country comparison to the world: 187
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Current account balance:
-$24 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Exports:
$131 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 186
Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer
Exports - partners:
American Samoa 41.12%, Australia 24.74%, Taiwan 6.24%, China 5.61%,
US 4.07% (2009)
Imports:
$324 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 193
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
NZ 24.13%, Fiji 17.34%, Singapore 12.54%, China 10.02%, Australia
9.85%, US 5.95% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$70.15 million (FY03/04)
country comparison to the world: 130
Debt - external:
$177 million (2004)
country comparison to the world: 175
Exchange rates:
tala (SAT) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2.7594 (2006), 2.7103 (2005),
2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003)
Communications ::Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:
31,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
Telephones - mobile cellular:
151,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity
roughly 85 telephones per 100 persons; coverage extended to roughly
95 percent of the country
international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
state-owned television station privatized in 2008; 4 privately-owned
television broadcast stations; about a half dozen privately-owned
radio stations and one state-owned radio station; television and
radio broadcasts of several stations from American Samoa are
available (2009)
Internet country code:
.ws
Internet hosts:
17,044 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 114
Internet users:
9,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
Transportation ::Samoa
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 187
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 2,337 km
country comparison to the world: 170
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 2,005 km (2001)
Merchant marine:
total: 2
country comparison to the world: 143
by type: passenger/cargo 1, cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (NZ 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Apia
Military ::Samoa
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 47,423 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 37,674
females age 16-49: 37,492 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,219
female: 2,058 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces;
informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider
any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship
Transnational Issues ::Samoa
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@San Marino (Europe)
Introduction ::San Marino
Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco),
San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According
to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marinus
in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of
Italy; social and political trends in the republic also track
closely with those of its larger neighbor.
Geography ::San Marino
Location:
Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy
Geographic coordinates:
43 46 N, 12 25 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 61 sq km
country comparison to the world: 228
land: 61 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one third times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 39 km
border countries: Italy 39 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
Mediterranean; mild to cool winters; warm, sunny summers
Terrain:
rugged mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m
Natural resources:
building stone
Land use:
arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution
Geography - note:
landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See
and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines
People ::San Marino
Population:
31,477 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,635/female 2,452)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,538/female 10,429)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 2,188/female 2,925) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.1 years
male: 41.3 years
female: 42.8 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.106% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Birth rate:
9.18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Net migration rate:
9.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Urbanization:
urban population: 94% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.086 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 188
male: 4.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.95 years
country comparison to the world: 3
male: 80.45 years
female: 85.68 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.46 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese
Ethnic groups:
Sammarinese, Italian
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Italian
Literacy:
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::San Marino
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 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:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo
Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino,
Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle
Independence:
3 September 301
National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 301)
Constitution:
8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions
of a constitution
Legal system:
based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent Giovanni Francesco
UGOLINI and Captain Regent Andrea ZAFFERANI (for the period 1
October 2010-1 April 2011)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Antonella MULARONI (since 3 December 2008)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in
September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held on 9 November 2008
(next to be held by 2013)
election results: Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella
MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political
affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent
(co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over
meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress
of State), which has 10 other members, all are selected by the Grand
and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10
secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has
assumed some prime ministerial roles
Legislative branch:
unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale
(60 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 November 2008 (next to be held by June
2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - Pact for San Marino
coalition 54.2%: PDCS 31.9%, AP 11.5%, Freedom List 6.3%, San Marino
Union of Moderates 4.2%; Reforms and Freedom coalition 45.8%: Party
of Socialists and Democrats 32%, United Left 8.6%, Democrats of the
Center 4.9%; seats by party - Pact for San Marino coalition 35: PDCS
22, AP 7, the Freedom List 4, San Marino Union of Moderates 2;
Reforms and Freedom coalition 25: Party of Socialists and Democrats
18, United Left 5, Democrats of the Center 2
Judicial branch:
Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII
Political parties and leaders:
Christian Democrats or PDCS [Pasquale VALENTINI]; Communist
Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Democrats of the Center or DdC
[Giovanni LONGERNINI]; Freedom List (including NPS and We
Sammarinesi) or NS [Gabriele GATTEI]; New Socialist Party or NPS
[Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats or PDS [Paride
ANDREOLI]; Popular Alliance or AP [Carlo FRANCIOSI]; Union of
Moderates (including National Alliance or ANS [Glcuco SANSOVINI] and
San Marino Populars or pop [Romeo MORRI and Angela VENTURINI];
United Left of SU [Alessandro ROSSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, Union
Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Paolo RONDELLI
chancery: 888 27th Street NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: 202-337-2260
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the ambassador to
Italy is accredited to San Marino
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the
