country comparison to the world: 131
$2.958 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.632 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
$1.698 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood
Industries:
textiles, sugar refining, flour milling, cement, light assembly
based on imported parts
Industrial production growth rate:
-8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Electricity - production:
665 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - consumption:
273 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - consumption:
12,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Oil - imports:
12,280 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Current account balance:
-$781 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
-$627 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$559 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$551 million (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
apparel, manufactures, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee
Exports - partners:
US 79.76%, Dominican Republic 7.24%, Canada 2.96% (2009)
Imports:
$2.446 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$2.032 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels,
raw materials
Imports - partners:
US 33.11%, Dominican Republic 23.53%, Netherlands Antilles 10.75%,
China 5.36% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.021 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$790 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$494 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$1.362 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
gourdes (HTG) per US dollar - 41.198 (2010), 41.195 (2009), 39.216
(2008), 37.138 (2007), 40.232 (2006)
Communications ::Haiti
Telephones - main lines in use:
108,300 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.648 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications infrastructure is among the
least developed in Latin America and the Caribbean; domestic
facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better
domestic: mobile-cellular telephone services are expanding rapidly
due, in part, to the introduction of low-cost GSM phones;
mobile-cellular teledensity reached 40 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
several television stations, including 1 government-owned; cable TV
subscription service is available; government-owned radio network;
more than 250 private and community radio stations operating with
about 50 FM stations in Port-au-Prince alone (2007)
Internet country code:
.ht
Internet hosts:
273 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 185
Internet users:
1 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 99
Transportation ::Haiti
Airports:
14 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 148
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 4,160 km
country comparison to the world: 155
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:
Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince
Military ::Haiti
Military branches:
no regular military forces - small Coast Guard; the regular Haitian
Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been
demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are
constitutionally abolished (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,283,915
females age 16-49: 2,250,220 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,573,371
females age 16-49: 1,591,942 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 110,514
female: 108,208 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.4% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 167
Transnational Issues ::Haiti
Disputes - international:
since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization
Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite
efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians cross into the
Dominican Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims
US-administered Navassa Island
Illicit drugs:
Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and
Europe; substantial bulk cash smuggling activity; Colombian
narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial
transactions; pervasive corruption; significant consumer of cannabis
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands (Antarctica)
Introduction ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Background:
These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferred
from the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of seal
and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.
Geography ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Location:
islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from
Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:
53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 412 sq km
country comparison to the world: 201
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
101.9 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain:
Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by
a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak);
McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak on Big Ben volcano 2,745 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
Mawson Peak on Heard Island is the highest Australian mountain (at
2,745 meters, it is taller than Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia proper),
and one of only two active volcanoes located in Australian
territory, the other being McDonald Island; in 1992, McDonald Island
broke its dormancy and began erupting; it has erupted several times
since, the most recent being in 2005
People ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population:
uninhabited
Government ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald
Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
abbreviation: HIMI
Dependency status:
territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian
Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment, Water,
Heritage and the Arts
Legal system:
the laws of Australia where applicable apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:
the flag of Australia is used
Economy ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Economy - overview:
The islands have no indigenous economic activity, but the Australian
Government allows limited fishing in the surrounding waters.
Communications ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Internet country code:
.hm
Transportation ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts
fisheries patrols
Transnational Issues ::Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@Holy See (Vatican City) (Europe)
Introduction ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Background:
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula
for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many
of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of
Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when
Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner"
popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties,
which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted
Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat
between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier
treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the
Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include
religious freedom, international development, the environment, the
Middle East, China, the decline of religion in Europe, terrorism,
interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of
church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About
one billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.
Geography ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates:
41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 0.44 sq km
country comparison to the world: 250
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.7 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry
summers (May to September)
Terrain:
urban; low hill
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 75 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:
landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond
the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929
grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome
and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel
Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)
People ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Population:
829 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 236
Population growth rate:
0.004% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: none
adjective: none
Ethnic groups:
Italians, Swiss, other
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Country name:
conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Government type:
ecclesiastical
Capital:
name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none
Independence:
11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with
Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full
sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent;
however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have
varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
National holiday:
Election Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 19 April (2005)
Constitution:
Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November
2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaced the first Fundamental Law
of 1929)
Legal system:
based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:
chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE
(since 15 September 2006)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City
appointed by the pope
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held on 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death
of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Legislative branch:
unicameral Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State
Judicial branch:
there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters
within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining
to the Holy See
note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio, papal
directive, of Pope PIUS XII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation:
IAEA, Interpol, IOM (observer), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OAS (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN (observer),
UNCTAD, UNHCR, Union Latina (observer), UNWTO (observer), UPU, WIPO,
WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Humberto DIAZ
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 833, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 575-3411
Flag description:
two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the arms of
the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter
surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, centered in the white
band; the yellow color represents the pope's spiritual power, the
white his worldly power
National anthem:
name: "Inno e Marcia Pontificale" (Hymn and Pontifical March)
lyrics/music: Raffaello LAVAGNA/Charles-Francois GOUNOD
note: adopted 1950; although used as such, "Inno e Marcia
Pontificale" is not officially a national anthem but rather a hymn
meant to appeal to Roman Catholics throughout the world
Economy ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Economy - overview:
The Holy See is supported financially by a variety of sources,
including investments, real estate income, and donations from
Catholic individuals, dioceses, and institutions; these help fund
the Roman Curia (Vatican bureaucracy), diplomatic missions, and
media outlets. The separate Vatican City State budget includes the
Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the
sale of stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for
admission to museums; and by publications sales. Moreover, an annual
collection taken up in dioceses and direct donations go to a
non-budgetary fund known as Peter's Pence, which is used directly by
the Pope for charity, disaster relief, and aid to churches in
developing nations. The incomes and living standards of lay workers
are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
Labor force:
NA
Labor force - by occupation:
note: essentially services with a small amount of industry; nearly
all dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and the approximately 3,000
lay workers live outside the Vatican
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Industries:
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics and
staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy; a small portion of
electricity is self-produced from solar panels
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,120 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 211
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic digital exchange
domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system
Broadcast media:
the Vatican Television Center (CTV) transmits live broadcasts of the
Pope's Sunday and Wednesday audiences, as well as the Pope's public
celebrations; CTV also produces documentaries; Vatican Radio is the
Holy See's official broadcasting service broadcasting via shortwave,
AM and FM frequencies, and via satellite and Internet connections
(2008)
Internet country code:
.va
Internet hosts:
68 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 208
Military ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Military branches:
Pontifical Swiss Guard Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera
Pontificia) (2010)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited
security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Transnational Issues ::Holy See (Vatican City)
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Honduras (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Honduras
Background:
Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became
an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of
mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to
power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for
anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government
and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist
guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998,
which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion
in damage. Since then, the economy has slowly rebounded.
Geography ::Honduras
Location:
Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and
Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean),
between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 112,090 sq km
country comparison to the world: 102
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:
total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua
922 km
Coastline:
820 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
Climate:
subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain:
mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources:
timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal,
fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 9.53%
permanent crops: 3.21%
other: 87.26% (2005)
Irrigated land:
800 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
95.9 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.86 cu km/yr (8%/12%/80%)
per capita: 119 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to
damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Environment - current issues:
urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and
the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land
degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development
and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands;
mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest
source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with
heavy metals
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline,
including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
People ::Honduras
Population:
7,989,415
country comparison to the world: 93
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 1,521,006/female 1,457,790)
15-64 years: 58.4% (male 2,290,300/female 2,280,848)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 127,187/female 156,565) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 21.1 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.935% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Birth rate:
25.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Death rate:
4.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Net migration rate:
-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Urbanization:
urban population: 48% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 21.04 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 97
male: 23.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.51 years
country comparison to the world: 143
male: 68.82 years
female: 72.28 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.17 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.7% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
28,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60