:Slovenia Government
Flag:a three color flag, white (hoist side), blue, and red of equal width withthe Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav in white against ablue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depictingseas and rivers; around it, there are three six-sided stars arranged in aninverted triangle); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flagcentered in the white and blue band
:Slovenia Economy
Overview:Slovenia was by far the most prosperous of the old Yugoslav republics, witha per capita income more than twice the Yugoslav average, indeed not farbelow the levels in neighboring Austria and Italy. Because of its strongties to Western Europe and the small scale of damage during internecinefighting in Yugoslavia, Slovenia has the brightest prospects among theformer Yugoslav republics for economic reform and recovery over the next fewyears. The political and economic disintegration of Yugoslavia, however, hasled to severe short-term dislocations in production, employment, and tradeties. For example, overall industrial production fell 10% in 1991;particularly hard hit were the iron and steel, machine-building, chemical,and textile industries. Meanwhile, fighting has continued in other republicsleading to further destruction of long-established trade channels and to aninflux of tens of thousands of Croatian refugees. As in other formerCommunist areas in Eastern Europe, economic reform has often sputtered notonly because of the vested interests of old bosses in retaining old rules ofthe game but also because of the tangible losses experienced byrank-and-file people in the transition to a more market-oriented system. Thekey program for breaking up and privatizing major industrial firms has notyet begun. Bright spots for encouraging Western investors are Slovenia'scomparatively well-educated work force, its developed infrastructure, andits Western business attitudes. Slovenia in absolute terms is a smalleconomy, and a little Western investment would go a long way.GDP:$21 billion, per capita $10,700; real growth rate -10% (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):15-20% (1991 est.)Unemployment rate:10% (April 1992)Budget:revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$4,120 million (f.o.b., 1990)commodities:machinery and transport equipment 38%, other manufactured goods 44%,chemicals 9%, food and live animals 4.6%, raw materials 3%, beverages andtobacco less than 1%partners:principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Austria, and ItalyImports:$4,679 million (c.i.f., 1990)commodities:machinery and transport equipment 35%, other manufactured goods 26.7%,chemicals 14.5%, raw materials 9.4%, fuels and lubricants 7%, food and liveanimals 6%partners:principally the other former Yugoslav republics, Germany, former USSR, US,Hungary, Italy, and AustriaExternal debt:$2.5 billionIndustrial production:industrial production has been declining at a rate of about 1% per month(1991-92), mostly because of lost markets in the other former YugoslavrepublicsElectricity:2,900,000 kW capacity; 12,250 million kWh produced, 6,447 kWh per capita(1991)
:Slovenia Economy
Industries:ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and rolledproducts, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including militaryelectronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles,chemicals, machine toolsAgriculture:dominated by stock breeding (sheep and cattle) and dairy farming; main cropsare potatoes, hops, hemp, and flax; although self-sufficient and having anexport surplus in these commodities, Slovenia must import many otheragricultural products and has a negative overall trade balance in thissectorIllicit drugs:NAEconomic aid:NACurrency:Slovene Tolar (plural - Tolars); 1 Tolar (SLT) = 100 NAExchange rates:Tolars (SLT) per US$1 - 28 (January 1992)Fiscal year:calendar year
:Slovenia Communications
Railroads:NAHighways:14,553 km total; 10,525 km paved, 4,028 km gravelInland waterways:NAPipelines:crude oil 290 km, natural gas 305 kmPorts:maritime - KoperMerchant marine:0 ships (1,000 GRT or over) are under Slovenian flag; note - Slovenianowners control 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 334,995 GRT/558,621DWT; includes 14 bulk carriers and 7 general cargo ships all under SaintVincent and the Grenadines flagCivil air:NA major transport aircraftAirports:3 main airportsTelecommunications:130,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 6 AM, 5 FM, 7 TV; 370,000 radios;330,000 TVs
:Slovenia Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air ForceManpower availability:males 15-49, 444,030; NA fit for military service; 18,219 reach military age(18) annuallyDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - 13.5 billion Slovene Tolars, 4.5% of GDP (1992);note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the currentexchange rate could produce misleading results
:Solomon Islands Geography
Total area:28,450 km2Land area:27,540 km2Comparative area:slightly larger than MarylandLand boundaries:noneCoastline:5,313 kmMaritime claims:(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)Exclusive economic zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:12 nmDisputes:noneClimate:tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weatherTerrain:mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atollsNatural resources:fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphatesLand use:arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 1%; forest andwoodland 93%; other 4%Environment:subject to typhoons, which are rarely destructive; geologically activeregion with frequent earth tremorsNote:located just east of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Ocean
:Solomon Islands People
Population:360,010 (July 1992), growth rate 3.5% (1992)Birth rate:40 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:5 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:0 migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:30 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:67 years male, 72 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:6.0 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Solomon Islander(s); adjective - Solomon IslanderEthnic divisions:Melanesian 93.0%, Polynesian 4.0%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese0.3%, other 0.4%Religions:almost all at least nominally Christian; Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%,Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%,other Protestant 5%Languages:120 indigenous languages; Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is linguafranca; English spoken by 1-2% of populationLiteracy:NA% (male NA%, female NA%)Labor force:23,448 economically active; agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32.4%;services 25%; construction, manufacturing, and mining 7.0%; commerce,transport, and finance 4.7% (1984)Organized labor:NA, but most of the cash-economy workers have trade union representation
:Solomon Islands Government
Long-form name:noneType:parliamentary democracyCapital:HoniaraAdministrative divisions:7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira,Malaita, Temotu, WesternIndependence:7 July 1978 (from UK; formerly British Solomon Islands)Constitution:7 July 1978Legal system:common lawNational holiday:Independence Day, 7 July (1978)Executive branch:British monarch, governor general, prime minister, CabinetLegislative branch:unicameral National ParliamentJudicial branch:High CourtLeaders:Chief of State:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor GeneralSir George LEPPING (since 27 June 1989, previously acted as governor generalsince 7 July 1988)Head of Government:Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 28 March 1989); Deputy Prime MinisterSir Baddeley DEVESI (since NA October 1990)Political parties and leaders:People's Alliance Party (PAP); United Party (UP), leader NA; Solomon IslandsLiberal Party (SILP), Bartholemew ULUFA'ALU; Nationalist Front for Progress(NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), Joses TUHANUKUSuffrage:universal at age 21Elections:National Parliament:last held 22 February 1989 (next to be held NA February 1993); results -percent of vote by party NA; seats - (38 total) PAP 13, UP 6, NFP 4, SILP 4,LP 2, independents 9Member of:ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,IOC, ITU, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMODiplomatic representation:Ambassador (vacant) resides in Honiara (Solomon Islands)US:the ambassador in Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands;Embassy at Mud Alley, Honiara (mailing address is American Embassy, P. O.Box 561, Honiara); telephone (677) 23890; FAX (677) 23488Flag:divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner;the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed starsarranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
:Solomon Islands Economy
Overview:About 90% of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, andforestry for at least part of their livelihood. Agriculture, fishing, andforestry contribute about 70% to GDP, with the fishing and forestry sectorsbeing important export earners. The service sector contributes about 25% toGDP. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. Theislands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc,nickel, and gold. The economy suffered from a severe cyclone in mid-1986that caused widespread damage to the infrastructure.GDP:exchange rate conversion - $200 million, per capita $600; real growth rate6.0% (1990 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):10.2% (1990)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues $44 million; expenditures $45 million, including capitalexpenditures of $22 million (1989 est.)Exports:$67.3 million (f.o.b., 1990)commodities:fish 46%, timber 31%, copra 5%, palm oil 5%partners:Japan 51%, UK 12%, Thailand 9%, Netherlands 8%, Australia 2%, US 2% (1985)Imports:$86.0 million (c.i.f., 1990)commodities:plant and machinery 30%, fuel 19%, food 16%partners:Japan 36%, US 23%, Singapore 9%, UK 9%, NZ 9%, Australia 4%, Hong Kong 4%,China 3% (1985)External debt:$128 million (1988 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 0% (1987); accounts for 5% of GDPElectricity:21,000 kW capacity; 39 million kWh produced, 115 kWh per capita (1990)Industries:copra, fish (tuna)Agriculture:including fishing and forestry, accounts for about 70% of GDP; mostlysubsistence farming; cash crops - cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels,timber; other products - rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs;not self-sufficient in food grains; 90% of the total fish catch of 44,500metric tons was exported (1988)Economic aid:Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89),$250 millionCurrency:Solomon Islands dollar (plural - dollars); 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) =100 centsExchange rates:Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 2.8740 (March 1992), 2.7148 (1991),2.5288 (1990), 2.2932 (1989), 2.0825 (1988), 2.0033 (1987)Fiscal year:calendar year
:Solomon Islands Communications
Highways:about 2,100 km total (1982); 30 km paved, 290 km gravel, 980 km earth, 800private logging and plantation roads of varied constructionPorts:Honiara, Ringi CoveCivil air:no major transport aircraftAirports:33 total, 30 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runwaysover 2,439 m; 3 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:3,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, no FM, no TV; 1 Pacific OceanINTELSAT earth station
:Solomon Islands Defense Forces
Branches:Police ForceManpower availability:NADefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
:Somalia Geography
Total area:637,660 km2Land area:627,340 km2Comparative area:slightly smaller than TexasLand boundaries:2,340 km total; Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 kmCoastline:3,025 kmMaritime claims:Territorial sea:200 nmDisputes:southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional AdministrativeLine; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden; possible claims toDjibouti and parts of Ethiopia and Kenya based on unification of ethnicSomalisClimate:desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), cooler southwest monsoon(May to October); irregular rainfall; hot, humid periods (tangambili)between monsoonsTerrain:mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in northNatural resources:uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite,copper, saltLand use:arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 46%; forest andwoodland 14%; other 38%; includes irrigated 3%Environment:recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer;deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertificationNote:strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab elMandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal
:Somalia People
Population:7,235,226 (July 1992), growth rate 2.1% (1992)Birth rate:46 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:13 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:-12 migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:115 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:56 years male, 57 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:7.1 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Somali(s); adjective - SomaliEthnic divisions:Somali 85%, rest mainly Bantu; Arabs 30,000, Europeans 3,000, Asians 800Religions:almost entirely Sunni MuslimLanguages:Somali (official); Arabic, Italian, EnglishLiteracy:24% (male 36%, female 14%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)Labor force:2,200,000; very few are skilled laborers; pastoral nomad 70%, agriculture,government, trading, fishing, handicrafts, and other 30%; 53% of populationof working age (1985)Organized labor:General Federation of Somali Trade Unions was controlled by the governmentprior to January 1991; the fall of SIAD regime may have led to collapse ofTrade Union organization
:Somalia Government
Long-form name:noneType:noneCapital:MogadishuAdministrative divisions:16 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay,Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal,Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Togdheer, Woqooyi GalbeedIndependence:1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independentfrom the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which becameindependent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, toform the Somali Republic)Constitution:25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979National holiday:NAExecutive branch:president, two vice presidents, prime minister, Council of Ministers(cabinet)Legislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga)Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:Interim President ALI Mahdi Mohamed (since 27 January 1991)Head of Government:Prime Minister OMAR Arteh Ghalib (since 27 January 1991)Political parties and leaders:the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January1991; note - formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary SocialistParty (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the ArmyMaj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD BarreSuffrage:universal at age 18Elections:President:last held 23 December 1986 (next to be held NA); results - President SIADwas reelected without oppositionPeople's Assembly:last held 31 December 1984 (next to be held NA); results - SRSP was the onlyparty; seats - (177 total, 171 elected) SRSP 171; note - the United SomaliCongress (USC) ousted the regime of Maj. Gen. Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27January 1991; the provisional government has promised that a democraticallyelected government will be establishedMember of:ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation:Ambassador (vacant); Chancery at Suite 710, 600 New Hampshire Avenue NW,Washington, DC 20037; telephone (202) 342-1575; there is a Somali ConsulateGeneral in New York; note - Somalian Embassy ceased operations on 8 May 1991
:Somalia Government
US:Ambassador (vacant); Embassy at K-7, AFGOI Road, Mogadishu (mailing addressis P. O. Box 574, Mogadishu); telephone [252] (01) 39971; note - US Embassyevacuated and closed indefinitely in January 1991Flag:light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design basedon the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
:Somalia Economy
Overview:One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has fewresources. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, with thelivestock sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of exportearnings. Nomads and seminomads who are dependent upon livestock for theirlivelihoods make up more than half of the population. Crop productiongenerates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The mainexport crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domesticmarket. The small industrial sector is based on the processing ofagricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Greatlyincreased political turmoil in 1991-92 has resulted in a substantial drop inoutput, with widespread famine a grim fact of life.GDP:exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, per capita $210; real growth rate-1.4% (1988)Inflation rate (consumer prices):210% (1989)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues $190 million; expenditures $195 million, including capitalexpenditures of $111 million (1989 est.)Exports:$58.0 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)commodities:bananas, livestock, fish, hides, skinspartners:US 0.5%, Saudi Arabia, Italy, FRG (1986)Imports:$249 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)commodities:petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materialspartners:US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)External debt:$1.9 billion (1989)Industrial production:growth rate -5.0% (1988); accounts for 5% of GDPElectricity:75,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 10 kWh per capita (1991)Industries:a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleumrefiningAgriculture:dominant sector, led by livestock raising (cattle, sheep, goats); crops -bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; not self-sufficient in food;fishing potential largely unexploitedEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $639 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $3.8 billion; OPECbilateral aid (1979-89), $1.1 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $336millionCurrency:Somali shilling (plural - shillings); 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100centesimiExchange rates:Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7(1989), 170.45 (1988), 105.18 (1987), 72.00 (1986)
:Somalia Economy
Fiscal year: calendar year
:Somalia Communications
Highways:15,215 km total; including 2,335 km paved, 2,880 km gravel, and 10,000 kmimproved earth or stabilized soil (1983)Pipelines:crude oil 15 kmPorts:Mogadishu, Berbera, Chisimayu, BosasoMerchant marine:3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,913 GRT/8,718 DWT; includes 2 cargo,1 refrigerated cargoCivil air:1 major transport aircraftAirports:53 total, 40 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over3,659 m; 6 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 15 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:minimal telephone and telegraph service; microwave and troposcatter systemcentered on Mogadishu connects a few towns; 6,000 telephones; broadcaststations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;scheduled to receive an ARABSAT ground station
:Somalia Defense Forces
Branches:NAManpower availability:males 15-49, 1,673,542; 942,153 fit for military serviceDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
:South Africa Geography
Total area:1,221,040 km2Land area:1,221,040 km2; includes Walvis Bay, Marion Island, and Prince Edward IslandComparative area:slightly less than twice the size of TexasLand boundaries:4,973 km total; Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km,Namibia 1,078 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 kmCoastline:2,881 kmMaritime claims:Continental shelf:200 m (depth) or to depth of exploitationExclusive fishing zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:12 nmDisputes:claim by Namibia to Walvis Bay exclave and 12 offshore islands administeredby South Africa; South Africa and Namibia have agreed to jointly administerthe area for an interim period; the terms and dates to be covered by jointadministration arrangements have not been established at this time; andNamibia will continue to maintain a claim to sovereignty over the entireareaClimate:mostly semiarid; subtropical along coast; sunny days, cool nightsTerrain:vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plainNatural resources:gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates,tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gasLand use:arable land 10%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 65%; forest andwoodland 3%; other 21%; includes irrigated 1%Environment:lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive waterconservation and control measuresNote:Walvis Bay is an exclave of South Africa in Namibia; South Africa completelysurrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
:South Africa People
Population:41,688,360 (July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992); includes the 10 so-calledhomelands, which are not recognized by the USPopulation:four independent homelands:Bophuthatswana 2,489,347, growth rate 2.86%; Ciskei 1,088,476, growth rate2.99%; Transkei 4,746,796, growth rate 4.13%; Venda 718,207, growth rate3.81%six other homelands:Gazankulu 803,806, growth rate 3.96%; Kangwane 597,783, growth rate 3.60%;KwaNdebele 373,012, growth rate 3.40%; KwaZulu 5,748,950, growth rate 3.58%;Lebowa 2,924,584, growth rate 3.90%; QwaQwa 288,155, growth rate 3.60%Birth rate:34 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:8 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:50 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:62 years male, 67 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:4.4 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - South African(s); adjective - South AfricanEthnic divisions:black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%Religions:most whites and Coloreds and about 60% of blacks are Christian; about 60% ofIndians are Hindu; Muslim 20%Languages:Afrikaans, English (both official); many vernacular languages, includingZulu, Xhosa, North and South Sotho, TswanaLiteracy:76% (male 78%, female 75%) age 15 and over can read and write (1980)Labor force:11,000,000 economically active (1989); services 34%, agriculture 30%,industry and commerce 29%, mining 7% (1985)Organized labor:about 17% of total labor force belongs to a registered trade union (1989);African unions represent 15% of black labor force
:South Africa Government
Long-form name:Republic of South Africa; abbreviated RSAType:republicCapital:Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)Administrative divisions:4 provinces; Cape, Natal, Orange Free State, Transvaal; there are 10homelands not recognized by the US - 4 independent (Bophuthatswana, Ciskei,Transkei, Venda) and 6 other (Gazankulu, Kangwane, KwaNdebele, KwaZulu,Lebowa, QwaQwa)Independence:31 May 1910 (from UK)Constitution:3 September 1984Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservationsNational holiday:Republic Day, 31 May (1910)Executive branch:state president, Executive Council (cabinet), Ministers' Councils (from thethree houses of Parliament)Legislative branch:tricameral Parliament (Parlement) consists of the House of Assembly(Volksraad; whites), House of Representatives (Raad van Verteenwoordigers;Coloreds), and House of Delegates (Raad van Afgevaardigdes; Indians)Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:State President Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 13 September 1989)Political parties and leaders:white political parties and leaders:National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK (majority party); ConservativeParty (CP), Dr. Andries P. TREURNICHT (official opposition party);Democratic Party (DP), Zach DE BEERColored political parties and leaders:Labor Party (LP), Allan HENDRICKSE (majority party); Freedom Party; note -the Democratic Reform Party (DRP) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) weredisbanded in May 1991Indian political parties and leaders:Solidarity, J. N. REDDY (majority party); National People's Party (NPP),Amichand RAJBANSI; Merit People's PartySuffrage:universal at age 18, but voting rights are racially basedElections:House of Assembly (whites):last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held by NA March 1995); results - NP58%, CP 23%, DP 19%; seats - (178 total, 166 elected) NP 103, CP 41, DP 34;note - by February 1992 because of byelections, changes in number of seatsheld by parties were as follows: NP 102, CP 42, DP 33, vacant 1House of Representatives (Coloreds):last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total, 80 elected) LP 69,DRP 5, UDP 3, Freedom Party 1, independents 2; note - since the NationalParty became multiracial, by February 1992 many representatives from otherparties have changed their allegiance causing the following changes inseating: LP 39, NP 38, Freedom Party 1, independents 7
:South Africa Government
House of Delegates (Indians):last held 6 September 1989 (next to be held no later than March 1995);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total, 40 elected)Solidarity 16, NPP 9, Merit People's Party 3, independents 6, other 6; note- due to delegates changing party affiliation, seating as of February 1992is as follows: Solidarity 25, NPP 7, Merit People's Party 2, other 5,independents 5, vacancy 1Communists:South African Communist Party, Chris HANI, secretary general, and Joe SLOVO,national chairmanOther political or pressure groups:African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president; Inkatha FreedomParty (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC),Clarence MAKWETU, presidentMember of:BIS, CCC, ECA, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO (suspended), ICC, IDA, IFC, IMF,INTELSAT, ISO, ITU (suspended), LORCS, SACU, UN, UNCTAD, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO (suspended)Diplomatic representation:Ambassador Harry SCHWARZ; Chancery at 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW,Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 232-4400; there are South AfricanConsulates General in Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, Houston, and NewYorkUS:Ambassador William L. SWING; Embassy at Thibault House, 225 PretoriusStreet, Pretoria; telephone [27] (12) 28-4266, FAX [27] (12) 21-92-78; thereare US Consulates General in Cape Town, Durban, and JohannesburgFlag:actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the centerof the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has threeequal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flagsare a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontalflag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the oldTransvaal Republic adjoining on the other side
:South Africa Economy
Overview:Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes,material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those ofWestern Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers fromthe poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment, lack of jobskills, and barriers to movement into higher-paying fields. Inputs andoutputs thus do not move smoothly into the most productive employments, andthe effectiveness of the market is further lowered by internationalconstraints on dealings with South Africa. The main strength of the economylies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports.Average growth of less than 2% in output in recent years falls far short ofthe 5% to 6% level needed to absorb some 300,000 new entrants to the laborforce annually. Economic developments in the 1990s will be driven partly bythe changing relations among the various ethnic groups.GDP:exchange rate conversion - $104 billion, per capita $2,600; real growth rate- 0.5% (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):15.7% (March 1992)Unemployment rate:40% (1991); well over 50% in some homeland areas (1991 est.)Budget:revenues $29.4 billion; expenditures $35.0 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $1.1 billion (FY93 est.)Exports:$24.0 billion (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:gold 25-30%, minerals and metals 20-25%, food 5%, chemicals 3%partners:Italy, Japan, US, FRG, UK, other EC members, Hong KongImports:$18.8 billion (c.i.f., 1991)commodities:machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles,scientific instruments, base metalspartners:FRG, Japan, UK, US, ItalyExternal debt:$19.0 billion (December 1991)Industrial production:growth rate NA%; accounts for about 40% of GDPElectricity:46,000,000 kW capacity; 180,000 million kWh produced, 4,100 kWh per capita(1991)Industries:mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobileassembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical,fertilizer, foodstuffsAgriculture:accounts for about 5% of GDP and 30% of labor force; diversifiedagriculture, with emphasis on livestock; products - cattle, poultry, sheep,wool, milk, beef, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables;self-sufficient in foodEconomic aid:NACurrency:rand (plural - rand); 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
:South Africa Economy
Exchange rates:rand (R) per US$1 - 2.7814 (January 1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990),2.6166 (1989), 2.2611 (1988), 2.0350 (1987)Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
:South Africa Communications
Railroads:20,638 km route distance total; 35,079 km of 1.067-meter gauge trackage(counts double and multiple tracking as single track); 314 km of 610 mmgaugeHighways:188,309 km total; 54,013 km paved, 134,296 km crushed stone, gravel, orimproved earthPipelines:crude oil 931 km, petroleum products 1,748 km, natural gas 322 kmPorts:Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Richard's Bay, Saldanha, Mosselbaai,Walvis BayMerchant marine:5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 213,708 GRT/201,043 DWT; includes 4container, 1 vehicle carrierCivil air:90 major transport aircraftAirports:901 total, 732 usable; 132 with permanent-surface runways; 5 with runwaysover 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 224 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacityin Africa; it consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables,radio relay links, fiber optic cable, and radiocommunication stations; keycenters are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth,and Pretoria; over 4,500,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 14 AM, 286 FM,67 TV; 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSATand 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
:South Africa Defense Forces
Branches:South African Defense Force (SADF; including Army, Navy, Air Force, MedicalServices), South African Police (SAP)Manpower availability:males 15-49, 10,051,202; 6,133,484 fit for military service; 420,275 reachmilitary age (18) annually; obligation for service in Citizen Force orCommandos begins at 18; volunteers for service in permanent force must be17; national service obligation is one year; figures include the so-calledhomelands not recognized by the USDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $3.5 billion, about 3% of GDP (FY92)
:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Geography
Total area:4,066 km2Land area:4,066 km2; includes Shag and Clerke Rocks, South Georgia, Bird Island, SouthSandwich IslandsComparative area:slightly larger than Rhode IslandLand boundaries:noneCoastline:undeterminedMaritime claims:Territorial sea:12 nmDisputes:administered by the UK, claimed by ArgentinaClimate:variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed withperiods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snowTerrain:most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged andmountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-coveredmountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with someactive volcanoesNatural resources:fishLand use:arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest andwoodland 0%; other 100%; largely covered by permanent ice and snow with somesparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichenEnvironment:reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia; weatherconditions generally make it difficult to approach the South SandwichIslands; the South Sandwich Islands are subject to active volcanismNote:the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide goodanchorage
:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands People
Population:no permanent population; there is a small military garrison on SouthGeorgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on BirdIsland; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Government
Long-form name:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (no short-form name)Type:dependent territory of the UKCapital:none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison townAdministrative divisions:none (dependent territory of the UK)Independence:none (dependent territory of the UK)Constitution:3 October 1985Legal system:English common lawNational holiday:Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)Executive branch:British monarch, commissionerLegislative branch:noneJudicial branch:noneLeaders:Chief of State:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by CommissionerWilliam Hugh FULLERTON (since 1988; resident at Stanley, Falkland Islands)
:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Economy
Overview:Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source ofincome from harvesting fin fish and krill. The islands receive income frompostage stamps produced in the UK.Budget:revenues $291,777; expenditures $451,011, including capital expenditures of$NA (FY88 est.)Electricity:900 kW capacity; 2 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1990)
:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Communications
Highways:NAPorts:Grytviken on South GeorgiaAirports:5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runway2,440-3,659 mTelecommunications:coastal radio station at Grytviken; no broadcast stations
:South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
:Spain Geography
Total area:504,750 km2Land area:499,400 km2; includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places ofsovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta,Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de laGomeraComparative area:slightly more than twice the size of OregonLand boundaries:1,903.2 km total; Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal1,214 kmCoastline:4,964 kmMaritime claims:Exclusive economic zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:12 nmDisputes:Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty(plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclavesof Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands ofPenon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas ChafarinasClimate:temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy alongcoast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coastTerrain:large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees innorthNatural resources:coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc,lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropowerLand use:arable land 31%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and pastures 21%; forest andwoodland 31%; other 7%; includes irrigated 6%Environment:deforestation; air pollutionNote:strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
:Spain People
Population:39,118,399 (July 1992), growth rate 0.2% (1992)Birth rate:11 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:9 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:NEGL migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:7 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:74 years male, 81 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:1.4 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Spaniard(s); adjective - SpanishEthnic divisions:composite of Mediterranean and Nordic typesReligions:Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%Languages:Castilian Spanish; second languages include Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque2%Literacy:95% (male 97%, female 93%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)Labor force:14,621,000; services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9%(1988)Organized labor:less 10% of labor force (1988)
:Spain Government
Long-form name:Kingdom of SpainType:parliamentary monarchyCapital:MadridAdministrative divisions:17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidadautonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-LaMancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura,Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco; note- there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco(Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez dela Gomera) with administrative status unknownIndependence:1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)Constitution:6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978Legal system:civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJjurisdictionNational holiday:National Day, 12 OctoberExecutive branch:monarch, president of the government (prime minister), deputy primeminister, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of StateLegislative branch:bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales)consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Congressof Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)Judicial branch:Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)Leaders:Chief of State:King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)Head of Government:Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2 December 1982); Deputy PrimeMinister Narcis SERRA (since 13 March 1991)Political parties and leaders:principal national parties, from right to left - Popular Party (PP), JoseMaria AZNAR; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Luis DE GRANDES; SocialDemocratic Center (CDS), Rafael Calvo ORTEGA; Spanish Socialist WorkersParty (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez; Socialist Democracy Party (DS),Ricardo Garcia DAMBORENEA; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA;chief regional parties - Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley, inCatalonia; Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS; BasqueSolidarity (EA), Carlos GARAICOETXEA Urizza; Basque Popular Unity (HB), JonIDIGORAS; Basque Left (EE), Kepa AULESTIA; Andalusian Party (PA), PedroPACHECO; Independent Canary Group (AIC); Aragon Regional Party (PAR);Valencian Union (UV)Suffrage:universal at age 18Elections:Senate:last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results -percent of vote by party NA; seats - (208 total) PSOE 106, PP 79, CiU 10,PNV 4, HB 3, AIC 1, other 5
:Spain Government
Congress of Deputies:last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993); results - PSOE39.6%, PP 25.8%, CDS 9%, Communist-led coalition (IU) 9%, CiU 5%, PNV 1.2%,HB 1%, PA 1%, other 8.4%; seats - (350 total) PSOE 175, PP 106, CiU 18, IU17, CDS 14, PNV 5, HB 4, other 11Communists:PCE membership declined from a possible high of 160,000 in 1977 to roughly60,000 in 1987; the party gained almost 1 million voters and 10 deputies inthe 1989 election; voters came mostly from the disgruntled socialist left;remaining strength is in labor, where it dominates the Workers Commissionstrade union (one of the country's two major labor centrals), which claims amembership of about 1 million; experienced a modest recovery in 1986national election, nearly doubling the share of the vote it received in 1982Other political or pressure groups:on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the Firstof October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose thegovernment; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977) include theCommunist-dominated Workers Commissions (CCOO); the Socialist General Unionof Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO);the Catholic Church; business and landowning interests; Opus Dei; universitystudentsMember of:AG (observer), AsDB, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECE, ECLAC,EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer),ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, OAS (observer),OECD, PCA, UN, UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTODiplomatic representation:Ambassador Jaime de OJEDA; Chancery at 2700 15th Street NW, Washington, DC20009; telephone (202) 265-0190 or 0191; there are Spanish ConsulatesGeneral in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, NewYork, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)US:Ambassador Joseph ZAPPALA; Embassy at Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid (mailingaddress is APO AE 09642); telephone [34] (1) 577-4000, FAX [34] (1)577-5735; there is a US Consulate General in Barcelona and a Consulate inBilbaoFlag:three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with thenational coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of armsincludes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the twopromontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of theStrait of Gibraltar
:Spain Economy
Overview:Spain has done well since joining the EC in 1986. In accordance with itsaccession treaty, Spain has almost wholly liberalized trade and capitalmarkets. Foreign and domestic investment has spurred average growth of 4%per year. Beginning in 1989, Madrid implemented a tight monetary policy tofight inflation - around 7% in 1989 and 1990. As a result growth slowed to2.5% in 1991. Spanish policymakers remain concerned with inflation - stillhovering at 6%. Government officials also are worried about 16%unemployment, although many people listed as unemployed work in theunderground economy. Spanish economists believe that structural adjustmentsdue to the ongoing integration of the European market are likely to lead tomore displaced workers.GDP:purchasing power equivalent - $487.5 billion, per capita $12,400; realgrowth rate 2.5% (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.9% (1991 est.)Unemployment rate:16.0% (1991 est.)Budget:revenues $111.0 billion; expenditures $115.9 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $20.8 billion (1991 est.)Exports:$60.1 billion (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinerypartners:EC 71.0%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9%Imports:$93.1 billion (c.i.f., 1990)commodities:machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs,consumer goods, chemicalspartners:EC 60.0%, US 8.0%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 2.6%External debt:$45 billion (1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 2.0% (1991 est.)Electricity:46,589,000 kW capacity; 157,040 million kWh produced, 3,980 kWh per capita(1991)Industries:textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals andmetal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools,tourismAgriculture:accounts for about 5% of GDP and 14% of labor force; major products - grain,vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, beef, pork,poultry, dairy; largely self-sufficient in food; fish catch of 1.4 millionmetric tons is among top 20 nationsIllicit drugs:key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering theEuropean marketEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $545.0 million; notcurrently a recipient
:Spain Economy
Currency:peseta (plural - pesetas); 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimosExchange rates:pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 104.79 (March 1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990),118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988), 123.48 (1987)Fiscal year:calendar year
:Spain Communications
Railroads:15,430 km total; Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km1.668-meter gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track; FEVE(government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km of predominantly1.000-meter gauge and 441 km electrified; privately owned railways operate918 km of predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 kmdouble trackHighways:150,839 km total; 82,513 km national (includes 2,433 km limited-accessdivided highway, 63,042 km bituminous treated, 17,038 km intermediatebituminous, concrete, or stone block) and 68,326 km provincial or localroads (bituminous treated, intermediate bituminous, or stone block)Inland waterways:1,045 km, but of minor economic importancePipelines:crude oil 265 km, petroleum products 1,794 km, natural gas 1,666 kmPorts:Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellonde la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, LaCoruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, SantaCruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor portsMerchant marine:278 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,915,409 GRT/5,228,378 DWT; includes2 passenger, 9 short-sea passenger, 86 cargo, 13 refrigerated cargo, 15container, 32 roll-on/roll-off cargo, 4 vehicle carrier, 48 petroleumtanker, 14 chemical tanker, 7 liquefied gas, 3 specialized tanker, 45 bulkCivil air:210 major transport aircraftAirports:105 total, 99 usable; 60 with permanent-surface runways; 4 with runways over3,659 m; 22 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 25 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:generally adequate, modern facilities; 15,350,464 telephones; broadcaststations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV; 22coaxial submarine cables; 2 communications satellite earth stationsoperating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean); MARECS, INMARSAT,and EUTELSAT systems; tropospheric links
:Spain Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal CivilGuardManpower availability:males 15-49, 10,205,741; 8,271,151 fit for military service; 337,407 reachmilitary age (20) annuallyDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $8.7 billion, 2% of GDP (1991)
:Spratly Islands Geography
Total area:NA but less than 5 km2Land area:less than 5 km2; includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mountsscattered over the South China SeaComparative area:undeterminedLand boundaries:noneCoastline:926 kmMaritime claims:undeterminedDisputes:all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; partsof them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Bruneiestablished an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, buthas not publicly claimed the islandClimate:tropicalTerrain:flatNatural resources:fish, guano; undetermined oil and natural gas potentialLand use:arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest andwoodland 0%; other 100%Environment:subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, andcoral reefsNote:strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the centralSouth China Sea; serious navigational hazard
:Spratly Islands People
Population: no permanent inhabitants; garrisons
:Spratly Islands Government
Long-form name: none
:Spratly Islands Economy
Overview:Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing, proximity to nearby oil-and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gasdeposits, but the Spratlys region is largely unexplored, and there are noreliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet tobe developed.Industries:none
:Spratly Islands Communications
Ports:no natural harborsAirports:2 total, 2 usable; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways1,220-2,439 m
:Spratly Islands Defense Forces
Note:44 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines,Taiwan, and Vietnam
:Sri Lanka Geography
Total area:65,610 km2Land area:64,740 km2Comparative area:slightly larger than West VirginiaLand boundaries:noneCoastline:1,340 kmMaritime claims:Contiguous zone:24 nmContinental shelf:edge of continental margin or 200 nmExclusive economic zone:200 nmTerritorial sea:12 nmDisputes:noneClimate:tropical; monsoonal; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwestmonsoon (June to October)Terrain:mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interiorNatural resources:limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clayLand use:arable land 16%; permanent crops 17%; meadows and pastures 7%; forest andwoodland 37%; other 23%; includes irrigated 8%Environment:occasional cyclones, tornados; deforestation; soil erosionNote:only 29 km from India across the Palk Strait; near major Indian Ocean sealanes
:Sri Lanka People
Population:17,631,528 (July 1992), growth rate 1.2% (1992); note - about 120,000 peoplefled to India in 1991 because of fighting between government forces andTamil insurgents; about 200,000 Tamils will be repatriated in 1992Birth rate:20 births/1,000 population (1992)Death rate:6 deaths/1,000 population (1992)Net migration rate:-2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)Infant mortality rate:21 deaths/1,000 live births (1992)Life expectancy at birth:69 years male, 74 years female (1992)Total fertility rate:2.2 children born/woman (1992)Nationality:noun - Sri Lankan(s); adjective - Sri LankanEthnic divisions:Sinhalese 74%; Tamil 18%; Moor 7%; Burgher, Malay, and Veddha 1%Religions:Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%Languages:Sinhala (official); Sinhala and Tamil listed as national languages; Sinhalaspoken by about 74% of population, Tamil spoken by about 18%; Englishcommonly used in government and spoken by about 10% of the populationLiteracy:86% (male 91%, female 81%) age 15 and over can read and write (1981)Labor force:6,600,000; agriculture 45.9%, mining and manufacturing 13.3%, trade andtransport 12.4%, services and other 28.4% (1985 est.)Organized labor:about 30% of labor force, over 50% of which are employed on tea, rubber, andcoconut estates
:Sri Lanka Government
Long-form name:Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri LankaType:republicCapital:ColomboAdministrative divisions:the administrative structure now includes 9 provinces - Central, Eastern,North, North Central, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, andWestern and 24 districts - Amparai, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa,Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalla,Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Mullaittivu, Nuwara Eliya,Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Trincomalee, Vavuniya; note - in thefuture there may be only 8 provinces (combining the two provinces of Northand Eastern into one province of North Eastern) and 25 districts (addingKilinochchi to the existing districts)Independence:4 February 1948 (from UK; formerly Ceylon)Constitution:31 August 1978Legal system:a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim,Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionNational holiday:Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)Executive branch:president, prime minister, CabinetLegislative branch:unicameral ParliamentJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Ranasinghe PREMADASA (since 2 January 1989)Head of Government:Prime Minister Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGE (since 6 March 1989)Political parties and leaders:United National Party (UNP), Ranasinghe PREMADASA; Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), M. H. M.ASHRAFF; All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Kumar PONNAMBALAM; People'sUnited Front (MEP, or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; EelamDemocratic Front (EDF), Edward Sebastian PILLAI; Tamil United LiberationFront (TULF), leader (vacant); Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students(EROS), Velupillai BALAKUMARAN; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava SamaSamaja Party), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP,or Lanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. de SILVA; Sri Lanka People's Party(SLMP, or Sri Lanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Communist Party,K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing (CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; note - theUnited Socialist Alliance (USA) includes the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, andCP/BSuffrage:universal at age 18Elections:President:last held 19 December 1988 (next to be held NA December 1994); results -Ranasinghe PREMADASA (UNP) 50%, Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE (SLFP) 45%, other 5%
:Sri Lanka Government
Parliament:last held 15 February 1989 (next to be held by NA February 1995); results -UNP 51%, SLFP 32%, SLMC 4%, TULF 3%, USA 3%, EROS 3%, MEP 1%, other 3%;seats - (225 total) UNP 125, SLFP 67, other 33Other political or pressure groups:Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatistgroups; Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP or People's Liberation Front);Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unionsMember of:AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation:Ambassador W. Susanta De ALWIS; Chancery at 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW,Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-4025 through 4028; there is a SriLankan Consulate in New YorkUS:Ambassador Marion V. CREEKMORE, Jr.; Embassy at 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3(mailing address is P. O. Box 106, Colombo); telephone [94] (1) 44180107,FAX [94] (1) 43-73-45Flag:yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal verticalbands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark redrectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leafin each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around theentire flag and extends between the two panels
:Sri Lanka Economy
Overview:Agriculture, forestry, and fishing dominate the economy, employing half ofthe labor force and accounting for one quarter of GDP. The plantation cropsof tea, rubber, and coconuts provide about one-third of export earnings. Theeconomy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s.Economic growth, which has been depressed by ethnic unrest, accelerated in1991 as domestic conditions began to improve.GDP:exchange rate conversion - $7.2 billion, per capita $410; real growth rate5.0% (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):10% (1991)Unemployment rate:14% (1991 est.)Budget:revenues $2.0 billion; expenditures $3.7 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $500 million (1992)Exports:$2.3 billion (f.o.b., 1991)commodities:textiles and garment, teas, petroleum products, coconut, rubber,agricultural products, gems and jewelry, marine productspartners:US 25%, FRG, Japan, UK, Belgium, Taiwan, Hong Kong, ChinaImports:$3.0 billion (c.i.f., 1991)commodities:food and beverages, textiles and textile materials, petroleum, machinery andequipmentpartners:Japan, Iran, US 7.7%, India, Taiwan, Singapore, FRG, UKExternal debt:$5.8 billion (1990)Industrial production:growth rate 8% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDPElectricity:1,300,000 kW capacity; 4,200 million kWh produced, 240 kWh per capita (1990)Industries:processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities;cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco, clothingAgriculture:accounts for 26% of GDP and nearly half of labor force; most importantstaple crop is paddy rice; other field crops - sugarcane, grains, pulses,oilseeds, roots, spices; cash crops - tea, rubber, coconuts; animal products- milk, eggs, hides, meat; not self-sufficient in rice productionEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.0 billion; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-89), $5.1 billion; OPECbilateral aid (1979-89), $169 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $369millionCurrency:Sri Lankan rupee (plural - rupees); 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 centsExchange rates:Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 43.112 (March 1992), 41.372 (1991),40.063 (1990), 36.047 (1989), 31.807 (1988), 29.445 (1987)Fiscal year:calendar year
:Sri Lanka Communications
Railroads:1,948 km total (1990); all 1.868-meter broad gauge; 102 km double track; noelectrification; government ownedHighways:75,749 km total (1990); 27,637 km paved (mostly bituminous treated), 32,887km crushed stone or gravel, 14,739 km improved earth or unimproved earth;several thousand km of mostly unmotorable tracks (1988 est.)Inland waterways:430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craftPipelines:crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)Ports:Colombo, TrincomaleeMerchant marine:30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 310,173 GRT/489,378 DWT; includes 13cargo, 6 refrigerated cargo, 5 container, 3 petroleum tanker, 3 bulkCivil air:8 major transport (including 1 leased)Airports:14 total, 13 usable; 12 with permanent-surface runways; none with runwaysover 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 7 with runways 1,220-2,439 mTelecommunications:good international service; 114,000 telephones (1982); broadcast stations -12 AM, 5 FM, 5 TV; submarine cables extend to Indonesia and Djibouti; 2Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth stations