highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 60,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: federal and territorial government 26%,
private 74% (trade 24%, other services 40%, industry 10%) (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $420 million expenditures: $431 million, including
capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services,
concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 825 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 767.25 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry,
beef
Exports: $75.7 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum
products; construction materials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports - partners: US 25%
Imports: $203 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food,
manufactured goods
Imports - partners: US 23%, Japan 19%
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: Guam receives large transfer payments from the
US Federal Treasury ($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no
income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress,
the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income
taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications Guam
Telephones - main lines in use: 84,134 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 55,000 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: modern system, integrated with
US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and
local access to the Internet international: satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam is a
trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, and GTE,
linking the US and Asia)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 221,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1997)
Televisions: 106,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .gu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 20 (2000)
Internet users: 5,000 (2000)
Transportation Guam
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 885 km paved: 675 km unpaved: 210 km note: there are
also 685 km of roads classified non-public, including roads located on
federal government installations
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 5 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Military Guam
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Guam
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Greece
Introduction
Greece
Background: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in
1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of
the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories
with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of Communist
rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship,
which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to
flee the country, lasted seven years. Democratic elections in 1974 and a
referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy;
Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU
in 1992).
Geography Greece
Location: Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and
the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 131,940 sq km water: 1,140 sq km land: 130,800 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries: total: 1,228 km border countries: Albania 282 km,
Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
246 km
Coastline: 13,676 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation territorial sea: 6 NM
Climate: temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain: mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as
peninsulas or chains of islands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point:
Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources: bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble,
hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 9% other: 69% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,
Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine
Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and
southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing
an archipelago of about 2,000 islands
People Greece
Population: 10,645,343 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 14.8% (male 814,605; female 765,613) 15-64
years: 67.1% (male 3,579,945; female 3,564,068) 65 years and over: 18.1%
(male 851,087; female 1,070,025) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.2% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 9.82 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8
male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 81.48 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 1.34 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.16% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 8,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Greek(s) adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups: Greek 98%, other 2% note: the Greek Government states
there are no ethnic divisions in Greece
Religions: Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages: Greek 99% (official), English, French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 97% male: 98.5% female: 96% (1999)
Government Greece
Country name: conventional long form: Hellenic Republic conventional
short form: Greece local short form: Ellas or Ellada former: Kingdom of
Greece local long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum
8 December 1974
Capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos)and
1 autonomous region*; Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai
Akarmania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios,
Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis,
Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala,
Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia,
Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria,
Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki,
Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution: 11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,
criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis)
STEPHANOPOULOS (since 10 March 1995) elections: president elected by
Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 8 February 2000
(next to be held by NA February 2005); prime minister appointed by the
president head of government: Cabinet appointed by the president on
the recommendation of the prime minister election results: Konstandinos
STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president; percent of Parliament vote - 90%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300
seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year
terms) elections: election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK
43.8%, ND 42.7%, KKE 5.5%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%;
seats by party - PASOK 158, ND 125, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and
Progress 6; note - seats by party as of January 2002 - PASOK 156, ND 122,
KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6, independents 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal;
all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with
a judicial council
Political parties and leaders: Coalition of the Left and Progress
(Synaspismos) [Nikolaos KONSTANDOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or
KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos
KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos
SIMITIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC,
CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Alexandros PHILON; note - expected to be replaced by Yeorgios SAVVAIDHIS
in 2002 consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans consulate(s)
general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
FAX: [1] (202) 939-5824 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5800 chancery: 2221
Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Thomas J. MILLER embassy: 91 Vassilissis Sophias Boulevard, GR-10160
Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30]
(10) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (10) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with
white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing
a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established
religion of the country
Economy Greece
Economy - overview: Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public
sector accounting for about half of GDP. Tourism is a key industry,
providing a large portion of GDP and foreign exchange earnings. Greece
is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of GDP. The economy
has improved steadily over the last few years, as the government tightened
policy in the run-up to Greece's entry into the EU's Economic and Monetary
Union (EMU) on 1 January 2001. Major challenges remaining include the
reduction of unemployment and further restructuring of the economy,
including privatizing several state enterprises, undertaking social
security reforms, overhauling the tax system, and minimizing bureaucratic
inefficiencies. Economic growth is forecast at 3%-3.5% in 2002.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $189.7 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,900 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.3% industry: 27.3% services:
64.4% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 32.7 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (2001)
Labor force: 4.32 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 21%, agriculture 20%, services 59%
(2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $45 billion expenditures: $47.6 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals,
metal products; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 49.581 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.53% hydro: 6.6%
other: 1.87% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 46.099 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 1.74 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 1.729 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives,
tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports: $12.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum
products, chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners: EU 44% (Germany 12%, Italy 9%, UK 6%), US 5% (2000)
Imports: $30.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners: EU 59% (Germany 13%, Italy 13%, France 7%,
Netherlands 6%, UK 5%), US 3% (2000)
Debt - external: $57 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $5.4 billion from EU (1997 est.)
Currency: euro (EUR); drachma (GRD) note: on 1 January 1999, the
European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be
used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002,
the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the
member countries
Currency code: EUR; GRD
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175
(2001); drachmae per US dollar - 380.21 (December 2000), 365.40 (2000),
305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998), 273.06 (1997) note: in January 2001,
the drachma became a participating currency within the Eurosystem,
and the euro market rate became applicable to all transactions
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Greece
Telephones - main lines in use: 5.431 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 937,700 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach
all areas; good mobile telephone and international service domestic:
microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open wire connections;
submarine cable to offshore islands international: tropospheric scatter; 8
submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean
and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 5.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also
two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Televisions: 2.54 million (1997)
Internet country code: .gr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 27 (2000)
Internet users: 1.33 million (1999)
Transportation Greece
Railways: total: 2,571 km standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (36
km electrified) narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
(a rack-type railway for steep grades) dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m
and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2001 est.)
Highways: total: 117,000 km paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of
expressways) unpaved: 9,594 km (1996)
Waterways: 80 km note: system consists of three coastal canals including
the Corinth Canal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting
the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyage
from the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; there are also three
unconnected rivers
Pipelines: crude oil 26 km; petroleum products 547 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala,
Kerkyra, Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus),
Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine: total: 802 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 27,998,523
GRT/49,458,125 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here
as a flag of convenience: Ireland 1, Japan 1, Liberia 1, Norway 1, Panama
2, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.) ships by type:
bulk 294, cargo 54, chemical tanker 25, combination bulk 7, combination
ore/oil 5, container 45, liquefied gas 7, multi-functional large-load
carrier 1, passenger 13, petroleum tanker 265, refrigerated cargo 3,
roll on/roll off 23, short-sea passenger 54, specialized tanker 4,
vehicle carrier 2
Airports: 79 (note - new Athens airport at Spafa opened in March 2001)
(2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 65 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047
m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m:
10 (2001)
Heliports: 4 (2001)
Military Greece
Military branches: Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force,
Police, National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 21 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,668,872 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,034,192
(2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 77,976
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $6.12 billion (FY99/00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 4.91% (FY99/00 est.)
Transnational Issues Greece
Disputes - international: Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to
resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes
in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia over its name
Illicit drugs: a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis
and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and
precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits
or is consumed in Greece
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Guatemala
Introduction
Guatemala
Background: Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule in 1821. During
the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military
and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996,
the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict,
which had led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created
some 1 million refugees.
Geography Guatemala
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras
and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador
and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 108,890 sq km water: 460 sq km land: 108,430 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km,
El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline: 400 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of
exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling
limestone plateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:
Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle,
hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 5% other: 82% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional
violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes
and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues: deforestation in the Peten rainforest;
soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note: no natural harbors on west coast
People Guatemala
Population: 13,314,079 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.8% (male 2,841,486; female 2,725,343)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 3,629,363; female 3,630,273) 65 years and over:
3.7% (male 227,369; female 260,245) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.57% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 34.17 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 6.67 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87
male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 69.66 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 4.51 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.38% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 73,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 3,600 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated
Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%,
Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and
others 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages: Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20 Amerindian
languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 63.6% male: 68.7% female: 58.5% (2000 est.)
Government Guatemala
Country name: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala
Government type: constitutional democratic republic
Capital: Guatemala
Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El
Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa,
Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos,
Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended
25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following
ouster of president; amended November 1993
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed
forces may not vote)