Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions;
Korean National Council of Churches; Korean Traders Association;
Korean Veterans' Association; National Council of Labor Unions;
National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Farmers'
Associations; National Federation of Student Associations
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue
partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP,
EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP,
UNOMIG, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador YANG
Song-chol chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu,
Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s):
Tamuning (Guam) FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 82 Sejong-ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul 110-710 mailing
address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001 telephone: [82]
(2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
Flag description: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in
the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching
(Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field
Economy Korea, South
Economy - overview: As one of the Four Tigers of East Asia, South
Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago
GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries
of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is seven times India's,
17 times North Korea's, and comparable to the lesser economies of the
European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a
system of close government/business ties, including directed credit,
import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong
labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and
technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings
and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-99
exposed certain longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development
model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing,
and an undisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged by 6.6% in 1998,
then strongly recovered to plus 10% in 1999 and 9% in 2000. Growth fell
back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling
exports, and the perception that much-needed corporate and financial
reforms have stalled.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $865 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 44% services: 51%
(2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 24.8% (1998 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 31.6 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 22 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: services 69%, industry 21.5%, agriculture
9.5% (2001)
Unemployment rate: 3.9% (2001)
Budget: revenues: $118.1 billion expenditures: $95.7 billion, including
capital expenditures of $22.6 billion (2000)
Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding,
steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 273.204 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.63% hydro: 1.45%
other: 0.03% (2000) nuclear: 37.89%
Electricity - consumption: 254.08 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit;
cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $168.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: electronic products, machinery and equipment,
motor vehicles, steel, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
Exports - partners: US 21.8%, Japan 11.9%, China 10.7%, Hong Kong 6.2%,
Taiwan 4.7% (2000)
Imports: $152.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment,
oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
Imports - partners: Japan 19.8%, US 18.2%, China 8%, Saudi Arabia 6%,
Australia 3.7% (2000)
Debt - external: $120.5 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: South Korean won (KRW)
Currency code: KRW
Exchange rates: South Korean won per US dollar - 1,317.01 (January
2002), 1,290.99 (2001), 1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999), 1,401.44
(1998), 951.29 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use: 24 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 28 million (September 2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: excellent domestic and
international services domestic: NA international: fiber-optic submarine
cable to China; the Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth
stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat
(Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 104, FM 136, shortwave 5 (2001)
Radios: 47.5 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations: 121 (plus 850 repeater stations and the
eight-channel American Forces Korea Network) (1999)
Televisions: 15.9 million (1997)
Internet country code: .kr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 11 (2000)
Internet users: 22.23 million (2001)
Transportation Korea, South
Railways: total: 3,124 km standard gauge: 3,124 km 1.435-m gauge (661
km electrified) (2000)
Highways: total: 87,534 km paved: 65,388 km (including 1,996 km of
expressways) unpaved: 22,146 km (1999)
Waterways: 1,609 km note: restricted to small native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km
Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang,
Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine: total: 501 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,679,171
GRT/9,172,403 DWT ships by type: bulk 104, cargo 160, chemical tanker 47,
combination bulk 6, container 52, liquefied gas 16, multi-functional
large-load carrier 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 73, refrigerated
cargo 25, roll on/roll off 5, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 3,
vehicle carrier 5, includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as
a flag of convenience: Australia 1, Bulgaria 1, China 1, Greece 1, Japan
1, Malaysia 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,
United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 102 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 68 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047
m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 20 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m:
32 (2001)
Heliports: 203 (2001)
Military Korea, South
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime
Police (Coast Guard)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,194,960 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 8,990,488
(2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 394,397
(2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $12.8 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.8% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Korea, South
Disputes - international: Demarcation Line with North Korea; Liancourt
Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) disputed with Japan
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Christmas Island
Introduction
Christmas Island
Background: Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was
annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining
began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in
1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Geography Christmas Island
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 135 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: 200 NM territorial sea: Climate: tropical; heat and
humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:
Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources: phosphate, beaches
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly
tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People Christmas Island
Population: 474 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: -9% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years female: NA years
male: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups: Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous
population (2001)
Religions: Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages: English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy: NA
Government Christmas Island
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered by the Australian
Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type: NA
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: NA
Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of Australia
and Australian law
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government:
Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor
general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Legislative branch: unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve one-year terms) election results:
percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 elections: last held NA
December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2002)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986,
the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island
flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as
the official flag of the territory
Economy Christmas Island
Economy - overview: Phosphate mining had been the only significant
economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government
closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the
government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in
1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation
of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin
operation in 2003.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures
of $NA
Industries: tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% other:
NA% nuclear: NA%
Electricity - consumption: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: NA
Exports: $NA
Exports - commodities: phosphate
Exports - partners: Australia, NZ
Imports: $NA
Imports - commodities: consumer goods
Imports - partners: principally Australia
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code: AUD
Exchange rates: Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (January 2002),
1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use: NA
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: service provided by the Australian network domestic:
earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex
service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 600 (1997)
Internet country code: .cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Transportation Christmas Island
Railways: 24 km to serve phosphate mines
Highways: total: 140 km (not including 100 km that is maintained by
private industry) paved: 30 km unpaved: 110 km (1999)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Flying Fish Cove
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Military Christmas Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
========================================================================
Kuwait
Introduction
Kuwait
Background: Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August
1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led UN coalition
began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that completely liberated
Kuwait in four days. Kuwait has spent more than $5 billion to repair
oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.
Geography Kuwait
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and
Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 17,820 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi
Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point:
unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April;
they bring heavy rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and
dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March
and August
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources;
some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities
provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Climate Change,
Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Geography - note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People Kuwait
Population: 2,111,561 note: includes 1,159,913 non-nationals (July
2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.3% (male 304,200; female 292,900) 15-64
years: 69.2% (male 934,115; female 527,331) 65 years and over: 2.5%
(male 34,106; female 18,909) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.33% note: this rate reflects a return to
pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 21.84 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 2.46 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 13.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.46 years male: 75.56
years female: 77.39 years (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.14 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.12% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%,
other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi,
and other 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
Government Kuwait
Country name: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short
form: Kuwait local short form: Al Kuwayt local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -
muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal
matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more
or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants
at age 21 note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,
naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have
been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah
(since 31 December 1977) head of government: Prime Minister and Crown
Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978);
First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17
October 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamud Al Sabah
(since NA) and MUHAMMAD KHALID al-Hamed Al Sabah (since NA) cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by
the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister
and deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma
(50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 July 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election
results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50; note - all
cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none; formation of political parties
is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders: several political groups act
as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists,
and secular leftists and nationalists
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,
BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM,
OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador Sheikh Salem Abdullah
Al Jaber AL SABAH FAX: Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Richard H. JONES embassy: Bayan, near the Bayan palace, Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait Unit 69000,
APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 539-5307, ext. 2240 FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,
and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
Economy Kuwait
Economy - overview: Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open
economy with proved crude oil reserves of 94 billion barrels - 10%
of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90%
of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait's climate
limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of
fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable
water must be distilled or imported. Higher oil prices put the FY99/00
budget into a $2 billion surplus. The FY00/01 budget covers only nine
months because of a change in the fiscal year. The budget for FY01/02
envisioned higher expenditures for salaries, construction, and other
general categories. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil
companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $30.9 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: industry: 60% services: 39.7% agriculture:
0.3% (2000)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (2001)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1998 est.) note: 68% of the population in
the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $11.5 billion expenditures: $17.2 billion, including
capital expenditures of $NA (FY01/02)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,
construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 31.2 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0%
(2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 29.016 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: practically no crops; fish
Exports: $16.2 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners: Japan 23%, US 14%, South Korea 13%, Singapore 7%,
Netherlands 6%, Pakistan 6%, Indonesia 4%, UK 2% (2000)
Imports: $7.4 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: food, construction materials, vehicles and parts,
clothing
Imports - partners: US 12%, Japan 8%, UK 8%, Germany 7%, China 5%,
France 4%, Australia 3%, Netherlands 2% (2000)
Debt - external: $6.9 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: NA
Currency: Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Currency code: KWD