Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle
of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic
dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration to
resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the
territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
Illicit drugs:
growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for
Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for
arms-for-drugs dealing
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Svalbard (Europe)
Introduction ::Svalbard
Background:
First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands
served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th
centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years
later it officially took over the territory.
Geography ::Svalbard
Location:
Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,
Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates:
78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 62,045 sq km
country comparison to the world: 124
land: 62,045 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,587 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but
not recognized by Russia
Climate:
arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold
winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of
Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:
wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast
clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north
coasts
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources:
coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (no trees; the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
(2005)
Irrigated land:
NA
Natural hazards:
ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for
coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the
northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main
islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area;
Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a
seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity Trust and
the Norwegian Government
People ::Svalbard
Population:
2,067 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 232
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.023% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Sex ratio:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 170
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 165
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 156
Ethnic groups:
Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Languages:
Norwegian, Russian
Literacy:
NA
Government ::Svalbard
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as
Spitzbergen)
Dependency status:
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the
Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in
Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty
was awarded to Norway
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Longyearbyen
geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 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
Independence:
none (territory of Norway)
Legal system:
the laws of Norway where applicable apply
Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since September
2009); Assistant Governor Lars FAUSE (since September 2008)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
Justice
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
none
Flag description:
the flag of Norway is used
National anthem:
note: as a territory of Norway, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" is
official (see Norway)
Economy ::Svalbard
Economy - overview:
Coal mining, tourism, and international research are the major
revenue sources on Svalbard. Coal mining is the dominant economic
activity and a treaty of 9 February 1920 gave the 41 signatories
equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian
regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have
mined in the past, the only companies still engaging in this are
Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially
company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly
60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the
local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There
is also some hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
Labor force:
1,234 in Norwegian settlements (2003)
country comparison to the world: 225
Exports:
$197.6 million (2000)
Imports:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 6.1533 (2009), 5.6361 (2008),
5.86 (2007), 6.418 (2006)
Communications ::Svalbard
Telephones - main lines in use:
NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: probably adequate
domestic: local telephone service
international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of
unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Broadcast media:
the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) began direct television
transmission to Svalbard via satellite in 1984; Longyearbyen
households have access to 3 NRK radio and 2 television stations
(2008)
Internet country code:
.sj
Transportation ::Svalbard
Airports:
4 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 186
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)
Heliports:
1 (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Military ::Svalbard
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Military - note:
Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9
February 1920; Norwegian military activity is limited to fisheries
surveillance by the Norwegian Coast Guard
Transnational Issues ::Svalbard
Disputes - international:
despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime
limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond
Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
page last updated on January 11, 2011
======================================================================
@Swaziland (Africa)
Introduction ::Swaziland
Background:
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the
British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968.
Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III,
the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political
reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these
promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006,
but political parties remain banned. The African United Democratic
Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political
party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between
the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently
surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known
HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.
Geography ::Swaziland
Location:
Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:
26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 17,364 sq km
country comparison to the world: 158
land: 17,204 sq km
water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
total: 535 km
border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:
mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources:
asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold
and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:
arable land: 10.25%
permanent crops: 0.81%
other: 88.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:
500 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
4.5 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.04 cu km/yr (2%/1%/97%)
per capita: 1,010 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
drought
Environment - current issues:
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being
depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil
degradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
People ::Swaziland
Population:
1,354,051
country comparison to the world: 152
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower
population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2010 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 260,840/female 254,781)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 383,236/female 391,478)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 19,857/female 26,994) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.1 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.213% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Birth rate:
27.12 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Death rate:
14.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 107
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 66.71 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 23
male: 70.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.97 years
country comparison to the world: 218
male: 48.14 years
female: 47.8 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.19 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
26.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
190,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
10,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups:
African 97%, European 3%
Religions:
Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral
worship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, other (includes Anglican,
Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30%
Languages:
English (official, government business conducted in English),
siSwati (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
7.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 13
Government ::Swaziland
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland
local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
local short form: eSwatini
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
name: Mbabane
geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:
6 September 1968 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution:
signed by the King in July 2005; went into effect on 8 February 2006
Legal system:
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi
traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age
Executive branch:
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since
16 October 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the Senate (30 seats;
10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by
the monarch; members to serve five-year terms) and the House of
Assembly (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55
elected by popular vote; members to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held on 19 September 2008 (next
to be held in 2013)
election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a
nonparty basis; candidates for election nominated by the local
council of each constituency and for each constituency the three
candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are
narrowed to a single winner by a second round
Judicial branch:
High Court; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by
the monarch
Political parties and leaders:
the status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear under
the 2006 Constitution and currently being debated; the following are
considered political associations; African United Democratic Party
or AUDP [Stanley MAUNDZISA, president]; Imbokodvo National Movement
or INM; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI,
president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario
MASUKU, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Swaziland Democracy Campaign; Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions;
Swaziland and Solidarity Network or SSN
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent),
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abednigo Mandla NTSHANGASE
chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl M. IRVING
embassy: 2350 Mbabane Place, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 404-2445
FAX: [268] 404-2059
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;
the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large
black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated
with feather tassels, all placed horizontally; blue stands for peace
and stability, red represents past struggles, and yellow the mineral
resources of the country; the shield, spears, and staff symbolize
protection from the country's enemies, while the black and white of
the shield are meant to portray black and white people living in
peaceful coexistence
National anthem:
name: "Nkulunkulu Mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati" (Oh God, Bestower of
the Blessings of the Swazi)
lyrics/music: Andrease Enoke Fanyana SIMELANE/David Kenneth RYCROFT
note: adopted 1968; the anthem uses elements of both ethnic Swazi
and Western music styles
Economy ::Swaziland
Economy - overview:
In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies
approximately 70% of the population. The manufacturing sector has
diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain
important foreign exchange earners. In 2007, the sugar industry
increased efficiency and diversification efforts, in response to a
17% decline in EU sugar prices. Mining has declined in importance in
recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active.
Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with
Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from
which it receives more than nine-tenths of its imports and to which
it sends 60% of its exports. Swaziland's currency is pegged to the
South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary policy to South
Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union
(SACU) account for two-thirds of Swaziland's government revenues,
and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement
domestically earned income. Customs revenues plummeted during the
global economic crisis and Swaziland has appealed to SACU for
assistance. With an estimated 40% unemployment rate, Swaziland's
need to increase the number and size of small and medium enterprises
and attract foreign direct investment is acute. Overgrazing, soil
depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the
future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food
aid in 2006-07 because of drought, and more than one-quarter of the
adult population has been infected by HIV/AIDS.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$6.055 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
$5.937 billion (2009 est.)
$5.913 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.165 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
0.4% (2009 est.)
2.4% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$4,400 (2009 est.)
$4,500 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 42%
services: 49.4% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
457,900 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 156
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
40% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Population below poverty line:
69% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.7% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.4 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 22
Investment (gross fixed):
12.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
7.3% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 39
11% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.38% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
14.83% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$335.7 million (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 163
$273.9 million (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$1.266 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$920.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$258.5 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$274.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
$203.1 million (31 December 2007)
$199.9 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum,
peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Industries:
coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textiles and apparel
Industrial production growth rate:
1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Electricity - production:
441 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - consumption:
1.266 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
770 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2008
est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - consumption:
4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Oil - imports:
4,100 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Current account balance:
-$374 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
-$213 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$1.417 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$1.338 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Imports:
$1.643 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
$1.585 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,
petroleum products, chemicals
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$708 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$959 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$497 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$411 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Exchange rates:
emalangeni per US dollar - 7.57 (2010), 8.4737 (2009), 7.75 (2008),
7.4 (2007), 6.85 (2006)
Communications ::Swaziland
Telephones - main lines in use:
44,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
Telephones - mobile cellular:
656,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 154
Telephone system:
general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system
domestic: single source for mobile-cellular service with a
geographic coverage of about 90% and a rising subscribership base;
combined fixed-line and mobile cellular teledensity exceeded 60
telephones per 100 persons in 2009; telephone system consists of
carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio
relay
international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Broadcast media: