conventional long form:
Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form:
Venezuela
local long form:
Republica de Venezuela
local short form:
Venezuela
Digraph:
VE
Type:
republic
Capital:
Caracas
Administrative divisions:
21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* ( territorio), 1, federal district**,
(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependence***, (dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui,,
Apure, Aragua, Barinas,
Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales***,, Distrito Federal**,,
Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva
Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependence consists of 11 federally controlled island groups
with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:
5 July 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution:
23 January 1961
Legal system:
based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation
Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Political parties and leaders:
Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and Jose
CURIEL, secretary general (acting); Democratic Action (AD), Humberto CELLI,
president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward
Socialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy MUNOZ, secretary
general; The Radical Cause ( La Causa R), Pablo Medina, secretary general
Other political or pressure groups:
FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of
Workers (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS
groups
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results -
Carlos Andres PEREZ (AD) 54.6%, Eduardo FERNANDEZ (COPEI) 41.7%, other 3.7%;
note - President Carlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruption
charges
Senate:
last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) AD 23, COPEI 22, other 4;
note - 3 former presidents (1 from AD, 2 from COPEI) hold lifetime senate
seats
*Venezuela, Government
Chamber of Deputies:
last held 4 December 1992 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results - AD
43.7%, COPEI 31.4%, MAS 10.3%, other 14.6%; seats - (201 total) AD 97, COPEI
67, MAS 18, other 19
Executive branch:
president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) consists of an
upper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies
(Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Interim President Ramon Jose VELASQUEZ (since 5 June 1993); note - President
Carlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruption charges
Member of: AG, CARICOM (observer), CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,
G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM,
OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Simon Alberto CONSALVI Bottaro
chancery:
1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone:
(202) 342-2214
consulates general:
Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael Martin SKOL
embassy:
Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracas
mailing address:
P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037
telephone:
[58] (2) 285-2222
FAX:
[58] (2) 285-0336
consulate:
Maracaibo
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of
arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white
five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
*Venezuela, Economy
Overview:
Petroleum is the backbone of the economy, accounting for 23% of GDP, 70% of
central government revenues, and 82% of export earnings in 1992. President
PEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed office in
February 1989. Lower tariffs and the removal of price controls, a free
market exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economy
into confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. However, the economy
recovered part way in 1990 and grew by 10.4% in 1991 and 7.3% in 1992, led
by the non-petroleum sector.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $57.8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
7.3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$2,800 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
32% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8.4% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $13.1 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$14.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
petroleum 82%, bauxite and aluminum, iron ore, agricultural products, basic
manufactures
partners:
US 50.7%, Europe 13.7%, Japan 4.0% (1989)
Imports:
$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
foodstuffs, chemicals, manufactures, machinery and transport equipment
partners:
US 44%, FRG 8.0%, Japan 4%, Italy 7%, Canada 2% (1989)
External debt:
$27.1 billion (1992)
Industrial production:
growth rate 11.9% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP, including petroleum
Electricity:
21,130,000 kW capacity; 58,541 million kWh produced, 2,830 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing,
textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products - corn, sorghum,
sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish;
not self-sufficient in food other than meat
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug trade
on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the country
from Colombia; important money-laundering hub
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries
(1970-89), $10 million
Currency:
1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
*Venezuela, Economy
Exchange rates:
bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 80.18 (January 1993), 68.38 (1992), 56.82 (1991),
46.90 (1990), 34.68 (1989), 14.50 (fixed rate 1987-88)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Venezuela, Communications
Railroads:
542 km total; 363 km 1.435-meter standard gauge all single track, government
owned; 179 km 1.435-meter gauge, privately owned
Highways:
77,785 km total; 22,780 km paved, 24,720 km gravel, 14,450 km earth roads,
and 15,835 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:
crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
Ports:
Amuay Bay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, Puerto Cabello, Puerto Ordaz
Merchant marine:
56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 837,375 GRT/1,344,795 DWT; includes 1
short-sea passenger, 1 passenger cargo, 19 cargo, 2 container, 4
roll-on/roll-off, 18 oil tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 6 bulk,
1 vehicle carrier, 1 combination bulk
Airports:
total:
360
usable:
331
with permanent-surface runways:
133
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
15
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
87
Telecommunications:
modern and expanding; 1,440,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 181 AM, no
FM, 59 TV, 26 shortwave; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite ground
stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 3 domestic
*Venezuela, Defense Forces
Branches:
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, FAN) includes - Ground
Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas
Navales or Armada), Air Forces (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of
Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperation or Guardia
Nacional)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 5,192,107; fit for military service 3,769,441; reach
military age (18) annually 221,043 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.95 billion, 4% of GDP (1991)
*Vietnam, Geography
Location:
Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea, between Laos and the
Philippines
Map references:
Asia, Southeast Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
329,560 km2
land area:
325,360 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:
total 3,818 km, Cambodia 982 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 1,555 km
Coastline:
3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute
over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and
possibly Brunei; unresolved maritime boundary with Thailand; maritime
boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied
by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan
Climate:
tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to
mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Terrain:
low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in
far north and northwest
Natural resources:
phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil deposits,
forests
Land use:
arable land:
22%
permanent crops:
2%
meadows and pastures:
1%
forest and woodland:
40%
other:
35%
Irrigated land:
18,300 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
*Vietnam, People
Population:
71,787,608 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.85% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
27.99 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
7.92 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
46.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.1 years
male:
63.08 years
female:
67.25 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Vietnamese
Ethnic divisions:
Vietnamese 85-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Thai, Meo, Khmer, Man, Cham
Religions:
Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs, Islamic, Protestant
Languages:
Vietnamese (official), French, Chinese, English, Khmer, tribal languages
(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
88%
male:
92%
female:
84%
Labor force:
32.7 million
by occupation:
agricultural 65%, industrial and service 35% (1990 est.)
*Vietnam, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form:
Vietnam local long form:
Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form:
Viet Nam
Abbreviation:
SRV
Digraph:
VM
Type:
Communist state
Capital:
Hanoi
Administrative divisions:
50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thanh pho,, singular and plural);
An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh
Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai,
Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi, Minh*, Hoa Binh,
Khanh, Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang
Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu
Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc
Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien, Tien
Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai
Independence:
2 September 1945 (from France)
Constitution:
NA April 1992
Legal system:
based on Communist legal theory and French civil law system
National holiday:
Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Political parties and leaders:
only party - Vietnam Communist Party (VCP), DO MUOI, general secretary
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
National Assembly:
last held 19 July 1992 (next to be held NA July 1997); results - VCP is the
only party; seats - (395 total) VCP or VCP-approved 395
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (Quoc-Hoi)
Judicial branch:
Supreme People's Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Le Duc ANH (since 23 September 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Vo Van KIET (since 9 August 1991); First Deputy Prime
Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 10 August 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen
KHANH (since NA February 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc LUONG (since
NA February 1987)
*Vietnam, Government
Member of:
ACCT, AsDB, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
none
US diplomatic representation:
none
Flag:
red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
*Vietnam, Economy
Overview:
Vietnam has made significant progress in recent years moving away from the
planned economic model and toward a more effective market-based economic
system. Most prices are now fully decontrolled and the Vietnamese currency
has been effectively devalued and floated at world market rates. In
addition, the scope for private sector activity has been expanded, primarily
through decollectivization of the agricultural sector and introduction of
laws giving legal recognition to private business. Despite such positive
indicators, the country's economic turnaround remains tenuous. Nearly
three-quarters of export earnings are generated by only two commodities,
rice and crude oil. Meanwhile, industrial production stagnates, burdened by
uncompetitive state-owned enterprises the government is unwilling or unable
to privatize. Unemployment looms as the most serious problem with over 25%
of the workforce without jobs and population growth swelling the ranks of
the unemployed yearly.
National product:
GNP - exchange rate conversion - $16 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
7.4% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$230 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15%-20% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
25% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues $1.7 billion; expenditures $1.9 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1990)
Exports:
$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
commodities:
agricultural and handicraft products, coal, minerals, crude oil, ores,
seafood
partners:
Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Imports:
$1.9 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
commodities:
petroleum products, steel products, railroad equipment, chemicals,
medicines, raw cotton, fertilizer, grain
partners:
Japan, Singapore, Thailand
External debt:
$16.8 billion (1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 15% (1992); accounts for 30% of GNP
Electricity:
3,300,000 kW capacity; 9,000 million kWh produced, 130 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
food processing, textiles, machine building, mining, cement, chemical
fertilizer, glass, tires, oil
Agriculture:
accounts for half of GNP; paddy rice, corn, potatoes make up 50% of farm
output; commercial crops (rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas) and animal
products 50%; since 1989 self-sufficient in food staple rice; fish catch of
943,100 metric tons (1989 est.)
*Vietnam, Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-74), $3.1 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.9 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $61 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $12.0
billion
Currency:
1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates:
new dong (D) per US$1 - 10,800 (November 1992), 8,100 (July 1991), 7,280
(December 1990), 3,996 (March 1990), 2,047 (1988), 225 (1987); note -
1985-89 figures are end of year
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Vietnam, Communications
Railroads:
3,059 km total; 2,454 1.000-meter gauge, 151 km 1.435-meter (standard)
gauge, 230 km dual gauge (three rails), and 224 km not restored to service
after war damage
Highways:
85,000 km total; 9,400 km paved, 48,700 km gravel or improved earth, 26,900
km unimproved earth (est.)
Inland waterways:
17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up
to 1.8 meter draft
Pipelines:
petroleum products 150 km
Ports:
Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City
Merchant marine:
99 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 460,712 GRT/739,246 DWT; includes 84
cargo, 3 refrigerated cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off, 8 oil tanker, 3 bulk
Airports:
total:
100
usable:
100
with permanent-surface runways:
50
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
10
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
20
Telecommunications:
the inadequacies of the obsolete switching equipment and cable system is a
serious constraint on the business sector and on economic growth, and
restricts access to the international links that Vietnam has established
with most major countries; the telephone system is not generally available
for private use (25 telephones for each 10,000 persons); 3 satellite earth
stations; broadcast stations - NA AM, 288 FM; 36 (77 repeaters) TV; about
2,500,000 TV receivers and 7,000,000 radio receivers in use (1991)
*Vietnam, Defense Forces
Branches:
Ground, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 17,835,536; fit for military service 11,338,880; reach
military age (17) annually 771,792 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GNP
*Virgin Islands, Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
*Virgin Islands, Geography
Location:
in the eastern Caribbean Sea, about 110 km east and southeast of Puerto Rico
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total area:
352 km2
land area:
349 km2
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
188 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m or depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
subtropical, tempered by easterly tradewinds, relatively low humidity,
little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain:
mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
6%
meadows and pastures:
26%
forest and woodland:
6%
other:
47%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
rarely affected by hurricanes; subject to frequent severe droughts, floods,
earthquakes; lack of natural freshwater resources
Note:
important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the
Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in
the Caribbean
*Virgin Islands, People
Population:
98,130 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.76% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
20.26 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: -22.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
12.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
75.29 years
male:
73.6 years
female:
77.2 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.64 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Virgin Islander(s)
adjective:
Virgin Islander; US citizens
Ethnic divisions:
West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the
West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%; black 80%,
white 15%, other 5%; Hispanic origin 14%
Religions:
Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:
English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
45,500 (1988)
by occupation:
tourism 70%
*Virgin Islands, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form:
Virgin Islands
Digraph:
VQ
Type:
organized, unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Office of
Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital:
Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:
based on US
National holiday:
Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON; Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM),
Virdin C. BROWN; Republican Party, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Governor:
last held 6 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994); results -
Governor Alexander FARRELLY (Democratic Party) 56.5% defeated Juan LUIS
(independent) 38.5%
Senate:
last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (15 total) number of seats by party NA
US House of Representatives:
last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 2 November 1994); results - Ron
DE LUGO reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total); seat by party NA; note -
the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of
Representatives
Executive branch:
US president, popularly elected governor and lieutenant governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral Senate
Judicial branch:
US District Court:
handles civil matters over $50,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and
over), and federal cases
Territorial Court:
handles civil matters up to $50,000, small claims, juvenile, domestic,
misdemeanors, and traffic cases
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President
Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)
Head of Government:
Governor Alexander A. FARRELLY (since 5 January 1987); Lieutenant Governor
Derek M. HODGE (since 5 January 1987)
Member of:
ECLAC (associate), IOC
*Virgin Islands, Government
Diplomatic representation in US:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue
initials V and I; the coat of arms shows an eagle holding an olive branch in
one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of
vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
*Virgin Islands, Economy
Overview:
Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of
GDP and 70% of employment. The manufacturing sector consists of textile,
electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural
sector is small, most food being imported. International business and
financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of
the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.2 billion (1987)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$11,000 (1987)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (1992)
Budget:
revenues $364.4 million; expenditures $364.4 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY90)
Exports:
$2.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
refined petroleum products
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
Imports:
$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
partners:
US, Puerto Rico
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 12%; accounts for NA% of GDP
Electricity:
380,000 kW capacity; 565 million kWh produced, 5,710 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction,
pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Agriculture:
truck gardens, food crops (small scale), fruit, sorghum, Senepol cattle
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $42
million
Currency:
US currency is used
Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September
*Virgin Islands, Communications
Highways:
856 km total
Ports:
Saint Croix - Christiansted, Frederiksted; Saint Thomas - Long Bay, Crown
Bay, Red Hook; Saint John - Cruz Bay
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways :
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
2
note:
international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix
Telecommunications:
modern telephone system using fiber-optic cable, submarine cable, microwave
radio, and satellite facilities; 58,931 telephones; 98,000 radios; 63,000 TV
sets in use; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 8 FM, 4 TV (1988)
*Virgin Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
*Wake Island, Header
Affiliation:
(territory of the US)
*Wake Island, Geography
Location:
in the North Pacific Ocean, 3,700 km west of Honolulu, about two-thirds of
the way between Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
6.5 km2
land area:
6.5 km2 comparative area:
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
19.3 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 m or depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
claimed by the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central
lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim; average elevation less
than 4 meters
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
Irrigated land:
0 km2
Environment:
subject to occasional typhoons
Note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location
for transpacific flights
*Wake Island, People
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are 302 US Air Force personnel,
civilian weather service personnel, and US and Thai contractors; population
peaked about 1970 with over 1,600 persons during the Vietnam conflict
*Wake Island, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Wake Island
Digraph:
WQ
Type:
unincorporated territory of the US administered by the US Air Force (under
an agreement with the US Department of Interior) since 24 June 1972
Capital:
none; administered from Washington, DC
Independence:
none (territory of the US)
Flag:
the US flag is used
*Wake Island, Economy
Overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel
and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must
be imported.
Electricity:
supplied by US military
*Wake Island, Communications
Ports:
none; because of the reefs, there are only two offshore anchorages for large
ships
Airports:
total:
1
usable:
1
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
underwater cables to Guam and through Midway to Honolulu; 1 Autovon circuit
off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS); Armed Forces Radio/Television
Service (AFRTS) radio and television service provided by satellite;
broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
Note:
formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used only by US military
and some commercial cargo planes
*Wake Island, Defense Forces
defense is the responsibility of the US
*Wallis and Futuna, Header
Affiliation:
(overseas territory of France)
*Wallis and Futuna, Geography
Location:
in the South Pacific Ocean, 4,600 km southwest of Honolulu, about two-thirds
of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total area:
274 km2
land area:
274 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Washington, DC
note:
includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi,
and 20 islets
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
129 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to
October)
Terrain:
volcanic origin; low hills
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
5%
permanent crops: 20%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
75%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
both island groups have fringing reefs
*Wallis and Futuna, People
Population:
14,175 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.15% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
26.42 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.38 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-9.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
27.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
71.2 years
male:
70.54 years
female:
71.9 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.34 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective:
Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic divisions:
Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy:
all ages can read and write (1969)
total population:
50%
male:
50%
female:
51%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
*Wallis and Futuna, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form:
Wallis and Futuna
local long form:
Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form:
Wallis et Futuna
Digraph:
WF
Type:
overseas territory of France
Capital:
Mata Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution:
28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
French legal system
Political parties and leaders:
Rally for the Republic (RPR); Union Populaire Locale (UPL); Union Pour la
Democratie Francaise (UDF); Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des
Radicaux de Gauche (MRG)
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Territorial Assembly:
last held 15 March 1987 (next to be held NA March 1992); results - percent
of vote by party NA; seats - (20 total) RPR 7, UPL 5, UDF 4, UNF 4
French Senate:
last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1998); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1
French National Assembly:
last held 21 and 28 March 1992 (next to be held by NA September 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) MRG 1
Executive branch:
French president, chief administrator; note - there are three traditional
kings with limited powers
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly (Assemblee Territoriale)
Judicial branch:
none; justice generally administered under French law by the chief
administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and
there is a magistrate in Mata Utu
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
Head of Government:
Chief Administrator Robert POMMIES (since 26 September 1990)
Member of:
FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US:
as an overseas territory of France, local interests are represented in the
US by France
*Wallis and Futuna, Government
US diplomatic representation:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag:
the flag of France is used
*Wallis and Futuna, Economy
Overview:
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about
80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and
vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the
population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government
subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import
taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and
Futuna imports food, fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but
its exports are negligible, consisting of copra and handicrafts.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $25 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$1,500 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $2.7 million; expenditures $2.7 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1983)
Exports:
negligible
commodities:
copra, handicrafts
partners:
NA
Imports:
$13.3 million (c.i.f., 1984)
commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel
partners:
France, Australia, New Zealand
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
1,200 kW capacity; 1 million kWh produced, 70 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Agriculture:
dominated by coconut production, with subsistence crops of yams, taro,
bananas, and herds of pigs and goats
Economic aid:
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),
$118 million
Currency:
1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 99.65 (January
1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.0 (1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30
(1988); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year:
NA
*Wallis and Futuna, Communications
Highways:
100 km on Ile Uvea, 16 km sealed; 20 km earth surface on Ile Futuna
Inland waterways:
none
Ports:
Mata-Utu, Leava
Airports:
total:
2
useable:
2
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:
225 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV
*Wallis and Futuna, Defense Forces
Note:
defense is the responsibility of France
*West Bank, Header
The war between Israel and the Arab states in June 1967 ended with Israel in
control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai, and the Golan
Heights. As stated in the 1978 Camp David Accords and reaffirmed by
President Bush's post-Gulf crisis peace initiative, the final status of the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip, their relationship with their neighbors, and a
peace treaty between Israel and Jordan are to be negotiated among the
concerned parties. Camp David further specifies that these negotiations will
resolve the respective boundaries. Pending the completion of this process,
it is US policy that the final status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
has yet to be determined. In the view of the US, the term West Bank
describes all of the area west of the Jordan River under Jordanian
administration before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. However, with respect to
negotiations envisaged in the framework agreement, it is US policy that a
distinction must be made between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank
because of the city's special status and circumstances. Therefore, a
negotiated solution for the final status of Jerusalem could be different in
character from that of the rest of the West Bank.
*West Bank, Geography
Location:
Middle East, between Jordan and Israel
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total area:
5,860 km2
land area:
5,640 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Delaware
note:
includes West Bank, East Jerusalem, Latrun Salient, Jerusalem No Man's Land,
and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus
Land boundaries:
total 404 km, Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
Israeli occupied with status to be determined
Climate:
temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot
summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain:
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east
Natural resources:
negligible
Land use:
arable land:
27%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
32%
forest and woodland:
1%
other:
40%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers
Note:
landlocked; there are 175 Jewish settlements in the West Bank and 14
Israeli-built Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem
*West Bank, People
Population:
1,404,114 (July 1993 est.)
note:
in addition, there are 102,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank and 134,000
in East Jerusalem (1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.9% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
33.78 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
35.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
69.93 years
male:
68.48 years
female:
71.46 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
NA
adjective:
NA
Ethnic divisions:
Palestinian Arab and other 88%, Jewish 12%
Religions:
Muslim 80% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 12%, Christian and other 8%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew spoken by Israeli settlers, English widely understood
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
NA
by occupation:
small industry, commerce, and business 29.8%, construction 24.2%,
agriculture 22.4%, service and other 23.6% (1984)
note:
excluding Israeli Jewish settlers
*West Bank, Government
Note:
The West Bank is currently governed by Israeli military authorities and
Israeli civil administration. It is US policy that the final status of the
West Bank will be determined by negotiations among the concerned parties.
These negotiations will determine how the area is to be governed.
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
West Bank
Digraph:
WG
*West Bank, Economy
Overview:
Economic progress in the West Bank has been hampered by Israeli military
administration and the effects of the Palestinian uprising (intifadah).
Industries using advanced technology or requiring sizable investment have
been discouraged by a lack of local capital and restrictive Israeli
policies. Capital investment consists largely of residential housing, not
productive assets that would enable local firms to compete with Israeli
industry. A major share of GNP is derived from remittances of workers
employed in Israel and Persian Gulf states, but such transfers from the Gulf
dropped dramatically after Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990. In the wake
of the Persian Gulf crisis, many Palestinians have returned to the West
Bank, increasing unemployment, and export revenues have plunged because of
the loss of markets in Jordan and the Gulf states. Israeli measures to
curtail the intifadah also have pushed unemployment up and lowered living
standards. The area's economic outlook remains bleak.
National product: GNP - exchange rate conversion - $1.3 billion (1990 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-10% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
$1,200 (1990 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (1990 est.)
Budget:
revenues $31.0 million; expenditures $36.1 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY88)
Exports:
$150 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
commodities:
NA
partners:
Jordan, Israel
Imports:
$410 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.)
commodities:
NA
partners:
Jordan, Israel
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate 1% (1989); accounts for about 4% of GNP
Electricity:
power supplied by Israel
Industries:
generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap,
olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have
established some small-scale modern industries in the settlements and
industrial centers
Agriculture:
accounts for about 15% of GNP; olives, citrus and other fruits, vegetables,
beef, and dairy products
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000
fils
*West Bank, Economy
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1 - 2.6480 (November 1992), 2.2791 (1991),
2.0162 (1990), 1.9164 (1989), 1.5989 (1988), 1.5946 (1987); Jordanian dinars
(JD) per US$1 - 0.6890 (January 1993), 0.6797 (1992), 0.6808 (1991), 0.6636
(1990), 0.5704 (1989), 0.3709 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
*West Bank, Communications
Highways:
small road network, Israelis developing east-west axial highways to service
new settlements
Airports:
total:
2
usable:
2
with permanent-surface runways:
2
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
0
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1
Telecommunications:
open-wire telephone system currently being upgraded; broadcast stations - no
AM, no FM, no TV
*West Bank, Defense Forces
Branches:
NA
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Western Sahara, Geography
Location:
Northern Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Morocco and Mauritania
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
266,000 km2
land area:
266,000 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:
total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
1,110 km
Maritime claims:
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
International disputes:
claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the
UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered
cease-fire has been currently in effect since September 1991
Climate:
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and
heavy dew
Terrain:
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising
to small mountains in south and northeast
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
19%
forest and woodland:
0%
other:
81%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring;
widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting
visibility; sparse water and arable land
*Western Sahara, People
Population:
206,629 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
47.54 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
19.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
155.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
44.88 years
male:
43.98 years
female:
46.06 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
7.01 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality: noun:
Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective:
Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic divisions:
Arab, Berber
Religions:
Muslim
Languages:
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy:
total population:
NA%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
Labor force:
12,000
by occupation:
animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
*Western Sahara, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Western Sahara
Digraph:
WI
Type:
legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory
contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation
of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally
proclaimed a government in exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
(SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976,
with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from
Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979;
Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since
asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government in exile was
seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued
sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September
1991
Capital:
none
Administrative divisions:
none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Leaders:
none
Member of:
none
Diplomatic representation in US:
none
US diplomatic representation:
none
*Western Sahara, Economy
Overview:
Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and having little
rainfall, has a per capita GDP of roughly $300. Pastoral nomadism, fishing,
and phosphate mining are the principal sources of income for the population.
Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and
other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $60 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
NA%
National product per capita:
$300 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
NA%
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.)
commodities:
phosphates 62%
partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are
included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports:
$30 million (c.i.f., 1982 est.)
commodities:
fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are
included in overall Moroccan accounts
External debt:
$NA
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%
Electricity:
60,000 kW capacity; 79 million kWh produced, 425 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries:
phosphate mining, fishing, handicrafts
Agriculture:
limited largely to subsistence agriculture; some barley is grown in
nondrought years; fruit and vegetables are grown in the few oases; food
imports are essential; camels, sheep, and goats are kept by the nomadic
natives; cash economy exists largely for the garrison forces
Economic aid:
NA
Currency:
1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.034 (January 1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707
(1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988)
Fiscal year:
NA
*Western Sahara, Communications
Highways:
6,200 km total; 1,450 km surfaced, 4,750 km improved and unimproved earth
roads and tracks
Ports:
El Aaiun, Ad Dakhla
Airports:
total:
14
usable:
14
with permanent-surface runways:
3
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
5
Telecommunications:
sparse and limited system; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio
relay, troposcatter, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations linked to
Rabat, Morocco; 2,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV
*Western Sahara, Defense Forces
Branches:
NA
Manpower availability:
NA
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Western Samoa, Geography
Location:
Oceania, 4,300 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about
halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Map references:
Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
2,860 km2 land area:
2,850 km2
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
403 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October)
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior
Natural resources:
hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land:
19%
permanent crops:
24%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
47%
other:
10%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
subject to occasional typhoons; active volcanism
*Western Samoa, People
Population:
199,652 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.37% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
33 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
6.17 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
38.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
67.58 years male:
65.19 years
female:
70.08 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.28 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Western Samoan(s)
adjective:
Western Samoan
Ethnic divisions:
Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood),
Europeans 0.4%
Religions:
Christian 99.7% (about half of population associated with the London
Missionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic, Methodist,
Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages:
Samoan (Polynesian), English
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
97%
Labor force:
38,000
by occupation:
agriculture 22,000 (1987 est.)
*Western Samoa, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Independent State of Western Samoa
conventional short form:
Western Samoa
Digraph:
WS
Type:
constitutional monarchy under native chief
Capital:
Apia
Administrative divisions:
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga,
Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano
Independence:
1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered by New Zealand)
Constitution:
1 January 1962
Legal system: based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of
legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 1 June
Political parties and leaders:
Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti, chairman; Samoan National
Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairman
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal, but only matai (head of family) are able to run
for the Legislative Assembly
Elections:
Legislative Assembly:
last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18, independents 1
Executive branch:
chief, Executive Council, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fono)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State:
Chief Susuga Malietoa TANUMAFILI II (Co-Chief of State from 1 January 1962
until becoming sole Chief of State on 5 April 1963)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988)
Member of:
ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, ITU,
LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate Neroni SLADE
chancery:
(temporary) suite 510, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
(202) 833-1743
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
the ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Western Samoa
*Western Samoa, Government
embassy:
address NA, Apia
mailing address:
P.O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone:
(685) 21-631
FAX:
(685) 22-030
Flag:
red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five
white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation
*Western Samoa, Economy
Overview:
Agriculture employs more than half of the labor force, contributes 50% to
GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earnings comes from
the sale of coconut oil and copra. The economy depends on emigrant
remittances and foreign aid to support a level of imports several times
export earnings. Tourism has become the most important growth industry, and
construction of the first international hotel is under way.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $115 million (1990)
National product real growth rate:
-4.5% (1990 est.)
National product per capita:
$690 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
15% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $95.3 million; expenditures $95.4 million, including capital
expenditures of $41 million (FY92)
Exports:
$9 million (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
coconut oil and cream 54%, taro 12%, copra 9%, cocoa 3%
partners:
NZ 28%, American Samoa 23%, Germany 22%, US 6% (1990)
Imports:
$75 million (c.i.f., 1990)
commodities:
intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%
partners:
New Zealand 41%, Australia 18%, Japan 13%, UK 6%, US 6%
External debt:
$83 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -4% (1990 est.); accounts for 14% of GDP
Electricity:
29,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 240 kWh per capita (1990)
Industries:
timber, tourism, food processing, fishing
Agriculture:
accounts for 50% of GDP; coconuts, fruit (including bananas, taro, yams)
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $18 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $306 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million
Currency:
1 tala (WS$) = 100 sene
Exchange rates:
tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5681 (January 1993), 2.4655 (1992), 2.3975 (1991),
2.3095 (1990), 2.2686 (1989), 2.0790 (1988)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Western Samoa, Communications
Highways:
2,042 km total; 375 km sealed; 1,667 km mostly gravel, crushed stone, or
earth
Ports:
Apia
Merchant marine:
1 roll-on/roll-off ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838 GRT/5,536 DWT
Airports:
total:
3
usable:
3
with permanent-surface runways:
1
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
0
Telecommunications:
7,500 telephones; 70,000 radios; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, no TV; 1
Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station
*Western Samoa, Defense Forces
Branches:
Department of Police and Prisons
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NA
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*World, Geography
Map references:
Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
510.072 million km2
land area:
148.94 million km2
water area:
361.132 million km2
comparative area: land area about 16 times the size of the US
note:
70.8% of the world is water, 29.2% is land
Land boundaries:
the land boundaries in the world total 250,883.64 km (not counting shared
boundaries twice)
Coastline:
356,000 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm claimed by most but can vary
continental shelf:
200 m depth claimed by most or to the depth of exploitation, others claim
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm claimed by most but can vary
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm claimed by most but can vary
territorial sea:
12 nm claimed by most but can vary
note:
boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from
extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm; 42 nations and
other areas that are landlocked include Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia,
Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi,
Central African Republic, Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican
City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger,
Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Climate:
two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow temperate
zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropical climates
Terrain:
highest elevation is Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and lowest depression is
the Dead Sea at 392 meters below sea level; greatest ocean depth is the
Marianas Trench at 10,924 meters
Natural resources:
the rapid using up of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of
forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and
the deterioration in air and water quality (especially in Eastern Europe and
the former USSR) pose serious long-term problems that governments and
peoples are only beginning to address
Land use:
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
1%
*World, Geography
meadows and pastures:
24%
forest and woodland: 31%
other:
34%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters
(earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions), overpopulation,
industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances),
loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of
wildlife resources, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
*World, People
Population:
5,554,552,453 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.6% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
25 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
9 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
66 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
62 years
male:
60 years
female:
64 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.2 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
combined:
74%
male:
81%
female:
67%
Labor force:
2.24 billion (1992)
by occupation:
NA
*World, Government
Digraph:
XX
Administrative divisions:
265 sovereign nations, dependent areas, other, and miscellaneous entries
Legal system:
varies by individual country; 182 are parties to the United Nations
International Court of Justice (ICJ or World Court)
*World, Economy
Overview:
Real global output--gross world product (GWP)--rose one-half of 1% in 1992,
with results varying widely among regions and countries. Average growth of
1.5% in the GDP of industrialized countries (62% of GWP in 1992) and average
growth of 5% in the GDP of less developed countries (30% of GWP) were offset
by a further 15-20% drop in the GDP of the former Soviet-East European area
(now only 8% of GWP). The United States accounted for 23% of GWP in 1992;
the 12-member European Community, which established a single internal market
on 1 January 1993, accounted for another 23%, and Japan accounted for 10%.
These are the three "economic superpowers" presumably destined to compete
for mastery in international markets on into the 21st century. In general,
growth in the industrialized countries was sluggish in 1992, with
unemployment typically at 7-11%. As for the less developed countries, China,
India, and the Four Dragons--South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and
Singapore--posted good records; however, many other countries, especially in
Africa, suffered bitterly from drought, rapid population growth, and civil
strife. The continued plunge in production in practically all the former
Warsaw Pact economies strained the political and social fabric of these
newly independent nations, in particular in Russia. The addition of nearly
100 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating
the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and
famine. Because of their own internal problems, the industrialized countries
have inadequate resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the
world, which, at least from the economic point of view, are becoming further
marginalized. (For the specific economic problems of each country, see the
individual country entries in this volume.)
National product:
GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power equivalent - $25.6 trillion
(1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
0.5% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$4,600 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
developed countries:
5% (1992 est.)
developing countries:
50% (1992 est.)
note:
these figures vary widely in individual cases
Unemployment rate:
developed countries typically 7-11%; developing countries, extensive
unemployment and underemployment (1992)
Exports:
$3.64 trillion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
partners: in value, about 75% of exports from the developed countries
Imports:
$3.82 trillion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
partners:
in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries
External debt:
$1 trillion for less developed countries (1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -1% (1992 est.)
*World, Economy
Electricity:
2,864,000,000 kW capacity; 11,450,000 million kWh produced, 2,150 kWh per
capita (1990)
Industries:
industry worldwide is dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in
computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical
equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small
portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these
technological forces, and the technological gap between the industrial
nations and the less-developed countries continues to widen; the rapid
development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating
already grim environmental problems
Agriculture:
the production of major food crops has increased substantially in the last
20 years; the annual production of cereals, for instance, has risen by 50%,
from about 1.2 billion metric tons to about 1.8 billion metric tons;
production increases have resulted mainly from increased yields rather than
increases in planted areas; while global production is sufficient for
aggregate demand, about one-fifth of the world's population remains
malnourished, primarily because local production cannot adequately provide
for large and rapidly growing populations, which are too poor to pay for
food imports; conditions are especially bad in Africa where drought in
recent years has intensified the consequences of overpopulation
Economic aid:
NA
*World, Communications
Railroads:
239,430 km of narrow gauge track; 710,754 km of standard gauge track;
251,153 km of broad gauge track; includes about 190,000 to 195,000 km of
electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km in the Far
East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in South America, and only 4,160 km in
North America; fastest speed in daily service is 300 km/hr attained by
France's SNCF TGV-Atlantique line
Ports:
Mina al Ahmadi (Kuwait), Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille, New
Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, Yokohama
Merchant marine:
23,943 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 397,225,000 GRT/652,025,000 DWT;
includes 347 passenger-cargo, 12,581 freighters, 5,473 bulk carriers, and
5,542 tankers (January 1992)
*World, Defense Forces
Branches:
ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technology
Defense expenditures:
$1.0 trillion, 4% of total world output; decline of 5-10% (1991 est.)
*Yemen, Geography
Location:
Middle East, along the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, south of Saudi Arabia
Map references:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
527,970 km2
land area:
527,970 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
note:
includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North
Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South
Yemen)
Land boundaries:
total 1,746 km, Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline:
1,906 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
18 nm in the North
24 nm in the South
continental shelf:
200 m depth in the North
200 nm in the South or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
undefined section of boundary with Saudi Arabia; Administrative Line with
Oman; a treaty with Oman to settle the Yemeni-Omani boundary was ratified in
December 1992
Climate:
mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western
mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh
desert in east
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains;
dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of
the Arabian Peninsula
Natural resources:
petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead,
nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land use:
arable land:
6%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
30%
forest and woodland:
7%
other:
57%
Irrigated land:
3,100 km2 (1989 est.)
*Yemen, Geography
Environment:
subject to sand and dust storms in summer; scarcity of natural freshwater
resources; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,
one of world's most active shipping lanes
*Yemen, People
Population:
10,742,395 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.31% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
51 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
15.37 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
115.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
50.94 years
male:
49.83 years
female:
52.11 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.27 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Yemeni(s)
adjective:
Yemeni
Ethnic divisions:
predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in coastal locations; South
Asians in southern regions; small European communities in major metropolitan
areas; 60,000 (est.) Somali refugees encamped near Aden
Religions:
Muslim (including Sha'fi, Sunni, and Zaydi Shi'a), Jewish, Christian, Hindu
Languages:
Arabic
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
38%
male:
53%
female:
26%
Labor force:
North:
NA
by occupation:
agriculture and herding 70%, expatriate laborers 30% (est.)
South:
477,000
by occupation:
agriculture 45.2%, services 21.2%, construction 13.4%, industry 10.6%,
commerce and other 9.6% (1983)
*Yemen, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Yemen
conventional short form:
Yemen
local long form:
Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form:
Al Yaman
Digraph:
YM
Type:
republic
Capital:
Sanaa
Administrative divisions:
17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Al Bayda',
Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb,
Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz
note:
there may be a new capital district of San'a'
Independence:
22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990 with the merger
of the Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen} and the
Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen {Yemen (Aden) or
South Yemen}; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November
1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30
November 1967 (from the UK)
Constitution:
16 April 1991
Legal system:
based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local customary
law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)
Political parties and leaders:
General People's Congress, 'Ali 'Abdallah SALIH; Yemeni Socialist Party
(YSP; formerly South Yemen's ruling party - a coalition of National Front,
Ba'th, and Communist Parties), Ali Salim al-BIDH; Yemen Grouping for Reform
or Islaah, Abdallah Husayn AHMAR
Other political or pressure groups:
conservative tribal groups; Muslim Brotherhood; Islamist parties; pro-Iraqi
Ba'thists; Nasirists
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
House of Representatives:
last held NA (next to be held 27 April 1993); results - percent of vote NA;
seats - (301); number of seats by party NA; note - the 301 members of the
new House of Representatives come from North Yemen's Consultative Assembly
(159 members), South Yemen's Supreme People's Council (111 members), and
appointments by the New Presidential Council (31 members)
Executive branch:
five-member Presidential Council (president, vice president, two members
from northern Yemen and one member from southern Yemen), prime minister
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
*Yemen, Government
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President 'Ali 'Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of
North Yemen); Vice President Ali Salim al-BIDH (since 22 May 1990);
Presidential Council Member Salim Salih MUHAMMED; Presidential Council
Member Kadi Abdul-Karim al-ARASHI; Presidential Council Member Abdul-Aziz
ABDUL-GHANI; Prime Minister Haydar Abu Bakr al-'ATTAS (since 22 May 1990,
the former president of South Yemen)
Member of:
ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Muhsin Ahmad al-AYNI
chancery:
Suite 840, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 965-4760 or 4761
consulate general:
Detroit
consulate:
San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Arthur H. HUGHES
embassy:
Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaa
mailing address:
P. O. Box 22347 Sanaa or Sanaa, Department of State, Washington, DC
20521-6330
telephone:
[967] (2) 238-842 through 238-852
FAX:
[967] (2) 251-563
Flag:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the
flag of Syria which has two green stars and of Iraq which has three green
stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the
white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle
centered in the white band
*Yemen, Economy
Overview:
Whereas the northern city Sanaa is the political capital of a united Yemen,
the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port facilities, is the
economic and commercial capital. Future economic development depends heavily
on Western-assisted development of promising oil resources. Former South
Yemen's willingness to merge stemmed partly from the steady decline in
Soviet economic support. The low level of domestic industry and agriculture
have made northern Yemen dependent on imports for virtually all of its
essential needs. Large trade deficits have been compensated for by
remittances from Yemenis working abroad and by foreign aid. Once
self-sufficient in food production, northern Yemen has become a major
importer. Land once used for export crops - cotton, fruit, and vegetables -
has been turned over to growing qat, a mildly narcotic shrub chewed by
Yemenis which has no significant export market. Oil export revenues started
flowing in late 1987 and boosted 1988 earnings by about $800 million.
Economic growth in former South Yemen has been constrained by a lack of
incentives, partly stemming from centralized control over production
decisions, investment allocation, and import choices.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $8 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita:
$775 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
100% (December 1992)
Unemployment rate:
30% (December 1992)
Budget:
revenues $NA, expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$908 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables, dried and salted fish
partners:
US, EC countries, South Korea, Saudi Arabia
Imports:
$2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
commodities:
textiles and other manufactured consumer goods, petroleum products, sugar,
grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement, machinery, chemicals
partners:
Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, EC countries, China, Russia, US
External debt:
$5.75 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate NA%, accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity:
714,000 kW capacity; 1,224 million kWh produced, 120 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of
cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small
aluminum products factory; cement
Agriculture:
accounted for 26% of GDP; products - grain, fruits, vegetables, qat (mildly
narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton, dairy, poultry, meat, fish; not
self-sufficient in grain
*Yemen, Economy
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $389 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.0 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.2 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.4
billion
Currency:
Yemeni rial (new currency); 1 North Yemeni riyal (YR) = 100 fils; 1 South
Yemeni dinar (YD) = 1,000 fils
note:
following the establishment of the Republic of Yemen on 22 May 1990, the
North Yemeni riyal and the South Yemeni dinar are to be replaced with a new
Yemeni rial
Exchange rates:
Yemeni rials per US$1 - 12.0 (official); 30-40 (unofficial) (est.); North
Yemeni riyals (YR) per US$1 - 12.1000 (June 1992), 12.0000 (1991), 9.7600
(1990), 9.7600 (January 1989), 9.7717 (1988), 10.3417 (1987); South Yemeni
dinars (YD) per US$1 - 0.3454 (fixed rate)
note:
following the establishment of the Republic of Yemen on 22 May 1990, the
North Yemeni riyal and the South Yemeni dinar are to be replaced with a new
Yemeni rial
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Yemen, Communications
Highways:
15,500 km total; 4,000 km paved, 11,500 km natural surface (est.)
Pipelines:
crude oil 644 km, petroleum products 32 km
Ports:
Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Khalf, Al Mukalla, Mocha, Nishtun, Ra's Kathib, Salif
Merchant marine:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,309 GRT/6,568 DWT; includes 2 cargo,
1 oil tanker
Airports:
total:
45
usable:
39
with permanent-surface runways:
10
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
18
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
11
Telecommunications:
since unification in 1990, efforts are still being made to create a national
domestic civil telecommunications network; the network consists of microwave
radio relay, cable and troposcatter; 65,000 telephones (est.); broadcast
stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 10 TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean
INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Intersputnik, 2 ARABSAT; microwave
radio relay to Saudi Arabia, and Djibouti
*Yemen, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,060,124; fit for military service 1,172,633; reach
military age (14) annually 133,727 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $762 million, 10% of GDP (1992)
*Zaire, Geography
Location:
Central Africa, between Congo and Zambia
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
2,345,410 km2
land area:
2,267,600 km2
comparative area:
slightly more than one-quarter the size of US
Land boundaries:
total 10,271 km, Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic
1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia
1,930 km
Coastline:
37 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be
indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the
Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo along the
Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islands has been
made)
Climate:
tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in
southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator
- wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of
Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October
Terrain:
vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east
Natural resources:
cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold,
silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite, iron ore,
coal, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
4%
forest and woodland:
78%
other:
15%
Irrigated land:
100 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment: dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands;
periodic droughts in south
Note:
straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo
River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean
*Zaire, People
Population:
41,345,738 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.2% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
48.43 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
16.91 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
113.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
47.26 years
male:
45.45 years
female:
49.12 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.7 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Zairian(s)
adjective:
Zairian
Ethnic divisions:
over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largest tribes
- Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up
about 45% of the population
Religions:
Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other
syncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%
Languages:
French, Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, Tshiluba
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
72%
male:
84%
female:
61%
Labor force:
15 million (13% of the labor force is wage earners; 51% of the population is
of working age)
by occupation:
agriculture 75%, industry 13%, services 12% (1985)
*Zaire, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Zaire
conventional short form:
Zaire
local long form:
Republique du Zaire
local short form:
Zaire
former:
Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/Kinshasa
Digraph:
CG
Type:
republic with a strong presidential system
Capital:
Kinshasa
Administrative divisions:
10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu,, Bas-Zaire, Equateur,
Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental,
Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-Kivu, Independence:
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)
Constitution:
24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amended April
1990; new constitution to be put to referendum in 1993
Legal system:
based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)
Political parties and leaders:
sole legal party until January 1991 - Popular Movement of the Revolution
(MPR); other parties include Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS),
Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba; Democratic Social Christian Party (PDSC),
Joseph ILEO; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans (UFERI), NGUZ
a Karl-I-Bond; Unified Lumumbast Party (PALU), leader NA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Elections:
President:
last held 29 July 1984 (next to be scheduled by High Council, the
opposition-controlled transition legislature); results - President MOBUTU
was reelected without opposition
Legislative Council:
last held 6 September 1987 (next to be scheduled by High Council); results -
MPR was the only party; seats - (210 total) MPR 210; note - MPR still holds
majority of seats but some deputies have joined other parties
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Parliament; anti-Mobutu opposition claims National
Parliament replaced by High Council
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24
November 1965)
*Zaire, Government
Head of Government:
Interim Prime Minister Faustin BIRINDWA (since 18 March 1993)
Member of:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador TATANENE Manata
chancery:
1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 234-7690 or 7691
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Deputy Chief of Mission John YATES
embassy:
310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address:
APO AE 09828
telephone:
[243] (12) 21532, 21628
FAX:
[243] (12) 21232
consulate general:
Lubumbashi (closed and evacuated in October 1991 because of the poor
security situation)
Flag:
light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black arm holding a
red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing away from the hoist
side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
*Zaire, Economy
Overview:
In 1992, Zaire's formal economy continued to disintegrate. While meaningful
economic figures are difficult to come by, Zaire's hyperinflation, the
largest government deficit ever, and plunging mineral production have made
the country one of the world's poorest. Most formal transactions are
conducted in hard currency as indigenous banknotes have lost almost all
value, and a barter economy now flourishes in all but the largest cities.
Most individuals and families hang on grimly through subsistence farming and
petty trade. The government has not been able to meet its financial
obligations to the International Momentary Fund or put in place the
financial measures advocated by the IMF. Although short-term prospects for
improvement are dim, improved political stability would boost Zaire's
long-term potential to effectively exploit its vast wealth of mineral and
agricultural resources.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $9.2 billion (1992, at 1990 exchange rate)
National product real growth rate:
-6% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$235 (1992, at 1990 exchange rate)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
35-40% per month (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $NA, expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports:
$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oil
partners:
US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South Africa
Imports:
$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment,
fuels
partners:
South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK
External debt:
$9.2 billion (May 1992 est.)
Industrial production:
growth grate NA%
Electricity:
2,580,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear,
and cigarettes), processed foods and beverages, cement, diamonds
Agriculture:
cash crops - coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food crops - cassava,
bananas, root crops, corn
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.1 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.9 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $263
million; except for humanitarian aid to private organizations, no US
assistance was given to Zaire in 1992
*Zaire, Economy
Currency:
1 zaire (Z) = 100 makuta
Exchange rates:
zaire (Z) per US$1 - 2,000,000 (January1993), 15,587 (1991), 719 (1990), 381
(1989), 187 (1988), 112 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Zaire, Communications
Railroads:
5,254 km total; 3,968 km 1.067-meter gauge (851 km electrified); 125 km
1.000-meter gauge; 136 km 0.615-meter gauge; 1,025 km 0.600-meter gauge;
limited trackage in use because of civil strife
Highways:
146,500 km total; 2,800 km paved, 46,200 km gravel and improved earth;
97,500 unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakes
Pipelines:
petroleum products 390 km
Ports:
Matadi, Boma, Banana
Merchant marine:
1 passenger cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,489 GRT/13,481 DWT
Airports:
total:
281
usable:
235
with permanent-surface runways:
25
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
6
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
73
Telecommunications:
barely adequate wire and microwave service; broadcast stations - 10 AM, 4
FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 14 domestic
*Zaire, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, Civil Guard,
Special Presidential Division
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 8,879,731; fit for military service 4,521,768 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $49 million, 0.8% of GDP (1988)
*Zambia, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, between Zaire and Zimbabwe
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
752,610 km2
land area:
740,720 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total 5,664 km, Angola 1,110 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia
233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zaire 1,930 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;
Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be
indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the
Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
Climate:
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium,
hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land:
7%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
47%
forest and woodland:
27%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
320 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Note:
landlocked
*Zambia, People
Population:
8,926,099 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.96% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
46.53 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
16.88 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
83.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
45.56 years
male:
44.97 years
female:
46.16 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.75 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Zambian(s)
adjective:
Zambian
Ethnic divisions:
African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions:
Christian 50-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
English (official)
note:
about 70 indigenous languages
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
73%
male:
81%
female:
65%
Labor force:
2.455 million
by occupation:
agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and
services 9%
*Zambia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Zambia
conventional short form:
Zambia
former:
Northern Rhodesia
Digraph:
ZA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Lusaka
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern,
North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence:
24 October 1964 (from UK)
Constitution:
NA August 1991
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Political parties and leaders:
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Frederick CHILUBA; United National
Independence Party (UNIP), Kebby MUSOKATWANE; United Democratic Party, Enoch
KAVINDELE
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 31 October 1991 (next to be held mid-1995); results - Frederick
CHILUBA 84%, Kenneth KAUNDA 16%
National Assembly:
last held 31 October 1991 (next to be held mid-1995); results - percent of
vote by party NA; seats - (150 total) MMD 125, UNIP 25
Executive branch:
president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991)
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Dunstan KAMONA
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 265-9717 through 9721
*Zambia, Government
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Gordon L. STREEB
embassy:
corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusaka
mailing address:
P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone:
[260-1] 228-595, 228-601, 228-602, 228-603
FAX:
[260-1] 251-578
Flag:
green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and
orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
*Zambia, Economy
Overview:
The economy has been in decline for more than a decade with falling imports
and growing foreign debt. Economic difficulties stem from a chronically
depressed level of copper production and ineffective economic policies. In
1991 real GDP fell by 2% and in 1992 by 3% more. An annual population growth
of more than 3% has brought a decline in per capita GDP of 50% over the past
decade. A high inflation rate has also added to Zambia's economic woes in
recent years, as well as severe drought in the crop year 1991/92.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-3% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$550 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
170% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $665 million; expenditures $767 million, including capital
expenditures of $300 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
$1.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobacco
partners:
EC countries, Japan, South Africa, US, India
Imports:
$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, manufactures
partners:
EC countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, US
External debt:
$7.6 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -2% (1991); accounts for 50% of GDP
Electricity:
2,775,000 kW capacity; 12,000 million kWh produced, 1,400 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, and fertilizer
Agriculture:
accounts for 17% of GDP and 85% of labor force; crops - corn (food staple),
sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava;
cattle, goats, beef, eggs
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $4.8 billion; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.8 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $533
million
Currency:
1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngwee
Exchange rates:
Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 178.5714 (August 1992), 61.7284 (1991),
28.9855 (1990), 12.9032 (1989), 8.2237 (1988), 8.8889 (1987)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
*Zambia, Communications
Railroads:
1,266 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 13 km double track
Highways:
36,370 km total; 6,500 km paved, 7,000 km crushed stone, gravel, or
stabilized soil; 22,870 km improved and unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula Rivers, Lake Tanganyika
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,724 km
Ports:
Mpulungu (lake port)
Airports:
total:
116
usable:
104
with permanent-surface runways:
13
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
22
Telecommunications:
facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa; high-capacity microwave
connects most larger towns and cities; broadcast stations - 11 AM, 5 FM, 9
TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Atlantic Ocean
INTELSAT
*Zambia, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Air Force, Police, paramilitary
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,810,442; fit for military service 949,878 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 1% of GDP (1992 est.)