national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the main colors
derive from the shield of the coat of arms, which features three
white towers on three peaks on a blue field; the towers represent
three castles built on San Marino's highest feature Mount Titano:
Guaita, Cesta, and Montale; the coat of arms is flanked by a wreath,
below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS
(Liberty); the white and blue colors are also said to stand for
peace and liberty respectively
National anthem:
name: "Inno Nazionale della Repubblica" (National Anthem of the
Republic)
lyrics/music: none/Federico CONSOLO
note: adopted 1894; the music for the lyric-less anthem is based on
a 10th century chorale piece
Economy ::San Marino
Economy - overview:
San Marino's economy relies heavily on its tourism and banking
industries, as well as on the manufacture and export of ceramics,
clothing, fabrics, furniture, paints, spirits, tiles, and wine. The
per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to
those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much
of its food. San Marino boasts the world's longest life expectancy
for men with 80 years. The economy benefits from foreign investment
due to its relatively low corporate taxes and low taxes on interest
earnings. San Marino has recently faced increased international
pressure to improve cooperation with foreign tax authorities and
transparency within its own banking sector, which generates about
one-fifth of the country's tax revenues. Italy's implementation in
October 2009 of a tax amnesty to repatriate untaxed funds held
abroad has resulted in financial outflows from San Marino to Italy
worth more than $4.5 billion. Such outflows, combined with a
money-laundering scandal at San Marino's largest financial
institution and the recent global economic downturn, have
contributed to a deep recession and growing budget deficit. However,
San Marino has no national debt, and an unemployment rate half the
size of Italy's. The San Marino government has adopted measures to
counter the downturn, including subsidized credit to businesses. San
Marino also continues to work towards harmonizing its fiscal laws
with EU members and international standards. In September 2009, the
OECD removed San Marino from its list of tax havens that have yet to
fully implement global tax standards.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.662 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 191
$850 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.048 billion (2004)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$41,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 16
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 46.5%
services: 53.4% (2007)
Labor force:
22,660 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 208
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 37.7%
services: 62.2% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 24
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-3.5% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 1
-1.5% (2006)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.326 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of broad money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.584 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.875 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 103
$7.511 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese,
hides
Industries:
tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine
Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 101
Exports:
$4.628 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 110
$1.291 billion (2004)
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods,
hides, ceramics
Imports:
$3.744 billion (2007)
country comparison to the world: 130
$2.035 billion (2004)
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6734
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 191
Telephones - mobile cellular:
24,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 207
Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic telephone system completely integrated
into Italian system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 150
telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian
international network
Broadcast media:
state-owned public broadcaster operates 1 TV station and 2 radio
stations; receives radio and TV broadcasts from Italy (2008)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet hosts:
8,895 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 130
Internet users:
17,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 195
Transportation ::San Marino
Roadways:
total: 292 km
country comparison to the world: 204
paved: 292 km (2006)
Military ::San Marino
Military branches:
no regular military forces; voluntary Military Force (Corpi
Militari) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support
functions (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,893 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,564
females age 16-49: 6,068 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 176
female: 164 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy
Transnational Issues ::San Marino
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 19, 2011
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)
Introduction ::Sao Tome and Principe
Background:
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the
islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the
19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of
which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was
achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the
late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but
frequent internal wrangling between the various political parties
precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup
attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf
of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small
island nation.
Geography ::Sao Tome and Principe
Location:
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the
Equator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
1 00 N, 7 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 964 sq km
country comparison to the world: 184
land: 964 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
209 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 48.96%
other: 42.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a
chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People ::Sao Tome and Principe
Population:
175,808 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 50,475/female 49,188)
15-64 years: 49.7% (male 51,325/female 54,289)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,335/female 4,067) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17 years
female: 17.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.112% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Birth rate:
39.09 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Death rate:
8.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Net migration rate:
-9.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 54.64 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 42
male: 56.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.73 years
country comparison to the world: 176
male: 61.58 years
female: 63.91 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.21 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups:
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros
(descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from
Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais
born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions:
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%,
other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.9%
male: 92.2%
female: 77.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2009)
Education expenditures:
NA
Government ::Sao Tome and Principe
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Independence:
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution:
approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fradique Bandiera Melo DE MENEZES (since 3
September 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22
June 2008)