
local short form:
Niger
Digraph:
NG
Type:
transition government as of November 1991, appointed by national reform
conference; scheduled to turn over power to democratically elected
government in March 1993
Capital:
Niamey
Administrative divisions:
7 departments (departements, singular - departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso,
Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder
Independence:
3 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution:
December 1989 constitution revised November 1991 by National Democratic
Reform Conference
Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Political parties and leaders:
National Movement of the Development Society (MNSD-NASSARA), Tandja MAMADOU;
Niger Progressive Party - African Democratic Rally (PPN-RDA), Harou KOUKA;
Union of Popular Forces for Democracy and Progress (UDFP-SAWABA), Djibo
BAKARY; Niger Democratic Union (UDN-SAWABA), Mamoudou PASCAL; Union of
Patriots, Democrats, and Progressives (UPDP), Andre SALIFOU; other parties
forming
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
President Ali SAIBOU has been in office since December 1989, but the
presidency is now a largely ceremonial position
National Assembly:
last held 10 December 1989 (next to be held NA); results - MNSD was the only
party; seats - (150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected); note - Niger held
a national conference from July to November 1991 to decide upon a
transitional government and an agenda for multiparty elections
Executive branch:
president (ceremonial), prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal (Cour d'Apel)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Brig. Gen. Ali SAIBOU (since 14 November 1987); ceremonial post
since national conference (1991)
*Niger, Government
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Amadou CHEIFFOU (since NA November 1991)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Adamou SEYDOU
chancery:
2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-4224 through 4227
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Jennifer C. WARD
embassy: Avenue des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address:
B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone:
[227] 72-26-61 through 64
FAX:
[227] 73-31-67
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small
orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to
the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
*Niger, Economy
Overview:
About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and stock raising,
activities that generate almost half the national income. The economy also
depends heavily on exploitation of large uranium deposits. Uranium
production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but tapered off in the early 1980s
when world prices declined. France is a major customer, while Germany,
Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases. The depressed demand for
uranium has contributed to an overall sluggishness in the economy, a severe
trade imbalance, and a mounting external debt.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $2.3 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
1.9% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
$290 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $193 million; expenditures $355 million, including capital
expenditures of $106 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$294 million (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
uranium ore 60%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions
partners:
France 77%, Nigeria 8%, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy
Imports:
$346 million (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic equipment,
cereals, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, foodstuffs
partners:
Germany 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, France 5%, Italy 4%, Nigeria 2%
External debt:
$1.2 billion (December 1991 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -2.7% (1991 est.); accounts for 13% of GDP
Electricity: 105,000 kW capacity; 230 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a
few other small light industries; uranium mining began in 1971
Agriculture:
accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force; cash crops -
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts; food crops - millet, sorghum, cassava, rice;
livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; self-sufficient in food except in drought
years
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $380 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3,165 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $61
million
Currency:
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
*Niger, Economy
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
(1988)
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
*Niger, Communications
Highways:
39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel and laterite, 3,470
km earthen, 23,000 km tracks
Inland waterways:
Niger River is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier
from mid-December through March
Airports:
total:
28
usable:
26
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:
13
Telecommunications:
small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radio relay links
concentrated in southwestern area; 14,260 telephones; broadcast stations -
15 AM, 5 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT, and 3 domestic, with 1 planned
*Niger, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Police, Republican Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,784,966; fit for military service 961,593; reach military
age (18) annually 87,222 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $27 million, 1.3% of GDP (1989)
*Nigeria, Geography
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Benin and
Cameroon
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
923,770 km2
land area:
910,770 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:
total 4,047 km, Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline:
853 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
30 nm
International disputes:
demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of which has
led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaiting ratification
by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; boundary commission, created with
Cameroon to discuss unresolved land and maritime boundaries, has not yet
convened
Climate:
varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:
southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in
southeast, plains in north
Natural resources:
petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural
gas
Land use:
arable land: 31%
permanent crops:
3%
meadows and pastures:
23%
forest and woodland:
15%
other:
28%
Irrigated land:
8,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural
activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid deforestation
*Nigeria, People
Population:
95,060,430 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.13% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
43.8 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
12.85 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
77.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
54.7 years
male:
53.54 years
female:
55.88 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.43 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Nigerian(s)
adjective:
Nigerian
Ethnic divisions:
north:
Hausa and Fulani
southwest:
Yoruba
southeast:
Ibos
non-Africans 27,000
note:
Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, and Ibos together make up 65% of population
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:
English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
51%
male:
62%
female:
40%
Labor force:
42.844 million
by occupation:
agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%
note:
49% of population of working age (1985)
*Nigeria, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form:
Nigeria
Digraph:
NI
Type:
military government since 31 December 1983; plans to turn over power to
elected civilians in August 1993
Capital:
Abuja
note:
on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja;
many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in
Abuja
Administrative divisions:
30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa, Ibom, Anambra,
Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo,
Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo,
Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
Independence:
1 October 1960 (from UK)
Constitution:
1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989
Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Baba Gana KINGIBE, chairman; National
Republican Convention (NRC), Chief Tom IKIMI, chairman
note:
these are the only two political parties, and they were established by the
government in 1989
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
first presidential elections since the 31 December 1983 coup scheduled for
June 1993
Senate:
last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (total 84) SDP 47, NRC 37
House of Representatives:
last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (total 577) SDP 310, NRC 267
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:
Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA
(since 27 August 1985); Vice-President Admiral (Ret.) Augustus AIKHOMU
(since 30 August 1990)
*Nigeria, Government
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE
chancery:
2201 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 822-1500
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador William L. SWING
embassy:
2 Eleke Crescent, Lagos
mailing address:
P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone:
[234] (1) 610097
FAX:
[234] (1) 610257 branch office:
Abuja
consulate general:
Kaduna
Flag:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
*Nigeria, Economy
Overview:
Although Nigeria is Africa's leading oil-producing country, it remains poor
with a $300 per capita GDP. In 1991-92 massive government spending, much of
it to help ensure a smooth transition to civilian rule, ballooned the budget
deficit and caused inflation and interest rates to rise. The lack of fiscal
discipline forced the IMF to declare Nigeria not in compliance with an
18-month standby facility started in January 1991. Lagos has set ambitious
targets for expanding oil production capacity and is offering foreign
companies more attractive investment incentives. Government efforts to
reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil exports and to sustain noninflationary
growth, however, have fallen short because of inadequate new investment
funds and endemic corruption. Living standards remain below the level of the
early 1980s oil boom.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $35 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$300 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
60% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
28% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $9 billion; expenditures $10.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Exports:
$12.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
oil 95%, cocoa, rubber
partners:
EC countries 43%, US 41%
Imports:
$7.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
commodities:
consumer goods, capital equipment, chemicals, raw materials
partners:
EC countries 70%, US 16%
External debt:
$33.4 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5.5% (1991); accounts for 8.5% of GDP
Electricity:
4,740,000 kW capacity; 8,300 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries: crude oil and mining - coal, tin, columbite; primary processing industries -
palm oil, peanut, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins; manufacturing
industries - textiles, cement, building materials, food products, footwear,
chemical, printing, ceramics, steel
Agriculture:
accounts for 32% of GDP and half of labor force; inefficient small-scale
farming dominates; once a large net exporter of food and now an importer;
cash crops - cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber; food crops - corn, rice,
sorghum, millet, cassava, yams; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, pigs;
fishing and forestry resources extensively exploited
*Nigeria, Economy
Illicit drugs:
passenger and cargo air hub for West Africa facilitates Nigeria's position
as a major transit country for heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest
Asia via Africa to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit
route for cocaine from South America intended for West European and North
American markets (some of that cocaine is also consumed in Nigeria)
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $705 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.0 billion;
Communist countries (1970-89), $2.2 billion
Currency:
1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates:
naira (N) per US$1 - 19.661 (December 1992), 17.298 (1992), 9.909 (1991),
8.038 (1990), 7.3647 (1989), 4.5370 (1988), 4.0160 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Nigeria, Communications
Railroads:
3,505 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways:
107,990 km total 30,019 km paved (mostly bituminous-surface treatment);
25,411 km laterite, gravel, crushed stone, improved earth; 52,560 km
unimproved
Inland waterways:
8,575 km consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines:
crude oil 2,042 km; natural gas 500 km; petroleum products 3,000 km
Ports:
Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele
Merchant marine:
28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 418,046 GRT/664,949 DWT; includes 17
cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 7 oil tanker, 1 chemical
tanker, 1 bulk
Airports:
total:
76 usable:
63
with permanent-surface runways:
34
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
15
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
23
Telecommunications:
above-average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in
progress; radio relay microwave and cable routes; broadcast stations - 35
AM, 17 FM, 28 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1
Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 20 domestic stations; 1 coaxial submarine cable
*Nigeria, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, paramilitary Police Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 21,790,956; fit for military service 12,447,547; reach
military age (18) annually 1,297,790 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $172 million, about 1% of GDP (1992)
*Niue, Header
Affiliation:
(free association with New Zealand)
*Niue, Geography
Location:
Oceania, 460 km east of Tonga in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
260 km2
land area:
260 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
64 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain:
steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Natural resources:
fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land:
61%
permanent crops:
4%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
19%
other:
12%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to typhoons
Note:
one of world's largest coral islands
*Niue, People
Population:
1,977 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
-3.66% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Niuean(s)
adjective:
Niuean
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Religions:
Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church) 75% - a Protestant church closely related to
the London Missionary Society, Morman 10%, other 15% (mostly Roman
Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages:
Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan, English
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
1,000 (1981 est.)
by occupation:
most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government
service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
*Niue, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Niue
Digraph:
NE
Type:
self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully
responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for
external affairs
Capital:
Alofi
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
19 October 1974 (became a self-governing territory in free association with
New Zealand on 19 October 1974)
Constitution:
19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system:
English common law
National holiday:
Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British
sovereignty)
Political parties and leaders:
Niue Island Party (NIP), Young VIVIAN
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Legislative Assembly:
last held on 8 April 1990 (next to be held March 1993); results - percent of
vote NA; seats - (20 total, 6 elected) NIP 1, independents 5
Executive branch:
British monarch, premier, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand
Representative John SPRINGFORD (since NA 1974)
Head of Government:
Acting Premier Young VIVIAN (since the death of Sir Robert R. REX on 12
December 1992)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), SPARTECA, SPC, SPF
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
US diplomatic representation:
none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag:
yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of
the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in
the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
*Niue, Economy
Overview:
The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government
expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants
from New Zealand - the grants are used to pay wages to public employees. The
agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some
cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small
factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The
sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of
revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of
population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $2.1 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$1,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.6% (1984)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY85 est.)
Exports:
$175,274 (f.o.b., 1985)
commodities:
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root
crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
partners:
NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports:
$3.8 million (c.i.f., 1985)
commodities:
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants,
chemicals, drugs
partners:
NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced, 1,490 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
tourist, handicrafts, coconut products
Agriculture:
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops - taro, yams,
cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $62
million
Currency:
1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9486 (January 1993), 1.8584 (1992),
1.7265 (1991), 1.6750 (1990), 1.6711 (1989), 1.5244 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
*Niue, Communications
Highways:
123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads
Ports:
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Telecommunications:
single-line telephone system connects all villages on island; 383
telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1
FM, no TV
*Niue, Defense Forces
Branches:
Police Force
Note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
*Norfolk Island, Header
Affiliation:
(territory of Australia)
*Norfolk Island, Geography
Location:
Oceania, 1,575 km east of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
34.6 km2
land area:
34.6 km2
comparative area:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
32 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
3 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
25%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
75%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to typhoons (especially May to July)
*Norfolk Island, People
Population:
2,665 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.69% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
NA years
male:
NA years
female:
NA years
Total fertility rate:
NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun:
Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective:
Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic divisions:
descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander
Religions:
Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
Languages:
English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient
Tahitian
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male: NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
*Norfolk Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form:
Norfolk Island
Digraph:
NF
Type:
territory of Australia
Capital:
Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)
Independence:
none (territory of Australia)
Constitution:
Norfolk Island Act of 1957
Legal system:
wide legislative and executive responsibility under the Norfolk Island Act
of 1979; Supreme Court
National holiday:
Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Political parties and leaders:
NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Legislative Assembly:
last held 1989 (held every three years); results - percent of vote by party
NA; seats - (9 total) percent of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Executive
Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator A.
G. KERR (since NA 1990), who is appointed by the Governor General of
Australia
Head of Government:
Assembly President and Chief Minister John Terence BROWN (since NA)
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag:
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large
green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band
*Norfolk Island, Economy
Overview:
The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of
prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. The number of
visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY89.
Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and
helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production
of beef, poultry, and eggs.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $4.2 million, including capital expenditures of
$400,000 (FY89)
Exports:
$1.7 million (f.o.b., FY86)
commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia Palm, small
quantities of avocados
partners:
Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
Imports:
$15.6 million (c.i.f., FY86)
commodities:
NA
partners:
Australia, Pacific Islands, NZ, Asia, Europe
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
7,000 kW capacity; 8 million kWh produced, 3,160 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
tourism
Agriculture:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit,
cattle, poultry
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4837 (January 1993), 1.3600 (1992),
1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989), 1.2752 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*Norfolk Island, Communications
Highways:
80 km of roads, including 53 km paved; remainder are earth formed or coral
surfaced
Ports:
none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Airports:
total:
1
useable:
1
with permanent-surface runways :
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
1,500 radio receivers (1982); radio link service with Sydney; 987 telephones
(1983); broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
*Norfolk Island, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia
*Northern Mariana Islands, Header
Affiliation:
(commonwealth in political union with the US)
*Northern Mariana Islands, Geography
Location:
in the North Pacific Ocean, 5,635 km west-southwest of Honolulu, about
three-quarters of the way between Hawaii and the Philippines
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
477 km2
land area:
477 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
note:
includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,482 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m (depth)
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal
temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to
October
Terrain:
southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs;
northern islands are volcanic; highest elevation is 471 meters (Mt. Okso'
Takpochao on Saipan)
Natural resources:
arable land, fish
Land use:
arable land:
5% on Saipan
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
active volcanos on Pagan and Agrihan; subject to typhoons (most during
August through November)
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
*Northern Mariana Islands, People
Population:
48,581 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.04% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
35.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
37.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.43 years
male:
65.53 years
female:
69.48 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.69 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians, Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese,
Korean
Religions:
Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos
may still be found)
Languages:
English, Chamorro, Carolinian
note:
86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:
age NA and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
96%
Labor force:
7,476 total indigenous labor force, 2,699 unemployed; 21,188 foreign workers
(1990)
by occupation:
NA
*Northern Mariana Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form:
Northern Mariana Islands
Digraph:
CQ
Type:
commonwealth in political union with the US; self-governing with locally
elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature; federal funds to the
Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of
Territorial and International Affairs
Capital:
Saipan
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
Constitution:
Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and the constitution of the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal system:
based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
National holiday:
Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Political parties and leaders:
Republican Party, Governor Lorenzo GUERRERO; Democratic Party, Carlos SHODA,
chairman
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do
not vote in US presidential elections
Elections:
Governor:
last held in NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO, Republican Party, was elected governor
Senate:
last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (9 total) Republicans 6, Democrats 3
House of Representatives:
last held NA November 1991 (next to be held NA November 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (18 total) Republicans 10, Democrats 6,
Independent 2
US House of Representatives:
the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it
has an elected official "resident representative" located in Washington, DC;
seats - (1 total) Republican (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Executive branch:
US president; governor, lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislature consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house
or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Commonwealth Supreme Court, Superior Court, Federal District Court
Leaders: Chief of State:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
*Northern Mariana Islands, Government
Head of Government:
Governor Lorenzo I. DeLeon GUERRERO (since 9 January 1990); Lieutenant
Governor Benjamin T. MANGLONA (since 9 January 1990)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), SPC
Flag:
blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a
latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center
*Northern Mariana Islands, Economy
Overview:
The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US.
The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues
have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to
$228 million for capital development, government operations, and special
programs. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry,
which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists
predominate. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small
farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is
small scale, mostly handicrafts and light manufacturing.
National product:
GNP - purchasing power equivalent - $541 million (1992)
note:
GNP numbers reflect US spending
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$11,500 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5-7.5% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $147.0 million; expenditures $127.7 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1991)
Exports:
$263.4 million (f.o.b. 1991 est.)
commodities:
manufactured goods, garments, bread, pastries, concrete blocks, light iron
work
partners:
NA
Imports:
$392.4 million (c.i.f. 1991 est.)
commodities: food, construction, equipment, materials
partners:
NA
External debt:
$0
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
25,000 kW capacity; 35 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
tourism, construction, light industry, handicrafts
Agriculture:
coconuts, fruits, cattle, vegetables
Economic aid:
none
Currency:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
*Northern Mariana Islands, Communications
Railroads:
none
Highways:
381.5 km total; 134.5 km primary, 55 km secondary, 192 km local (1991)
Inland waterways:
none
Ports:
Saipan, Tinian
Airports:
total:
6
usable:
5
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 1 FM (1984), 1 TV, 2 cable TV stations; 2 Pacific
Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*Northern Mariana Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
*Norway, Geography
Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Map references:
Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
324,220 km2
land area:
307,860 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total 2,515 km, Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km
Coastline:
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords,
numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
10 nm
continental shelf:
to depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
4 nm
International disputes:
territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); dispute between Denmark
and Norway over maritime boundary in Arctic Ocean between Greenland and Jan
Mayen is before the Interntional Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute
with Russia over portion of Barents Sea
Climate:
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior;
rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain:
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile
valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords;
arctic tundra in north
Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish,
timber, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
27%
other:
70%
Irrigated land: 950 km2 (1989)
Environment:
air and water pollution; acid rain; note - strategic location adjacent to
sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest
coastlines in world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land
boundary with Russia
*Norway, Geography
Note:
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented
coastline
*Norway, People
Population:
4,297,436 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.41% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
13.75 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
10.54 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
77.16 years
male:
73.79 years
female:
80.73 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.86 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Norwegian(s)
adjective:
Norwegian
Ethnic divisions:
Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps 20,000
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman
Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
Languages:
Norwegian (official)
note:
small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1976)
total population:
99%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
2.004 million (1992)
by occupation:
services 39.1%, commerce 17.6%, mining, oil, and manufacturing 16.0%,
banking and financial services 7.6%, transportation and communications 7.8%,
construction 6.1%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5.5% (1989)
*Norway, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form:
Norway
local long form:
Kongeriket Norge
local short form:
Norge
Digraph:
NO
Type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
Oslo
Administrative divisions:
19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud,
Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag,
Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark,
Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas:
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence:
26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
Constitution:
17 May 1814, modified in 1884
Legal system:
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions;
Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Political parties and leaders:
Labor Party, Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND; Conservative Party, Kaci Kullmann FIVE;
Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Kjell Magne
BONDEVIK; Socialist Left, Eric SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Ingre IVERSEN;
Progress Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Finnmark List,
leader NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Storting:
last held on 11 September 1989 (next to be held 6 September 1993); results -
Labor 34.3%, Conservative 22.2%, Progress 13.0%, Socialist Left 10.1%,
Christian People's 8.5%, Center Party 6.6%, Finnmark List 0.3%, other 5%;
seats - (165 total) Labor 63, Conservative 37, Progress 22, Socialist Left
17, Christian People's 14, Center Party 11, Finnmark List 1
Executive branch:
monarch, prime minister, State Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Storting) with an Upper Chamber (Lagting) and a Lower
Chamber (Odelsting)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Hoyesterett)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON
MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973)
*Norway, Government
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990)
Member of:
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD,
ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,
LORCS, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, PCA, UN,
UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOSOM,
UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Kjeld VIBE
chancery:
2720 34th Street NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 333-6000
FAX:
(202) 337-0870
consulates general:
Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco
consulate:
Miami
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant)
embassy:
Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo 2
mailing address:
PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone:
[47] (2) 44-85-50
FAX: [47] (2) 43-07-77
Flag:
red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the
flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
*Norway, Economy
Overview:
Norway has a mixed economy involving a combination of free market activity
and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the
vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises) and
extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse
resources. Norway also maintains an extensive welfare system that helps
propel public sector expenditures to slightly more than 50% of the GDP and
results in one of the highest average tax burdens in the world (54%). A
small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is
basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an
abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major
shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources -
petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent
on its oil sector to keep its economy afloat. Although one of the
government's main priorities is to reduce this dependency, this situation is
not likely to improve for years to come. The government also hopes to reduce
unemployment and strengthen and diversify the economy through tax reform and
a series of expansionary budgets. The budget deficit is expected to hit a
record 8% of GDP because of welfare spending and bail-outs of the banking
system. Unemployment continues at record levels of over 10% - including
those in job programs - because of the weakness of the economy outside the
oil sector. Overall economic growth is expected to be around 2% in 1993
while inflation is likely to rise slightly to 4%. Oslo, a member of the
European Free Trade Area, has applied for EC membership and continues to
deregulate and harmonize with EC regulations to prepare for the European
Economic Area (EEA) - which creates an EC/EFTA market with free movement of
capital, goods, services, and labor - to take effect in late 1993 and its EC
bid.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $76.1 billion (1992)
National product real growth rate:
2.9% (1992)
National product per capita:
$17,700 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.3% (1992)
Unemployment rate:
5.9% (excluding people in job-training programs) (1992)
Budget:
revenues $50.6 billion; expenditures $57.0 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$35.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 37.8%, metals and products 10.7%, natural
gas 7.3%, fish 6.6%, chemicals 6.3%, ships 5.4%
partners:
EC 67%, Nordic countries 18.2%, developing countries 7.9%, US 5.1%, Japan
1.6% (1992)
Imports:
$26.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
machinery, fuels and lubricants, transportation equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs, clothing, ships
partners:
EC 48.7%, Nordic countries 26.8%, developing countries 9.3%, US 8.6%, Japan
6.3% (1992)
External debt:
$6.5 billion (1992 est.)
*Norway, Economy
Industrial production:
growth rate 7.3% (1992)
Electricity:
26,900,000 kW capacity; 111,000 million kWh produced, 25,850 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products,
metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Agriculture:
accounts for 2.6% of GDP and 5.5% of labor force; among world's top 10
fishing nations; livestock output exceeds value of crops; over half of food
needs imported; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989
Illicit drugs:
increasingly used as transshipment point for Latin American cocaine to
Europe and gateway for Asian heroin shipped via the CIS and Baltic states
for the European market
Economic aid:
donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion
Currency:
1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 re
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.8774 (January 1993), 6.2145 (1992),
6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Norway, Communications
Railroads:
4,223 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; Norwegian State Railways (NSB) operates
4,219 km (2,450 km electrified and 96 km double track); 4 km other
Highways:
79,540 km total; 38,580 km paved; 40,960 km gravel, crushed stone, and earth
Inland waterways:
1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum
Pipelines: refined products 53 km
Ports:
Oslo, Bergen, Fredrikstad, Kristiansand, Stavanger, Trondheim
Merchant marine:
829 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,312,412 GRT/38,532,109 DWT;
includes 13 passenger, 20 short-sea passenger, 106 cargo, 2 passenger-cargo,
19 refrigerated cargo, 15 container, 49 roll-on/roll-off, 23 vehicle
carrier, 1 railcar carrier, 174 oil tanker, 91 chemical tanker, 82 liquefied
gas, 25 combination ore/oil, 201 bulk, 8 combination bulk; note - the
government has created a captive register, the Norwegian International Ship
Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS
enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by
Norwegians; the majority of ships (777) under the Norwegian flag are now
registered with the NIS
Airports:
total:
103
usable:
102
with permanent-surface runways:
63
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
12
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
16
Telecommunications:
high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex
services; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 3,102,000 telephones; broadcast
stations - 46 AM, 350 private and 143 government FM, 54 (2,100 repeaters)
TV; 4 coaxial submarine cables; 3 communications satellite earth stations
operating in the EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean), MARISAT, and
domestic systems
*Norway, Defense Forces
Branches:
Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,120,744; fit for military service 934,968; reach military
age (20) annually 31,903 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $3.8 billion, 3.4% of GDP (1992)
*Oman, Geography
Location:
Middle East, along the Arabian Sea, between Yemen and the United Arab
Emirates
Map references: Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
212,460 km2
land area:
212,460 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries:
total 1,374 km, Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline:
2,092 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
to be defined
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
no defined boundary with most of UAE; Administrative Line with UAE in far
north; a treaty with Yemen to settle the Omani-Yemeni boundary was ratified
in December 1992
Climate:
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest
summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:
vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Natural resources:
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum,
natural gas
Land use:
arable land:
less than 2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
5%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
93%
Irrigated land:
410 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and duststorms in interior; sparse
natural freshwater resources
Note:
strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling
Strait of Hormuz (17% of world's oil production transits this point going
from Persian Gulf to Arabian Sea)
*Oman, People
Population:
1,643,579 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.46% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
40.56 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.94 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
38.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.32 years
male:
65.47 years
female:
69.27 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.58 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Omani(s)
adjective:
Omani
Ethnic divisions:
Arab, Balochi, Zanzibari, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi)
Religions:
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages:
Arabic (official), English, Balochi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
430,000
by occupation:
agriculture 40% (est.)
*Oman, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form:
Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form:
Uman
Digraph:
MU
Type:
absolute monarchy with residual UK influence
Capital:
Muscat
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 3 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat);
Musqat, Musandam, Zufar
Independence:
1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Constitution:
none
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 18 November
Political parties and leaders:
none
Other political or pressure groups:
outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
elections scheduled for October 1992
Executive branch:
sultan, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Sa'id Al Sa'id (since 23 July 1970)
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Awadh bin Badr AL-SHANFARI
chancery:
2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 387-1980 through 1982
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador David DUNFORD
*Oman, Government
embassy:
address NA, Muscat
mailing address:
P. O. Box 50202 Madinat Qaboos, Muscat
telephone:
[968] 698-989
FAX:
[968] 604-316
Flag:
three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double
width) with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national
emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in
scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band
*Oman, Economy
Overview:
Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry.
Petroleum accounts for more than 85% of export earnings, about 80% of
government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of
4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate
of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the
general population depends on imported food.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $10.2 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
7.4% (1991)
National product per capita:
$6,670 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $4.1 billion; expenditures $4.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $1 billion (1991)
Exports:
$4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum 87%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles
partners:
UAE 30%, Japan 27%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 5%
Imports:
$3.0 billion (f.o.b, 1991)
commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock,
lubricants
partners:
Japan 20%, UAE 19%, UK 19%, US 7%
External debt:
$3.1 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1989), including petroleum sector
Electricity:
1,142,400 kW capacity; 5,100 million kWh produced, 3,200 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction,
cement, copper
Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 40% of the labor force (including fishing); less
than 2% of land cultivated; largely subsistence farming (dates, limes,
bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle); not self-sufficient in food;
annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $148 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million
Currency:
1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
Exchange rates:
Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Oman, Communications
Highways:
26,000 km total; 6,000 km paved, 20,000 km motorable track
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Ports:
Mina' Qabus, Mina' Raysut, Mina' al Fahl
Merchant marine:
1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT
Airports:
total:
138
usable:
130
with permanent-surface runways:
6
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
9
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
74
Telecommunications:
modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radio communications
stations; limited coaxial cable; 50,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2
AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1
ARABSAT, and 8 domestic
*Oman, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 370,548; fit for military service 210,544; reach military
age (14) annually 20,810 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion, 16% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Header
Affiliation:
(UN trusteeship administered by the US)
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Geography
Location:
in the North Pacific Ocean, 850 km southeast of the Philippines
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
458 km2
land area:
458 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,519 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m or depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain:
about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main
island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
reefs
Natural resources:
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: arable land:
NA%
permanent crops:
NA%
meadows and pastures:
NA%
forest and woodland:
NA%
other:
NA%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to typhoons from June to December; archipelago of six island groups
totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
Note:
includes World War II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), People
Population:
16,071 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.84% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
22.9 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
25.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.01 years
male:
69.14 years
female:
73.02 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Palauan(s)
adjective:
Palauan
Ethnic divisions:
Palauans are a composite of Polynesian, Malayan, and Melanesian races
Religions:
Christian (Catholics, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, the
Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, and Latter-Day Saints), Modekngei
religion (one-third of the population observes this religion which is
indigenous to Palau)
Languages: English (official in all of Palau's 16 states), Sonsorolese (official in the
state of Sonsoral), Angaur and Japanese (in the state of Anguar), Tobi (in
the state of Tobi), Palauan (in the other 13 states)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1980)
total population:
92%
male:
93%
female:
91%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
NA
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
conventional short form:
none
note:
may change to Republic of Palau after independence; the native form of Palau
is Belau and is sometimes used incorrectly in English and other languages
Digraph:
NQ
Type:
UN trusteeship administered by the US
note:
constitutional government signed a Compact of Free Association with the US
on 10 January 1986, which was never approved in a series of UN-observed
plebiscites; until the UN trusteeship is terminated with entry into force of
the Compact, Palau remains under US administration as the Palau District of
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; administrative authority resides
in the Department of the Interior and is exercised by the Assistant
Secretary for Territorial and International Affairs through the Palau
Office, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, J. Victor HOBSON Jr.,
Director (since 16 December 1990)
Capital:
Koror
note:
a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast in eastern Babelthuap
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 16 states: Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Kayangel,
Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngardmau, Ngaremlengui, Ngatpang, Ngchesar,
Ngerchelong, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol, Tobi
Independence:
the last polity remaining under the US-administered UN trusteeship following
the departure of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States
of Micronesia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas from the
trusteeship; administered by the Office of Territorial and International
Affairs, US Department of Interior
Constitution:
1 January 1981
Legal system:
based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common,
and customary laws
National holiday:
Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held on 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
Kuniwo NAKAMURA 50.7%, Johnson TORIBIONG 49.3%
Senate:
last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (14 total); number of seats by party NA
House of Delegates:
last held 4 November 1992 (next to be held NA November 1996); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (16 total); number of seats by party NA
Executive branch:
national president, national vice president
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Government
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament (Olbiil Era Kelulau or OEK) consists of an upper house
or Senate and a lower house or House of Delegates
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, National Court, Court of Common Pleas
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Kuniwo NAKAMURA (since 1 January 1993), Vice-President Tommy E.
REMENGESAU Jr. (since 1 January 1993)
Member of:
ESCAP (associate), SPC, SPF (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:
administrative officer:
Charles UONG,
address:
Palau Liaison Office, 444 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 308, Washington, DC
20001
US diplomatic representation:
director:
US Liaison Officer Lloyd W. MOSS
liaison office:
US Liaison Office at Top Side, Neeriyas, Koror
mailing address:
P.O. Box 6028, Koror, PW 96940
telephone:
(680) 488-2920; (680) 488-2911
Flag:
light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly
to the hoist side
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Economy
Overview:
The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing.
Tourism provides some foreign exchange, although the remote location of
Palau and a shortage of suitable facilities has hindered development. The
government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on
financial assistance from the US.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $31.6 million (1986)
note:
GDP numbers reflect US spending
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$2,260 (1986)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
20% (1986)
Budget:
revenues $6.0 million; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of
$NA (1986)
Exports:
$0.5 million (f.o.b., 1986)
commodities:
NA
partners:
US, Japan
Imports:
$27.2 million (c.i.f., 1986)
commodities:
NA
partners:
US
External debt:
about $100 million (1989)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
16,000 kW capacity; 22 million kWh produced, 1,540 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
tourism, craft items (shell, wood, pearl), some commercial fishing and
agriculture
Agriculture:
subsistence-level production of coconut, copra, cassava, sweet potatoes
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $2,560 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $92 million
Currency:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Communications
Highways:
22.3 km paved, some stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads (1991)
Ports:
Koror
Airports:
total:
3
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
3
Telecommunications:
broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 2 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth
station
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US and that will not change when the UN
trusteeship terminates if the Compact of Free Association with the US goes
into effect
*Pacific Ocean, Geography
Location:
body of water between the Western Hemisphere and Asia/Australia
Map references:
Asia, North America, Oceania, South America, Standard Time Zones of the
World
Area:
total area:
165.384 million km2
comparative area:
about 18 times the size of the US; the largest ocean (followed by the
Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean); covers about
one-third of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the
world
note:
includes Arafura Sea, Banda Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering
Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Makassar Strait,
Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea,
Tasman Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline:
135,663 km
International disputes:
some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate:
the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer
months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a
dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian land
mass back to the ocean
Terrain:
surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a clockwise,
warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in the southern
Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in the northern Pacific sea
ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern
Pacific sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October;
the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific
Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the
world's deepest, the 10,924 meter Marianas Trench
Natural resources:
oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer
deposits, fish
Environment:
endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea;
dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the
southwestern Pacific Ocean; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in
southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to
October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike
Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and
September); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs from Antarctica;
occasional El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast of Peru when the trade
winds slacken and the warm Equatorial Countercurrent moves south, killing
the plankton that is the primary food source for anchovies; consequently,
the anchovies move to better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds
to starve by the thousands because of their lost food source
*Pacific Ocean, Geography
Note:
the major choke points are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon Strait,
and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific Ocean into the
North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean; ships subject to
superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May and in extreme
south from May to October; persistent fog in the northern Pacific from June
to December is a hazard to shipping; surrounded by a zone of violent
volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the Pacific Ring
of Fire
*Pacific Ocean, Government