*Zimbabwe, Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
390,580 km2
land area:
386,670 km2
comparative area:
slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:
total 3,066 km, Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km,
Zambia 797 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none; landlocked
International disputes:
quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreement
Climate:
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in
east
Natural resources:
coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium,
lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use:
arable land:
7%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures:
12%
forest and woodland:
62%
other:
19%
Irrigated land:
2,200 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare; deforestation; soil
erosion; air and water pollution
Note:
landlocked
*Zimbabwe, People
Population:
10,837,772 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.32% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
38.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
17.68 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-7.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
75.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
42.82 years
male:
41.2 years
female:
44.49 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.26 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Zimbabwean(s)
adjective:
Zimbabwean
Ethnic divisions:
African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed and Asian
1%
Religions:
syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%,
indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages:
English (official), Shona, Sindebele
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population: 67%
male:
74%
female:
60%
Labor force:
3.1 million
by occupation:
agriculture 74%, transport and services 16%, mining, manufacturing,
construction 10% (1987)
*Zimbabwe, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form:
Zimbabwe
former:
Southern Rhodesia
Digraph:
ZI
Type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Harare
Administrative divisions:
8 provinces; Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland
West, Masvingo (Victoria), Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands
Independence:
18 April 1980 (from UK)
Constitution:
21 December 1979
Legal system:
mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Political parties and leaders:
Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Robert MUGABE;
Zimbabwe African National Union-Sithole (ZANU-S), Ndabaningi SITHOLE;
Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM), Edgar TEKERE; Democratic Party (DP), Emmanuel
MAGOCHE; Forum Party, Enock DUMBUTSHENA
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
Executive President:
last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results - Robert
MUGABE 78.3%, Edgar TEKERE 21.7%
Parliament:
last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1995); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150 total, 120 elected) ZANU-PF 117,
ZUM 2, ZANU-S 1
Executive branch:
executive president, 2 vice presidents, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice
President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987); Co-Vice President
Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990)
Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS,
NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Counselor (Political Affairs), Head of Chancery, Ambassador-designate Amos
Bernard Muvengwa MIDZI
*Zimbabwe, Government
chancery:
1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
(202) 332-7100
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Edward Gibson LANPHER
embassy:
172 Herbert Chitapo Avenue, Harare
mailing address:
P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone:
[263] (4) 794-521
FAX:
[263] (4) 796-488
Flag:
seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and
green with a white equilateral triangle edged in black based on the hoist
side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in
the center of the triangle
*Zimbabwe, Economy
Overview:
Agriculture employs three-fourths of the labor force and supplies almost 40%
of exports. The manufacturing sector, based on agriculture and mining,
produces a variety of goods and contributes 35% to GDP. Mining accounts for
only 5% of both GDP and employment, but supplies of minerals and metals
account for about 40% of exports. Wide fluctuations in agricultural
production over the past six years have resulted in an uneven growth rate,
one that on average has matched the 3% annual increase in population. Helped
by an IMF/World Bank structural adjustment program, output rose 3.5% in
1991. A severe drought in 1991/92 caused the economy to contract by about
10% in 1992.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $6.2 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
-10% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$545 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
45% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
at least 35% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues $2.7 billion; expenditures $3.3 billion, including capital
expenditures of $330 million (FY91)
Exports:
$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
commodities:
agricultural 35% (tobacco 20%, other 15%), manufactures 20%, gold 10%,
ferrochrome 10%, cotton 5%
partners:
UK 14%, Germany 11%, South Africa 10%, Japan 7%, US 5% (1991)
Imports:
$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment 37%, other manufactures 22%,
chemicals 16%, fuels 15%
partners:
UK 15%, Germany 9%, South Africa 5%, Botswana 5%, US 5%, Japan 5% (1991)
External debt:
$3.9 billion (March 1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 5% (1991 est.); accounts for 38% of GDP
Electricity:
3,650,000 kW capacity; 8,920 million kWh produced, 830 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals, foodstuffs, fertilizer,
beverage, transportation equipment, wood products
Agriculture:
accounts for 13% of GDP and employs 74% of population; 40% of land area
divided into 4,500 large commercial farms and 42% in communal lands; crops -
corn (food staple), cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts;
livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; self-sufficient in food
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY80-89), $389 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2.6 billion; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $36 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $134
million
Currency:
1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 cents
*Zimbabwe, Economy
Exchange rates:
Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 - 6.3532 (February 1993), 5.1046 (1992),
3.4282 (1991), 2.4480 (1990), 2.1133 (1989), 1.8018 (1988)
Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
*Zimbabwe, Communications
Railroads:
2,745 km 1.067-meter gauge (including 42 km double track, 355 km
electrified)
Highways:
85,237 km total; 15,800 km paved, 39,090 km crushed stone, gravel,
stabilized soil: 23,097 km improved earth; 7,250 km unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
Lake Kariba is a potential line of communication
Pipelines:
petroleum products 212 km
Airports:
total:
485
usable:
403
with permanent-surface runways:
22
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
3
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
29
Telecommunications:
system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor
maintenance; consists of microwave links, open-wire lines, and radio
communications stations; 247,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 8 AM, 18
FM, 8 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
*Zimbabwe, Defense Forces
Branches:
Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police
(including Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police), People's Militia
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 2,315,461; fit for military service 1,436,671 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $412.4 million, about 6% of GDP (FY91 est.)
***
Appendix A: