total value: $432 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK
3% (1994)
Imports:
total value: $418 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities : capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
consumer goods
partners: US 40%, Netherlands 24%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3%
(1994)
Debt - external: $198 million (1994)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, the Netherlands provided a 1996 aid package of $224
million to Suriname, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1
- central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (January 1997), 401.26 (1996),
442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510
(December 1994), 109 (January 1994)
note : beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate
was unified and became market determined
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Suriname:Communications
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international : satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
@Suriname:Transportation
Railways:
total: 166 km (single track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:
total: 4,470 km
paved : 1,162 km
unpaved: 3,308 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing
vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the
principal waterways
Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam,
Wageningen
Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 38 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 31 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total : 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force
elements), Civil Police
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 121,618 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 71,811 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims area in French Guiana between Litani
Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier);
claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined
mostly for Europe
______________________________________________________________________
SVALBARD
(territory of Norway)
@Svalbard:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents
Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:
total: 62,049 sq km
land: 62,049 sq km
water : 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not
recognized by Russia
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool
summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and
north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of
the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west
coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and
north coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife,
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures : 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and
cloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a
transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make
parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to : NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists
of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total
area
@Svalbard:People
Population: 2,624 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.81% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15-64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over : NA male(s)/female
total population: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population : NA years
male: NA years
female : NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Ethnic groups: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other NEGL%
(1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
@Svalbard:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
Spitzbergen)
Data code: SV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry
of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was
given to Norway
Government type: NA
National capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and
Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch; governor and
assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry
of Justice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy - overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on
Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty
powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to
Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal
companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are
Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially
company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly
60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local
services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also
some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Labor force: NA
Budget:
revenues : $11.6 million
expenditures: $11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4475 (January
1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993),
6.2145 (1992)
@Svalbard:Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:
domestic: local telephone service
international: satellite earth station - 1 of NA type (for
communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0
note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
@Svalbard:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total : NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved : NA km
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary
dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
______________________________________________________________________
SWAZILAND
@Swaziland:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:
total: 17,360 sq km
land: 17,200 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total : 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point : Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,
forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land: 11%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 62%
forests and woodland : 7%
other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: limited supplies of potable water;
wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting;
overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South
Africa
@Swaziland:People
Population: 1,031,600 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 234,628; female 236,056)
15-64 years: 52% (male 255,775; female 280,416)
65 years and over: 2% (male 10,291; female 14,434) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.24% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 42.71 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.31 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population : 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 86.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.7 years
male: 53.67 years
female: 61.84 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted in
English), siSwati (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.7%
male : 78%
female: 75.6% (1995 est.)
@Swaziland:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
National capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,
Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12
April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but
has not been formally presented to the people
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory
courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65
seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the
elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than
1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since 9
August 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the king
elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister
appointed by the king
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory
body, consists of the Senate (20 seats, 10 appointed by the House of
Assembly and 10 appointed by the king; members serve five-year terms)
and the House of Assembly (65 seats, 10 appointed by the king and 55
elected by secret, popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 26 September and 11 October
1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
election results : House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty
basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of
each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with
the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single
winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the king; Court
of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders:
note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on
13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large
public gatherings
illegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario
MASUKU]; Swaziland Youth Congress or SWAYOCO (included in PUDEMO);
Swaziland Communist Party or SWACOPA [Mphandlana SHONGWE]; Swaziland
Liberation Front or FROLISA; Convention for Full Democracy in
Swaziland or COFUDESWA [Sabelo DLAMINI]; Swaziland National Front or
SWANAFRO; Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party or NGWASOREP; Swaziland
Democratic Alliance (represents key opposition parties) [Jerry
NXUMALO]; Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions or SFTU [Jan SITHOLE]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA
chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685
FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Allen McKEE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445
FAX : [268] 45959
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple
width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red
band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff
decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Economy
Economy - overview: This small landlocked economy is based largely on
subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the
population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing
factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years;
high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health
concerns have cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of soft drink
concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are the main earners of hard
currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with
Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which
it receives nearly 90% of its imports and to which it sends more than
half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African
mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The
government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment.
Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the
future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.9% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12%
industry: 43%
services: 45% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 14.7% (1995)
Labor force:
total: 160,355 (1986 est.)
by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $397 million
expenditures: $413 million, including capital expenditures of $78
million (1995/96)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink
concentrates
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1993 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 50,000 kW (1993)
Electricity - production: 84 million kWh (1993)
note: imports 90% of its electricity from South Africa
Electricity - consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice,
citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports:
total value : $700 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn
partners : South Africa 58%, EU 20%, Mozambique 6% (1994)
Imports:
total value: $831 million (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum
products, foodstuffs, chemicals
partners : South Africa 88%, Japan, UK, US (FY94/95)
Debt - external: $175 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997),
4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497
(1992); note - the Swazi emalangeni are at par with the South African
rand
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Swaziland:Communications
Telephones: 30,364 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic : system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and
low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 129,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 12,500 (1992 est.)
@Swaziland:Transportation
Railways:
total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use
narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:
total: 2,885 km
paved: 814 km
unpaved: 2,071 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 17 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m : 10 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal
Swaziland Police Force
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 228,109 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 131,872 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $22 million (FY93/94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open
negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories
that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the
Swazi Kingdom
______________________________________________________________________
SWEDEN
@Sweden:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,
Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:
total: 449,964 sq km
land : 410,928 sq km
water: 39,036 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 2,205 km
border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf : 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of
straits to high seas)
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly
cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,
uranium, hydropower potential
Land use:
arable land : 7%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 68%
other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in
the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes;
pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, 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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking
Baltic and North Seas
@Sweden:People
Population: 8,865,051 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 849,093; female 805,087)
15-64 years: 64% (male 2,876,064; female 2,784,346)
65 years and over : 17% (male 655,490; female 894,971) (July 1997
est.)
Population growth rate: 0.23% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 11.37 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.78 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years : 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.08 years
male: 76.42 years
female : 81.89 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun : Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation
immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal
1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Languages: Swedish
note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population : 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
@Sweden:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige
Data code: SW
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);
Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan,
Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan,
Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan,
Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,
Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan,
Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Independence: 6 June 1523, Gustav VASA was elected king; 6 June 1809,
a constitutional monarchy was established
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal