lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
32 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 101
27.3 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Public debt:
118.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
115.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
0.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 119
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
10.26% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
11.31% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.234 trillion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 7
$1.267 trillion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$1.884 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$1.846 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.274 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$3.047 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$317.3 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 16
$520.9 billion (31 December 2008)
$1.073 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain,
olives; beef, dairy products; fish
Industries:
tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,
textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate:
0.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Electricity - production:
289.7 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - consumption:
315 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Electricity - exports:
3.431 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
43 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
146,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
Oil - consumption:
1.537 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Oil - exports:
586,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Oil - imports:
1.911 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Oil - proved reserves:
423.7 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - production:
8.119 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Natural gas - consumption:
78.12 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Natural gas - exports:
124 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Natural gas - imports:
69.24 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Natural gas - proved reserves:
69.83 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Current account balance:
-$61.98 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
-$66.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$458.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$407.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery,
motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and
tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:
Germany 12.6%, France 11.57%, US 5.92%, Spain 5.69%, UK 5.13%,
Switzerland 4.69% (2009)
Imports:
$459.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$403.9 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy
products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing;
food, beverages, and tobacco
Imports - partners:
Germany 16.68%, France 8.82%, China 6.53%, Netherlands 5.63%, Spain
4.3%, Russia 4.12%, Belgium 4.08% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$132.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.223 trillion (30 June 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.328 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$405.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$368.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$601.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$555.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Italy
Telephones - main lines in use:
21.3 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 12
Telephones - mobile cellular:
90.613 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 11
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern, well developed, fast; fully automated
telephone, telex, and data services
domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
international: country code - 39; a series of submarine cables
provide links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and US;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas -
3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic
Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat
Broadcast media:
two Italian media giants - the publicly-owned Radiotelevisione
Italiana (RAI) with 3 national terrestrial stations and
privately-owned Mediaset with 3 national terrestrial stations -
dominate; additional broadcasts by a large number of private
stations and Sky Italia - a satellite TV network; RAI operates 3
AM/FM nationwide radio stations; some 1,300 commercial radio
stations (2007)
Internet country code:
.it
Internet hosts:
23.16 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 3
Internet users:
29.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
Transportation ::Italy
Airports:
132 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 44
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 101
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 13 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 19 (2010)
Heliports:
6 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 17,558 km; oil 1,241 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 19,729 km
country comparison to the world: 15
standard gauge: 18,317 km 1.435-m gauge (12,458 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 123 km 1.000-m gauge (123 km electrified); 1,058 km
0.950-m gauge (151 km electrified); 231 km 0.850-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 487,700 km
country comparison to the world: 13
paved: 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)
Waterways:
2,400 km
country comparison to the world: 38
note: used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared
to road and rail (2008)
Merchant marine:
total: 667
country comparison to the world: 17
by type: bulk carrier 81, cargo 47, carrier 1, chemical tanker 169,
container 22, liquefied gas 25, passenger 23, passenger/cargo 160,
petroleum tanker 56, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 34,
specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 34
foreign-owned: 78 (Denmark 4, France 2, Germany 1, Greece 8,
Luxembourg 12, Nigeria 1, Norway 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 6, Taiwan
11, Turkey 3, UK 2, US 21)
registered in other countries: 213 (Bahamas 5, Belize 3, Cayman
Islands 6, Cyprus 6, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 4, Greece 5, Kiribati 1,
Liberia 48, Malta 52, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 9, Norway 3,
Panama 23, Portugal 10, Russia 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 3, Slovakia 2, Spain 1,
Sweden 5, Turkey 2, UK 4, unknown 3) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Santa Panagia (Melilli), Taranto,
Trieste, Venice
Military ::Italy
Military branches:
Italian Armed Forces: Italian Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Italian
Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica
Militare Italiana, AMI), Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri,
CC) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18-27 year of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished January 2005; women may serve in any military branch;
10-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 45
(Army and Air Force) or 39 (Navy) (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 13,705,846
females age 16-49: 12,929,946 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 11,092,984
females age 16-49: 10,452,910 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 280,255
female: 263,336 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Transnational Issues ::Italy
Disputes - international:
Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of
thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and
northern Africa
Illicit drugs:
important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and
Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money
laundering by organized crime and from smuggling
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Jamaica (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Jamaica
Background:
The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was
settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino
Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually
exterminated and replaced by African slaves. England seized the
island in 1655 and established a plantation economy based on sugar,
cocoa, and coffee. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter
million slaves, many of whom became small farmers. Jamaica gradually
obtained increasing independence from Britain. In 1958 it joined
other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the
West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from
the Federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the
1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the
major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime
networks involved in international drug smuggling and money
laundering. Violent crime, drug trafficking, and poverty pose
significant challenges to the government today. Nonetheless, many
rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute
substantially to the economy.
Geography ::Jamaica
Location:
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:
18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 10,991 sq km
country comparison to the world: 167
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,022 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain:
mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 15.83%
permanent crops: 10.01%
other: 74.16% (2005)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
9.4 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.41 cu km/yr (34%/17%/49%)
per capita: 155 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
hurricanes (especially July to November)
Environment - current issues:
heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial
waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution
in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the
main sea lanes for the Panama Canal
People ::Jamaica
Population:
2,847,232 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.4% (male 451,310/female 436,466)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 851,372/female 875,132)
65 years and over: 7.5% (male 94,833/female 116,815) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 24.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.747% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Birth rate:
19.47 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Death rate:
6.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Net migration rate:
-5.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Urbanization:
urban population: 53% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 14.91 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 125
male: 15.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.48 years
country comparison to the world: 113
male: 71.8 years
female: 75.25 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
27,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,500 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Nationality:
noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups:
black 91.2%, mixed 6.2%, other or unknown 2.6% (2001 census)
Religions:
Protestant 62.5% (Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, Pentecostal 9.5%,
Other Church of God 8.3%, Baptist 7.2%, New Testament Church of God
6.3%, Church of God in Jamaica 4.8%, Church of God of Prophecy 4.3%,
Anglican 3.6%, other Christian 7.7%), Roman Catholic 2.6%, other or
unspecified 14.2%, none 20.9%, (2001 census)
Languages:
English, English patois
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
6.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 34
Government ::Jamaica
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland,
Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint
James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were
amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as
the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation
Independence:
6 August 1962 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 August (1962)
Constitution:
6 August 1962
Legal system:
based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Dr. Patrick L. ALLEN (since 26
February 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Bruce GOLDING (since 11 September
2007)
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following
legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is
appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime
minister recommended by the prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body
appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the
prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is
allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated 8 seats) and the
House of Representatives (60 seats; members elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 September 2007 (next to be held no later
than October 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - JLP 50.1%, PNP 49.8%;
seats by party - JLP 33, PNP 27
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal; Privy Council in UK;
member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
Political parties and leaders:
Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party
or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]; National Democratic Movement or NDM
[Michael WILLIAMS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black religious/racial
cultists, pan-Africanists)
International organization participation:
ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Audrey P. MARKS
chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela BRIDGEWATER
embassy: 142 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6
mailing address: P.O. Box 541, Kingston 5
telephone: [1] (876) 702-6000
FAX: [1] (876) 702-6001
Flag description:
diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green
(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side); green
represents hope, vegetation, and agriculture, black reflects
hardships overcome and to be faced, and yellow recalls golden
sunshine and the island's natural resources
National anthem:
name: "Jamaica, Land We Love"
lyrics/music: Hugh Braham SHERLOCK/Robert Charles LIGHTBOURNE
note: adopted 1962
Economy ::Jamaica
Economy - overview:
The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now
account for more than 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive
most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and
bauxite/alumina. Remittances account for nearly 15% of GDP and
exports of bauxite and alumina make up about 10%. Tourism revenues
account for roughly 10% of GDP, and both arrivals and revenues grew
in 2010, up 4% and 6% respectively. The Economic growth faces many
challenges: high crime and corruption, large-scale unemployment and
underemployment, and a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 120%.
Jamaica's onerous debt burden - the fourth highest per capita - is
the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy,
most notably to the financial sector in the mid-to-late 1990s. The
Government of Jamaica signed a $1.27 billion, 27-month Standby
Agreement with the International Monetary Fund for balance of
payment support in February 2010. Other multilaterals have also
provided millions of dollars in loans and grants. The government's
difficult fiscal position hinders spending on infrastructure and
social programs, particularly as job losses rise in a shrinking
economy. The GOLDING administration faces the difficult prospect of
having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt
payments, while simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime
problem that is hampering economic growth. High unemployment
exacerbates the crime problem, including gang violence that is
fueled by the drug trade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.93 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$24.12 billion (2009 est.)
$24.81 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$13.74 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
-2.8% (2009 est.)
-0.9% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,400 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
$8,500 (2009 est.)
$8,800 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 5.7%
industry: 29.7%
services: 64.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.317 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 19%
services: 64% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
12.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
11.4% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
14.8% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 35.8% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
45.5 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 40
37.9 (2000)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Public debt:
123.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
124.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
13% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
9.6% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
16.43% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
16.83% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.432 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 126
$1.371 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$5.782 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$5.472 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.922 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
$7.282 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$6.201 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
$7.513 billion (31 December 2008)
$12.33 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables;
poultry, goats, milk; crustaceans, mollusks
Industries:
tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum,
cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
-2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - production:
7.324 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Electricity - consumption:
6.345 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Oil - consumption:
77,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - exports: