Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other
Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%
(2001 census)
Languages:
Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect),
English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%,
Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2002)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Netherlands Antilles
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
former: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:
an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full
autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government
responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Willemstad (on Curacao)
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the
throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law
influence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April
1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1
July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26
March 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party usually elected prime minister by
the Staten; election last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held
by 2014)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, NA, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E
Legislative branch:
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St.
Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members elected by popular vote
to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 22 January 2010 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PAR 6, LdK 5, National Alliance 3, PS 2, UPB 2, PNP 1, DP-St. E 1,
PDB 1, WIPM 1
note: the government is a coalition of several parties
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];
Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]
Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic
Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];
Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Lista di Kambio or LdK (coalition of
MAN, NPA, and FK); Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson PIERRE];
Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles Movement
or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I Seguridat
[Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or PLKP [Errol
COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily de
JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE LANNOOY];
Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano or PS [Herman WIELS];
Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]
Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands
People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.
Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah
WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party
[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];
People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.
Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party
[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), FATF, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO
(associate), UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr.
Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy
of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Timothy J. DUNN
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066
FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489
Flag description:
white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a
vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are
arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the
colors reflect those of the Netherlands; the five stars represent
the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and
Sint Maarten
Economy ::Netherlands Antilles
Economy - overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays
of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.
Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past
eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a
well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the
region. The Venezuelan state oil company owns the single refinery on
the island; most of the oil for the refinery is imported from
Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with
the US, Braxil, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor
soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of
agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and
pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands provides
financial aid to support the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.8 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
GDP (official exchange rate):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,000 (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
91,470 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 183
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 20%
services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.5% (2002 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $757.9 million
expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.51% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
8.33% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.517 billion (31 December 2009)
$1.295 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of broad money:
$4.286 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$3.881 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$3.408 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
$3.286 billion (31 December 2008)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 19
$488.6 billion (2003)
Agriculture - products:
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:
tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining
(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),
light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.22 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Electricity - consumption:
1.013 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - consumption:
69,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Oil - exports:
224,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Oil - imports:
298,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Exports:
$3.71 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 120
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US 13.09%, Guatemala 10.84%, Singapore 10.65%, Dominican Republic
9.6%, Haiti 7.6%, Bahamas 6.05%, Honduras 4.54%, Mexico 4.2% (2009)
Imports:
$15.74 billion (2006)
country comparison to the world: 79
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 57.3%, US 19.18%, Brazil 8.11% (2009)
Debt - external:
$2.68 billion (2004)
country comparison to the world: 135
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - 1.79 (2009),
1.79 (2008), 1.79 (2007), 1.79 (2006)
Communications ::Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:
88,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 146
Telephones - mobile cellular:
200,000 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 173
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean
Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems
provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and
the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast media:
government-run television on Curacao provides service to Bonaire and
Saba; the Leeward Broadcasting Corporation provides television
service to Sint Maarten; cable TV subscription service provides
access to programming from Venezuela and the US; roughly 30 radio
stations and repeaters operating (2007)
Internet country code:
.an
Internet hosts:
72,165 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 81
Transportation ::Netherlands Antilles
Airports:
5 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 181
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 845 km
country comparison to the world: 185
Merchant marine:
total: 120
country comparison to the world: 46
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 59, carrier 18,
chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 26, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 101 (Angola 2, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, Germany
32, Hong Kong 1, Netherlands 52, Norway 2, Sweden 1, Turkey 8)
registered in other countries: 1 (Cook Islands 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bopec Terminal, Willemstad
Military ::Netherlands Antilles
Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription
(2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 56,267
females age 16-49: 57,334 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 46,824
females age 16-49: 47,447 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,934
female: 1,839 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues ::Netherlands Antilles
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and
Europe; money-laundering center
page last updated on November 17, 2010
======================================================================
@New Caledonia (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::New Caledonia
Background:
Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th
century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served
as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for
independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998
Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer
an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New
Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct a referendum
between 2014 and 2019 to decide whether New Caledonia should assume
full sovereignty and independence.
Geography ::New Caledonia
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 18,575 sq km
country comparison to the world: 155
land: 18,275 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,254 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
arable land: 0.32%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 99.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
volcanism: Matthew and Hunter Islands are historically active
Environment - current issues:
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Geography - note:
consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in
the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous
small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
People ::New Caledonia
Population:
252,352 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.8% (male 31,191/female 29,870)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 75,189/female 74,552)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 7,681/female 8,953) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 29.8 years
male: 29.3 years
female: 30.3 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.561% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
Birth rate:
16.52 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Death rate:
5.23 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Net migration rate:
4.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 21
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 65% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.1% 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 179
male: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.56 years
country comparison to the world: 68
male: 72.46 years
female: 80.86 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.09 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian
2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2%
(1996 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.8%
female: 95.5% (1996 census)
Government ::New Caledonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Dependency status:
territorial collectivity of France since 1998
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 3 provinces named Province des Iles, Province Nord, and Province
Sud
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on
independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is
scheduled for 2014
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords grant
substantial autonomy to the islands
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007);
represented by High Commissioner Albert DUPUY (since 6 October 2010)
head of government: President of the Government Philippe GOMES
(since 5 June 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the
Territorial Congress
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a
five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held on 5 June
2009
Legislative branch:
elections: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire
(54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or
Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year
terms) last held on 9 May 2009 (next to be held on 10 May 2014)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
UMP 13, Caledonia Together 10, UC 8, UNI 8, AE 6, FLNKS 3, Labor
Party 3, other 3
note: New Caledonia holds two seats in the French Senate; elections
last held on 21 September 2008 (next to be held not later than
September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - UMP 2; New Caledonia also elects two seats to the French
National Assembly; elections last held on 10 and 17 June 2007 (next
to be held in June 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - UMP 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce
Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders:
Caledonia My Country; Caledonia Together [Philippe GOMES];
Caledonian Union or UC [Nicholas ABOUT]; Communist Republican and
Left Party or CRC-SPG [Nichole BORVO COHEN-SEAT]; Democratic and
European Social Rally or R.D.S.E. [Yvon COLLIN]; Front National or
FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Kanak Socialist Front for National
Liberation or FLNKS (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); National
Union for Independence-Kanak and Socialist National Liberation
Front; Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE];
Renewed Caledonian Union; Socialist Group [Jean Pierre BEL];
Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [Nidoish NAISSELINE]; The Future
Together or AE [Didier LEROUX]; The Rally or UMP [Gerard LONGUET];
Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI; Union of
Pro-Independence Co-operation Committees [Francois BURCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
National anthem:
name: "Soyons unis, devenons freres" (Let Us Be United, Let Us
Become Brothers)
lyrics/music: Chorale Melodia (a local choir)
note: adopted 2008; the anthem contains a mixture of lyrics in both
French and Nengone (an indigenous language); as a self-governing
territory of France, in addition to the local anthem, "La
Marseillaise" is official (see France)
Economy ::New Caledonia
Economy - overview:
New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources.
Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and
food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,
substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15%
of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.
Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the
recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for
the next several years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.158 billion (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.3 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15%
industry: 8.8%
services: 76.2% (2003)
Labor force:
102,600 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 182
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002)
Unemployment rate:
17.1% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 158
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Electricity - production:
1.825 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - consumption:
1.697 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
Oil - exports:
645 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Oil - imports:
14,430 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Exports: