language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male : 79.2%
female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
@Qatar:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Qatar
conventional short form : Qatar
local long form: Dawlat Qatar
local short form: Qatar
note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between
cutter and gutter, but not like ka-tar (rhymes with guitar)
Data code: QA
Government type: traditional monarchy
National capital: Doha
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular -
baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al
Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir,
although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant
in personal matters
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995
when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al
Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa
Al Thani, third son of the amir (selected crown prince by the amir 22
October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister
of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,
brother of the amir (since 30 October 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
elections: none; the amir is an absolute monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35
seats; members appointed by the amir)
note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this
consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when
there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had
their terms extended every four years since
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO
(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI
chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS
embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the
television station), Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address - AMEMB Doha,
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6130
telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703
FAX: [974] 861669
Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white
points) on the hoist side
Economy
Economy - overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts
for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 80% of export earnings, and 66% of
government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should
ensure continued output at current levels for about 23 years. Oil has
given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European
industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7
trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest
in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming
increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of
off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $21,300 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1.2% (1995)
Labor force:
total: 233,000 (1993 est.)
note: 83.49% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(July 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues : $3 billion
expenditures: $3.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY96/97)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers,
petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 1.3 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 5.5 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 10,095 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products,
beef; fish (all on small scale)
Exports:
total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities: petroleum products 80%, steel, fertilizers
partners: Japan 54%, Singapore 7%, South Korea 6%, Australia 3%, UAE
3% (1995 est.)
Imports:
total value: $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities : machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals
partners: Italy 16%, Germany 11%, Japan 10%, UK 9%, France 9% (1995
est.)
Debt - external: $5.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1 - 3.6400 riyals (fixed
rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Qatar:Communications
Telephones: 160,717 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international : tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay
to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and
1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 201,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 205,000 (1992 est.)
@Qatar:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,210 km
paved : 1,089 km
unpaved: 121 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine:
total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 512,456 GRT/850,858 DWT
ships by type : combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil
tanker 3 (1996 est.)
Airports: 3 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 286,178 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 150,398 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 5,432 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $400 million (1996 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.5% (1996 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the
Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Bahrain; in 1996, agreed with
Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is
ongoing
______________________________________________________________________
REUNION
(overseas department of France)
@Reunion:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references: World
Area:
total: 2,510 sq km
land: 2,500 sq km
water : 10 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 201 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and
dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 2%
permanent pastures: 5%
forests and woodland : 35%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April);
Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
@Reunion:People
Population: 692,204 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years : 32% (male 114,655; female 109,301)
15-64 years: 62% (male 211,112; female 217,897)
65 years and over: 6% (male 16,211; female 23,028) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.87% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 23.4 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.71 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.08 years
male: 72.03 years
female: 78.29 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.69 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective : Reunionese
Ethnic groups: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist
Languages: French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:
definition : age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 76%
female: 80% (1982 est.)
@Reunion:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local long form: none
local short form : Ile de la Reunion
Data code: RE
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France); there
are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47
cantons
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May
1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996)
head of government : President of the General Council Christophe PAYET
(since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council Margarite
SUDRE (since 25 June 1993)
cabinet: NA
elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice
of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General
and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils,
who vote on party lines
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and unicameral
Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote
to serve six-year terms)
elections : General Council - last held NA March 1994 (next to be held
NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held
NA 1999)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional
Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UPF 17,
Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6
note : Reunion elects 3 representatives to the French Senate;
elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, FRA 1,
independent 1; Reunion also elects 5 deputies to the French National
Assembly; elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held as
a special election on 25 May - 1 June 1997); results - percent of vote
by party - NA; seats by party - PS 1, PCR 1, UPF 1, RPR 1, UDF-CDS 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre'
Maurice PIHOUEE]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Ibrahim DINDAN];
Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; France-Reunion Future
or FRA [Andre THIEN AH KOON]; Socialist Party or PS [Jean-Claude
FRUTEAU]; Social Democrats or CDS; Union for France or UPF (includes
RPR and UDF); Free-DOM Movement [Marguerite SUDRE]; National Front
(FN), Alix MOREL
International organization participation: FZ, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department of
France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy has traditionally been based on
agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a
century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The
government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to
relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the
labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is
extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The
white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other
segments of the population, often approaching European standards,
whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical
of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe
rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic
tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on
continued financial assistance from France.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.9 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.7% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,300 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry : NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA%
Labor force:
total: 242,169 (1993)
by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 21%, services 49% (1981)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1994)
Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Industries: sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: 1.09 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,670 kWh (1994)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits,
vegetables, corn
Exports:
total value: $171.776 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%,
lobster 3%, (1993)
partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar
Imports:
total value: $2.354 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities : manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery
and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
partners: France, Mauritius, Bahrain, South Africa, Italy, Madagascar
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid:
recipient: substantial annual subsidies from France
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.4169 (January 1997),
5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938
(1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Reunion:Communications
Telephones: 191,647 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis
domestic : modern open wire and microwave radio relay network
international: radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France,
Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth station
- 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 151,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 18)
Televisions: 116,181 (1992 est.)
@Reunion:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 2,784 km
paved: 2,187 km
unpaved: 597 km (1987 est.)
Ports and harbors: Le Port, Pointe des Galets
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1996)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: French forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, and
Gendarmerie)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 176,600 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males : 92,170 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 5,724 (1997 est.)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
ROMANIA
@Romania:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between
Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water : 7,160 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total : 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,
Serbia and Montenegro 476 km (all with Serbia), Ukraine (north) 362
km, Ukraine (south) 169 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone : 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog;
sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain: central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of
Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from
the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point : Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural
gas, coal, iron ore, salt
Land use:
arable land: 41%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures : 21%
forests and woodland: 29%
other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 31,020 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes most severe in south and southwest;
geologic structure and climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues: soil erosion and degradation; water
pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents;
contamination of Danube delta wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
party to : Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note: controls most easily traversable land route between
the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
@Romania:People
Population: 22,463,077 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 2,223,136; female 2,130,497)
15-64 years : 68% (male 7,586,237; female 7,679,992)
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,186,948; female 1,656,267) (July 1997
est.)
Population growth rate: -0.28% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 9.8 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.75 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years : 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 19.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.11 years
male : 66.28 years
female: 74.13 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.23 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups: Romanian 89.1%, Hungarian 8.9%, German 0.4%, Ukrainian,
Serb, Croat, Russian, Turk, and Gypsy 1.6%
Religions: Romanian Orthodox 70%, Roman Catholic 6% (of which 3% are
Uniate), Protestant 6%, unaffiliated 18%
Languages: Romanian, Hungarian, German
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male : 98%
female: 95% (1992 est.)
@Romania:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form : Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania
Data code: RO
Government type: republic
National capital: Bucharest
Administrative divisions: 40 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1
municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor,
Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau,
Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj,
Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Maramures,
Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu,
Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence: 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
National holiday: National Day of Romania, 1 December (1990)
Constitution: 8 December 1991
Legal system: former mixture of civil law system and communist legal
theory; is now based on the Constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state : President Emil CONSTANTINESCU (since 29 November
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Victor CIORBEA (since 12 December
1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 3 November 1996, with runoff between the top two
candidates held 17 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - Emil CONSTANTINESCU 54.4%, Ion
ILIESCU 45.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the
Senate or Senat (143 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote
on a proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the
Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (343 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote on a proportional representation to
serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA
2000); Chamber of Deputies - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be
held NA 2000)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.7%, PDSR
23.1%, USD 13.2%, UDMR 6.8%, PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.2%, others 17.5%; seats
by party - CDR 53, PDSR 41, USD 23, UDMR 11, PRM 8, PUNR 7; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - CDR 30.2%, PDSR 21.5%, USD
12.9%, UDMR 6.6% PRM 4.5%, PUNR 4.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party -
CDR 122, PDSR 91, USD 53, UDMR 25, PRM 19, PUNR 18, ethnic minorities
15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice, judges are appointed by the
president on recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates