*United Kingdom, Geography
Environment:pollution control measures improving air and water quality; because ofheavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidalwatersNote:lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and nowbeing linked by tunnel under the English Channel
*United Kingdom, People
Population:57,970,200 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:0.29% (1993 est.)Birth rate:13.58 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:10.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:76.5 yearsmale:73.71 yearsfemale:79.43 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:1.83 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Briton(s), British (collective pl.)adjective:BritishEthnic divisions:English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh 1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, WestIndian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%Religions: Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim 1 million,Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000, Hindu 350,000, Jewish300,000 (1991 est.)note:the UK does not include a question on religion in its censusLanguages:English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form ofGaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)Literacy:age 15 and over can read and write (1978)total population:99%male:NA%female:NA%Labor force:28.048 millionby occupation:services 62.8%, manufacturing and construction 25.0%, government 9.1%,energy 1.9%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1992)
*United Kingdom, Government
Names:conventional long form:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandconventional short form:United KingdomAbbreviation:UKDigraph:UKType:constitutional monarchyCapital:LondonAdministrative divisions:47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26 districts, 9 regions, and 3 islandsareasEngland:39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford, Berkshire, Buckingham,, Cambridge,Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derby, Devon, Dorset,Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucester, Greater London*, Greater, Manchester*, Hampshire,,Hereford and Worcester, Hertford, Humberside, Isleof Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, Merseyside*, Norfolk,, Northampton,Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford,Shropshire, Somerset, South Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne and, Wear*, Warwick,,West Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*, Wiltshire, Northern Ireland:26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge,Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down,Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt,Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, StrabaneScotland:9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife,, Grampian, Highland,Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*, Strathclyde, Tayside,, Western Isles*, Wales:8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, Powys, SouthGlamorgan, West GlamorganDependent areas:Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands,Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong (scheduledto become a Special Administrative Region of China on 1 July 1997), Jersey,Isle of Man, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia andthe South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos IslandsIndependence:1 January 1801 (United Kingdom established)Constitution:unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practiceLegal system:common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; nojudicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservationsNational holiday:Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (second Saturday in June)
*United Kingdom, Government
Political parties and leaders:Conservative and Unionist Party, John MAJOR; Labor Party, John SMITH;Liberal Democrats (LD), Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN; Scottish National Party,Alex SALMOND; Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru), Dafydd Iwan WIGLEY; UlsterUnionist Party (Northern Ireland), James MOLYNEAUX; Democratic UnionistParty (Northern Ireland), Rev. Ian PAISLEY; Ulster Popular Unionist Party(Northern Ireland), James KILFEDDER; Social Democratic and Labor Party(SDLP, Northern Ireland), John HUME; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland), GerryADAMSOther political or pressure groups:Trades Union Congress; Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers'Union; Campaign for Nuclear DisarmamentSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:House of Commons:last held 9 April 1992 (next to be held by NA April 1997); results -Conservative 41.9%, Labor 34.5%, Liberal Democratic 17.9%, other 5.7%; seats- (651 total) Conservative 336, Labor 271, Liberal Democratic 20, other 24Executive branch:monarch, prime minister, CabinetLegislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or House of Lords and alower house or House of CommonsJudicial branch:House of LordsLeaders:Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES(son of the Queen, born 14 November 1948)Head of Government:Prime Minister John MAJOR (since 28 November 1990)Member of:AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB(non-regional), CE, CERN, COCOM, CP, CSCE, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate), ECE,ECLAC, EIB, ESCAP, ESA, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTRC, NACC, NATO,NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UPU,WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Sir Robin RENWICKchancery:3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 462-1340FAX:(202) 898-4255consulates general:Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and SanFrancisco,consulates:Dallas, Miami, and SeattleUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Raymond G. H. SEITZembassy:24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W.1A1AE
*United Kingdom, Government
mailing address:PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040telephone:[44] (71) 499-9000FAX:[44] (71) 409-1637consulates general:Belfast and EdinburghFlag:blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged inwhite superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saintof Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of SaintAndrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack;the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for anumber of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth countries, andothers
*United Kingdom, Economy
Overview:The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers, andits economy ranks among the four largest in Europe. The economy isessentially capitalistic; over the past thirteen years the ruling Torieshave greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of socialwelfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficientby European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only 1% of thelabor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves, andprimary energy production accounts for 12% of GDP, one of the highest sharesof any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, andbusiness services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP whileindustry continues to decline in importance, now employing only 25% of thework force and generating 21% of GDP. The economy is emerging out of its3-year recession with only weak recovery expected in 1993. Unemployment ishovering around 10% of the labor force. The government in 1992 adopted apro-growth strategy, cutting interest rates sharply and removing the poundfrom the European exchange rate mechanism. Excess industrial capacityprobably will moderate inflation which for the first time in a decade isbelow the EC average. The major economic policy question for Britain in the1990s is the terms on which it participates in the financial and economicintegration of Europe.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $920.6 billion (1992)National product real growth rate:-0.6% (1992)National product per capita:$15,900 (1992)Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (1992)Unemployment rate:9.8% (1992)Budget:revenues $367.6 billion; expenditures $439.3 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $32.5 billion (FY92 est.)Exports:$187.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods,transport equipmentpartners:EC countries 56.7% (Germany 14.0%, France 11.1%, Netherlands 7.9%), US 10.9%Imports:$210.7 billion (c.i.f., 1992)commodities:manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumergoodspartners:EC countries 51.7% (Germany 14.9%, France 9.3%, Netherlands 8.4%), US 11.6%External debt:$16.2 billion (June 1992)Industrial production:growth rate 0.4% (1992 est.)Electricity:99,000,000 kW capacity; 317,000 million kWh produced, 5,480 kWh per capita(1992)
*United Kingdom, Economy
Industries:production machinery including machine tools, electric power equipment,equipment for the automation of production, railroad equipment,shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics andcommunications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper andpaper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumergoodsAgriculture:accounts for only 1.5% of GDP and 1% of labor force; highly mechanized andefficient farms; wide variety of crops and livestock products produced;about 60% self-sufficient in food and feed needs; fish catch of 665,000metric tons (1987)Illicit drugs:increasingly important gateway country for Latin American cocaine enteringthe European marketEconomic aid:donor - ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $21.0 billionCurrency:1 British pound (#) = 100 penceExchange rates:British pounds (#) per US$1 - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652(1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988)Fiscal year:1 April-31 March
*United Kingdom, Communications
Railroads:UK, 16,914 km total; Great Britain's British Railways (BR) operates 16,584km 1.435-meter (standard) gauge (including 4,545 km electrified and 12,591km double or multiple track), several additional small standard-gauge andnarrow-gauge lines are privately owned and operated; Northern IrelandRailways (NIR) operates 330 km 1.600-meter gauge (including 190 km doubletrack)Highways:UK, 362,982 km total; Great Britain, 339,483 km paved (including 2,573 kmlimited-access divided highway); Northern Ireland, 23,499 km (22,907 paved,592 km gravel)Inland waterways:2,291 total; British Waterways Board, 606 km; Port Authorities, 706 km;other, 979 kmPipelines:crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km, petroleum products 2,993 km,natural gas 12,800 kmPorts:London, Liverpool, Felixstowe, Tees and Hartlepool, Dover, Sullom Voe,SouthamptonMerchant marine: 204 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,819,719 GRT/4,941,785 DWT; includes7 passenger, 16 short-sea passenger, 37 cargo, 25 container, 14roll-on/roll-off, 5 refrigerated cargo, 1 vehicle carrier, 65 oil tanker, 1chemical tanker, 8 liquefied gas, 1 specialized tanker, 22 bulk, 1combination bulk, 1 passenger cargoAirports:total:496usable:385with permanent-surface runways:249with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:37with runways 1,220-2,439 m:134Telecommunications:technologically advanced domestic and international system; 30,200,000telephones; equal mix of buried cables, microwave and optical-fiber systems;excellent countrywide broadcast systems; broadcast stations - 225 AM, 525(mostly repeaters) FM, 207 (3,210 repeaters) TV; 40 coaxial submarinecables; 5 satellite ground stations operating in INTELSAT (7 Atlantic Oceanand 3 Indian Ocean), INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems; at least 8 largeinternational switching centers
*United Kingdom, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 14,445,998; fit for military service 12,084,913 (1993 est.);no conscriptionDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $42.5 billion, 3.8% of GDP (FY92/93)
*United States, Geography
Location:North America, between Canada and MexicoMap references:North America, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:9,372,610 km2land area:9,166,600 km2comparative area:about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; aboutone-half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil);slightly smaller than China; about two and one-half times the size ofWestern Europenote:includes only the 50 states and District of ColumbiaLand boundaries:total 12,248 km, Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29km (US naval base at Guantanamo), Mexico 3,326 kmCoastline:19,924 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf:200 m or depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Straitof Juan de Fuca); US Naval Base at Guantanamo is leased from Cuba and onlymutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease;Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica(but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims ofany other nation; Republic of Marshall Islands claims Wake IslandClimate:mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and arctic in Alaska,semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River and arid in theGreat Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest areameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds fromthe eastern slopes of the Rocky MountainsTerrain:vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east;rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanictopography in HawaiiNatural resources:coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron,mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas,timberLand use:arable land:20%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:26%
*United States, Geography
forest and woodland:29%other:25%Irrigated land:181,020 km2 (1989 est.)Environment:pollution control measures improving air and water quality; agriculturalfertilizer and pesticide pollution; management of sparse natural waterresources in west; desertification; tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquakeactivity around Pacific Basin; permafrost in northern Alaska is a majorimpediment to developmentNote:world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and China)
*United States, People
Population:258,103,721 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:1.02% (1993 est.)Birth rate:15.48 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:8.67 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:3.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:8.36 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:75.8 yearsmale:72.49 yearsfemale:79.29 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:2.05 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:American(s)adjective:AmericanEthnic divisions:white 83.4%, black 12.4%, asian 3.3%, native american 0.8% (1992)Religions:Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)Languages:English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)Literacy:age 15 and over having completed 5 or more years of schooling (1991)total population:97.9%male:97.9%female:97.9%Labor force:128.548 million (includes armed forces and unemployed; civilian labor force126.982 million) (1992)by occupation:NA
*United States, Government
Names:conventional long form:United States of Americaconventional short form:United StatesAbbreviation:US or USADigraph:USType:federal republic; strong democratic traditionCapital:Washington, DCAdministrative divisions:50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,, Colorado,Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia,, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, RhodeIsland, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, WyomingDependent areas:American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, JohnstonAtoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern MarianaIslands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Islandnote:since 18 July 1947, the US has administered the Trust Territory of thePacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship withthree of the four political units; the Northern Mariana Islands is aCommonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986);Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US that was approvedby the US Congress but to date the Compact process has not been completed inPalau, which continues to be administered by the US as the Trust Territoryof the Pacific Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compactof Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic ofthe Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US(effective 21 October 1986)Independence:4 July 1776 (from England)Constitution:17 September 1787, effective 4 June 1789Legal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservationsNational holiday:Independence Day, 4 July (1776)Political parties and leaders:Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman; Jeanie AUSTIN,co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committeechairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significanceSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results -William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 43.2%, George BUSH (RepublicanParty) 37.7%, Ross PEROT (Independent) 19.0%, other 0.1%
*United States, Government
Senate:last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results -Democratic Party 53%, Republican Party 47%, other NEGL%; seats - (100 total)Democratic Party 57, Republican Party 43House of Representatives:last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 8 November 1994); results -Democratic Party 52%, Republican Party 46%, other 2%; seats - (435 total)Democratic Party 258, Republican Party 176, Independent 1Executive branch:president, vice president, CabinetLegislative branch:bicameral Congress consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower house orHouse of RepresentativesJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice PresidentAlbert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)Member of:AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, COCOM,CP, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, FAO, ESCAP, G-2, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, GATT,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR,NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, PCA, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,UNRWA, UN Security Council, UNTAC, UN Trusteeship Council, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZCFlag:thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating withwhite; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows ofsix stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 starsrepresent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a numberof other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
*United States, Economy
Overview:The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economyin the world, with a per capita GDP of $23,400, the largest among majorindustrial nations. The economy is market oriented with most decisions madeby private individuals and business firms and with government purchases ofgoods and services made predominantly in the marketplace. In 1989 theeconomy enjoyed its seventh successive year of substantial growth, thelongest in peacetime history. The expansion featured moderation in wage andconsumer price increases and a steady reduction in unemployment to 5.2% ofthe labor force. In 1990, however, growth slowed to 1% because of acombination of factors, such as the worldwide increase in interest rates,Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August, the subsequent spurt in oil prices, anda general decline in business and consumer confidence. In 1991 output fellby 1%, unemployment grew, and signs of recovery proved premature. Growthpicked up to 2.1% in 1992. Unemployment, however, remained at nine million,the increase in GDP being mainly attributable to gains in output per worker.Ongoing problems for the 1990s include inadequate investment in economicinfrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs, and sizable budget and tradedeficits.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $5.951 trillion (1992)National product real growth rate:2.1% (1992)National product per capita:$23,400 (1992)Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (1992)Unemployment rate:7% (April 1993)Budget:revenues $1,092 billion; expenditures $1,382 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (FY92)Exports:$442.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)commodities:capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials, consumergoods, agricultural productspartners:Western Europe 27.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 12.1% (1989)Imports:$544.1 billion (c.i.f., 1992)commodities:crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles, consumergoods, industrial raw materials, food and beveragespartners:Western Europe 21.5%, Japan 19.7%, Canada 18.8% (1989)External debt:$NAIndustrial production:growth rate 1.5% (1992 est.); accounts for NA% of GDPElectricity:780,000,000 kW capacity; 3,230,000 million kWh produced, 12,690 kWh percapita (1992)Industries:leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified; petroleum, steel,motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, foodprocessing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
*United States, Economy
Agriculture:accounts for 2% of GDP and 2.8% of labor force; favorable climate and soilssupport a wide variety of crops and livestock production; world's secondlargest producer and number one exporter of grain; surplus food producer;fish catch of 4.4 million metric tons (1990)Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis for domestic consumption with 1987 productionestimated at 3,500 metric tons or about 25% of the available marijuana;ongoing eradication program aimed at small plots and greenhouses has notreduced productionEconomic aid:donor - commitments, including ODA and OOF, (FY80-89), $115.7 billionCurrency:1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 centsExchange rates:British pounds:(#) per US$ - 0.6527 (January 1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603(1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988)Canadian dollars:(Can$) per US$ - 1.2776 (January 1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991), 1.1668(1990), 1.1840 (1989), 1.2307 (1988)French francs:(F) per US$ - 5.4812 (January 1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453(1990), 6.3801 (1989), 5.9569 (1988)Italian lire:(Lit) per US$ - 1,482.5 (January 1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991),1,198.1 (1990), 1.372.1 (1989), 1,301.6 (1988)Japanese yen:(Y) per US$ - 125.01 (January 1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991), 144.79(1990), 137.96 (1989), 128.15 (1988)German deutsche marks:(DM) per US$ - 1.6158 (January 1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991), 1.6157(1990), 1.8800 (1989), 1.7562 (1988)Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
*United States, Communications
Railroads:240,000 km of mainline routes, all standard 1.435 meter track, no governmentownership (1989)Highways:7,599,250 km total; 6,230,000 km state-financed roads; 1,369,250 kmfederally-financed roads (including 71,825 km interstate limited accessfreeways) (1988)Inland waterways:41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes (est.)Pipelines:petroleum 276,000 km (1991), natural gas 331,000 km (1991)Ports: Anchorage, Baltimore, Beaumont, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland,Duluth, Freeport, Galveston, Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville,Long Beach, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Mobile, New Orleans, New York,Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Richmond (California), San Francisco,Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, WilmingtonMerchant marine:385 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 12,567,000 GRT/19,511,000 DWT;includes 3 passenger-cargo, 36 cargo, 23 bulk, 169 tanker, 13 tankertug-barge, 13 liquefied gas, 128 intermodal; in addition, there are 219government-owned vesselsAirports:total:14,177usable:12,417with permanent-surface runways:4,820with runways over 3,659 m:63with runways 2,440-3,659 m:325with runways 1,220-2,439 m:2,524Telecommunications:126,000,000 telephone access lines; 7,557,000 cellular phone subscribers;broadcast stations - 4,987 AM, 4,932 FM, 1,092 TV; about 9,000 TV cablesystems; 530,000,000 radio sets and 193,000,000 TV sets in use; 16satellites and 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite ground stations - 45Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT and 16 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT (1990)
*United States, Defense Forces
Branches:Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (including Marine Corps),Department of the Air ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 66.826 million; fit for military service NA (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $315.5 billion, 5.3% of GDP (1992)
*Uruguay, Geography
Location:Eastern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean between Argentinaand BrazilMap references:South America, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:176,220 km2land area:173,620 km2 comparative area:slightly smaller than Washington StateLand boundaries:total 1,564 km, Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 kmCoastline:660 kmMaritime claims:continental shelf:200 m depth or to depth of exploitationterritorial sea:200 nm; overflight and navigation permitted beyond 12 nmInternational disputes:short section of boundary with Argentina is in dispute; two short sectionsof the boundary with Brazil are in dispute - Arroyo de la Invernada (ArroioInvernada) area of the Rio Quarai and the islands at the confluence of theRio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the UruguayClimate:warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknownTerrain:mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowlandNatural resources:soil, hydropower potential, minor mineralsLand use:arable land:8%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:78%forest and woodland:4%other:10%Irrigated land:1,100 km2 (1989 est.)Environment:subject to seasonally high winds, droughts, floods
*Uruguay, People
Population:3,175,050 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:0.75% (1993 est.)Birth rate:17.82 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:9.52 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-0.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:18 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.74 yearsmale:70.52 yearsfemale:77.11 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:2.46 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Uruguayan(s)adjective:UruguayanEthnic divisions:white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%Religions:Roman Catholic 66% (less than half adult population attends churchregularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, nonprofessing or other 30%Languages:SpanishLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population:96%male:97%female:96%Labor force:1.355 million (1991 est.)by occupation:government 25%, manufacturing 19%, agriculture 11%, commerce 12%, utilities,construction, transport, and communications 12%, other services 21% (1988est.)
*Uruguay, Government
Names:conventional long form:Oriental Republic of Uruguayconventional short form:Uruguaylocal long form:Republica Oriental del Uruguaylocal short form:UruguayDigraph:UYType:republicCapital:MontevideoAdministrative divisions:19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones,Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado,Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano,Tacuarembo, Treinta y TresIndependence:25 August 1828 (from Brazil)Constitution:27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, newconstitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980Legal system:based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdictionNational holiday:Independence Day, 25 August (1828)Political parties and leaders:National (Blanco) Party, Carlos CAT; Colorado Party, Secretary General(vacant); Broad Front Coalition, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera - includes PSU, PCU,MLN, MRO, PVP; Uruguayan Socialist Party (PSU), Jose Pedro CARDOSO, and;Communist Party (PCU), Marina ARISMENDI; National Liberation Movement (MLN)or Tupamaros, Eleuterio FERNANDEZ Huidobro; Oriental Rvolutionary Movement(MRO), Walter ARTOLA; Party for the Victory of the Poor (PVP), Hugo CORES;New Space Coalition consists of PGP, PDC, and Civic Union, Hugo BATALLA;People's Government Party (PGP), Hugo BATALLA, secretary general; ChristianDemocratic Party (PDC), Carlos VASSALLO, secretary general; Civic Union,Humberto CIGANDASuffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsoryElections:President:last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera (Blanco) 37%, Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (Colorado)29%, Liber SEREGNI Mosquera (Broad Front) 20%Chamber of Senators:last held 26 November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -Blanco 40%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 23% New Space 7%; seats - (30 total)Blanco 12, Colorado 9, Broad Front 7, New Space 2Chamber of Representatives:last held NA November 1989 (next to be held NA November 1994); results -Blanco 39%, Colorado 30%, Broad Front 22%, New Space 8%, other 1%; seats -(99 total) number of seats by party NAExecutive branch:president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
*Uruguay, Government
Legislative branch:bicameral General Assembly (Asamblea General) consists of an upper chamberor Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamberof Representatives (Camera de Representantes)Judicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:President Luis Alberto LACALLE (since 1 March 1990); Vice President GonzaloAGUIRRE Ramirez (since 1 March 1990)Member of:AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, NAM (observer), OAS,OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNTAC,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Eduardo MACGILLYCUDDYchancery:1918 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20006telephone:telephone (202) 331-1313 through 1316consulates general:Los Angeles, Miami, and New York,consulate:New OrleansUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Richard C. BROWNembassy:Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideomailing address:APO AA 34035telephone:[598] (2) 23-60-61 or 48-77-77FAX:[598] (2) 48-86-11Flag:nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating withblue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellowsun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternatelytriangular and wavy
*Uruguay, Economy
Overview:Uruguay is a small economy with favorable climate, good soils, and solidhydropower potential. Economic development has been held back by excessivegovernment regulation of economic detail and 50% to 130% inflation. Afterseveral years of sluggish growth, real GDP jumped by about 8% in 1992. Therise is attributable mainly to an increase in Argentine demand for Uruguayanexports, particularly agricultural products and electricity. In a major steptoward greater regional economic cooperation, Uruguay in 1991 had joinedBrazil, Argentina, and Paraguay in forming the Southern Cone Common Market(Mercosur). A referendum in December 1992 overturned key portions oflandmark privatization legislation, dealing a serious blow to PresidentLACALLE's broad economic reform plan.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:8% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$3,100 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):58% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:9% (1992 est.)Budget:revenues $2.9 billion; expenditures $3.0 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $388 million (1991)Exports:$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:hides and leather goods 17%, beef 10%, wool 9%, fish 7%, rice 4%partners:Argentina, Brazil, US, GermanyImports:$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:crude oil, fuels, and lubricants, metals, machinery, transportationequipment, industrial chemicalspartners:Brazil 23%, Argentina 17%, US 10%, EC 27.1% (1990)External debt:$4.1 billion (1991)Industrial production:growth rate -1.4% (1990), accounts for almost 25% of GDPElectricity:2,168,000 kW capacity; 5,960 million kWh produced, 1,900 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:meat processing, wool and hides, sugar, textiles, footwear, leather apparel,tires, cement, fishing, petroleum refining, wineAgriculture:large areas devoted to livestock grazing; wheat, rice, corn, sorghum;self-sufficient in most basic foodstuffsEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $105 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $420 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $69 millionCurrency:1 new Uruguayan peso (N$Ur) = 100 centesimos
*Uruguay, Economy
Exchange rates:new Uruguayan pesos (N$Ur) per US$1 - 3,457.5 (December 1992), 3,026.9(1992), 2,489 (1991), 1,594 (1990), 805 (1989), 451 (1988), 281 (1987)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Uruguay, Communications
Railroads:3,000 km, all 1.435-meter (standard) gauge and government ownedHighways:49,900 km total; 6,700 km paved, 3,000 km gravel, 40,200 km earthInland waterways:1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craftPorts:Montevideo, Punta del Este, ColoniaMerchant marine:4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,797 GRT/132,296 DWT; includes 1cargo, 2 container, 1 oil tankerAirports:total:88usable:81with permanent-surface runways:16with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:2with runways 1,220-2,439 m:14Telecommunications:most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwavenetwork; 337,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 99 AM, no FM, 26 TV, 9shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
*Uruguay, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), Air Force,Grenadier Guards, PoliceManpower availability:males age 15-49 755,667; fit for military service 613,585 (1993 est.); noconscriptionDefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $216 million, 2.3% of GDP (1991 est.)
*Uzbekistan, Geography
Location:Central Asia, bordering the Aral Sea, between Kazakhstan and TurkmenistanMap references:Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central Asian States, StandardTime Zones of the WorldArea:total area:447,400 km2land area:425,400 km2comparative area:slightly larger than CaliforniaLand boundaries:total 6,221 km, Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 kmCoastline:0 kmnote:Uzbekistan does border the Aral Sea (420 km)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:noneClimate:mostly mid latitude desert; semiarid grassland in eastTerrain:mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; Fergana Valley in eastsurrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea inwestNatural resources:natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc,tungsten, molybdenumLand use:arable land:10%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:47%forest and woodland:0%other:43%Irrigated land:41,550 km2 (1990)Environment:drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemicalpesticides and natural saltsNote:landlocked
*Uzbekistan, People
Population:22,127,946 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:2.17% (1993 est.)Birth rate:30.57 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:6.63 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:54.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:68.36 years male:65.05 yearsfemale:71.84 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:3.78 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Uzbek(s)adjective:UzbekEthnic divisions:Uzbek 71.4%, Russian 8.3%, Tajik 4.7%, Kazakhs 4.1%, Tartars 2.4% (includes70% of Crimean Tatars deported during World War II), Karakalpaks 2.1%, other7%Religions:Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%Languages:Uzbek 85%, Russian 5%, other 10%Literacy:age 9-49 can read and write (1970)total population:100%male:100%female:100%Labor force:7.941 millionby occupation:agriculture and forestry 39%, industry and construction 24%, other 37%(1990)
*Uzbekistan, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Uzbekistanconventional short form:Uzbekistanlocal long form:Uzbekiston Respublikasilocal short form:noneformer:Uzbek Soviet Socialist RepublicDigraph:UZType:republicCapital:Tashkent (Toshkent)Administrative divisions:12 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast') and 1 autonomous republic*, (avtomnaya respublika);Andizhan, Bukhara, Dzhizak, Fergana, Karakalpakstan*, (Nukus), Kashkadar'ya (Karshi), Khorezm(Urgench), Namangan, Navoi,Samarkand, Surkhandar'ya (Termez), Syrdar'ya (Gulistan), Tashkentnote:an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center(exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)Independence:31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)Constitution:new constitution adopted 8 December 1992Legal system:evolution of Soviet civil lawNational holiday:Independence Day, 1 September (1991)Political parties and leaders:People's Democratic Party (PDP; formerly Communist Party), Islam A. KARIMOV,chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party (EDP), Muhammad SOLIKH, chairmanOther political or pressure groups:Birlik (Unity) People's Movement (BPM), Abdul Rakhman PULATOV, chairman;Islamic Rebirth Party (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairmanSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1996); results -Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%Supreme Soviet:last held 18 February 1990 (next to be held NA); results - percent of voteby party NA; seats - (500 total) Communist 450, ERK 10, other 40; note -total number of seats will be reduced to 150 in next electionExecutive branch:president, prime minister, cabinetLegislative branch:unicameral Supreme SovietJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Islam KARIMOV (since NA March 1990)
*Uzbekistan, Government
Head of Government:Prime Minister Abdulkhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992), First DeputyPrime Minister Ismail Hakimovitch DJURABEKOV (since NA); Supreme SovietChairman Shavkat Muhitdinovitch YULDASHEV (since NA June 1991)Member of:CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, IDA, IMF, NACC, UN, UNCTAD, WHODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Muhammed Babir MALIKOVchancery:200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006telephone: (202) 778-0107FAX:(202) 861-0472US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Henry L. CLARKEembassy:55 Chelanzanskaya, Tashkentmailing address:APO AE 09862telephone:[7] (3712) 77-14-07Flag:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated byred fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-sidequadrant
*Uzbekistan, Economy
Overview:Although Uzbekistan accounted for only 3.4% of total Soviet output, itproduced two-thirds of the USSR's cotton and ranks as the fourth largestglobal producer. Moscow's push for ever-increasing amounts of cotton hadincluded massive irrigation projects which caused extensive environmentaldamage to the Aral Sea and rivers of the republic. Furthermore, the lavishuse of chemical fertilizers has caused extensive pollution and widespreadhealth problems. Recently the republic has sought to encourage foodproduction at the expense of cotton. The small industrial sector specializesin such items as agricultural machinery, mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil,and bridge cranes. Uzbekistan also has some important natural resourcesincluding gold (about 30% of former Soviet production), uranium, and naturalgas. The Uzbek Government has encouraged some land reform but has shied awayfrom other aspects of economic reform. Output and living standards continuedto fall in 1992 largely because of the cumulative impact of disruptions insupply that have followed the dismemberment of the USSR.National product:GDP $NANational product real growth rate:-10% (1992)National product per capita:$NAInflation rate (consumer prices):at least 17% per month (first quarter 1993)Unemployment rate:0.1% includes only officially registered unemployed; there are also largenumbers of underemployed workersBudget:revenues $NA; expenditures $NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$900 million to outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)commodities:cotton, gold, textiles, chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oilpartners:Russia, Ukraine, Eastern EuropeImports:$900 million from outside the successor states of the former USSR (1992)commodities:machinery and parts, consumer durables, grain, other foodspartners:principally other former Soviet republicsExternal debt:$2 billion (end 1991 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -6%Electricity:11,950,000 kW capacity; 50,900 million kWh produced, 2,300 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:chemical and mineral fertilizers, vegetable oil, textilesAgriculture:cotton, with much smaller production of grain, fruits, vegetables, andlivestockIllicit drugs:illicit producers of cannabis and opium; mostly for CIS consumption; limitedgovernment eradication programs; used as transshipment points for illicitdrugs to Western EuropeEconomic aid:$950 million official aid commitments by foreign donors (1992)
*Uzbekistan, Economy
Currency:retaining Russian ruble as currency (January 1993)Exchange rates:rubles per US$1 - 415 (24 December 1992) but subject to wide fluctuationsFiscal year:calendar year
*Uzbekistan, Communications
Railroads:3,460 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)Highways:78,400 km total; 67,000 km hard-surfaced, 11,400 km earth (1990)Pipelines:crude oil 250 km, petroleum products 40 km, natural gas 810 km (1992)Ports:none; landlockedAirports:totol:265useable:74with permanent-surface runways:30with runways over 3,659 m: 2with runways 2,440-3,659 m:20with runways 1,220-2,439 m:19Telecommunications:poorly developed; NMT-450 analog cellular network established in Tashkent;1.4 million telephone lines with 7.2 lines per 100 persons (1992); linked bylandline or microwave with CIS member states and by leased connection viathe Moscow international gateway switch to other countries; satellite earthstations - Orbita and INTELSAT (TV receive only); new intelsat earth stationprovides TV receive only capability for Turkish broadcasts; new satelliteground station also installed in Tashkent for direct linkage to Tokyo.
*Uzbekistan, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 5,214,075; fit for military service 4,272,398; reachmilitary age (18) annually 218,916 (1993 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Vanuatu, Geography
Location:Oceania, 5,750 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, aboutthree-quarters of the way between Hawaii and AustraliaMap references:Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:14,760 km2land area:14,760 km2comparative area:slightly larger than Connecticutnote:includes more than 80 islandsLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:2,528 kmMaritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinescontiguous zone:24 nmcontinental shelf:200 nm or the edge of continental marginexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical; moderated by southeast trade windsTerrain:mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plainsNatural resources:manganese, hardwood forests, fishLand use:arable land:1%permanent crops:5%meadows and pastures:2%forest and woodland:1%other:91%Irrigated land:NA km2Environment:subject to tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanismcauses minor earthquakes
*Vanuatu, People
Population:165,876 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:2.36% (1993 est.)Birth rate:33.16 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:9.57 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:69.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:58.8 yearsmale:57.11 yearsfemale:60.58 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:4.47 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)adjective: Ni-VanuatuEthnic divisions:indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese, Chinese, Pacific IslandersReligions:Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%,Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%, other 15.7%Languages:English (official), French (official), pidgin (known as Bislama orBichelama)Literacy:age 15 and over can read and write (1979)total population:53%male:57%female:48%Labor force:NAby occupation:NA
*Vanuatu, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Vanuatuconventional short form:Vanuatuformer:New HebridesDigraph:NHType:republicCapital:Port-VilaAdministrative divisions:11 island councils; Ambrym, Aoba/Maewo, Banks/Torres, Efate, Epi, Malakula,Paama, Pentecote, Santo/Malo, Shepherd, TafeaIndependence:30 July 1980 (from France and UK)Constitution:30 July 1980Legal system:unified system being created from former dual French and British systemsNational holiday:Independence Day, 30 July (1980)Political parties and leaders:Vanuatu Party (VP), Donald KALPOKAS; Union of Moderate Parties (UMP), SergeVOHOR; Melanesian Progressive Party (MPP), Barak SOPE; National United Party(NUP), Walter LINI; Tan Union Party (TUP), Vincent BOULEKONE; NagriamelParty, Jimmy STEVENS; Friend Melanesian Party, leader NASuffrage: 18 years of age; universalElections:Parliament:last held 2 December 1991 (next to be held by November 1995); note - afterelection, a coalition was formed by the Union of Moderate Parties and theNational United Party to form new government on 16 December 1991; seats -(46 total) UMP 19; NUP 10; VP 10; MPP 4; TUP 1; Nagriamel 1; Friend 1Executive branch:president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers(cabinet)Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament; note - the National Council of Chiefs advises onmatters of custom and landJudicial branch:Supreme CourtLeaders:Chief of State:President Frederick TIMAKATA (since 30 January 1989)Head of Government:Prime Minister Maxime CARLOT KORMAN (since 16 December 1991); Deputy PrimeMinister Sethy REGENVANU (since 17 December 1991)Member of:ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, IOC,ITU, NAM, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMODiplomatic representation in US:Vanuatu does not have a mission in WashingtonUS diplomatic representation:the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
*Vanuatu, Government
Flag:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isoscelestriangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellowstripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face thehoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar'stusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
*Vanuatu, Economy
Overview:The economy is based primarily on subsistence farming which provides aliving for about 80% of the population. Fishing and tourism are the othermainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country hasno known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to thelocal market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $142 million (1988 est.)National product real growth rate:6% (1990)National product per capita:$900 (1988 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):5% (1990)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues $90 million; expenditures $103 million, including capitalexpenditures of $45 million (1989 est.)Exports:$15.6 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)commodities:copra 59%, cocoa 11%, meat 9%, fish 8%, timber 4%partners:Netherlands, Japan, France, New Caledonia, BelgiumImports:$60.4 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)commodities:machines and vehicles 25%, food and beverages 23%, basic manufactures 18%,raw materials and fuels 11%, chemicals 6%partners:Australia 36%, Japan 13%, NZ 10%, France 8%, Fiji 8%External debt:$30 million (1990 est.)Industrial production:growth rate NA%; accounts for about 10% of GDPElectricity:17,000 kW capacity; 30 million kWh produced, 180 kWh per capita (1990)Industries:food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canningAgriculture:accounts for 40% of GDP; export crops - coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fish;subsistence crops - taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetablesEconomic aid:Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89),$606 millionCurrency:1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimesExchange rates:vatu (VT) per US$1 - 120.77 (January 1993), 113.39 (1992), 111.68 (1991),116.57 (1990), 116.04 (1989), 104.43 (1988)Fiscal year:calendar year
*Vanuatu, Communications
Railroads:noneHighways:1,027 km total; at least 240 km sealed or all-weather roadsPorts:Port-Vila, Luganville, Palikoulo, SantuMerchant marine:125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,121,819 GRT/3,193,942 DWT; includes23 cargo, 16 refrigerated cargo, 6 container, 11 vehicle carrier, 1livestock carrier, 6 oil tanker, 2 chemical tanker, 3 liquefied gas, 54bulk, 1 combination bulk, 1 passenger, 1 short-sea passenger; note - a flagof convenience registryAirports:total:31usable:31with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:2Telecommunications:broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, no TV; 3,000 telephones; 1 Pacific OceanINTELSAT ground station
*Vanuatu, Defense Forces
Branches:Vanuatu Police Force (VPF), paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF)note:no military forcesManpower availability:males age 15-49 NA; fit for military service NADefense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
*Venezuela, Geography
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea between Colombia andGuyanaMap references:South America, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:912,050 km2land area:882,050 km2comparative area:slightly more than twice the size of CaliforniaLand boundaries:total 4,993 km, Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 kmCoastline:2,800 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:15 nmcontinental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo river; maritime boundary disputewith Colombia in the Gulf of VenezuelaClimate:tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlandsTerrain:Andes mountains and Maracaibo lowlands in northwest; central plains(llanos); Guyana highlands in southeastNatural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower,diamondsLand use:arable land:3%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:20%forest and woodland:39%other:37%Irrigated land:2,640 km2 (1989 est.)Environment:subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts; increasingindustrial pollution in Caracas and MaracaiboNote:on major sea and air routes linking North and South America
*Venezuela, People
Population:20,117,687 (July 1993 est.)Population growth rate:2.22% (1993 est.)Birth rate:26.37 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)Death rate:4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)Net migration rate:0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)Infant mortality rate:28.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:72.69 yearsmale:69.76 years female:75.77 years (1993 est.)Total fertility rate:3.14 children born/woman (1993 est.)Nationality:noun:Venezuelan(s)adjective:VenezuelanEthnic divisions:mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Indian 2%Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%Languages:Spanish (official), Indian dialects spoken by about 200,000 Amerindians inthe remote interiorLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population:88%male:87%female:90%Labor force:5.8 millionby occupation:services 56%, industry 28%, agriculture 16% (1985)
*Venezuela, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Venezuelaconventional short form:Venezuelalocal long form:Republica de Venezuelalocal short form:VenezuelaDigraph:VEType:republicCapital:CaracasAdministrative divisions:21 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 territory* ( territorio), 1, federal district**,(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependence***, (dependencia federal); Amazonas*, Anzoategui,,Apure, Aragua, Barinas,Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales***,, Distrito Federal**,,Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, NuevaEsparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulianote: the federal dependence consists of 11 federally controlled island groupswith a total of 72 individual islandsIndependence:5 July 1811 (from Spain)Constitution:23 January 1961Legal system:based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in CassationCourt only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionNational holiday:Independence Day, 5 July (1811)Political parties and leaders:Social Christian Party (COPEI), Hilarion CARDOZO, president, and JoseCURIEL, secretary general (acting); Democratic Action (AD), Humberto CELLI,president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement TowardSocialism (MAS), Argelia LAYA, president, and Freddy MUNOZ, secretarygeneral; The Radical Cause ( La Causa R), Pablo Medina, secretary generalOther political or pressure groups:FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation ofWorkers (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOSgroupsSuffrage:18 years of age; universalElections:President:last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results -Carlos Andres PEREZ (AD) 54.6%, Eduardo FERNANDEZ (COPEI) 41.7%, other 3.7%;note - President Carlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruptionchargesSenate:last held 4 December 1988 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results -percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) AD 23, COPEI 22, other 4;note - 3 former presidents (1 from AD, 2 from COPEI) hold lifetime senateseats
*Venezuela, Government
Chamber of Deputies:last held 4 December 1992 (next to be held 5 December 1993); results - AD43.7%, COPEI 31.4%, MAS 10.3%, other 14.6%; seats - (201 total) AD 97, COPEI67, MAS 18, other 19Executive branch:president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)Legislative branch:bicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica) consists of anupper chamber or Senate (Senado) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies(Camara de Diputados)Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)Leaders:Chief of State and Head of Government:Interim President Ramon Jose VELASQUEZ (since 5 June 1993); note - PresidentCarlos Andres PEREZ suspended pending trial on corruption chargesMember of: AG, CARICOM (observer), CDB, CG, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM,OAS, ONUSAL, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Simon Alberto CONSALVI Bottarochancery:1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone:(202) 342-2214consulates general:Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York,Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Michael Martin SKOLembassy:Avenida Francisco de Miranda and Avenida Principal de la Floresta, Caracasmailing address:P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A, or APO AA 34037telephone:[58] (2) 285-2222FAX:[58] (2) 285-0336consulate:MaracaiboFlag:three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat ofarms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven whitefive-pointed stars centered in the blue band
*Venezuela, Economy
Overview:Petroleum is the backbone of the economy, accounting for 23% of GDP, 70% ofcentral government revenues, and 82% of export earnings in 1992. PresidentPEREZ introduced an economic readjustment program when he assumed office inFebruary 1989. Lower tariffs and the removal of price controls, a freemarket exchange rate, and market-linked interest rates threw the economyinto confusion, causing an 8% decline in GDP in 1989. However, the economyrecovered part way in 1990 and grew by 10.4% in 1991 and 7.3% in 1992, ledby the non-petroleum sector.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $57.8 billion (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:7.3% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$2,800 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):32% (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:8.4% (1992 est.)Budget:revenues $13.2 billion; expenditures $13.1 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $NA (1992)Exports:$14.0 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:petroleum 82%, bauxite and aluminum, iron ore, agricultural products, basicmanufacturespartners:US 50.7%, Europe 13.7%, Japan 4.0% (1989)Imports:$12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:foodstuffs, chemicals, manufactures, machinery and transport equipmentpartners:US 44%, FRG 8.0%, Japan 4%, Italy 7%, Canada 2% (1989)External debt:$27.1 billion (1992)Industrial production:growth rate 11.9% (1992 est.); accounts for 25% of GDP, including petroleumElectricity:21,130,000 kW capacity; 58,541 million kWh produced, 2,830 kWh per capita(1992)Industries:petroleum, iron-ore mining, construction materials, food processing,textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assemblyAgriculture:accounts for 6% of GDP and 16% of labor force; products - corn, sorghum,sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish;not self-sufficient in food other than meatIllicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis and coca leaf for the international drug tradeon a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine transit the countryfrom Colombia; important money-laundering hubEconomic aid:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-86), $488 million; Communist countries(1970-89), $10 millionCurrency:1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
*Venezuela, Economy
Exchange rates:bolivares (Bs) per US$1 - 80.18 (January 1993), 68.38 (1992), 56.82 (1991),46.90 (1990), 34.68 (1989), 14.50 (fixed rate 1987-88)Fiscal year:calendar year