Chapter 18

_#_Communists: 466,000 members claimed by CPI, 361,000 members claimed by CPI/M; Communist extremist groups, about 15,000 members

_#_Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groups seeking greater communal autonomy; numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam Sena, Anand Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

_#_Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-6,G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC,ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS,NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abid HUSSEIN; Chancery at 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-7000; there are Indian Consulates General in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco;

US—Ambassador William CLARK, Jr.; Embassy at Shanti Path,Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi; telephone [91] (11) 600651; there are USConsulates General in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

_*Economy#_Overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming and handicrafts, modern agriculture, old and new branches of industry, and a multitude of support services. It presents both the entrepreneurial skills and drives of the capitalist system and widespread government intervention of the socialist mold. Growth of 4% to 5% annually in the 1980s has softened the impact of population growth on unemployment, social tranquility, and the environment. Agricultural output has continued to expand, reflecting the greater use of modern farming techniques and improved seed that have helped to make India self-sufficient in food grains and a net agricultural exporter. However, tens of millions of villagers, particularly in the south, have not benefited from the green revolution and live in abject poverty. Industry has benefited from a partial liberalization of controls. The growth rate of the service sector has also been strong. India, however, has been challenged more recently by much lower foreign exchange reserves, higher inflation, and a large debt service burden.

_#_GNP: $254 billion, per capita $300; real growth rate 4.5% (1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.0% (1990)

_#_Unemployment rate: 20% (1990 est.)

_#_Budget: revenues $34 billion; expenditures $54 billion, including capital expenditures of $13.3 billion (FY91)

_#_Exports: $17.0 billion (f.o.b., FY90);

commodities—gems and jewelry, engineering goods, clothing, textiles, chemicals, tea, coffee, fish products;

partners—EC 25%, US 19%, USSR and Eastern Europe 17%, Japan 10%

_#_Imports: $24.8 billion (c.i.f., FY90);

commodities—petroleum, capital goods, uncut gems and jewelry, chemicals, iron and steel, edible oils;

partners—EC 33%, Middle East 19%, Japan 10%, US 9%, USSR and Eastern Europe 8%

_#_External debt: $69.8 billion (1990 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 8.4% (1990); accounts for about 25% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 70,000,000 kW capacity; 245,000 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industries: textiles, food processing, steel, machinery, transportation equipment, cement, jute manufactures, mining, petroleum, power, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics

_#_Agriculture: accounts for about 30% of GNP and employs 67% of labor force; self-sufficient in food grains; principal crops—rice, wheat, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; livestock—cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and poultry; fish catch of about 3 million metric tons ranks among the world's top 10 fishing nations

_#_Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium poppy for the pharmaceutical trade, but some opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-88), $20.1 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $315 million; USSR (1970-89), $11.6 billion; Eastern Europe (1970-89), $105 million

_#_Currency: Indian rupee (plural—rupees); 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise

_#_Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1—18.329 (January 1990), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985)

_#_Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

_*Communications#_Railroads: 61,850 km total (1986); 33,553 km 1.676-meter broad gauge, 24,051 km 1.000-meter gauge, 4,246 km narrow gauge (0.762 meter and 0.610 meter); 12,617 km is double track; 6,500 km is electrified

_#_Highways: 1,633,300 km total (1986); 515,300 km secondary and 1,118,000 km gravel, crushed stone, or earth

_#_Inland waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels

_#_Pipelines: crude oil, 3,497 km; refined products, 1,703 km; natural gas, 902 km (1989)

_#_Ports: Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Kandla, Madras, New Mangalore, Port Blair (Andaman Islands)

_#_Merchant marine: 308 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,087,451 GRT/10,150,460 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 8 passenger-cargo, 100 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 8 container, 54 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 10 chemical tanker, 9 combination ore/oil, 115 bulk, 2 combination bulk

_#_Civil air: 93 major transport aircraft

_#_Airports: 345 total, 288 usable; 198 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 57 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 88 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: poor domestic telephone service, international radio communications adequate; 4,700,000 telephones; stations—96 AM, 4 FM, 274 TV (government controlled); domestic satellite system for communications and TV; 3 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations; submarine cables to Malaysia and United Arab Emirates

_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force, Border Security Forces, Coast Guard, Assam Rifles

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 232,793,714; 137,259,444 fit for military service; about 9,431,908 reach military age (17) annually

_#Defense expenditures: $9.2 billion, 3.5% of GNP (FY91)%@Indian Ocean*Geography#_Total area: 73,600,000 km2; Arabian Sea, Bass Strait, Bay of Bengal, Java Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies

_#_Comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of the US; third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean)

_#_Coastline: 66,526 km

_#_Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the north Indian Ocean and January/February in the south Indian Ocean

_#_Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the south Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the north Indian Ocean—low pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety East Ridge; maximum depth is 7,258 meters in the Java Trench

_#_Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

_#_Environment: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea

_#_Note: major choke points include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz,Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the LombokStrait; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme south nearAntarctica from May to October

_*Economy#_Overview: The Indian Ocean provides a major transportation highway for the movement of petroleum products from the Middle East to Europe and North and South American countries. Fish from the ocean are of growing economic importance to many of the bordering countries as a source of both food and exports. Fishing fleets from the USSR, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean for mostly shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

_#_Industries: based on exploitation of natural resources, particularly marine life, minerals, oil and gas production, fishing, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits

_*Communications#_Ports: Bombay (India), Calcutta (India), Madras (India),Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Fremantle (Australia),Jakarta (Indonesia), Melbourne (Australia), Richard's Bay (South Africa)

_#Telecommunications: no submarine cables%@Indonesia*Geography#_Total area: 1,919,440 km2; land area: 1,826,440 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas

_#_Land boundaries: 2,602 km total; Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km

_#_Coastline: 54,716 km

_#_Maritime claims: (measured from claimed archipelagic baselines);

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor Province) disputed with Portugal

_#_Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

_#_Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

_#_Natural resources: crude oil, tin, natural gas liquids, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

_#_Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures 7%; forest and woodland 67%; other 15%; includes irrigated 3%

_#_Environment: archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamis; deforestation

_#_Note: straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

_*People#_Population: 193,560,494 (July 1991), growth rate 1.8% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 26 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 73 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 63 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 3.0 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun—Indonesian(s); adjective—Indonesian

_#_Ethnic divisions: majority of Malay stock comprising Javanese 45.0%, Sundanese 14.0%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26.0%

_#_Religion: Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)

_#_Language: Bahasa Indonesia (modified form of Malay; official); English and Dutch leading foreign languages; local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese

_#_Literacy: 77% (male 84%, female 68%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 67,000,000; agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%, transport and communications 3% (1985 est.)

_#_Organized labor: 3,000,000 members (claimed); about 5% of labor force

_*Government#_Long-form name: Republic of Indonesia

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Jakarta

_#_Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular—propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular—daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*

_#_Independence: 17 August 1945 (from Netherlands; formerly Netherlands or Dutch East Indies)

_#_Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959

_#_Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR); note—the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected members who meet every five years to elect the president and vice president and, theoretically, to determine national policy

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung)

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government—President Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968); Vice President Lt. Gen. (Ret.) SUDHARMONO (since 11 March 1983)

_#_Political parties and leaders:GOLKAR (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen. (Ret.)WAHONO, general chairman;Indonesia Democracy Party (PDI—federation of former Nationalist andChristian Parties), SOERYADI, chairman;Development Unity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties),Ismail Hasan METAREUM, chairman

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 17 and married persons regardless of age

_#_Elections:

House of Representatives—last held on 23 April 1987 (next to be held 23 April 1992); results—Golkar 73%, UDP 16%, PDI 11%; seats—(500 total—400 elected, 100 appointed) Golkar 299, UDP 61, PDI 40

_#_Communists: Communist Party (PKI) was officially banned in March 1966; current strength about 1,000-3,000, with less than 10% engaged in organized activity; pre-October 1965 hardcore membership about 1.5 million

_#_Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-77,GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC,OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIIMOG, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Abdul Rachman RAMLY; Chancery at 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 775-5200; there are Indonesian Consulates General in Houston, New York, and Los Angeles, and Consulates in Chicago and San Francisco;

US—Ambassador John C. MONJO; Embassy at Medan Merdeka Selatan 5,Jakarta (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96356);telephone [62] (21) 360-360; there are US Consulates in Medan andSurabaya

_#_Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

_*Economy#_Overview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with many socialist institutions and central planning but with a recent emphasis on deregulation and private enterprise. Indonesia has extensive natural wealth yet, with a large and rapidly increasing population, it remains a poor country. GDP growth in 1985-89 averaged about 4%, somewhat short of the more than 5% rate needed to absorb the 2.3 million workers annually entering the labor force. Agriculture, including forestry and fishing, is an important sector, accounting for 21% of GDP and over 50% of the labor force. The staple crop is rice. Once the world's largest rice importer, Indonesia is now nearly self-sufficient. Plantation crops—rubber and palm oil—and textiles and plywood are being encouraged for both export and job generation. Industrial output now accounts for 30% of GDP based on a supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, timber, metals, and coal. Of these, the oil sector dominates the external economy, generating more than 20% of the government's revenues and 40% of export earnings in 1989. However, the economy's growth is very dependent on the continuing expansion of nonoil exports. Japan is Indonesia's most important customer and supplier of aid.

_#_GDP: $94 billion, per capita $490; real growth rate 6.0% (1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.8% (1990)

_#_Unemployment rate: 3%; underemployment 44% (1989 est.)

_#_Budget: revenues $17.2 billion; expenditures $23.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $8.9 billion (FY91)

_#_Exports: $25.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities—petroleum and liquefied natural gas 40%, timber 15%, textiles 7%, rubber 5%, coffee 3%;

partners—Japan 40%, US 14%, Singapore 7%, Europe 16% (1990)

_#_Imports: $21.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities—machinery 39%, chemical products 19%, manufactured goods 16%;

partners—Japan 23%, US 13%, EC, Singapore

_#_External debt: $58.5 billion (1990 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 11.6% (1989 est.); accounts for 30% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 11,600,000 kW capacity; 38,000 million kWh produced, 200 kWh per capita (1990)

_#_Industries: petroleum, textiles, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP, subsistence food production; small-holder and plantation production for export; rice, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, copra, other tropical products; products—poultry meat, beef, pork, eggs

_#_Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade, but not a major player; government actively eradicating plantings and prosecuting traffickers

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $4.4 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $22.8 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $213 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $175 million

_#_Currency: Indonesian rupiah (plural—rupiahs); 1 Indonesian rupiah (Rp) = 100 sen (sen no longer used)

_#_Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1—1,907.5 (January 1991), 1,842.8 (1990), 1,770.1 (1989), 1,685.7 (1988), 1,643.8 (1987), 1,282.6 (1986), 1,110.6 (1985)

_#_Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

_*Communications#_Railroads: 6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067-meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter gauge, 78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; all government owned

_#_Highways: 119,500 km total; 11,812 km state, 34,180 km provincial, and 73,508 km district roads

_#_Inland waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km

_#_Pipelines: crude oil, 2,505 km; refined products, 456 km; natural gas, 1,703 km (1989)

_#_Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Ujungpandang, Semarang, Surabaya

_#_Merchant marine: 365 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,647,632 GRT/2,481,432 DWT; includes 5 short-sea passenger, 13 passenger-cargo, 215 cargo, 7 container, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 2 vehicle carrier, 80 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 3 chemical tanker, 5 liquefied gas, 6 specialized tanker, 1 livestock carrier, 25 bulk

_#_Civil air: about 216 commercial transport aircraft

_#_Airports: 470 total, 436 usable; 111 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 63 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: interisland microwave system and HF police net; domestic service fair, international service good; radiobroadcast coverage good; 763,000 telephones (1986); stations—618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV; satellite earth stations—1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT earth station; and 1 domestic satellite communications system

_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 50,572,652; 29,893,127 fit for military service; 2,149,673 reach military age (18) annually

_#Defense expenditures: $1.4 billion, 1.8% of GNP (1988)%@Iran*Geography#_Total area: 1,648,000 km2; land area: 1,636,000 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska

_#_Land boundaries: 5,492 km total; Afghanistan 936 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, USSR 1,690 km

_#_Coastline: 3,180 km

_#_Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Exclusive fishing zone: 50 nm in the Sea of Oman; continental shelf limit, continental shelf boundaries, or median lines in the Persian Gulf;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

_#_Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

_#_Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

_#_Land use: arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 27%; forest and woodland 11%; other 54%; includes irrigated 2%

_#_Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; desertification

_*People#_Population: 59,051,082 (July 1991), growth rate 3.6% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 44 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 64 years male, 65 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun—Iranian(s); adjective—Iranian

_#_Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 25%, Kurd 9%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Lur 2%, Baloch 1%, Arab 1%, other 3%

_#_Religion: Shia Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Bahai 1%

_#_Language: 58% Persian and Persian dialects, 26% Turkic and Turkic dialects, 9% Kurdish, 2% Luri, 1% Baloch, 1% Arabic, 1% Turkish, 2% other

_#_Literacy: 54% (male 64%, female 43%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 15,400,000; agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%; shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)

_#_Organized labor: none

_*Government#_Long-form name: Islamic Republic of Iran

_#_Type: theocratic republic

_#_Capital: Tehran

_#_Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (ostanha,singular—ostan); Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari,Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Bakhtaran, Bushehr,Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars,Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman,Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va BuyerAhmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

_#_Independence: 1 April 1979, Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed

_#_Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

_#_Legal system: the new Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government

_#_National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

_#_Executive branch: cleric (faqih), president, Council of Ministers

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Cleric and functional Chief of State—Leader of the IslamicRevolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989);

Head of Government—President Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI (since 3 August 1989);

_#_Political parties and leaders: there are at least 14 licensed parties; the three most important are—Tehran Militant Clergy Association, Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI; Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin Islam Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 15

_#_Elections:

President—last held NA July 1989 (next to be held April 1993); results—Ali Akbar HASHEMI-RAFSANJANI was elected with only token opposition;

Islamic Consultative Assembly—last held 8 April 1988 (next to be held June 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(270 seats total) number of seats by party NA

_#_Communists: 1,000 to 2,000 est. hardcore; 15,000 to 20,000 est. sympathizers; crackdown in 1983 crippled the party; trials of captured leaders began in late 1983 and remain incomplete

_#_Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Hizballah, Hojjatiyeh Society, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), People's Fedayeen, and Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society for the Defense of Freedom is a group of liberal nationalists that has been repressed by the government for accusing it of corruption

_#_Member of: CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: none; protecting power in the US is Algeria—Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007; telephone (202) 965-4990;

US—protecting power in Iran is Switzerland

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; Allah Akbar (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

_*Economy#_Overview: Since the 1979 revolution, the banks, petroleum industry, transportation, utilities, and mining have been nationalized, but the new five-year plan—the first since the revolution—passed in January 1990, calls for the transfer of many government-controlled enterprises to the private sector. Disruptions from the bitter war with Iraq, massive corruption, mismanagement, demographic pressures, and ideological rigidities have kept economic growth at depressed levels. Oil accounts for over 90% of export revenues. A combination of war damage and low oil prices brought a 2% drop in GNP in 1988. GNP probably rose slightly in 1989, considerably short of the 3.2% population growth rate in 1989. Heating oil and gasoline are rationed. Agriculture has suffered from the war, land reform, and shortages of equipment and materials. The five-year plan seeks to reinvigorate the economy by increasing the role of the private sector, boosting nonoil income, and securing foreign loans. The plan is overly ambitious but probably will generate some short-term relief.

_#_GNP: $80.0 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 0.5% (1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-50% (1989 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: 30% (1989)

_#_Budget: revenues $63 billion; expenditures $80 billion, including capital expenditures of $23 billion (FY90 est.)

_#_Exports: $12.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities—petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides;

partners—Japan, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, France, FRG

_#_Imports: $11.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities—machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products;

partners—FRG, Japan, Turkey, UK, Italy

_#_External debt: $4-5 billion (1989)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%

_#_Electricity: 14,579,000 kW capacity; 40,000 million kWh produced, 740 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating (steel and copper)

_#_Agriculture: principal products—wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not self-sufficient in food

_#_Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and international drug trade

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $1.6 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million; note—aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution

_#_Currency: Iranian rial (plural—rials); 1 Iranian rial (IR) = 100 dinars; note—domestic figures are generally referred to in terms of the toman (plural—tomans), which equals 10 rials

_#_Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1—64.941 (January 1991), 68.096 (1990), 72.015 (1989), 68.683 (1988), 71.460 (1987), 78.760 (1986), 91.052 (1985) at the official rate; black market rate 1,400 (January 1991)

_#_Fiscal year: 21 March-20 March

_*Communications#_Railroads: 4,601 km total; 4,509 km 1.432-meter gauge, 92 km 1.676-meter gauge; 730 km under construction from Bafq to Bandar Abbas

_#_Highways: 140,072 km total; 46,866 km gravel and crushed stone; 49,440 km improved earth; 42,566 km bituminous and bituminous-treated surfaces; 1,200 km (est.) rural road network

_#_Inland waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980 because of Iran-Iraq war

_#_Pipelines: crude oil, 5,900 km; refined products, 3,900 km; natural gas, 3,300 km

_#_Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e Abbas, Bandar-e Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Shahid Rajai, Khorramshahr (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war)

_#_Merchant marine: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,634,204 GRT/8,671,769 DWT; includes 36 cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 33 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 4 chemical tanker, 3 refrigerated cargo, 49 bulk, 2 combination bulk

_#_Civil air: 42 major transport aircraft

_#_Airports: 214 total, 186 usable; 80 with permanent-surface runways; 17 with runways over 3,659 m; 16 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 70 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: radio relay extends throughout country; system centered in Tehran; 2,143,000 telephones; stations—62 AM, 30 FM, 250 TV; satellite earth stations—2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT; HF and microwave to Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and USSR

_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, and Revolutionary Guard Corps (includes Basij militia and own ground, air, and naval forces); a merger of the Komiteh, Police, and Gendarmerie has produced a new Security Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 12,750,593; 7,588,711 fit for military service; 576,321 reach military age (21) annually

_#Defense expenditures: $13 billion, 13.3% of GNP (1991 est.)%@Iraq*Geography#_Total area: 434,920 km2; land area: 433,970 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

_#_Land boundaries: 3,454 km total; Iran 1,458 km, Iraq - Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone 191 km, Jordan 134 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 495 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 331 km

_#_Coastline: 58 km

_#_Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: not specific;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations on 14 October 1990 following the end of the war that began on 22 September 1980; progress had been made on the major issues of contention—troop withdrawal, prisoner-of-war exchanges, demarcation of the border, freedom of navigation, and sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway—but written agreements had yet to be drawn up when frictions reemerged in March 1991 in the wake of Shia and Kurdish revolts in Iraq that Baghdad accused Tehran of supporting; Kurdish question among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR; shares Neutral Zone with Saudi Arabia—in December 1981, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed a boundary agreement that divides the zone between them, but the agreement must be ratified before it becomes effective; Iraqi forces invaded and occupied Kuwait from 2 August 1990 until 27 February 1991; in April 1991 official Iraqi acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 687, which demands that Iraq accept its internationally recognized border with Kuwait, ended earlier claims to Bubiyan and Warbah Islands or to all of Kuwait; periodic disputes with upstream riparian Syria over Euphrates water rights; potential dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

_#_Climate: desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers

_#_Terrain: mostly broad plains; reedy marshes in southeast; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

_#_Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

_#_Land use: arable land 12%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 9%; forest and woodland 3%; other 75%; includes irrigated 4%

_#_Environment: development of Tigris-Euphrates river systems contingent upon agreements with upstream riparians (Syria, Turkey); air and water pollution; soil degradation (salinization) and erosion; desertification

_*People#_Population: 19,524,718 (July 1991), growth rate 3.9% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 46 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 66 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 68 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 7.2 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun—Iraqi(s); adjective—Iraqi

_#_Ethnic divisions: Arab 75-80%, Kurdish 15-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%

_#_Religion: Muslim 97%, (Shia 60-65%, Sunni 32-37%), Christian or other 3%

_#_Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian

_#_Literacy: 60% (male 70%, female 49%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 4,400,000 (1989); services 48%, agriculture 30%, industry 22%, severe labor shortage; expatriate labor force about 1,600,000 (July 1990)

_#_Organized labor: less than 10% of the labor force

_*Government#_Long-form name: Republic of Iraq

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Baghdad

_#_Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Tamim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala, Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

_#_Independence: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

_#_Constitution: 22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (interim Constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted

_#_Legal system: based on Islamic law in special religious courts, civil law system elsewhere; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 17 July (1968)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, chairman of theRevolutionary Command Council, vice chairman of the Revolutionary CommandCouncil, prime minister, first deputy prime minister, Council ofMinisters

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Majlis Watani)

_#_Judicial branch: Court of Cassation

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State—President Saddam HUSAYN (since 16 July 1979);Vice President Taha Muhyi al-Din MARUF (since 21 April 1974);Vice President Taha Yasin RAMADAN (since 23 March 1991);

_#_Head of Government—Prime Minister Sadun HAMMADI (since 27 March 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Tariq AZIZ (since NA 1979); Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad Hamza al-ZUBAYDI (since 27 March 1991)

_#_Political parties: National Progressive Front is a coalition of the Arab Bath Socialist Party, Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Kurdistan Revolutionary Party

_#_Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

_#_Elections:

National Assembly—last held on 1 April 1989 (next to be held NA); results—Sunni Arabs 53%, Shia Arabs 30%, Kurds 15%, Christians 2% est.; seats—(250 total) number of seats by party NA

_#_Communists: about 1,500 hardcore members

_#_Other political or pressure groups: political parties and activity severely restricted; possibly some opposition to regime from disaffected members of the regime, Army officers, and religious and ethnic dissidents

_#_Member of: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-19,G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: no Iraqi representative in Washington; Chancery at 1801 P Street NW, Washington DC 20036; telephone (202) 483-7500;

US—no US representative in Baghdad since mid-January 1991; Embassy in Masbah Quarter (opposite the Foreign Ministry Club), Baghdad (mailing address is P. O. Box 2447 Alwiyah, Baghdad); telephone [964] (1) 719-6138 or 719-6139, 718-1840, 719-3791

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase Allahu Akbar (God is Great) in green Arabic script—Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star—was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria that has two stars but no script and the flag of Yemen that has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt that has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band

_*Economy#_Overview: The Bathist regime engages in extensive central planning and management of industrial production and foreign trade while leaving some small-scale industry and services and most agriculture to private enterprise. The economy has been dominated by the oil sector, which has provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. In the 1980s financial problems, caused by massive expenditures in the eight-year war with Iran and damage to oil export facilities by Iran, led the government to implement austerity measures and to borrow heavily and later reschedule foreign debt payments. After the end of hostilities in 1988, oil exports gradually increased with the construction of new pipelines and restoration of damaged facilities. Agricultural development remained hampered by labor shortages, salinization, and dislocations caused by previous land reform and collectivization programs. The industrial sector, although accorded high priority by the government, also was under financial constraints. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic embargoes, and military actions by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically changed the economic picture. Oil exports were cut to near zero, and industrial and transportation facilities severely damaged.

_#_GNP: $35 billion, per capita $1,940; real growth rate 5% (1989 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-40% (1989 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: less than 5% (1989 est.)

_#_Budget: revenues $NA billion; expenditures $35 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1989)

_#_Exports: $12.1 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities—crude oil and refined products, fertilizer, sulfur;

partners—US, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, France, Italy, USSR (1989)

_#_Imports: $10.3 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities—manufactures, food;

partners—US, FRG, Turkey, UK, Romania, Japan, France (1989)

_#_External debt: $40 billion (1989 est.), excluding debt to Arab Gulf states

_#_Industrial production: NA%; manufacturing accounts for 10% of GDP (1987)

_#_Electricity: 9,902,000 kW capacity; 20,000 million kWh produced, 1,110 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing

_#_Agriculture: accounts for 11% of GNP but 30% of labor force; principal products—wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, other fruit, cotton, wool; livestock—cattle, sheep; not self-sufficient in food output

_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $3 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $627 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1980-90), more than $30 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.9 billion

_#_Currency: Iraqi dinar (plural—dinars); 1 Iraqi dinar (ID) = 1,000 fils

_#_Exchange rates: Iraqi dinars (ID) per US$1—0.3109 (fixed rate since 1982)

_#_Fiscal year: calendar year

_*Communications#_Railroads: 2,962 km total; 2,457 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 505 km 1.000-meter gauge

_#_Highways: 25,479 km total; 8,290 km paved, 5,534 km improved earth, 11,655 km unimproved earth

_#_Inland waterways: 1,015 km; Shatt al Arab usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km, but closed since September 1980 because of Iran-Iraq war; Tigris and Euphrates navigable by shallow-draft steamers (of little importance); Shatt al Basrah canal navigable in sections by shallow-draft vessels

_#_Ports: Umm Qasr, Khawr az Zubayr, Al Basrah

_#_Merchant marine: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 944,253 GRT/1,691,368 DWT; includes 1 passenger, 1 passenger-cargo, 17 cargo, 1 refrigerated cargo, 3 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 19 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker; note—since the 2 August 1990 invasion of Kuwait by Iraqi forces, Iraq has sought to register at least part of its merchant fleet under convenience flags; none of the Iraqi flag merchant fleet was trading internationally as of 1 January 1991

_#_Pipelines: crude oil, 4,350 km; 725 km refined products; 1,360 km natural gas

_#_Civil air: 64 major transport aircraft (including 30 IL-76s used by the Iraq Air Force)

_#_Airports: 111 total, 102 usable; 73 with permanent-surface runways; 9 with runways over 3,659 m; 52 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

_#_Telecommunications: good network consists of coaxial cables, radio relay links, and radiocommunication stations; 632,000 telephones; stations—9 AM, 1 FM, 81 TV; satellite earth stations—1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 GORIZONT Atlantic Ocean in the Intersputnik system; coaxial cable and radio relay to Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey

_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Army and Republican Guard, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard Force, Internal Security Forces

_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 4,270,592; 2,380,439 fit for military service; 228,277 reach military age (18) annually

_#Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP%@Iraq - Saudi Arabia Neutral Zone*Geography#_Total area: 3,520 km2; land area: 3,520 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Island

_#_Land boundaries: 389 km total; 191 km Iraq, 198 km Saudi Arabia

_#_Coastline: none—landlocked

_#_Maritime claims: none—landlocked

_#_Climate: harsh, dry desert

_#_Terrain: sandy desert

_#_Natural resources: none

_#_Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other (sandy desert) 100%

_#_Environment: harsh, inhospitable

_#_Note: landlocked; located west of quadripoint with Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia

_*People#_Population: uninhabited

_*Government#_Long-form name: none

_#_Type: joint administration by Iraq and Saudi Arabia; in December 1981, Iraq and Saudi Arabia signed a boundary agreement that divides the zone between them, but the agreement must be ratified before it becomes effective

_*Economy#_Overview: no economic activity

_*Communications#_Highways: none; some secondary roads

_*Defense Forces#Note: defense is the joint responsibility of Iraq and Saudi Arabia%@Ireland*Geography#_Total area: 70,280 km2; land area: 68,890 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia

_#_Land boundary: 360 km with UK

_#_Coastline: 1,448 km

_#_Maritime claims:

Continental shelf: no precise definition;

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;

Territorial sea: 12 nm

_#_Disputes: Northern Ireland question with the UK; Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)

_#_Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

_#_Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

_#_Natural resources: zinc, lead, natural gas, crude oil, barite, copper, gypsum, limestone, dolomite, peat, silver

_#_Land use: arable land 14%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 71%; forest and woodland 5%; other 10%

_#_Environment: deforestation

_*People#_Population: 3,489,165 (July 1991), growth rate - 0.3% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 15 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 73 years male, 79 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun—Irishman(men), Irish (collective pl.); adjective—Irish

_#_Ethnic divisions: Celtic, with English minority

_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 93%, Anglican 3%, none 1%, unknown 2%, other 1% (1981)

_#_Language: Irish (Gaelic) and English; English is the language generally used, with Gaelic spoken in a few areas, mostly along the western seaboard

_#_Literacy: 98% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1981 est.)

_#_Labor force: 1,293,000; services 57.0%, manufacturing and construction 26.1%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 15.0%, energy and mining 1.9% (1988)

_#_Organized labor: 36% of labor force

_*Government#_Long-form name: none

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Dublin

_#_Administrative divisions: 26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork,Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim,Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon,Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow

_#_Independence: 6 December 1921 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: 29 December 1937; adopted 1937

_#_Legal system: based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

_#_Executive branch: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Oireachtas) consists of an upper house or Senate (Seanad Eireann) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Dail Eireann)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State—President Mary Bourke ROBINSON (since 9 November 1990);

Head of Government—Prime Minister Charles J. HAUGHEY (since 12 July 1989, the fourth time elected as Prime Minister)

_#_Political parties and leaders:Fianna Fail, Charles HAUGHEY;Labor Party, Richard SPRING;Fine Gael, John BRUTON;Communist Party of Ireland, Michael O'RIORDAN;Workers' Party, Proinsias DEROSSA;Sinn Fein, Gerry ADAMS;Progressive Democrats, Desmond O'MALLEY;note—Prime Minister HAUGHEY heads a coalition consisting of theFianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

President—last held 9 November 1990 (next to be held November 1997); results—Mary Bourke ROBINSON 52.8%, Brian LENIHAN 47.2%;

Senate—last held on 17 February 1987 (next to be held February 1992); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(60 total, 49 elected) Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 16, Labor 3, Independents 11;

House of Representatives—last held on 12 July 1989 (next to be held NA June 1994); results—Fianna Fail 44.0%, Fine Gael 29.4%, Labor Party 9.3%, Progressive Democrats 5.4%, Workers' Party 4.9%, Sinn Fein 1.1%, independents 5.9%; seats—(166 total) Fianna Fail 77, Fine Gael 55, Labor Party 15, Workers' Party 7, Progressive Democrats 6, independents 6

_#_Communists: under 500

_#_Member of: BIS, CCC, CE, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, EIB, ESA, FAO, GATT,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NEA, OECD, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Padraic N. MACKERNAN; Chancery at 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 462-3939; there are Irish Consulates General in Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco;

US—Ambassador Richard A. MOORE; Embassy at 42 Elgin Road,Ballsbridge, Dublin; telephone [353] (1) 688777

_#_Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of the Ivory Coast which is shorter and has the colors reversed—orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

_*Economy#_Overview: The economy is small, open, and trade dependent. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 37% of GDP and about 80% of exports and employs 26% of the labor force. The government has successfully reduced the rate of inflation from double-digit figures in the late 1970s to 3.3% in 1990. In 1987, after years of deficits, the balance of payments was brought into the black. Unemployment, however, is a serious problem. A 1990 unemployment rate of 16.6% placed Ireland along with Spain as the countries with the worst jobless records in Western Europe.

_#_GDP: $33.9 billion, per capita $9,690; real growth rate 4.1% (1990)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1990)

_#_Unemployment rate: 16.6% (1990)

_#_Budget: revenues $11.3 billion; expenditures $11.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (1990)

_#_Exports: $24.6 billion (f.o.b., 1990);

commodities—chemicals, data processing equipment, industrial machinery, live animals, animal products;

partners—EC 74% (UK 34%, FRG 11%, France 10%), US 8%

_#_Imports: $20.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);

commodities—food, animal feed, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, textiles, clothing;

partners—EC 66% (UK 41%, FRG 9%, France 4%), US 16%

_#_External debt: $16.0 billion (1990)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 4.7% (1990); accounts for 37% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 4,957,000 kW capacity; 14,480 million kWh produced, 4,080 kWh per capita (1989)

Back to Index Next