_#_Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar
_#_Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP and over 60% of labor force; mostly subsistence agriculture; cash crops—sugarcane, citrus fruit, cotton, pineapples; other crops and livestock—corn, sorghum, peanuts, cattle, goats, sheep; not self-sufficient in grain
_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $142 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $488 million
_#_Currency: lilangeni (plural—emalangeni); 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
_#_Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1—2.5625 (January 1991), 2.5863 (1990), 2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987), 2.2685 (1986), 2.1911 (1985); note—the Swazi emalangeni is at par with the South African rand
_#_Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
_*Communications#_Railroads: 297 km plus 71 km disused, 1.067-meter gauge, single track
_#_Highways: 2,853 km total; 510 km paved, 1,230 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil, and 1,113 km improved earth
_#_Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft
_#_Airports: 23 total, 22 usable; 1 with permanent-surfaced 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: system consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines and low-capacity radio relay links; 15,400 telephones; stations—6 AM, 6 FM, 10 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force, Royal Swaziland Police Force
_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 185,562; 107,254 fit for military service
_#Defense expenditures: $8 million, 1.3% of GDP (1988)%@Sweden*Geography#_Total area: 449,964 km2; land area: 410,928 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly smaller than California
_#_Land boundaries: 2,205 km total; Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
_#_Coastline: 3,218 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Continental shelf: 200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitation;
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
_#_Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
_#_Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
_#_Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential
_#_Land use: arable land 7%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 2%; forest and woodland 64%; other 27%; includes irrigated NEGL%
_#_Environment: water pollution; acid rain
_#_Note: strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas
_*People#_Population: 8,564,317 (July 1991), growth rate 0.4% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 11 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 81 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 1.9 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—Swede(s); adjective—Swedish
_#_Ethnic divisions: homogeneous white population; small Lappish minority; foreign born or first-generation immigrants (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks) about 12%
_#_Religion: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
_#_Language: Swedish, small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities; immigrants speak native languages
_#_Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)
_#_Labor force: 4,572,000 (October 1990); government services 37.4%, mining, manufacturing, electricity, and water service 23.1%, private services 22.2%, transportation and communications 7%, construction 6.3%, agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting 3.8%, other 0.2% (1988)
_#_Organized labor: 80% of labor force (1990 est.)
_*Government#_Long-form name: Kingdom of Sweden
_#_Type: constitutional monarchy
_#_Capital: Stockholm
_#_Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular andplural); Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan,Goteborgs och Bohus Lan, Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, JamtlandsLan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan, Kopparbergs Lan,Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan, NorrbottensLan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, VarmlandsLan, Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, VastmanlandsLan
_#_Independence: 6 June 1809, constitutional monarchy established
_#_Constitution: 1 January 1975
_#_Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
_#_National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
_#_Executive branch: monarch, prime minister, Cabinet
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Riksdag)
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State—King CARL XVI Gustaf (since 19 September 1973);Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of theKing (born 14 July 1977);
Head of Government—Prime Minister Carl BILDT (since 3 October 1991)
_#_Political parties and leaders:ruling four-party coalition consists of theModerate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT;Liberal People's Party, Bengt WESTERBERG;Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; and theChristian Democratic Party, Alf SVENSSON;Social Democratic Party, Ingvar CARLSSON;New Democracy Party, Count Ian WACHMEISTER;Left Party (VP; Communist), Lars WERNER;Swedish Communist Party (SKP), Rune PETTERSSON;Communist Workers' Party, Rolf HAGEL;Green Party, no formal leader
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18
_#_Elections:
Riksdag—last held 15 September 1991 (next to be held September 1994); results—Social Democratic 37.6%, Moderate (conservative) 21.9%, Liberal People's Party 9.1%, Center Party 8.5%, Christian Democrats 7.1%, New Democracy 6.7%, Left Party (Communist) 4.5%, Green Party 3.4%, other 1.2%; seats—(349 total) Social Democratic 138, Moderate (conservative) 80, Liberal People's Party 33, Center Party 31, Christian Democrats 26, New Democracy 25, Left Party (Communist) 16; note: the Green Party leaves the Riksdag because it received less than the required 4% of the vote
_#_Communists: VP and SKP; VP, formerly the Left Party-Communists, is reported to have roughly 17,800 members and attracted 5.8% of the vote in the 1988 election; VP dropped the Communist label in 1990, but maintains a Marxist ideology
_#_Member of: AfDB, AG (observer) AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE,EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-6, G-8, G-9, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL,INTELSAT, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NC,NEA, NIB, OECD, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNIIMOG, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Anders THUNBORG; Chancery at Suite 1200, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037; telephone (202) 944-5600; there are Swedish Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York;
US—Ambassador Charles E. REDMAN; Embassy at Strandvagen 101,S-115 89 Stockholm; telephone [46] (8) 783-5300
_#_Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
_*Economy#_Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has essentially full employment, a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. For some observers, the Swedish model has succeeded in making economic efficiency and social egalitarianism complementary, rather than competitive, goals. Others argue that the Swedish model is on the verge of collapsing by pointing to the serious economic problems Sweden faces in 1991: high inflation and absenteeism, growing unemployment and deficits, and declining international competitiveness. In 1990, to improve the economy, the government approved a mandate for Sweden to seek EC membership and an austerity and privatization package and implemented a major tax reform. These reforms may succeed in turning the economy around in 1992.
_#_GDP: $137.8 billion, per capita $16,200; real growth rate 0.3% (1990)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.9% (1990)
_#_Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1990)
_#_Budget: revenues $60.1 billion; expenditures $56.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY89)
_#_Exports: $57.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990);
commodities—machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products;
partners—EC 54.4%, (FRG 14.2%, UK 10.1%, Denmark 6.6%), US 8.6%, Norway 8.2%
_#_Imports: $54.7 billion (c.i.f., 1990);
commodities—machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing;
partners—EC 55.3%, US 8.4%
_#_External debt: $14.1 billion (December 1990)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate - 2.0% (1990)
_#_Electricity: 39,716,000 kW capacity; 142,000 million kWh produced, 16,700 kWh per capita (1990)
_#_Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
_#_Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops—grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes, 85% self-sufficient in sugar beets
_#_Economic aid: donor—ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion
_#_Currency: Swedish krona (plural—kronor); 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 ore
_#_Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1—5.6402 (January 1991), 5.9188 (1990), 6.4469 (1989), 6.1272 (1988), 6.3404 (1987), 7.1236 (1986), 8.6039 (1985)
_#_Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
_*Communications#_Railroads: 12,000 km total; Swedish State Railways (SJ)—10,819 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 6,955 km electrified and 1,152 km double track; 182 km 0.891-meter gauge; 117 km rail ferry service; privately owned railways—511 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (332 km electrified); 371 km 0.891-meter gauge (all electrified)
_#_Highways: 97,400 km (51,899 km paved, 20,659 km gravel, 24,842 km unimproved earth)
_#_Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
_#_Pipelines: 84 km natural gas
_#_Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Kalmar, Malmo, Stockholm; numerous secondary and minor ports
_#_Merchant marine: 182 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,226,923 GRT/2,879,057 DWT; includes 9 short-sea passenger, 29 cargo, 3 container, 45 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 11 vehicle carrier, 2 railcar carrier, 28 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 27 chemical tanker, 6 specialized tanker, 1 liquefied gas, 8 combination ore/oil, 12 bulk, 1 combination bulk
_#_Civil air: 115 major transports
_#_Airports: 256 total, 254 usable; 137 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 92 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
_#_Telecommunications: excellent domestic and international facilities; 8,200,000 telephones; stations—4 AM, 56 (321 relays) FM, 111 (925 relays) TV; 5 submarine coaxial cables; communication satellite earth stations operating in the INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems
_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Royal Swedish Air Force
_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,136,227; 1,865,645 fit for military service; 55,198 reach military age (19) annually
_#Defense expenditures: $4.9 billion, 2.5% of GDP (FY90)%@Switzerland*Geography#_Total area: 41,290 km2; land area: 39,770 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
_#_Land boundaries: 1,852 km total; Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
_#_Coastline: none—landlocked
_#_Maritime claims: none—landlocked
_#_Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
_#_Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
_#_Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
_#_Land use: arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 40%; forest and woodland 26%; other 23%; includes irrigated 1%
_#_Environment: dominated by Alps
_#_Note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe
_*People#_Population: 6,783,961 (July 1991), growth rate 0.6% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 5 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 75 years male, 83 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—Swiss (sing. & pl.); adjective—Swiss
_#_Ethnic divisions: total population—German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%; Swiss nationals—German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980)
_#_Language: total population—German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other 4%; Swiss nationals—German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
_#_Literacy: 99% (male NA%, female NA%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
_#_Labor force: 3,310,000; 904,095 foreign workers, mostly Italian; services 50%, industry and crafts 33%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6%, other 1% (1989)
_#_Organized labor: 20% of labor force
_*Government#_Long-form name: Swiss Confederation
_#_Type: federal republic
_#_Capital: Bern
_#_Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular—canton in French; cantoni, singular—cantone in Italian; kantone, singular—kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
_#_Independence: 1 August 1291
_#_Constitution: 29 May 1874
_#_Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
_#_National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Federal Council (German—Bundesrat, French—Conseil Federal, Italian—Consiglio Federale)
_#_Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German—Bundesversammlung, French—Assemblee Federale, Italian—Assemblea Federale) consists of an upper council or Council of States (German—Standerat, French—Conseil des Etats, Italian—Consiglio degli Stati) and a lower council or National Council (German—Nationalrat, French—Conseil National, Italian—Consiglio Nazionale)
_#_Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government—President Flavio COTTI (1991 calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice President Rene FELBER (term runs concurrently with that of president)
_#_Political parties and leaders:Free Democratic Party (FDP), Bruno HUNZIKER, president;Social Democratic Party (SPS), Helmut HUBACHER, chairman;Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Eva SEGMULLER-WEBER,chairman;Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president;Green Party (GPS), Peter SCHMID, president;Automobile Party (AP), DREYER;Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Dr. Franz JAEGER, president;Swiss Democratic Party (SD), NA;Evangelical People's Party (EVP), Max DUNKI, president;Workers' Party (PdA; Communist), Jean SPIELMANN, general secretary;Ticino League, leader NALiberal Party (LPS), Gilbert COUTAU, president;National Action Party (NA), Rudolph KELLER, chairman;Republican Party (RP), Franz BAUMGARTNER, president;Progressive Organizations of Switzerland (POCH), Georg DEGEN, secretary;Unitary Socialist Party (PSU), Dario ROBBIANI, president
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 20
_#_Elections:
Council of States—last held throughout 1991 (next to be held 1995; results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(46 total) FDP 15, CVP 14, SVP 4, LPS 3, LDU 1; note—9 seats require run-off elections, to be held in November1991
National Council—last held 20 October 1991 (next to be held October 1995); results—FDP %, SPS %, CVP %, SVP %, GPS %, LPS %, AP %, LDU %,SD %, EVP %, Workers Party %, Ticino League 23%, other %; seats—(200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS 10, AP 8, LDU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, Workers Party 2, Ticino League 2, other 2
_#_Communists: 4,500 members (est.)
_#_Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, CSCE,EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,IEA, IFAD, ILO, IMF (observer), IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM (guest), NEA, OAS (observer), OECD, PCA,UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Edouard BRUNNER; Chancery at 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 745-7900; there are Swiss Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco;
US—Ambassador Joseph B. GILDENHORN; Embassy atJubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern; telephone [41] (31) 437-011;there is a Branch Office of the Embassy in Geneva and aConsulate General in Zurich
_#_Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
_*Economy#_Overview: Switzerland's economic success is matched in few, if any, other nations. Per capita output, general living standards, education and science, health care, and diet are unsurpassed in Europe. Inflation remains low because of sound government policy and harmonious labor-management relations. Unemployment is negligible, a marked contrast to the larger economies of Western Europe. This economic stability helps promote the important banking and tourist sectors. Since World War II, Switzerland's economy has adjusted smoothly to the great changes in output and trade patterns in Europe and presumably can adjust to the challenges of the 1990s, in particular, the further economic integration of Western Europe and the amazingly rapid changes in East European political/economic prospects.
_#_GDP: $126 billion, per capita $18,700; real growth rate 2.6% (1990)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3% (1990)
_#_Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1990)
_#_Budget: revenues $24.0 billion; expenditures $23.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990)
_#_Exports: $63.4 billion (f.o.b., 1990);
commodities—machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing;
partners—Western Europe 64% (EC 56%, other 8%), US 9%, Japan 4%
_#_Imports: $70.5 billion (c.i.f., 1990);
commodities—agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials;
partners—Western Europe 78% (EC 71%, other 7%), US 6%
_#_External debt: $NA
_#_Industrial production: growth rate 2.1% (1990)
_#_Electricity: 17,710,000 kW capacity; 59,070 million kWh produced, 8,930 kWh per capita (1989)
_#_Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
_#_Agriculture: dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient; food shortages—fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat
_#_Economic aid: donor—ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion
_#_Currency: Swiss franc, franken, or franco (plural—francs, franken, or franchi); 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
_#_Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1—1.2724 (January 1991), 1.3892 (1990), 1.6359 (1989), 1.4633 (1988), 1.4912 (1987), 1.7989 (1986), 2.4571 (1985)
_#_Fiscal year: calendar year
_*Communications#_Railroads: 5,174 km total; 2,971 km are government owned and 2,203 km are nongovernment owned; the government network consists of 2,897 km 1.435-meter standard gauge and 74 km 1.000-meter narrow gauge track; 1,432 km double track, 99% electrified; the nongovernment network consists of 710 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 1,418 km 1.000-meter gauge, and 75 km 0.790-meter gauge track, 100% electrified
_#_Highways: 62,145 km total (all paved), of which 18,620 km are canton and 1,057 km are national highways (740 km autobahn); 42,468 km are communal roads
_#_Pipelines: 314 km crude oil; 1,506 km natural gas
_#_Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen to Bodensee); 12 navigable lakes
_#_Ports: Basel (river port)
_#_Merchant marine: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 258,678 GRT/441,555 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 3 chemical tanker, 2 specialized tanker, 7 bulk
_#_Civil air: 89 major transport aircraft
_#_Airports: 67 total, 65 usable; 42 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 17 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
_#_Telecommunications: excellent domestic, international, and broadcast services; 5,890,000 telephones; stations—6 AM, 36 (400 relays) FM, 145 (1,250 relays) TV; communications satellite earth stations operating in the INTELSAT (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and EUTELSAT systems
_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 1,802,005; 1,549,347 fit for military service; 42,619 reach military age (20) annually
_#Defense expenditures: $4.6 billion, 2% of GDP (1990)%@Syria*Geography#_Total area: 185,180 km2; land area: 184,050 km2 (including 1,295 km2 of Israeli-occupied territory)
_#_Comparative area: slightly larger than North Dakota
_#_Land boundaries: 2,253 km total; Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
_#_Coastline: 193 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone: 6 nm beyond territorial sea limit;
Territorial sea: 35 nm
_#_Disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; periodic disputes with Iraq over Euphrates water rights; ongoing dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Kurdish question among Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the USSR
_#_Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast
_#_Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west
_#_Natural resources: crude oil, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
_#_Land use: arable land 28%; permanent crops 3%; meadows and pastures 46%; forest and woodland 3%; other 20%; includes irrigated 3%
_#_Environment: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
_#_Note: there are 38 Jewish settlements in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights
_*People#_Population: 12,965,996 (July 1991), growth rate 3.8% (1991); in addition, there are at least 12,000 Druze and 13,000 Jewish settlers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (1990 est.)
_#_Birth rate: 43 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 68 years male, 71 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—Syrian(s); adjective—Syrian
_#_Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%; Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
_#_Religion: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, tiny Jewish communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo
_#_Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian; French widely understood
_#_Literacy: 64% (male 78%, female 51%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: 2,400,000; miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture 32%, industry and construction 32%; majority unskilled; shortage of skilled labor (1984)
_#_Organized labor: 5% of labor force
_*Government#_Long-form name: Syrian Arab Republic
_#_Type: republic; under leftwing military regime since March 1963
_#_Capital: Damascus
_#_Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda, Dara, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
_#_Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration); formerly United Arab Republic
_#_Constitution: 13 March 1973
_#_Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
_#_National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)
_#_Executive branch: president, three vice presidents, prime minister, three deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council (Majlis al-Chaab)
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council, Court of Cassation, State Security Courts
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State—President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim KHADDAM, Rifat al-ASAD, and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984);
Head of Government—Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November1987);Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March 1984);Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981);Deputy Prime Minister Mahmud QADDUR (since NA May 1985)
_#_Political parties and leaders: ruling party is the Arab Socialist Resurrectionist (Bath) Party; the Progressive National Front is dominated by Bathists but includes independents and members of the Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Syrian Communist Party (SCP), Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, and Democratic Socialist Union Party
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18
_#_Elections:
President—last held 10-11 February 1985 (next to be held February 1992); results—President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected without opposition;
People's Council—last held 22-23 May 1990 (next to be held May 1994); results—Bath 53.6%, ASU 3.2%, SCP 3.2%, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 2.8%, ASP 2%, Democratic Socialist Union Party 1.6%, independents 33.6%; seats—(250 total) Bath 134, ASU 8, SCP 8, Arab Socialist Unionist Movement 7, ASP 5, Democratic Socialist Union Party 4, independents 84; the People's Council was expanded to 250 seats total prior to the May 1990 election
_#_Communists: mostly sympathizers, numbering about 5,000
_#_Other political or pressure groups: non-Bath parties have little effective political influence; Communist party ineffective; greatest threat to Asad regime lies in factionalism in the military; conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
_#_Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24,G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Walid MOUALEM; Chancery at 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-6313;
US—Ambassador Edward P. DJEREJIAN; Embassy at Abu Rumaneh,Al Mansur Street No.2, Damascus (mailing address is P. O. Box 29,Damascus); telephone [963] (11) 333052 or 332557, 330416, 332814, 332315,714108, 337178, 333232, 334352
_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen which has a plain white band and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
_*Economy#_Overview: Syria's rigidly structured Bathist economy turned out slightly more goods in 1990 than in 1983, when the population was 20% smaller. Economic difficulties are attributable, in part, to severe drought in several recent years, costly but unsuccessful attempts to match Israel's military strength, a falloff in Arab aid, and insufficient foreign exchange earnings to buy needed inputs for industry and agriculture. Socialist policy, embodied in a thicket of bureaucratic regulations, in many instances has driven away or pushed underground the mercantile and entrepreneurial spirit for which Syrian businessmen have long been famous. Two bright spots: a sizable number of villagers have benefited from land redistribution, electrification, and other rural development programs; and a recent find of light crude oil has enabled Syria to cut oil imports. A long-term concern is the additional drain of upstream Euphrates water by Turkey when its vast dam and irrigation projects are completed toward the end of the 1990s. Output in 1990 rebounded from the very bad year of 1989, as agricultural production and oil revenues increased substantially.
_#_GDP: $20.0 billion, per capita $1,600; real growth rate 12% (1990 est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 50% (1990 est.)
_#_Unemployment rate: NA%
_#_Budget: revenues $4.8 billion; expenditures $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.1 billion (1990 est.)
_#_Exports: $2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities—petroleum 40%, textiles 30%, farm products 13%, phosphates (1989);
partners—USSR and Eastern Europe 42%, EC 31%, Arab countries 17%, US/Canada 2% (1989)
_#_Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities—foodstuffs and beverages 21%, metal and metal products 16%, machinery 14%, textiles, petroleum (1989);
partners—EC 42%, USSR and Eastern Europe 13%, other Europe 13%, US/Canada 8%, Arab countries 6% (1989)
_#_External debt: $5.2 billion in hard currency (1990 est.)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate 17% (1990 est.); accounts for 19% of GDP
_#_Electricity: 2,867,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced, 500 kWh per capita (1989)
_#_Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, petroleum
_#_Agriculture: accounts for 27% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all major crops (wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly on rainfed land causing wide swings in production; animal products—beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain or livestock products
_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-81), $538 million; Western (non-US) ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $1.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $12.3 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $3.3 billion
_#_Currency: Syrian pound (plural—pounds); 1 Syrian pound (5S) = 100 piasters
_#_Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (5S) per US$1—11.2250 (fixed rate since 1987), 3.9250 (fixed rate 1976-87)
_#_Fiscal year: calendar year
_*Communications#_Railroads: 2,241 km total; 1,930 km standard gauge, 311 km 1.050-meter narrow gauge; note—the Tartus-Latakia line is nearly complete
_#_Highways: 27,000 km total; 21,000 km paved, 3,000 km gravel or crushed stone, 3,000 km improved earth
_#_Inland waterways: 672 km; of little economic importance
_#_Pipelines: 1,304 km crude oil; 515 km refined products
_#_Ports: Tartus, Latakia, Baniyas
_#_Merchant marine: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 61,951 GRT/86,552 DWT; includes 18 cargo, 2 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 1 bulk
_#_Civil air: 35 major transport aircraft
_#_Airports: 99 total, 96 usable; 24 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 21 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
_#_Telecommunications: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement; 512,600 telephones; stations—9 AM, 1 FM, 40 TV; satellite earth stations—1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station, with 1 Intersputnik station under construction; 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon (inactive)
_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 2,825,214; 1,584,887 fit for military service; 149,105 reach military age (19) annually
_#Defense expenditures: $1.6 billion, 10.9% of GDP (1988 est.)%@Tanzania*Geography#_Total area: 945,090 km2; land area: 886,040 km2; includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
_#_Comparative area: slightly larger than twice the size of California
_#_Land boundaries: 3,402 km total; Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
_#_Coastline: 1,424 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
_#_Disputes: boundary dispute with Malawi in Lake Nyasa; Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer be indefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of the Zaire-Zambia boundary has been settled
_#_Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands
_#_Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south
_#_Natural resources: hydropower potential, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
_#_Land use: arable land 5%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 40%; forest and woodland 47%; other 7%; includes irrigated NEGL%
_#_Environment: lack of water and tsetse fly limit agriculture; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
_*People#_Population: 26,869,175 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 50 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 15 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: - 1 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 105 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 55 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 7.0 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—Tanzanian(s); adjective—Tanzanian
_#_Ethnic divisions: mainland—native African consisting of well over 100 tribes 99%; Asian, European, and Arab 1%
_#_Religion:
mainland—Christian 33%, Muslim 33%, indigenous beliefs 33%;
Zanzibar—almost all Muslim
_#_Language: Swahili and English (official); English primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education; Swahili widely understood and generally used for communication between ethnic groups; first language of most people is one of the local languages; primary education is generally in Swahili
_#_Literacy: 46% (male 62%, female 31%) age 15 and over can read and write (1978)
_#_Labor force: 732,200 wage earners; 90% agriculture, 10% industry and commerce (1986 est.)
_#_Organized labor: 15% of labor force
_*Government#_Long-form name: United Republic of Tanzania
_#_Type: republic
_#_Capital: Dar es Salaam; some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital in the 1990s
_#_Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam,Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro,Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma,Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, ZanzibarNorth, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibi
_#_Independence: Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UN trusteeship under British administration); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
_#_Constitution: 15 March 1984 (Zanzibar has its own Constitution but remains subject to provisions of the union Constitution)
_#_Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
_#_National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)
_#_Executive branch: president, first vice president and prime minister of the union, second vice president and president of Zanzibar, Cabinet
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Bunge)
_#_Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, High Court
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State—President Ali Hassan MWINYI (since 5 November 1985); First Vice President John MALECELA (since 9 November 1990); Second Vice President Salmin AMOUR (since 9 November 1990);
Head of Government—Prime Minister John MALECELA (since 9November 1990)
_#_Political parties and leaders: only party—Chama Cha MAPINDUZI (CCM or Revolutionary Party), Ali Hassan MWINYI, party chairman
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18
_#_Elections:
President—last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held October 1995); results—Ali Hassan MWINYI was elected without opposition;
National Assembly—last held 28 October 1990 (next to be held October 1995); results—CCM is the only party; seats—(241 total, 168 elected) CCM 168
_#_Communists: no Communist party; a few Communist sympathizers
_#_Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, EADB, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-6, G-77,GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate Charles Musama NYIRABU; Chancery at 2139 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 939-6125;
US—Ambassador Edmund DE JARNETTE; Embassy at 36 Laibon Road (offBagamoyo Road), Dar es Salaam (mailing address is P. O. Box 9123,Dar es Salaam); telephone [255] (51) 37501 through 37504
_#_Flag: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue
_*Economy#_Overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for about 47% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Industry accounts for 8% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have increased the availability of imports and provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure.
_#_GDP: $5.92 billion, per capita $240; real growth rate 4.3% (FY89 est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 31.2 (1989)
_#_Unemployment rate: NA%
_#_Budget: revenues $495 million; expenditures $631 million, including capital expenditures of $118 million (FY90)
_#_Exports: $380 million (f.o.b., 1989);
commodities—coffee, cotton, sisal, tea, cashew nuts, meat, tobacco, diamonds, coconut products, pyrethrum, cloves (Zanzibar);
partners—FRG, UK, Japan, Netherlands, Kenya, Hong Kong, US
_#_Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989);
commodities—manufactured goods, machinery and transportation equipment, cotton piece goods, crude oil, foodstuffs;
partners—FRG, UK, US, Japan, Italy, Denmark
_#_External debt: $5.8 billion (December 1990 est.)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate 4.2% (1988); accounts for 8% of GDP
_#_Electricity: 401,000 kW capacity; 895 million kWh produced, 35 kWh per capita (1989)
_#_Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond mine, oil refinery, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer
_#_Agriculture: accounts for over 40% of GDP; topography and climatic conditions limit cultivated crops to only 5% of land area; cash crops—coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashews, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar); food crops—corn, wheat, cassava, bananas, fruits, and vegetables; small numbers of cattle, sheep, and goats; not self-sufficient in food grain production
_#_Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $400 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $9.2 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $44 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $614 million
_#_Currency: Tanzanian shilling (plural—shillings); 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
_#_Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1—196.60 (January 1991), 195.06 (1990), 143.377 (1989), 99.292 (1988), 64.260 (1987), 32.698 (1986), 17.472 (1985)
_#_Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
_*Communications#_Railroads: 3,555 km total; 960 km 1.067-meter gauge; 2,595 km 1.000-meter gauge, 6.4 km double track, 962 km Tazara Railroad 1.067-meter gauge; 115 km 1.000-meter gauge planned by end of decade
_#_Highways: total 81,900 km, 3,600 km paved; 5,600 km gravel or crushed stone; remainder improved and unimproved earth
_#_Pipelines: 982 km crude oil
_#_Inland waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
_#_Ports: Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Tanga, and Zanzibar are ocean ports; Mwanza on Lake Victoria and Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika are inland ports
_#_Merchant marine: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,784 GRT/25,860 DWT; includes 2 passenger-cargo, 3 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 1 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker
_#_Civil air: 6 major transport aircraft
_#_Airports: 105 total, 93 usable; 12 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 44 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
_#_Telecommunications: fair system of open wire, radio relay, and troposcatter; 103,800 telephones; stations—12 AM, 4 FM, 2 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
_*Defense Forces#_Branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force (TPDF; including Army, Navy, and Air Force); paramilitary Police Field Force Unit; Militia
_#_Manpower availability: males 15-49, 5,545,022; 3,200,744 fit for military service
_#Defense expenditures: $111 million, 3.9% of GDP (1988)%@Thailand*Geography#_Total area: 514,000 km2; land area: 511,770 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
_#_Land boundaries: 4,863 km total; Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km
_#_Coastline: 3,219 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 12 nm
_#_Disputes: boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam
_#_Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
_#_Terrain: central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere
_#_Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
_#_Land use: arable land 34%; permanent crops 4%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest and woodland 30%; other 31%; includes irrigated 7%
_#_Environment: air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area
_#_Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
_*People#_Population: 56,814,069 (July 1991), growth rate 1.4% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 20 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 37 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 66 years male, 71 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—Thai (sing. and pl.); adjective—Thai
_#_Ethnic divisions: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
_#_Religion: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism 0.1%, other 0.5% (1991)
_#_Language: Thai; English is the secondary language of the elite; ethnic and regional dialects
_#_Literacy: 93% (male 96%, female 90%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: 30,870,000; agriculture 62%, industry 13%, commerce 11%, services (including government) 14% (1989 est.)
_#_Organized labor: 309,000 union members (1989)
_*Government#_Long-form name: Kingdom of Thailand; under martial law since military takeover 23 February 1991
_#_Type: constitutional monarchy; under martial law since military coup of 23 February 1991
_#_Capital: Bangkok
_#_Administrative divisions: 73 provinces (changwat, singular andplural); Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum,Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin,Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon,Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, NakhonNayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan,Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, PathumThani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, PrachinBuri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, SakonNakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun,Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin,Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit,Yala, Yasothon
_#_Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date); never colonized
_#_Constitution: 22 December 1978; interim constitution promulgated by National Peace-Keeping Council on 1 March 1991
_#_Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; martial law in effect since 23 February 1991 military coup
_#_National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December (1927)
_#_Executive branch: monarch, interim prime minister, three interim deputy prime ministers, interim Council of Ministers (cabinet), Privy Council; following the military coup of 23 February 1991 a National Peace-Keeping Council was set up
_#_Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Rathasatha) consists of an upper house or Senate (Vuthisatha) and a lower house or House of Representatives (Saphaphoothan-Rajsadhorn); following the military coup of 23 February 1991 the National Assembly was dissolved and a new interim National Legislative Assembly has been formed until elections are held in April 1992
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarndika)
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State—King PHUMIPHON ADUNLAYADET (since 9 June 1946);Heir Apparent Crown Prince WACHIRALONGKON (born 28 July 1952);
Head of Government—Interim Prime Minister ANAN Panyarachun(since 4 March 1991);Interim Deputy Prime Minister SANO Unakun (since 6 March 1991);Interim Deputy Prime Minister Police Gen. PHAO Sarasin (since 6 March1991);Interim Deputy Prime Minister MICHAI Ruchupan (since 6 March 1991);
National Peace-Keeping Council (ruling junta)—ChairmanGen. SUNTHON Khongsomphong;Vice Chairman Gen. SUCHINDA Khraprayun;Vice Chairman Adm. PRAPHAT Kritsanachan;Vice Chairman Air Chief Mar. KASET Rotchananin;Vice Chairman Police Gen. SAWAT Amonwiwat
_#_Political parties and leaders: under martial law political parties are prohibited from meeting; leaders of several parties have resigned and other parties are fragmenting; it is unclear which of the following parties functioning at the time of the military coup will still be in existence by the time new elections are held;
Thai Nation Party (TNP);Solidarity Party;Thai Citizens Party (TCP);People's Party (Ratsadon);Thai People's Party;Social Action Party (SAP);Democrat Party (DP);Mass Party;Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma);People's Party (Prachachon);New Aspiration Party;United Democracy Party;Liberal Party;Social Democratic Force
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 21
_#_Elections:
House of Representatives—last held 24 July 1988 (next to be held by April 1992 for a new National Legislative Assembly according to the National Peace-Keeping Council); results—TNP 27%, SAP 15%, DP 13%, TCP 9%, other 36%; seats—(357 total) TNP 96, Solidarity 62, SAP 53, DP 48, TCP 31, People's Party (Ratsadon) 21, Thai People's Party (Prachachon) 17, Force of Truth Party (Phalang Dharma) 15, United Democracy Party 5, Mass Party 5, Liberal 3, Social Democratic Force 1; note—the House of Representatives was dissolved 23 February 1991; the new interim National Legislative Assembly has 292 seats with 148 of the seats held by active and retired military officers
_#_Communists: illegal Communist party has 500 to 1,000 members; armed Communist insurgents throughout Thailand total 300 to 500 (est.)
_#_Member of: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO
_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador-designate PHIRAPHONG Kasemsi; Embassy at 2300 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-7200; there are Thai Consulates General in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York;
US—Ambassador Daniel A. O'DONAHUE; Embassy at 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok (mailing address is APO San Francisco 96346); telephone [66] (2) 252-504019; there is a US Consulate General in Chiang Mai and Consulates in Songkhla and Udorn