tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the
former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of
North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur
al-HADI (since 3 October 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad MUJAWWAR (since 31
March 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held on 20 September 2006 (next to be held in
September 2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime
minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of
vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%
Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats;
members appointed by the president) and House of Representatives
(301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve eight-year
terms)
elections: last held on 27 April 2003 (scheduled April 2009 election
postponed for two years)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
GPC 238, Islah 47, YSP 6, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab
Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 5
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
General People's Congress or GPC [Abdul-Kader BAJAMMAL]; Islamic
Reform Grouping or Islah [Muhammed Abdallah AL-YADUMI]; Nasserite
Unionist Party [Abd al-Malik al-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab Socialist
Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM]; Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Yasin
Said NUMAN]; note - there are at least seven more active political
parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Muslim Brotherhood; Women National Committee
other: conservative tribal groups; Huthis, southern secessionist
groups; al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
International organization participation:
AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI
chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald M. FEIERSTEIN
embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266
FAX: [967] (1) 303-182
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the
band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent
oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be
replaced by a bright future (white)
note: similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars in the
white band, and of Iraq, which has an Arabic inscription centered in
the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a
heraldic eagle centered in the white band
National anthem:
name: "al-qumhuriyatu l-muttahida" (United Republic)
lyrics/music: Abdullah Abdulwahab NOA'MAN/Ayyoab Tarish ABSI
note: adopted 1990; the music first served as the anthem for South
Yemen before unification with North Yemen in 1990
Economy ::Yemen
Economy - overview:
Yemen is a low income country that is highly dependent on declining
oil resources for revenue. Petroleum accounts for roughly 25% of GDP
and 70% of government revenue. Yemen has tried to counter the
effects of its declining oil resources by diversifying its economy
through an economic reform program initiated in 2006 that is
designed to bolster non-oil sectors of the economy and foreign
investment. In October 2009, Yemen exported its first liquefied
natural gas as part of this diversification effort. In January 2010,
the international community established the Friends of Yemen group
that aims to support Yemen's efforts towards economic and political
reform, and in August 2010 the IMF approved a three-year $370
million program to further this effort. Despite these ambitious
endeavors, Yemen continues to face difficult long term challenges,
including declining water resources and a high population growth
rate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$61.88 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$58.82 billion (2009 est.)
$56.67 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$30.02 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
3.8% (2009 est.)
3.2% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$2,600 (2009 est.)
$2,600 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 38.8%
services: 53% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
6.832 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Labor force - by occupation:
note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services,
construction, industry, and commerce account for less than
one-fourth of the labor force
Unemployment rate:
35% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Population below poverty line:
45.2% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 30.8% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.7 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 76
33.4 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Public debt:
39.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
36.7% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
5.4% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA%
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
18% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
18% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.551 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 106
$3.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$9.739 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
$9.552 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.297 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
$5.098 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton; dairy
products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish
Industries:
crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production
of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts;
small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair;
natural gas production
Industrial production growth rate:
9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Electricity - production:
5.665 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - consumption:
4.133 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
288,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Oil - consumption:
155,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Oil - exports:
274,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Oil - imports:
65,860 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - proved reserves:
3.16 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - production:
454,700 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Natural gas - exports:
454,700 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Natural gas - proved reserves:
478.5 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Current account balance:
-$2.181 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
-$2.328 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$7.462 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$5.812 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish, liquefied natural gas
Exports - partners:
China 36%, Thailand 17.63%, India 13.54%, South Africa 6.16%, Japan
5.49%, UAE 4.99% (2009)
Imports:
$8.35 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$7.518 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:
China 13.98%, UAE 12.3%, India 8.63%, Saudi Arabia 5.8%, US 4.52%,
Brazil 4.51%, Turkey 4.51%, Kuwait 4.33%, France 4.24% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.744 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$6.993 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$7.147 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$6.552 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Yemeni rials (YER) per US dollar - 220.05 (2010), 202.85 (2009),
199.76 (2008), 199.14 (2007), 197.18 (2006)
Communications ::Yemen
Telephones - main lines in use:
997,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 79
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.313 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
Telephone system:
general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have been
made to create a national telecommunications network
domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay,
cable, tropospheric scatter, GSM and CDMA mobile-cellular telephone
systems; fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity remains low by
regional standards
international: country code - 967; landing point for the
international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe
(FLAG); satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1
Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2
Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti
Broadcast media:
state-run TV with 2 stations; state-run radio with 2 national radio
stations and 5 local stations; stations from Oman and Saudi Arabia
can be accessed (2007)
Internet country code:
.ye
Internet hosts:
255 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 188
Internet users:
2.349 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 71
Transportation ::Yemen
Airports:
55 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 85
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 38
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 10 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 423 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,367 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 71,300 km
country comparison to the world: 67
paved: 6,200 km
unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 6
country comparison to the world: 128
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll
on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 14 (Moldova 1, Panama 4, Saint Kitts
and Nevis 1, Sierra Leone 2, unknown 6) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla
Transportation - note:
the International Maritime Bureau reports offshore waters in the
Gulf of Aden are high risk for piracy; numerous vessels, including
commercial shipping and pleasure craft, have been attacked and
hijacked both at anchor and while underway; crew, passengers, and
cargo are held for ransom
Military ::Yemen
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes Marines), Yemen Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya
al Jamahiriya al Yemeniya; includes Air Defense Force), Republican
Guard (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
voluntary military service program authorized in 2001; 2-year
service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,458,642
females age 16-49: 5,205,387 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,902,186
females age 16-49: 3,952,370 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 279,283
female: 269,824 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
6.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 7
Military - note:
a Coast Guard was established in 2002
Transnational Issues ::Yemen
Disputes - international:
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier
along sections of the fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem
illegal cross-border activities
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 91,587 (Somalia) (2007)
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@Zambia (Africa)
Introduction ::Zambia
Background:
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the [British]
South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in
1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred
development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon
independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper
prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991
brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996
saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001
was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a
legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate
Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched an anticorruption
investigation in 2002 to probe high-level corruption during the
previous administration. In 2006-07, this task force successfully
prosecuted four cases, including a landmark civil case in the UK in
which former President CHILUBA and numerous others were found liable
for USD 41 million. MWANAWASA was reelected in 2006 in an election
that was deemed free and fair. Upon his abrupt death in August 2008,
he was succeeded by his Vice President Rupiah BANDA, who
subsequently won a special presidential election in October 2008.
Geography ::Zambia
Location:
Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 752,618 sq km
country comparison to the world: 39
land: 743,398 sq km
water: 9,220 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo
1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania
338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain:
mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources:
copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium,
hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 6.99%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 92.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,560 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
105.2 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.74 cu km/yr (17%/7%/76%)
per capita: 149 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
periodic drought; tropical storms (November to April)
Environment - current issues:
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and
refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously
threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water
treatment presents human health risks
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with
Zimbabwe
People ::Zambia
Population:
13,460,305
country comparison to the world: 69
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: 45.1% (male 2,685,142/female 2,659,771)
15-64 years: 52.6% (male 3,122,305/female 3,116,846)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 114,477/female 164,199) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.118% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Birth rate:
44.63 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Death rate:
12.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Net migration rate:
-0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Urbanization:
urban population: 35% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 68.4 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 20
male: 73.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 63.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.03 years
country comparison to the world: 209
male: 50.81 years
female: 53.28 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.07 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
15.2% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.1 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
56,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some
locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups:
African 99.5% (includes Bemba, Tonga, Chewa, Lozi, Nsenga, Tumbuka,
Ngoni, Lala, Kaonde, Lunda, and other African groups), other 0.5%
(includes Europeans, Asians, and Americans) (2000 Census)
Religions:
Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
Bemba 30.1% (official), Nyanja 10.7% (official), Tonga 10.6%
(official), Lozi 5.7% (official), Chewa 4.9%, Nsenga 3.4%, Tumbuka
2.5%, Lunda 2.2% (official), Kaonde 2% (official), Lala 2%, Luvale
1.7% (official), English 1.7% (official), other 22.5% (2000 Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 7 years
male: 8 years
female: 7 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 178
Government ::Zambia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Lusaka
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka,
Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence:
24 October 1964 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution:
24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term limits
Legal system:
based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of
legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008); Vice
President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008); note - President
BANDA was acting president during the illness leading up to the
death of President Levy MWANAWASA on 18 August 2008, he was then
elected president on 30 October 2008 to serve out the remainder of
MWANAWASA's term; the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Rupiah BANDA (since 19 August 2008);
Vice President George KUNDA (since 14 November 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 October 2008
(next to be held in 2011); vice president appointed by the
president; note - due to the death of former President Levy
MWANAWASA, early elections were held to identify a replacement to
serve out the remainder of his term
election results: Rupiah BANDA elected president; percent of vote -
Rupiah BANDA 40.1%, Michael SATA 38.1%, Hakainde HICHILEMA 19.7%,
Godfrey MIYANDA 0.8%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected by
popular vote, 8 members appointed by the president, to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held on 28 September 2006 (next to be held in
October 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats not
determined 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by
the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil
and criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:
Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Edith NAWAKWI]; Heritage
Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or
MMD [vacant]; Party of Unity for Democracy and Development or PUDD
[Dan PULE]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Reform Party
[Nevers MUMBA]; United Democratic Alliance or UDA (a coalition of
RP, ZADECO, PUDD, and ZRP); United Liberal Party or ULP [Sakwiba
SIKOTA]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Tilyenji
KAUNDA]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Hakainde
HICHILEMA]; Zambia Democratic Congress or ZADECO [Langton SICHONE];
Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
SADC, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Shelia Z. SIWELA
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael
KOPLOVSKY
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka