Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
22 states (shabiyat, singular - shabiyat); Al Butnan, Al Jabal al
Akhdar, Al Jabal Al Gharbi, Al Jafarah, Al Jafrah, Al Kafrah, Al
Maraj, Al Marqab, Al Murzuq, Al Wahat, An Nuqat al Khams, Az
Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghat, Misratah, Nalut, Sibha, Surt,
Tarabulus, Wadi al Hayat, Wadi ash Shati
Independence:
24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:
none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the
Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the
existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in
December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the
Establishment of the People's Authority
Legal system:
based on Italian and French civil law systems and Islamic law;
separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial
review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and technically compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar
al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,
but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee
(Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General
People's Congress
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of
people's committees; head of government elected by the General
People's Congress; election last held in March 2010 (next elections
expected in early 2011)
election results: NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral General People's Congress (760 seats; members elected
indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement; Islamic elements
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ali Suleiman AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ
embassy: off Jaraba Street, behind the Libyan-Swiss clinic, Ben
Ashour
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: [218] 91-220-3239
Flag description:
plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state
religion)
National anthem:
name: "Allahu Akbar" (God Is Greatest)
lyrics/music: Mahmoud el-SHERIF/Abdalla Shams el-DIN
note: adopted 1969; the anthem was originally a battle song for the
Egyptian Army in the 1956 Suez War
Economy ::Libya
Economy - overview:
The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil
sector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, 25% of GDP,
and 80% of government revenue. The weakness in world hydrocarbon
prices in 2009 reduced Libyan government tax income and constrained
economic growth. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled
with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita
GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower
orders of society. Libyan officials in the past five years have made
progress on economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to
reintegrate the country into the international fold. This effort
picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and
as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs
to build weapons of mass destruction. The process of lifting US
unilateral sanctions began in the spring of 2004; all sanctions were
removed by June 2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct
investment, especially in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas
licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest; the
National Oil Corporation (NOC) set a goal of nearly doubling oil
production to 3 million bbl/day by 2012. In November 2009, the NOC
announced that that target may slip to as late as 2017. Libya faces
a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy,
but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing
some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying
the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The
non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for
more than 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly
agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals,
iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils
severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of
its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source remains the
Great Manmade River Project, but significant resources are being
invested in desalinization research to meet growing water demands.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$89.03 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
$86.19 billion (2009 est.)
$86.77 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$77.91 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
-0.7% (2009 est.)
2.7% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,800 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$13,600 (2009 est.)
$14,000 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 63.8%
services: 33.6% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
1.729 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Population below poverty line:
NA
note: About one-third of Libyans live at or below the national
poverty line
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
13.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Public debt:
3.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
3.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
2.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
5% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.41% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 137
6% (31 December 2007)
Stock of narrow money:
$29.85 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 56
$29.82 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$35.98 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$36.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$55.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
$41.13 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans;
cattle
Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food
processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:
2.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Electricity - production:
23.98 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - consumption:
22.17 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - exports:
104 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
77 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
1.79 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - consumption:
280,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - exports:
1.542 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Oil - imports:
575 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
Oil - proved reserves:
47 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - production:
15.9 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - consumption:
5.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Natural gas - exports:
10.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.539 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Current account balance:
$15.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$10.06 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$44.89 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$37.16 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals
Exports - partners:
Italy 37.65%, Germany 10.11%, France 8.44%, Spain 7.94%, Switzerland
5.93%, US 5.27% (2009)
Imports:
$24.47 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$22.01 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer
products
Imports - partners:
Italy 18.9%, China 10.54%, Turkey 9.92%, Germany 9.78%, France
5.63%, Tunisia 5.25%, South Korea 4.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$107.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
$104.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$6.378 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$5.891 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$18.64 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$15.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$15.32 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$13.92 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars (LYD) per US dollar - 1.2648 (2010), 1.2535 (2009),
1.2112 (2008), 1.2604 (2007), 1.3108 (2006)
Communications ::Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.101 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 74
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.004 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 95
Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications system is state-owned and
service is poor, but investment is being made to upgrade; state
retains monopoly in fixed-line services; mobile-cellular telephone
system became operational in 1996
domestic: multiple providers for a mobile telephone system that is
growing rapidly; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
is approaching 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4
Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cable to France
and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric
scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (2009)
Broadcast media:
state controls broadcast media; state-owned terrestrial TV station
and about a half-dozen state-owned satellite stations broadcast;
some provinces operate local TV stations; a single, non-state-owned
TV station launched in 2007; pan-Arab satellite TV stations are
available; state-owned radio broadcasts on a number of frequencies,
some of which carry regional programming; Voice of Africa, Libya's
external radio service, can also be heard; a single, non-state-owned
radio station broadcasting (2007)
Internet country code:
.ly
Internet hosts:
12,432 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 120
Internet users:
353,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 124
Transportation ::Libya
Airports:
137 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 42
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 59
over 3,047 m: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 17 (2010)
Heliports:
2 (2010)
Pipelines:
condensate 776 km; gas 2,860 km; oil 6,987 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 100,024 km
country comparison to the world: 43
paved: 57,214 km
unpaved: 42,810 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 27
country comparison to the world: 89
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 3, petroleum
tanker 13, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Syria 2, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Hong Kong 1, Malta 4) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli
Military ::Libya
Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab
Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriya al-Arabia al-Libyya,
LAAF), Libyan Coast Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,746,512
females age 16-49: 1,683,390 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,490,011
females age 16-49: 1,436,613 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 59,842
female: 57,357 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
3.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Transnational Issues ::Libya
Disputes - international:
Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and
about 25,000 sq km in the Tommo region of Niger in a currently
dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside
in southern Libya
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for
men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked for the
purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is on the Tier 2 Watch List
for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking in persons in 2007 when compared to 2006, particularly
in the area of investigating and prosecuting trafficking offenses;
Libya did not publicly release any data on investigations or
punishment of any trafficking offenses (2008)
page last updated on January 25, 2011
======================================================================
@Liechtenstein (Europe)
Introduction ::Liechtenstein
Background:
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy
Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops
during the Napoleonic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and
joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became
fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until
the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the
economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to
enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since
World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the
country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In
2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in
concerns about the use of financial institutions for money
laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering
legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that
went into effect in 2003.
Geography ::Liechtenstein
Location:
Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:
47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 160 sq km
country comparison to the world: 218
land: 160 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 76 km
border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool
to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries
in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People ::Liechtenstein
Population:
35,002 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 2,877/female 2,901)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 11,917/female 12,220)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,085/female 2,761) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 41.4 years
male: 40.8 years
female: 41.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.683% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Birth rate:
9.69 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Death rate:
7.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Net migration rate:
4.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
Urbanization:
urban population: 14% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.006 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 201
male: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.19 years
country comparison to the world: 24
male: 76.73 years
female: 83.66 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:
Liechtensteiner 65.6%, other 34.4% (2000 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June
2002)
Languages:
German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years
male: 16 years
female: 14 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Liechtenstein
Country name:
conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 08 N, 9 31 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:
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,
Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,
Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:
23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July
1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:
Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:
5 October 1921; amended 15 September 2003
Legal system:
local civil and penal codes based on civil law system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed
executive powers on 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son
of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS
ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS,
but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 25
March 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag usually
appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of
the largest minority party in the Landtag usually appointed the
deputy head of government by the monarch if there is a coalition
government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members elected by
popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year
terms)
elections: last held on 8 February 2009 (next to be held in February
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - VU 47.6%, FBP 43.5%, FL
8.9%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 11, FL 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders:
Die Freie Liste (The Free List) or FL [Wolfgang MARXER];
Fortschrittliche Buergerpartei (Progressive Citizens' Party) or FBP
[Alexander BATLINER]; Vaterlaendische Union (Fatherland Union) or VU
[Adolf HEEB]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO,
ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention (de facto member),
UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 2900 K Street, NW, Suite 602B, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein; the US Ambassador
to Switzerland is accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown
on the hoist side of the blue band; the colors may derive from the
blue and red livery design used in the principality's household in
the 18th century; the prince's crown was introduced in 1937 to
distinguish the flag from that of Haiti
National anthem:
name: "Oben am jungen Rhein" (High Above the Young Rhine)
lyrics/music: Jakob Joseph JAUCH/unknown
note: adopted 1850, revised 1963; the anthem uses the tune of "God
Save the Queen"
Economy ::Liechtenstein
Economy - overview: