behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made considerable
progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam has digitalized
all provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic and microwave
transmission systems have been extended from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho
Chi Minh City to all provinces; the density of telephone receivers
nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but is still far behind other
countries in the region
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean
region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Radios: 8.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 3.57 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Vietnam:Transportation
Railways:
total: 2,652 km
standard gauge: 166 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,249 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 237 km NA-m gauges (three rails) (1998)
Highways:
total: 93,300 km
paved: 23,418 km
unpaved: 69,882 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all
times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft
Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km
Ports and harbors: Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong
Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang
Merchant marine:
total: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 616,115 GRT/941,611 DWT
ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 103, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk
1, container 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated
cargo 4 (1999 est.)
Airports: 48 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
@Vietnam:Military
Military branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes Ground
Forces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 21,149,579 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 13,335,337 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 949,532 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $650 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY98)
@Vietnam:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined;
involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,
Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary
with Thailand resolved, August 1997; maritime boundary dispute with
China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but
claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of
boundary with Cambodia are in dispute; agreement on land border with
China was signed in December 1999, but details of alignment have not
been made public
Illicit drugs: minor producer of opium poppy with 2,100 hectares
cultivated in 1999, capable of producing 11 metric tons of opium;
probably minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for
the US and Europe; growing opium/heroin addiction; possible
small-scale heroin production
______________________________________________________________________
VIRGIN ISLANDS
@Virgin Islands:Introduction
Background: During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into
two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane,
produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th
and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish
portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of
slavery in 1848.
@Virgin Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 352 sq km
land: 349 sq km
water: 3 sq km
Area - comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low
humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to
November
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 6%
permanent pastures: 26%
forests and woodland: 6%
other: 47% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
Geography - 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: 120,917 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 17,258; female 16,359)
15-64 years: 63.72% (male 35,026; female 42,021)
65 years and over: 8.48% (male 4,435; female 5,818) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.07% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 15.96 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.83 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.11 years
male: 74.2 years
female: 82.25 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
note: 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%
Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
@Virgin Islands:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
Data code: VQ
Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with
policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the
jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior
Government type: NA
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government,
but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint
John, Saint Thomas
National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system: based on US laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants
are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since
20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January
1993)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5
January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5
January 1999)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket
for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the
same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3
November 1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)
election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor;
percent of vote - Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, former
Governor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected
by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November
2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Democratic Party 6, Republican Party 2, ICM 2, independents 5
note: the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held
NA November 2000); results - Dr. Donna GREEN (Democrat) 80%, Victor O.
FRAZER (ICM) 20%
Judicial branch: US District Court, judges are appointed by the
president; Territorial Court, judges appointed by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party ;
Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM ; Republican
Party
International organization participation: ECLAC (associate), Interpol
(subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center
between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a
yellow 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
Economy - overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity,
accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands
normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector
consists of petroleum refining, textile, electronics, pharmaceutical,
and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, with 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. The islands are
subject to substantial damage from storms.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 47,443 (1990 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services
79% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (March 1999)
Budget:
revenues: $364.4 million
expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1990 est.)
Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum
distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.019 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 948 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: refined petroleum products
Exports - partners: US, Puerto Rico
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building
materials
Imports - partners: US, Puerto Rico
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Virgin Islands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 58,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 2,000 (1992)
Telephone system:
domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite
earth stations - NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 68,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Virgin Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 856 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port
Alucroix
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 2
note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix (1999
est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Virgin Islands:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Virgin Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
WAKE ISLAND
@Wake Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds
of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean;
emergency landing location for transpacific flights
@Wake Island:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island, but some civilian
personnel remain (July 2000 est.)
@Wake Island:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island
Data code: WQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered
from Washington, DC by the Department of the Interior; occasional
activities on the island are managed by the US Army under a US Air
Force contract
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Wake Island:Economy
Economy - overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services
to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods
must be imported.
Electricity - production: NA kWh
@Wake Island:Communications
Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the
Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (1998)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
@Wake Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Transportation - note: formerly an important commercial aviation base,
now occasionally used by US military, some commercial cargo planes,
and for emergency landings
@Wake Island:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Wake Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claimed by Marshall Islands
______________________________________________________________________
WALLIS AND FUTUNA
@Wallis and Futuna:Introduction
Background: Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the
17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate
over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands
voted to become a French overseas territory.
@Wallis and Futuna:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about
two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:
total: 274 sq km
land: 274 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),
Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area - comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry
season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity);
average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:
arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 20%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation (only small portions of
the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use
of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the
forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to
erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the
lack of natural fresh water resources
Geography - note: both island groups have fringing reefs
@Wallis and Futuna:People
Population: 15,283 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: NA%
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 100%
Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
@Wallis and Futuna:Government
Country name:
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
Data code: WF
Dependency status: overseas territory of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there
are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by High Administrator Christian DORS (since NA)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Soane UHILA
(since NA)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three
members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the
Territorial Assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year
term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the
Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the
members of the assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee
Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR
14, other 6
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and
one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections
last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2007);
results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - RPR 1; French
National Assembly - elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be
held by NA March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
- RPR 1
Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French law
by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer
customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders: Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) ;
Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG ; Rally for the
Republic or RPR ; Taumu'a Lelei ; Union
Populaire Locale or UPL ; Union Pour la Democratie
Francaise or UDF
International organization participation: FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of
France)
Flag description: a large white modified Maltese cross centered on a
red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is
in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official
occasions
@Wallis and Futuna:Economy
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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%,
government 4% (est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $20 million
expenditures: $17 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998
est.)
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA%
nuclear: NA%
other: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Electricity - exports: NA kWh
Electricity - imports: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Exports - commodities: copra, breadfruit, yams, taro roots,
handicrafts
Exports - partners: NA
Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation
equipment, fuel, clothing
Imports - partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: assistance from France
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100
centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1
- 117.67 (January 2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997),
93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the
French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Wallis and Futuna:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1,125 (1994)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1994)
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@Wallis and Futuna:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)
unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Leava, Mata-Utu