GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.391 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
-5.2% (2009 est.)
-1.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$34,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$33,100 (2009 est.)
$34,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 22.8%
services: 75.7% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
65.64 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 28%
services: 68% (2009 est.)
Unemployment rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
5.1% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.8%
highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (2002)
country comparison to the world: 74
24.9 (1993)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Public debt:
196.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
192.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
-1.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.3% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 139
0.3% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
1.72% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
1.91% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.541 trillion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 3
$5.162 trillion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$18.3 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 2
$14.56 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$16.39 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
$13.32 trillion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$3.378 trillion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
$3.22 trillion (31 December 2008)
$4.453 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products,
eggs; fish
Industries:
among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of
motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and
nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate:
7.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Electricity - production:
957.9 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - consumption:
925.5 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
132,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Oil - consumption:
4.363 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Oil - exports:
380,900 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Oil - imports:
5.033 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Oil - proved reserves:
44.12 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
Natural gas - production:
3.539 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - consumption:
94.67 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - imports:
90.29 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas - proved reserves:
20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Current account balance:
$182.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
$142.2 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$735.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$545.3 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical
machinery, chemicals
Exports - partners:
China 18.88%, US 16.42%, South Korea 8.13%, Taiwan 6.27%, Hong Kong
5.49% (2009)
Imports:
$636.8 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
$501.6 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw
materials
Imports - partners:
China 22.2%, US 10.96%, Australia 6.29%, Saudi Arabia 5.29%, UAE
4.12%, South Korea 3.98%, Indonesia 3.95% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
$1.024 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.246 trillion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 6
$2.231 trillion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$161.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$147.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$831.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$738.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 88.67 (2010), 93.57 (2009), 103.58 (2008),
117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006)
Communications ::Japan
Telephones - main lines in use:
44.364 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 5
Telephones - mobile cellular:
114.917 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 7
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of
every kind
international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide
links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US;
satellite earth stations - 7 Intelsat (Pacific and Indian Oceans), 1
Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), 3 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian
Ocean regions), and 8 SkyPerfect JSAT (2008)
Broadcast media:
a mixture of public and commercial broadcast TV and radio stations;
5 national terrestrial television networks including 1 public
broadcaster; the large number of radio and TV stations available
provide a wide range of choices; satellite and cable services
provide access to international channels (2008)
Internet country code:
.jp
Internet hosts:
54.846 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 2
Internet users:
99.182 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3
Transportation ::Japan
Airports:
176 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 34
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 144
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 27 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 28 (2010)
Heliports:
15 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 3,879 km; oil 167 km; oil/gas/water 53 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 26,435 km
country comparison to the world: 11
standard gauge: 3,978 km 1.435-m gauge (3,978 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.372-m gauge (96 km electrified); 22,313 km
1.067-m gauge (15,235 km electrified); 48 km 0.762-m gauge (48 km
electrified) (2009)
Roadways:
total: 1,203,777 km
country comparison to the world: 5
paved: 961,366 km (includes 7,560 km of expressways)
unpaved: 242,411 km (2008)
Waterways:
1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 47
Merchant marine:
total: 673
country comparison to the world: 16
by type: bulk carrier 152, cargo 31, carrier 3, chemical tanker 28,
container 2, liquefied gas 63, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 120,
petroleum tanker 152, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 52,
vehicle carrier 54
foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 3,064 (Bahamas 93, Belize 1, Bermuda
2, Burma 1, Cambodia 2, Cayman Islands 19, China 2, Cyprus 19,
Honduras 4, Hong Kong 84, Indonesia 7, Isle of Man 15, Liberia 102,
Malaysia 4, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 41, Netherlands 1, Panama
2347, Philippines 82, Portugal 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Sierra Leone 3, Singapore 146, South
Korea 15, Thailand 2, UK 4, Vanuatu 44, unknown 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,
Tomakomai, Yokohama
Military ::Japan
Military branches:
Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force
(Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai,
MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jieitai, ASDF) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,461,338
females age 16-49: 26,478,466 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22,564,075
females age 16-49: 21,720,375 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 626,115
female: 593,905 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 148
Transnational Issues ::Japan
Disputes - international:
the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and
Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern
Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied
by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed
by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace
treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South
Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South
Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to
the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and
Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East
China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Jersey (Europe)
Introduction ::Jersey
Background:
Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of
the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and
England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German
troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is
not part of the UK or of the European Union. However, the UK
Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and
international representation.
Geography ::Jersey
Location:
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 116 sq km
country comparison to the world: 224
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
70 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 143 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population
concentrated in Saint Helier
People ::Jersey
Population:
93,363 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.1% (male 7,623/female 7,087)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 30,914/female 31,081)
65 years and over: 16.3% (male 6,614/female 8,307) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 40.1 years
male: 38.5 years
female: 41.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.86% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Birth rate:
10.73 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Death rate:
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
Net migration rate:
5.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Urbanization:
urban population: 31% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.02 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 204
male: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 81.28 years
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 78.88 years
female: 83.83 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.66 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%,
Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,
Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Literacy:
NA
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Jersey
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Saint Helier
geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 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 (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement,
Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary,
Saint Ouen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
the laws of the UK where applicable apply and local statutes;
justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Terry LE SUEUR (12 December
2008); Bailiff Michael BIRT (since 9 July 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are
elected by the Assembly of States; the monarchy is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting
members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are
constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are
deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy
bailiff, and 3 non-voting members include the Dean of Jersey, the
Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held on 15 October 2008 for senators and 26 November
2008 for deputies (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2008 were independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support);
Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association);
Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); La
Societe Jersiaise (education and conservation group); Progress
Jersey [Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (human rights); Royal Jersey
Agriculture and Horticultural Society or RJA&HS (development and
management of the Jersey breed of cattle); Save Jersey's Heritage
(protects heritage through building preservation)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the
flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red
shield with three lions in yellow; according to tradition, the ships
of Jersey - in an attempt to differentiate themselves from English
ships flying the horizontal cross of St. George - rotated the cross
to the "X" (saltire) configuration; because this arrangement still
resembled the Irish cross of St. Patrick, the yellow Plantagenet
crown and Jersey coat of arms were added
National anthem:
name: "Isle de Siez Nous" (Island Home)
lyrics/music: Gerard LE FEUVRE
note: adopted 2008; serves as a local anthem; as a British crown
dependency, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy ::Jersey
Economy - overview:
Jersey's economy is based on international financial services,
agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for
about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes,
and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to
the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and
represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to
the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of
GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry
to locate in Jersey with the result that an electronics industry has
developed, displacing more traditional industries. All raw material
and energy requirements are imported as well as a large share of
Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a
popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$57,000 (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 2%
services: 97% (2005)
Labor force:
53,560 (June 2006)
country comparison to the world: 187
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (December 2006)
country comparison to the world: 107
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - consumption:
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
$NA
Exports - commodities:
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs,
textiles, flowers
Imports:
$NA
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,
mineral fuels, chemicals
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.6504 (2010), 0.6389 (2009), 0.5302
(2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006)
note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Jersey
Telephones - main lines in use:
73,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 152
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83,900 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 188
Telephone system:
general assessment: state-owned, partially-competitive market;
increasingly modern, with some broadband access
domestic: digital telephone system launch announced in 2006 and
currently being implemented; fixed-line and mobile-cellular services
widely available; combined fixed and mobile-cellular density exceeds
100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 44; submarine cable connectivity to
Guernsey, the UK, and France (2008)
Broadcast media:
multiple UK terrestrial television broadcasts - received via a
transmitter in Jersey with relays in Jersey, Guernsey, and Alderney
- will begin switching from analog to digital broadcasts in November
2010; satellite packages available; BBC Radio Jersey and 1 other
radio station operating (2009)
Internet country code:
.je
Internet hosts:
237 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 191
Internet users:
29,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 181
Transportation ::Jersey
Airports:
1 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 219
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 576 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 190
Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 11 (Gibraltar 1, India 1, Marshall
Islands 9) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 110
Ports and terminals:
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military ::Jersey
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 16,853
females age 16-49: 16,737 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 594
female: 555 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Jersey
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 12, 2011
======================================================================
@Jordan (Middle East)
Introduction ::Jordan
Background:
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the
UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain
separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine
in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it
adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler
was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully
navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and
UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian
population. Jordan lost the West Bank to Israel in the 1967 war and
barely managed to defeat Palestinian rebels who attempted to
overthrow the monarchy in 1970. King HUSSEIN in 1988 permanently
relinquished Jordanian claims to the West Bank. In 1989, he
reinstituted parliamentary elections and initiated a gradual
political liberalization; political parties were legalized in 1992.
In 1994, he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the
son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne following his father's death
in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and
undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to
the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in
the European Free Trade Association in 2001. In 2003, Jordan
staunchly supported the Coalition ouster of Saddam in Iraq and
following the outbreak of insurgent violence in Iraq, absorbed
thousands of displaced Iraqis. Municipal elections were held in July
2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils
were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held
in November 2010 and saw independent pro-government candidates win
the vast majority of seats.
Geography ::Jordan
Location:
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 89,342 sq km
country comparison to the world: 111
land: 88,802 sq km
water: 540 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km,
Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:
26 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain: