Agriculture: hampered by poor soils and scarcity of water; chief products—aloes, sorghum, peanuts, fresh vegetables, tropical fruit; not self-sufficient in food
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $353 million
Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (plural—guilders, gulden, or florins); 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin (NAf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, or florins(NAf.) per US$1—1.80 (fixed rate since 1971)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- CommunicationsHighways: 950 km total; 300 km paved, 650 km gravel and earth
Ports: Willemstad, Philipsburg, Kralendijk
Merchant marine: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 418,206 GRT/414,325 DWT; includes 4 passenger, 19 cargo, 5 refrigerated cargo, 7 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 6 multifunction large-load carrier, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 2 liquefied gas, 2 bulk; note—all but a few are foreign owned
Civil air: 5 major transport aircraft
Airports: 7 total, 7 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: generally adequate facilities; extensive interisland radio relay links; stations—9 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 2 submarine cables; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
- Defense Forces Military Manpower: males 15-49 49,299; 27,888 fit for military service; 1,678 reach military age (20) annually
Note: defense is responsibility of the Netherlands —————————————————————————— Country: New Caledonia (overseas territory of France) - Geography Total area: 19,060 km2; land area: 18,760 km2
Comparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use: NEGL% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 14% meadows and pastures; 51% forest and woodland; 35% other
Environment: typhoons most frequent from November to March
Note: located 1,750 km east of Australia in the South PacificOcean
- PeoplePopulation: 153,215 (July 1990), growth rate 1.1% (1990)
Birth rate: 24 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 7 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 39 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 71 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—New Caledonian(s); adjective—New Caledonian
Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3.0%
Religion: over 60% Roman Catholic, 30% Protestant, 10% other
Language: French; Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Labor force: 50,469; foreign workers for plantations and mines fromWallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and French Polynesia (1980 est.)
Organized labor: NA
- GovernmentLong-form name: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
Type: overseas territory of France
Capital: Noumea
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France)
Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note—a referendum on independence will be held in 1998, with a review of the issue in 1992
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
National holiday: Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Executive branch: high commissioner, Consultative Committee (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Leaders:Chief of State—President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);
Head of Government High Commissioner and President of the Council of Government Bernard GRASSET (since 15 July 1988)
Political parties: white-dominated Rassemblement pour la Caledoniedans la Republique (RPCR), conservative; Melanesian proindependence KanakSocialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS); Melanesian moderate Kanak SocialistLiberation (LKS); National Front (FN), extreme right; CaledonianSeparatist Front, extreme left
Suffrage: universal adult at age NA
Elections: Territorial Congress—last held NA June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(54 total) RPCR 27, FLNKS 19, FN 3, others 5;
French Senate—last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(1 total) RPCR 1;
French National Assembly—last held 5 and 12 June 1988 (next to be held June 1993); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(2 total) RPCR 2
Communists: number unknown; Palita extreme left party; some politically active Communists deported during 1950s; small number of North Vietnamese
Member of: EIB (associate), WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France,New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France
Flag: the flag of France is used
- Economy Overview: New Caledonia has more than 40% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.
GNP: $860 million, per capita $5,810; real growth rate 2.4% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1986)
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (1983)
Budget: revenues $110.5 million; expenditures $110.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1981)
Exports: $75 million (f.o.b., 1986); commodities—nickel metal 87%, nickel ore; partners—France 56.3%, Japan
Imports: $180 million (c.i.f., 1986); commodities—foods, fuels, minerals, machines, electrical equipment; partners—France 50.3%, Australia
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 400,000 kW capacity; 2,200 million kWh produced, 14,440 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: nickel mining
Agriculture: large areas devoted to cattle grazing; coffee, corn, wheat, vegetables; 60% self-sufficient in beef
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $3.6 billion
Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (plural—francs); 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1—104.71 (January 1990), 115.99 (1989), 108.30 (1988), 109.27 (1987), 125.92 (1986), 163.35 (1985); note—linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications Highways: 5,448 km total; 558 km paved, 2,251 km improved earth, 2,639 km unimproved earth
Ports: Noumea, Nepoui, Poro, Thio
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 29 total, 27 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: 32,578 telephones (1987); stations—5 AM, 3 FM, 7 TV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station
- Defense ForcesNote: defense is the responsibility of France——————————————————————————Country: New Zealand- GeographyTotal area: 268,680 km2; land area: 268,670 km2; includesAntipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island,Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Comparative area: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use: 2% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 53% meadows and pastures; 38% forest and woodland; 7% other; includes 1% irrigated
Environment: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe
- PeoplePopulation: 3,295,866 (July 1990), growth rate 0.4% (1990)
Birth rate: 16 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 3 migrant/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—New Zealander(s); adjective—New Zealand
Ethnic divisions: 88% European, 8.9% Maori, 2.9% Pacific Islander, 0.2% other
Religion: 81% Christian, 18% none or unspecified, 1% Hindu, Confucian, and other
Language: English (official), Maori
Literacy: 99%
Labor force: 1,591,900; 67.4% services, 19.8% manufacturing, 9.3% primary production (1987)
Organized labor: 681,000 members; 43% of labor force (1986)
- GovernmentLong-form name: none; abbreviated NZ
Type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and3 town districts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller,Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont, Eketahuna,Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay,Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay, Heathcote,Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood,Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu,Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri,Opotiki, Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako,Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga,Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford, Strathallan,Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent,Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo, Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate,Waimate West, Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa,Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland,Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of various documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty), 6 February (1840)
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (commonly calledParliament)
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal
Leaders: Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II ( since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General The Most Rev. Sir Paul REEVES (since 20 November 1985);
Head of Government—Prime Minister Geoffrey PALMER (since 8 August 1989); Deputy Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 8 August 1989)
Political parties and leaders: New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP; government),Geoffrey Palmer; National Party (NP; opposition), Jim Bolger; Democratic Party,Neil Morrison; Socialist Unity Party (SUP; pro-Soviet), Ken Douglas
Suffrage: universal at age 18
Elections: House of Representatives—last held on 15 August 1987 (next to be held by August 1990); results—LP 47%, NP 45%, DP 6%; seats—(97 total) LP 58, NP 39
Communists: SUP about 140, other groups, about 200
Member of: ADB, ANZUS, ASPAC, CCC, Colombo Plan, Commonwealth,DAC, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ISO, ITU, OECD, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO,WMO, WSG
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Harold Huyton FRANCIS; Chancery at 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 328-4800; there are New Zealand Consulates General in Los Angeles and New York; US—Ambassador Della NEWMAN; Embassy at 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington (mailing address is Private Bag, Wellington, or FPO San Francisco 96690-0001); telephone [64] (4) 722-068; there is a US Consulate General in Auckland
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
- Economy Overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting an agrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to an open free market economy that can compete on the global scene. The government has hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, reduce inflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. The results have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levels but growth has been sluggish and unemployment, always a highly sensitive issue, has been at a record high 7.4%. In 1988 GDP fell by 1% and in 1989 grew by a moderate 2.4%.
GDP: $39.1 billion, per capita $11,600; real growth rate 2.4% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 7.4% (1989)
Budget: revenues $18.6 billion; expenditures $19.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90 est.)
Exports: $8.9 billion (f.o.b., FY89); commodities—wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fruit, fish, cheese, manufactures, chemicals, foresty products; partners—EC 18.3%, Japan 17.9%, Australia 17.5%, US 13.5%, China 3.6%, South Korea 3.1%
Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., FY89); commodities—petroleum, consumer goods, motor vehicles, industrial equipment; partners—Australia 19.7%, Japan 16.9%, EC 16.9%, US 15.3%, Taiwan 3.0%
External debt: $17.0 billion (1989)
Industrial production: growth rate - 1.6% (FY88)
Electricity: 7,800,000 kW capacity; 27,600 million kWh produced, 8,190 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Agriculture: accounts for about 9% of GNP and 10% of the work force; livestock predominates—wool, meat, dairy products all export earners; crops—wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, and vegetables; surplus producer of farm products; fish catch reached a record 431,000 metric tons in 1987
Aid: donor—ODA and OOF commitments (1970-87), $448 million
Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural—dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.6581 (January 1990), 1.6708 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
- Communications Railroads: 4,716 km total; all 1.067-meter gauge; 274 km double track; 113 km electrified; over 99% government owned
Highways: 92,648 km total; 49,547 km paved, 43,101 km gravel or crushed stone
Inland waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines: 1,000 km natural gas; 160 km refined products; 150 km condensate
Ports: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Tauranga
Merchant marine: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 190,553 GRT/257,782 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 2 container, 4 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 railcar carrier, 4 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 5 bulk
Civil air: about 40 major transport aircraft
Airports: 157 total, 157 usable; 33 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 47 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: excellent international and domestic systems; 2,110,000 telephones; stations 64 AM, 2 FM, 14 TV; submarine cables extend to Australia and Fiji; 2 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
- Defense ForcesBranches: Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army, Royal New ZealandAir Force
Military manpower: males 15-49, 872,336; 740,207 fit for military service; 29,532 reach military age (20) annually
Defense expenditures: 2.1% of GDP, or $820 million (1989 est.)——————————————————————————Country: Nicaragua- GeographyTotal area: 129,494 km2; land area: 120,254 km2
Comparative area: slightly larger than New York State
Land boundaries: 1,231 km total; Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 25 nm security zone (status of claim uncertain);
Continental shelf: not specified;
Territorial sea: 200 nm
Disputes: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago deSan Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: 9% arable land; 1% permanent crops; 43% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 12% other; including 1% irrigated
Environment: subject to destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasional severe hurricanes; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
- PeoplePopulation: 3,722,683 (July 1990), growth rate 2.8% (1990)
Birth rate: 40 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 68 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 62 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Nicaraguan(s); adjective—Nicaraguan
Ethnic divisions: 69% mestizo, 17% white, 9% black, 5% Indian
Religion: 95% Roman Catholic, 5% Protestant
Language: Spanish (official); English- and Indian-speaking minorities onAtlantic coast
Literacy: 88% (1981)
Labor force: 1,086,000; 43% service, 44% agriculture, 13% industry (1986)
Organized labor: 35% of labor force
- GovernmentLong-form name: Republic of Nicaragua
Type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 9 administrative regions encompassing 17departments (departamentos, singular—departamento); North, Atlantic Coast,South, Atlantic Coast, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli,Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia,Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution: January 1987
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch: National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema) and municipal courts
Leaders:Chief of State and Head of Government—President-Elect VioletaBarios de CHAMORRO (since 25 February 1990; takes office 25 April 1990);Vice President-elect Virgilio GODOY (since 25 February 1990; takes office25 April 1990)
Political parties and leaders:
Ruling coalition: National Opposition Union (UNO)—14 partyalliance: National Conservative Party (PNC), Silviano Matamoros;Conservative Popular Alliance Party (PAPC), Miriam Arguello;National Conservative Action Party (PANC), Hernaldo Zuniga;National Democratic Confidence Party (PDCN), Augustin Jarquin;Independent Liberal Party (PLI), Virgilio Godoy;Neo-Liberal Party (PALI), Andres Zuniga;Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), Jose Ernesto Somarriba;National Action Party (PAN), Eduardo Rivas;Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), Gustavo Tablada;Communist Party of Nicaragua (PCdeN), Eli Altimirano;Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Luis Humberto;Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), Roberto Urroz;Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guillermo Potoy;Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), Alejandro Perez;
Opposition parties: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN),Daniel Ortega;Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca Rojas;Democratic Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCDN), Jose Brenes;Liberal Party of National Unity (PLUIN), Eduardo Coronado;Movement of Revolutionary Unity (MUR), Francisco Samper;Social Christian Party (PSC), Erick Ramirez;Revolutionary Workers' Party (PRT), Bonifacio Miranda;Social Conservative Party (PSOC), Fernando Aguerro;Popular Action Movement—Marxist-Leninist (MAP-ML), Isidro Tellez;Popular Social Christian Party (PPSC), Mauricio Diaz
Suffrage: universal at age 16
Elections:President—last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February1996);results—Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (UNO) 54.7%, Daniel Ortega Saavedra(FSLN) 40.8%, others 4.5%;
National Constituent Assembly—last held on 25 February 1990 (next to be held February 1996); results—UNO 53.9%, FSLN 40.8%, PSC 1.6%, MUR 1.0%; seats—(92 total) UNO 51, FSLN 39, PSC 1, MUR 1
Communists: FSLN—35,000; other Communists—15,000-20,000
Other political or pressure groups: Permanent Congress of Workers(CPT), Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS), Autonomous NicaraguanWorkers' Central (CTN-A), Independent General Confederation of Workers(CTG-I), Communist Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS), NicaraguanWorkers' Central (CST); Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) isan umbrella group of 11 different business groups, including the Chamber ofCommerce, the Chamber of Industry, and the Nicaraguan Development Institute(INDE)
Member of: CACM, CEMA (observer), FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC,ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB—Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS, ODECA, PAHO, SELA, UN,UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation: Charge d'Affaires Leonor Arguello de HUPER; Chancery at 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009; telephone (202) 387-4371 or 4372; US—Charge d'Affaires John P. LEONARD; Embassy at Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua (mailing address is APO Miami 34021); telephone [505] (2) 66010 or 66013, 66015 through 66018, 66026, 66027, 66032 through 66034; note—Nicaragua expelled the US Ambassador on 11 July 1988, and the US expelled the Nicaraguan Ambassador on 12 July 1988
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
- Economy Overview: Government control of the economy historically has been extensive, although the new government has pledged to reduce it. The financial system is directly controlled by the state, which also regulates wholesale purchasing, production, sales, foreign trade, and distribution of most goods. Over 50% of the agricultural and industrial firms are state owned. Sandinista economic policies and the war have produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economy continues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffee and cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989, the fifth successive year of decline. The agricultural sector employs 44% of the work force and accounts for 23% of GDP and 86% of export earnings. Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and contributes 26% to GDP, showed a sharp drop of - 23% in 1988 and remains below pre-1979 levels. External debt is one of the highest in the world on a per capita basis. In 1989 the annual inflation rate was 1,700%, down from a record 16,000% in 1988. Shortages of basic consumer goods are widespread.
GDP: $1.7 billion, per capita $470; real growth rate - 5.0% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1,700% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1989)
Budget: revenues $0.9 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $0.15 billion (1987)
Exports: $250 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities—coffee, cotton, sugar, bananas, seafood, meat, chemicals; partners—CEMA 15%, OECD 75%, others 10%
Imports: $550 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities—petroleum, food, chemicals, machinery, clothing; partners—CEMA 55%, EC 20%, Latin America 10%, others 10%
External debt: $8 billion (year end 1988)
Industrial production: growth rate - 23% (1988 est.)
Electricity: 415,000 kW capacity; 1,340 million kWh produced, 380 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP and 44% of work force; cash crops—coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton; food crops—rice, corn, cassava, citrus fruit, beans; variety of animal products—beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy; while normally self-sufficient in food, war-induced shortages now exist
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-82), $290 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $981 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $3.3 billion
Currency: cordoba (plural—cordobas); 1 cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: cordobas (C$) per US$1—65,000 (February 1990) is the free market rate; official rate is 46,000 (February 1990), 270 (1988), 0.103 (1987), 0.097 (1986), 0.039 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- Communications Railroads: 373 km 1.067-meter gauge, government owned; majority of system not operating; 3 km 1.435-meter gauge line at Puerto Cabezas (does not connect with mainline)
Highways: 25,930 km total; 4,000 km paved (includes all 2,170 km gravel or crushed stone, 5,425 km earth or graded earth, 14,335 km unimproved, 368.5 km of the Pan-American highway)
Inland waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines: crude oil, 56 km
Ports: Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino, Rama
Merchant marine: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,161GRT/2,500 DWT
Civil air: 12 major transport aircraft
Airports: 261 total, 169 usable; 9 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 12 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: low-capacity radio relay and wire system being expanded; connection into Central American Microwave System; 60,000 telephones; stations—45 AM, no FM, 7 TV, 3 shortwave; satellite earth stations—1 Intersputnik and 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
- Defense ForcesBranches: Sandinista Popular Army, Sandinista Navy, Sandinista AirForce/Air Defense, Sandinista People's Militia
Military manpower: males 15-49, 747,144; 459,333 fit for military service; 44,213 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: NA——————————————————————————Country: Niger- GeographyTotal area: 1,267,000 km2; land area: 1,266,700 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: 5,697 km total; Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km,Burkina 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline: none—landlocked
Maritime claims: none—landlocked
Disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger; exact locations of the Chad-Niger-Nigeria and Cameroon-Chad-Nigeria tripoints in Lake Chad have not been determined, so the boundary has not been demarcated and border incidents have resulted; Burkina and Mali are proceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates
Land use: 3% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 2% forest and woodland; 88% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: recurrent drought and desertification severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; overgrazing; soil erosion
Note: landlocked
- PeoplePopulation: 7,969,309 (July 1990), growth rate 3.6% (1990)
Birth rate: 52 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 131 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 53 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 7.4 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Nigerien(s) adjective—Nigerien
Ethnic divisions: 56% Hausa; 22% Djerma; 8.5% Fula; 8% Tuareg; 4.3% Beri Beri (Kanouri); 1.2% Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche; about 4,000 French expatriates
Religion: 80% Muslim, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Language: French (official); Hausa, Djerma
Literacy: 13.9%
Labor force: 2,500,000 wage earners (1982); 90% agriculture, 6% industry and commerce, 4% government; 51% of population of working age (1985)
Organized labor: negligible
- GovernmentLong-form name: Republic of Niger
Type: republic; presidential system in which military officers hold key offices
Capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular—departement); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey, Tahoua, Zinder
Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)
Constitution: adopted NA December 1989 after 15 years of military rule
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holidays: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Executive branch: president, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch: National Development Council
Judicial branch: State Court (Cour d'Etat), Court of Appeal(Cour d'Apel)
Leaders:Chief of State—President Brig. Gen. Ali SAIBOU (since 14 November 1987);
Head of Government—Prime Minister ALIOU MAHAMIDA (since 2 March 1990)
Political parties and leaders: only party—National Movement for the Development Society (MNSD), leader NA
Suffrage: universal adult at age 18
Elections: President—last held December 1989 (next to be held NA 1996); results—President Ali Saibou was reelected without opposition;
National Development Council—last held December 1989 (next to be held NA 1994); results—MNSD is the only party; seats—(150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected)
Communists: no Communist party; some sympathizers in outlawed Sawaba party
Member of: ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, CEAO, EAMA, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente,FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB—Islamic Development Bank,IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, ITU, Lake Chad BasinCommission, Niger River Commission, NAM, OAU, OCAM, OIC, UN, UNESCO,UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE; Chancery at 2204 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-4224 through 4227; US—Ambassador Carl C. CUNDIFF; Embassy at Avenue des Ambassadeurs, Niamey (mailing address is B. P. 11201, Niamey); telephone [227] 72-26-61 through 64 and 72-26-70
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India which has a blue, spoked wheel centered in the white band
- Economy
Overview: About 90% of the population is engaged in farming and stock rearing, activities which generate almost half of the national income. The economy also depends heavily on exploitation of large uranium deposits. Uranium production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but tapered off in the early 1980s, when world prices declined. France is a major customer, while FRG, Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases. The depressed demand for uranium has contributed to an overall sluggishness in the economy, a severe trade imbalance, and a mounting external debt.
GDP: $2.4 billion, per capita $330; real growth rate 7.1% (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): - 1.4% (1988)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $254 million; expenditures $510 million, including capital expenditures of $239 million (1988 est.)
Exports: $371 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.); commodities—uranium 76%, livestock, cowpeas, onions, hides, skins; partners—NA
Imports: $441 million (c.i.f., 1988 est.); commodities—petroleum products, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, electronic equipment, pharmaceuticals, chemical products, cereals, foodstuffs
External debt: $1.8 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1989 est.)
Electricity: 102,000 kW capacity; 225 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: cement, brick, rice mills, small cotton gins, oilseed presses, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium production began in 1971
Agriculture: accounts for roughly 40% of GDP and 90% of labor force; cash crops—cowpeas, cotton, peanuts; food crops—millet, sorghum, cassava, rice; livestock—cattle, sheep, goats; self-sufficient in food except in drought years
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $349 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $2.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $504 million; Communist countries (1970-88), $61 million
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (plural—francs); 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—287.99 (January 1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988), 300.54 (1987), 346.30 (1986), 449.26 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
- Communications Highways: 39,970 km total; 3,170 km bituminous, 10,330 km gravel and laterite, 3,470 km earthen, 23,000 km tracks
Inland waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on the Benin frontier from mid-December through March
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airports: 31 total, 29 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 11 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: small system of wire, radiocommunications, and radiorelay links concentrated in southwestern area; 11,900 telephones; stations—15AM, 5 FM, 16 TV; satellite earth stations—1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 IndianOcean INTELSAT, and 4 domestic
- Defense ForcesBranches: Army, Air Force, paramilitary Gendarmerie, paramilitaryRepublican Guard, paramilitary Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Police
Military manpower: males 15-49, 1,656,466; 894,095 fit for military service; 87,478 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: $20.6 million (1988)——————————————————————————Country: Nigeria- GeographyTotal area: 923,770 km2; land area: 910,770 km2
Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: 4,047 km total; Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km,Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 30 nm
Disputes: exact locations of the Chad-Niger-Nigeria and Cameroon-Chad-Nigeria tripoints in Lake Chad have not been determined, so the boundary has not been demarcated and border incidents have resulted; Nigerian proposals to reopen maritime boundary negotiations and redemarcate the entire land boundary have been rejected by Cameroon
Climate: varies—equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Natural resources: crude oil, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
Land use: 31% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 23% meadows and pastures; 15% forest and woodland; 28% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Environment: recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities; desertification; soil degradation, rapid deforestation
- PeoplePopulation: 118,819,377 (July 1990), growth rate 3.0% (1990)
Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 1 migrant/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 119 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 48 years male, 49 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Nigerian(s); adjective—Nigerian
Ethnic divisions: more than 250 tribal groups; Hausa and Fulani of the north, Yoruba of the southwest, and Ibos of the southeast make up 65% of the population; about 27,000 non-Africans
Religion: 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% indigenous beliefs
Language: English (official); Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani, and several other languages also widely used
Literacy: 42.4%
Labor force: 42,844,000; 54% agriculture, 19% industry, commerce, and services, 15% government; 49% of population of working age (1985)
Organized labor: 3,520,000 wage earners belong to 42 recognized trade unions, which come under a single national labor federation—the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC)
- GovernmentLong-form name: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Type: military government since 31 December 1983
Capital: Lagos
Administrative divisions: 21 states and 1 territory*;Abuja Capital Territory*, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bendel, Benue, Borno,Cross River, Gongola, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun,Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
Constitution: 1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic, and tribal law
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Executive branch: president of the Armed Forces Ruling Council,Armed Forces Ruling Council, National Council of State, Council ofMinisters (cabinet)
Legislative branch: National Assembly was dissolved after the military coup of 31 December 1983
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
Leaders:Chief of State and Head of Government—President and Commander inChief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA (since 27 August 1985)
Political parties and leaders: two political parties established by the government in 1989—Social Democratic Party (SDP) and National Republican Convention (NRC)
Suffrage: universal at age 21
Elections:President—scheduled for 1 October 1992
Communists: the pro-Communist underground consists of a small fraction of the Nigerian left; leftist leaders are prominent in the country's central labor organization but have little influence on government
Member of: ACP, AfDB, APC, CCC, Commonwealth, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO,G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITC, ITU, IWC—International WheatCouncil, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Niger River Commission, NAM, OAU,OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Hamzat AHMADU; Chancery at 2201 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202) 822-1500; there are Nigerian Consulates General in Atlanta, New York and San Francisco; US—Ambassador Lannon WALKER; Embassy at 2 Eleke Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos (mailing address is P. O. Box 554, Lagos); telephone [234] (1) 610097; there is a US Consulate General in Kaduna
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
- Economy Overview: In 1989, despite rising oil prices, the economic performance failed to meet government expectations because of higher inflationary pressures fueled by a relatively poor agricultural performance. Agricultural production was up only 4% following a 10% decline in 1988, and manufacturing remained below the 1985 level with only a 6% increase. The government is continuing an economic adjustment program to reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil and to help create a basis for sustainable noninflationary growth.
GNP: $30.0 billion, per capita $270; real growth rate 4% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 47.5% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1988 est.)
Budget: revenues $6.5 billion; expenditures $7.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.9 billion (1988 est.)
Exports: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.); commodities—oil 95%, cocoa, palm kernels, rubber; partners—EC 51%, US 32%
Imports: $5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1989 est.); commodities—consumer goods, capital equipment, chemicals, raw materials; partners—EC, US
External debt: $32 billion, medium and long-term (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1987 est.)
Electricity: 4,737,000 kW capacity; 11,270 million kWh produced, 100 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: mining—crude oil, natural gas, coal, tin, columbite; primary processing industries—palm oil, peanut, cotton, rubber, petroleum, wood, hides and skins; manufacturing industries—textiles, cement, building materials, food products, footwear, chemical, printing, ceramics, steel
Agriculture: accounts for 28% of GNP and half of labor force; inefficient small-scale farming dominates; once a large net exporter of food and now an importer; cash crops—cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, rubber; food crops—corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams; livestock—cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; fishing and forestry resources extensively exploited
Illicit drugs: illicit heroin and some cocaine trafficking; marijuana cultivation for domestic consumption and export; major transit country for heroin en route from Southwest Asia via Africa to Western Europe and the US; growing transit route for cocaine from South America via West Africa to Western Europe and the US
Aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $662 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $1.9 billion; Communist countries (1970-88), $2.2 billion
Currency: naira (plural—naira); 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1—7.6221 (December 1989), 7.3647 (1989), 4.5370 (1988), 4.0160 (1987), 1.7545 (1986), 0.8938 (1985)
Fiscal year: calendar year
- CommunicationsRailroads: 3,505 km 1.067-meter gauge
Highways: 107,990 km total 30,019 km paved (mostly bituminous-surface treatment); 25,411 km laterite, gravel, crushed stone, improved earth; 52,560 km unimproved
Inland waterways: 8,575 km consisting of Niger and Benue Rivers and smaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines: 2,042 km crude oil; 500 km natural gas; 3,000 km refined products
Ports: Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele
Merchant marine: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 428,116 GRT/680,343 DWT; includes 19 cargo, 1 refrigerated, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 5 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 bulk
Civil air: 76 major transport aircraft
Airports: 84 total, 72 usable; 32 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 13 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 22 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: above-average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress; radio relay and cable routes; 155,000 telephones; stations—37 AM, 19 FM, 38 TV; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, domestic, with 19 stations; 1 coaxial submarine cable
- Defense ForcesBranches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary Police Force
Military manpower: males 15-49, 27,282,248; 15,587,485 fit for military service; 1,263,883 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: 1% of GNP, or $300 million (1990 est.) —————————————————————————— Country: Niue (free association with New Zealand) - Geography Total area: 260 km2; land area: 260 km2
Comparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims:
Extended economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: 61% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 19% forest and woodland; 12% other
Environment: subject to typhoons
Note: one of world's largest coral islands; located about 460 km east of Tonga
- PeoplePopulation: 2,019 (July 1990), growth rate NA (1990)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Niuean(s); adjective—Niuean
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian, with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, andTongans
Religion: 75% Ekalesia Nieue (Niuean Church)—a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society, 10% Mormon, 5% Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventist
Language: Polynesian tongue closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English
Literacy: NA%, but education compulsory between 5 and 14 years of age
Labor force: 1,000 (1981 est.); most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Organized labor: NA
- GovernmentLong-form name: none
Type: self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (self-governing territory in free association withNew Zealand)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution
Legal system: English common law
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty), 6 February (1840)
Executive branch: British monarch, premier, Cabinet
Legislative branch: Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch: Appeal Court of New Zealand, High Court
Leaders: Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by New Zealand Representative John SPRINGFORD (since 1974);
Head of Government—Premier Sir Robert R. REX (since NA October 1974)
Suffrage: universal adult at age 18
Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party, leader NA
Elections: Legislative Assembly—last held on 28 March 1987 (next to be held NA 1990); results—percent of vote NA; seats—(20 total, 6 elected) independents 5, Niue People's Action Party 1
Member of: ESCAP (associate member), SPF
Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars—a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
- Economy Overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid from New Zealand. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, with the shortfall made up by grants from New Zealand—the grants are used to pay wages to the 80% or more of the work force employed in public service. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
GNP: $2.1 million, per capita $1,000; real growth rate NA% (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.6% (1984)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues $5.5 million; expenditures $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY85 est.)
Exports: $175,274 (f.o.b., 1985); commodities—canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts; partners—NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $3.8 million (c.i.f., 1985); commodities—food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs; partners—NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Western Samoa, Australia, US
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: 1,500 kW capacity; 3 million kWh produced, 1,420 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: tourist, handicrafts
Agriculture: copra, coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes; subsistence crops—taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $58 million
Currency: New Zealand dollar (plural—dollars); 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.6581 (January 1990),1.6708 (1989), 1.5244 (1988), 1.6886 (1987), 1.9088 (1986), 2.0064 (1985)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
- CommunicationsHighways: 123 km all-weather roads, 106 km access and plantation roads
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway of 1,650 m
Telecommunications: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island; 383 telephones; 1,000 radio receivers (1987 est.); stations—1 AM, 1 FM, no TV
- Defense Forces Note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand —————————————————————————— Country: Norfolk Island (territory of Australia) - Geography Total area: 34.6 km2; land area: 34.6 km2
Comparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 32 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 12 nm;
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation;
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Natural resources: fish
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 25% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 75% other
Environment: subject to typhoons (especially May to July)
Note: located 1,575 km east of Australia in the South PacificOcean
- PeoplePopulation: 2,533 (July 1990), growth rate 1.7% (1990)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Norfolk Islander(s); adjective—Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic divisions: descendants of the Bounty mutiny; more recently,Australian and New Zealand settlers
Religion: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Uniting Church inAustralia, and Seventh-Day Adventist
Language: English (official) and Norfolk—a mixture of 18th centuryEnglish and ancient Tahitian
Literacy: NA%, but probably high
Labor force: NA
Organized labor: NA
- GovernmentLong-form name: Territory of Norfolk Island
Type: territory of Australia
Capital: Kingston (administrative center), Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1957
Legal system: wide legislative and executive responsibility under theNorfolk Island Act of 1979; Supreme Court
National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Executive branch: British monarch, governor general of Australia, administrator, Executive Council (cabinet)
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Leaders: Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Administrator H. B. MACDONALD (since NA 1989), who is appointed by the Governor General of Australia;
Head of Government—Assembly President and Chief Minister JohnTerence BROWN (since NA)
Political parties and leaders: NA
Suffrage: universal at age 18