Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to
January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp
Land use:
arable land: 7%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 20%
forests and woodland : 44%
other: 27% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff
threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest;
land degradation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming
land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal
that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific
Ocean
@Panama:People
Population: 2,693,417 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32% (male 444,673; female 426,823)
15-64 years: 62% (male 846,707; female 824,690)
65 years and over : 6% (male 72,472; female 78,052) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.58% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 22.27 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.15 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years : 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.28 years
male: 71.55 years
female : 77.1 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian
and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%
note: many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.8%
male: 91.4%
female : 90.2% (1995 est.)
@Panama:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama
Data code: PM
Government type: constitutional republic
National capital: Panama
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular -
provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui,
Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*, Veraguas
Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from
Spain 28 November 1821)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state : President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez Revilla
(since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel
ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President
Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government : President Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES Gonzalez
Revilla (since 1 September 1994); First Vice President Tomas Gabriel
ALTAMIRANO DUQUE (since 1 September 1994); Second Vice President
Felipe Alejandro VIRZI Lopez (since 1 September 1994); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 8 May 1994 (next
to be held 9 May 1999)
election results: Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES elected president; percent
of vote - Ernesto PEREZ BALLADARES (PRD) 33%, Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER
(PA) 29%, Ruben BLADES (MPE) 17%, Ruben Dario CARLES (MOLIRENA) 16%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea
Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections : last held 8 May 1994 (next to be held 9 May 1999)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD
32, PS 4, PALA 1, PA 14, MPE 6, MOLIRENA 4, PLA 3, PRC 3, PL 2, PDC 1,
UDI 1, MORENA 1
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a
plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and
cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia),
nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three
courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders:
governing coalition : Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), Gerardo
GONZALEZ; Liberal Republican Party (PLR), Rodolfo CHIARI; Labor Party
(PALA), Carlos Lopez GUEVARA
other parties: Solidarity Party (PS), Samuel LEWIS GALINDO;
Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement (MOLIRENA), Ramon MORALES
Quijano; Authentic Liberal Party (PLA), Arnulfo ESCALONA; Arnulfista
Party (PA), Mireya MOSCOSO DE GRUBER; Christian Democratic Party
(PDC), Ruben AROSEMENA; Liberal Party (PL), Roberto ALEMAN Zubieta;
Papa Egoro Movement (MPE), Gloria YOUNG; Civic Renewal Party (PRC),
Tomas HERRERA; National Unity Mission Party (MUN), Jose Manuel
PAREDES; Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Jacinto CARDENAS;
National Renovation Movement (MORENA), Pedro VALLERINO
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Council of Organized
Workers (CONATO); National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP);
Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE); National Civic
Crusade; Chamber of Commerce; Panamanian Industrialists Society (SIP);
Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama (CTRP)
International organization participation: AG (associate), CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,
LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo Gonzalez MORGAN
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
consulate(s) general : Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador William John HUGHES
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5
mailing address : American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 227-1377
FAX: [507] 227-1964
Flag description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top
quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the
center and plain red, the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side)
and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy - overview: Because of its key geographic location, Panama's
economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce,
and tourism. Panama's former protectionist policies have taken their
toll, and the economy has been sluggish the last two years, with GDP
growth at 1.9% in 1995 and 1.5% in 1996. Although tourism and the
Panama Canal posted growth in 1996, most sectors remained stagnant,
and some, like the Colon Free Zone, banana and shrimp exports, and
construction, were down from 1995. Although the PEREZ BALLADARES
administration has advanced an economic reform program designed to
liberalize the trade regime, attract foreign investment, privatize
state-owned enterprises, institute fiscal reform, and encourage
job-creation through labor code reform, the positive effects of this
program have not yet been felt at the macroeconomic level. In 1996,
the government concluded a Brady-type plan to restructure the
country's commercial debt - one of the highest in the world in per
capita terms - allowing it to reenter international financial markets.
Panama also completed all requirements to join the World Trade
Organization (WTrO) and is awaiting legislative ratification to become
a full member.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,300 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10%
industry : 16%
services: 74% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1.3% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total : 1.015 million (1996 est.)
by occupation: government and community services 31.8%, agriculture,
hunting, and fishing 26.8%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 16.4%,
manufacturing and mining 9.4%, construction 3.2%, transportation and
communications 6.2%, finance, insurance, and real estate 4.3%
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Unemployment rate: 14% (1996 est.)
Budget:
revenues : $1.86 billion
expenditures: $1.86 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995)
Industries: construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and
other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 1.1405 billion kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 3.519 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,069 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane,
vegetables; livestock; fishing (shrimp)
Exports:
total value: $570 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: bananas 43%, shrimp 11%, sugar 4%, clothing 5%, coffee 2%
partners: US 39%, EU, Central America and Caribbean
Imports:
total value: $2.512 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
commodities: capital goods 21%, crude oil 11%, foodstuffs 9%, consumer
goods, chemicals
partners: US 40%, EU, Central America and Caribbean, Japan
Debt - external: $5.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $58 million (1993)
Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Panama:Communications
Telephones: 273,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: domestic and international facilities well developed
domestic: NA
international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave
System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 564,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 23
Televisions: 420,000 (1992 est.)
@Panama:Transportation
Railways:
total : 355 km
broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways:
total: 10,792 km
paved : 3,615 km
unpaved: 7,177 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama
Canal
Pipelines: crude oil 130 km
Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Vacamonte
Merchant marine:
total: 4,062 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 80,120,443
GRT/122,668,194 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1,051, cargo 1,049, chemical tanker 172,
combination bulk 65, combination ore/oil 21, container 353, liquefied
gas tanker 169, livestock carrier 8, multifunction large-load carrier
4, oil tanker 529, passenger 35, passenger-cargo 10, railcar carrier
1, refrigerated cargo 293, roll-on/roll-off cargo 90, short-sea
passenger 38, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 162
note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 76 countries
among which are Japan 1,240, Greece 361, Hong Kong 301, South Korea
226, Taiwan 212, China 168, Singapore 132, US 127, Switzerland 76, and
UK 65 (1996 est.)
Airports: 97 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 80
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m : 59 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 17 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Panamanian Public Forces (PPF; includes the
National Police, National Maritime Service, National Air Service, and
Institutional Protective Service); Judicial Technical Police; note -
the Constitution prohibits armed forces
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 719,467 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 493,819 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $78 million (1995); note - for
police and security forces
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major drug
money-laundering center; minor producer of coca leaf; active
eradication program
______________________________________________________________________
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
@Papua New Guinea:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the eastern
half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South
Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water : 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 820 km
border countries : Indonesia 820 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
continental shelf : 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast
monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil,
fisheries
Land use:
arable land : 0.1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 92.9%
other : 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of
Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
earthquakes; mud slides
Environment - current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as
a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution
from mining projects
Environment - international agreements:
party to : Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of
world's largest swamps along southwest coast
@Papua New Guinea:People
Population: 4,496,221 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years : 40% (male 921,227; female 874,290)
15-64 years: 57% (male 1,338,483; female 1,229,180)
65 years and over: 3% (male 61,082; female 71,959) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.28% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 32.65 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 9.83 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 58.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.65 years
male: 56.78 years
female: 58.56 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.36 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun : Papua New Guinean(s)
adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,
Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,
Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant
sects 10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu
spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population : 72.2%
male: 81%
female: 62.7% (1995 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG
Data code: PP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu,
Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang,
Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern,
Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New
Britain
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN
trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: 16 September 1975
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Wiwa KOROWI (since 11 November
1991)
head of government : Acting Prime Minister John GIHENO (since 27 March
1997); Acting Deputy Prime Minister Andrew BAING (since 27 March
1997); note - John GIHENO and Andrew BAING assumed the respective
posts of acting prime minister and acting deputy prime minister after
Prime Minister Sir Julius CHAN (in office since 30 August 1994) and
Deputy Prime Minister Chris HAIVETA (in office since 7 September 1994)
were required to step down during an inquiry into the government's
hiring of mercenaries to assist the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces
against Bougainville rebels; the inquiry is scheduled to conclude on
30 May 1997
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general
on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general
appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and deputy
prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years
on the basis of majority support in National Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament - sometimes
referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats - 89 elected from open
electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13-26 June 1992 (next to be held 14-28 June 1997)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Pangu Party 24, PDM 17, PPP 10, PAP 10, independents 30, others 18;
note - association with political parties is fluid
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the
governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council
after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other
judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
Political parties and leaders: Papua New Guinea United Party (Pangu
Party), Chris HAIVETA; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Roy YAKI;
People's Action Party (PAP), Ted DIRO; People's Progress Party (PPP),
Sir Julius CHAN; Melanesian Alliance (MA), Fr. John MOMIS; People's
United Party (PUP), David UNASI; National Party (NP), Mathias IJAPE;
United Party (UP), Paul TORATO; Papua Party (PP), Galeva KWARARA;
National Alliance (NA), Sir Michael SOMARE; Movement For Greater
Autonomy, Stephen POKAWIN; Black Action Party (BAP), John WAIKO;
League for National Advancement (LNA), Thomas PELIKA
International organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, C, CP,
ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN
chancery: 3rd floor, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20009
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX : [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby
telephone : [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the
upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered;
the lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the
Southern Cross constellation centered
Economy
Economy - overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural
resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain
and the high cost of developing an infrastructure. Agriculture
provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population.
Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of
export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid
under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995,
Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a
structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was
successfully completed in 1996. A second phase structural adjustment
loan will be negotiated in 1997. The structural adjustment program
includes liberalization of trade and investment policies, sustainable
development of the forestry sector, improvement of government planning
capacity and better delivery of public services. New gold and oil
projects are under development and planned to begin production in 1997
and 1998 respectively.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,400 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture : 27%
industry: 42%
services: 31%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6% (1996 est.)
Labor force:
total: 1.941 million
by occupation: agriculture 64% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.5 billion
expenditures: $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997 est.)
Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production,
wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 252,000 kW (1992)
Electricity - production: 1.71 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 382 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea,
rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork