@Argentina, Communications
Railroads:34,172 km total (includes 209 km electrified); includes a mixture of1.435-meter standard gauge, 1.676-meter broad gauge, 1.000-meternarrow gauge, and 0.750-meter narrow gaugeHighways:total:208,350 kmpaved:57,000 kmunpaved:gravel 39,500 km; improved/unimproved earth 111,850 kmInland waterways:11,000 km navigablePipelines:crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 kmPorts:Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, La Plata, Rosario,Santa FeMerchant marine:57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 656,289 GRT/1,008,792 DWT, bulk3, cargo 29, container 4, oil tanker 14, railcar carrier 1,refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1Airports:total:1,649usable:1,394with permanent-surface runways:139with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:31with runways 1,220-2,439 m:332Telecommunications:extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones;2,650,000 telephones (12,000 public telephones); telephone density 78per 1000 persons; microwave widely used; broadcast stations - 171 AM,no FM, 231 TV, 13 shortwave; 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations;domestic satellite network has 40 earth stations
@Argentina, Defense Forces
Branches:Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic, Argentine Air Force,National Gendarmerie, Argentine Naval Prefecture (Coast Guard only),National Aeronautical Police ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 8,417,880; fit for military service 6,825,795; reachmilitary age (20) annually 292,725 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
@Armenia, Geography
Location:Southwestern Asia, between Turkey and AzerbaijanMap references:Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States,Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:29,800 sq kmland area:28,400 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than MarylandLand boundaries:total 1,254 km, Azerbaijan (east) 566 km, Azerbaijan (south) 221 km,Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:violent and longstanding dispute with Azerbaijan over ethnicallyArmenian exclave of Nagorno-Karabakh; traditional demands on formerArmenian lands in Turkey have greatly subsidedClimate:highland continental, hot summers, cold wintersTerrain:high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowingrivers; good soil in Aras River valleyNatural resources:small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, aluminaLand use:arable land:17%permanent crops:3%meadows and pastures:20%forest and woodland:0%other:60%Irrigated land:3,050 sq km (1990)Environment:current issues:soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy blockade, theresult of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation ascitizens scavenge for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and ArasRivers; the draining of Lake Sevan, a result of its use as a sourcefor hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; air pollution inYerevannatural hazards:occasionally severe earthquakes (25,000 people killed in major quakein 1988); subject to droughtinternational agreements:party to - Biodiversity, Climate ChangeNote:landlocked
@Armenia, People
Population: 3,521,517 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.08% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 24.21 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.72 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -6.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 27.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.07 years male: 68.65 years female: 75.65 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.19 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other 2% Religions: Armenian Orthodox 94% Languages: Armenian 96%, Russian 2%, other 2% Literacy: age 9-49 can read and write (1970) total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% Labor force: 1.578 million by occupation: industry and construction 34%, agriculture and forestry 31%, other 35% (1992)
@Armenia, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Armeniaconventional short form:Armenialocal long form:Hayastani Hanrapetut'yunlocal short form:Hayastanformer:Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian RepublicDigraph:AMType:republicCapital:YerevanAdministrative divisions:none (all rayons are under direct republic jurisdiction)Independence:28 May 1918 (First Armenian Republic); 23 September 1991 (from SovietUnion)National holiday:Referendum Day, 21 SeptemberConstitution:adopted NA April 1978; post-Soviet constitution not yet adoptedLegal system:based on civil law systemSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state:President Levon Akopovich TER-PETROSYAN (since 16 October 1991), VicePresident Gagik ARUTYUNYAN (since 16 October 1991); election last held16 October 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Levon AkopovichTER-PETROSYAN 86%; radical nationalists about 7%; note - LevonAkopovich TER-PETROSYAN was elected Chairman of the Armenian SupremeSoviet 4 August 1990 before becoming presidenthead of government:Prime Minister Hrant BAGRATYAN (since 16 February 1993); First DeputyPrime Minister Vigen CHITECHYAN (since 16 February 1993)cabinet:Council of Ministers; appointed by the presidentLegislative branch:unicameralSupreme Soviet:elections last held 20 May 1990 (next to be held NA); results -percent of vote by party NA; seats - (260 total) non-aligned 125, ANM52, DPA 23, Democratic Liberal Party 17, ARF 17, NDU 9, ChristianDemocratic Party 1, Constitutional Rights Union 1, UNSD 1, RepublicanParty 1, Nagorno-Karabakh representatives 13Judicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:Armenian National Movement (ANM), Ter-Husik LAZARYAN, chairman;National Democratic Union (NDU), David VARTANYAN, chairman; ArmenianRevolutionary Federation (ARF, Dashnaktsutyun), Arutyun ALISTAKESYAN,chairman; Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA; Communist Party), AramSARKISYAN, chairman; Christian Democratic Party, Azat ARSHAKYAN,chairman; Greens Party, Hakob SANASARIAN, chairman; Democratic LiberalParty, Rouben MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman; Republican Party, AshotNAVARSARDYAN, chairman; Union for Self-Determination (UNSD), ParuirAIRIKYAN, chairmanMember of:BSEC, CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO,IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, NAM (observer), UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Rouben Robert SHUGARIANchancery:Suite 210, 1660 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone:(202) 628-5766US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Harry J. GILMOREembassy:18 Gen Bagramian, Yerevanmailing address:use embassy street addresstelephone:7-8852-151-144 or 8852-524-661FAX:7-8852-151-138Flag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and gold
@Armenia, Economy
Overview:Under the old central planning system, Armenia had built up adeveloped industrial sector, supplying machine building equipment,textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchangefor raw materials and energy resources. Armenia is a large foodimporter and its mineral deposits (gold, bauxite) are small. Theeconomic decline in the past three years (1991-93) has beenparticularly severe due to the ongoing conflict over the Armenianenclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Turkey haveblockaded pipeline and railroad traffic to Armenia for its support ofthe Karabakh Armenians. This has left Armenia with only sporadicdeliveries of natural gas through unstable Georgia, while other fueland raw materials are in critical short supply. Inflation, roughly 14%per month in the first nine months of 1993, surged even higher in thefourth quarter. In late 1993, most industrial enterprises were eithershut down or operating at drastically reduced levels. Only smallquantities of food were available (mostly humanitarian aid), heat wasnonexistent, and electricity strictly rationed. An economic recoverycannot be expected until the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is settled anduntil transportation through Georgia improves.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.1 billion (1993 estimate fromthe UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 andpublished in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and asextrapolated to 1993 using official Armenian statistics, which arevery uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)National product real growth rate:-9.9% (1993 est.)National product per capita:$2,040 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):14% per month average (first 9 months, 1993)Unemployment rate:6.5% of officially registered unemployed but large numbers ofunderemployed (1993 est.)Budget:revenues:$NAexpenditures:$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$31 million to countries outside the FSU (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:machinery and transport equipment, light industrial products,processed food items, alcoholic products (1991)partners:NAImports:$87 million from countries outside the FSU (c.i.f., 1993)commodities:grain, other foods, fuel, other energy (1991)partners:Russia, US, ECExternal debt:$NAIndustrial production:growth rate -11% (1993 est.)Electricity:capacity:2,875,000 kWproduction:9 billion kWhconsumption per capita:2,585 kWh (1992)Industries:traditionally diverse, including (as a percent of output of formerUSSR) metalcutting machine tools (5.5%), forging-pressing machines(1.9%), electric motors (9%), tires (1.5%), knitted wear (4.4%),hosiery (3.0%), shoes (2.2%), silk fabric (0.8%), washing machines(2.0%), chemicals, trucks, watches, instruments, and microelectronics(1990); currently, much of industry is shut downAgriculture:accounts for about 45% of GDP; only 17% of land area is arable;employs 20%-30% of labor force as residents increasingly turn tosubsistence agriculture; fruits (especially grapes) and vegetablefarming, minor livestock sector; vineyards near Yerevan are famous forbrandy and other liqueursIllicit drugs:illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domestic consumption; usedas a transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western EuropeEconomic aid:recipient:considerable humanitarian aid, mostly food and energy products, fromUS and EC; Russia has granted 60 billion rubles in technical creditsCurrency:1 dram = 100 luma; introduced separate currency in November 1993Exchange rates:NAFiscal year:calendar year
@Armenia, Communications
Railroads:840 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)Highways:total:11,300 kmpaved:10,500 kmunpaved:earth 800 km (1990)Inland waterways:NA kmPipelines:natural gas 900 km (1991)Ports:none; landlockedAirports:total:12usable:10with permanent-surface runways:6with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:3with runways 1,060-2,439 m:2note:a C-130 can land on a 1,060-m airstripTelecommunications:progress on installation of fiber optic cable and construction offacilities for mobile cellular phone service remains in thenegotiation phase for joint venture agreement; Armenia has about650,000 telephones; average telephone density is 17.7 per 100 persons;international connections to other former republics of the USSR are bylandline or microwave and to other countries by satellite and byleased connection through the Moscow international gateway switch;broadcast stations - 100% of population receives Armenian and RussianTV programs; satellite earth station - INTELSAT
@Armenia, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Air Force, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and bordertroops)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 862,921; fit for military service 690,113; reachmilitary age (18) annually 28,458 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:250 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of themilitary budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate couldproduce misleading results
@Aruba
Header Affiliation: (part of the Dutch realm)
@Aruba, Geography
Location: Caribbean, in the southern Caribbean Sea, 28 km north of Venezuela and 125 km east of Colombia Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 193 sq km land area: 193 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 68.5 km Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt international agreements: NA
@Aruba, People
Population: 65,545 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 0.65% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 14.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 6.12 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.43 years male: 72.77 years female: 80.27 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80% Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1986)
@Aruba, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:ArubaDigraph:AAType:part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in1986 upon separation from the Netherlands AntillesCapital:OranjestadAdministrative divisions:none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)Independence:none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and receivedfrom the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automaticallygive independence to the island in 1996)National holiday:Flag Day, 18 MarchConstitution:1 January 1986Legal system:based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common lawinfluenceSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state:Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April 1980), represented byGovernor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)head of government:Prime Minister Nelson ODUBER (since 6 February 1989)cabinet:Council of Ministers; appointed with the advice and approval of thelegislatureLegislative branch:unicameralLegislature (Staten):elections last held 8 January 1993 (next to be held by NA January1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) MEP9, AVP 8, ADN 1, PPA 1, OLA 1, other 1Judicial branch:Joint High Court of JusticePolitical parties and leaders:Electoral Movement Party (MEP), Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party(AVP), Henny EMAN; National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro CharroKELLY; New Patriotic Party (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban PatrioticParty (PPA), Benny NISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), LeoBERLINSKI; Democratic Action '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Organizationfor Aruban Liberty (OLA), Glenbert CROESnote:governing coalition includes the MEP, PPA, and ADNMember of:ECLAC (associate), INTERPOL, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WTO(associate)Diplomatic representation in US:none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)US diplomatic representation:none (self-governing part of the Netherlands)Flag:blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lowerportion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upperhoist-side corner
@Aruba, Economy
Overview:Tourism is the mainstay of the economy, although offshore banking andoil refining and storage are also important. Hotel capacity expandedrapidly between 1985 and 1989 and nearly doubled in 1990 alone.Unemployment has steadily declined from about 20% in 1986 to about 3%in 1991 and to less than 1% in 1992. The reopening of the local oilrefinery, once a major source of employment and foreign exchangeearnings, promises to give the economy an additional boost.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $1.2 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:5% (1993)National product per capita:$17,400 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.5% (1993)Unemployment rate:0.6% (1992)Budget:revenues:$145 millionexpenditures:$185 million, including capital expenditures of $42 million (1988)Exports:$1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities:mostly petroleum productspartners:US 64%, ECImports:$1.6 billion including oil for processing and re-export (f.o.b., 1993est.)commodities:food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum productspartners:US 8%, ECExternal debt:$81 million (1987)Industrial production:growth rate NA%Electricity:capacity:90,000 kWproduction:375 million kWhconsumption per capita:6,000 kWh (1990 est.)Industries:tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refiningAgriculture:poor quality soils and low rainfall limit agricultural activity to thecultivation of aloes, some livestock, and fishingIllicit drugs:drug money laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound forthe US and EuropeEconomic aid:recipient:Western (non-US) countries ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1980-89), $220 millionCurrency:1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 centsExchange rates:Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Aruba, Communications
Highways:total:NApaved:NAunpaved:NAPorts:Oranjestad, Sint NicolaasAirports:total:2usable:2with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:0note:government-owned airport east of Oranjestad accepts transatlanticflightsTelecommunications:more than adequate; telephone density - 1,100 telephones per 1,000persons; extensive interisland microwave radio relay links; 72,168telephones; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 4 FM, 1 TV; 1 submarine cableto Saint Maarten
@Aruba, Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Header Affiliation: (territory of Australia)
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, in the Indian Ocean, 320 km off the northwest coast of Australia, between Australia and Indonesia Map references: Oceania, Southeast Asia Area: total area: 5 sq km land area: 5 sq km comparative area: about 8.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 74.1 km Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth of exploration exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical Terrain: low with sand and coral Natural resources: fish Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) Irrigated land: 0 sq km Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs international agreements: NA Note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are only seasonal caretakers
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Government
Names:conventional long form:Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional short form:Ashmore and Cartier IslandsDigraph:ATType:territory of Australia administered by the Australian Ministry for theEnvironment, Sport, and TerritoriesCapital:none; administered from Canberra, AustraliaAdministrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)Independence:none (territory of Australia)Legal system:relevant laws of the Northern Territory of AustraliaDiplomatic representation in US:none (territory of Australia)US diplomatic representation:none (territory of Australia)
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Communications
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Defense Forces
Note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by theRoyal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
@Atlantic Ocean, Geography
Location:body of water between the Western Hemisphere and Europe/AfricaMap references:Africa, Antarctic Region, Arctic Region, Central America and theCaribbean, Europe, North America, South America, Standard Time Zonesof the WorldArea:total area:82.217 million sq kmcomparative area:slightly less than nine times the size of the US; second-largest ofthe world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger thanIndian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)note:includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, DenmarkStrait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea,Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary waterbodiesCoastline:111,866 kmInternational disputes:some maritime disputes (see littoral states)Climate:tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa nearCape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes canoccur from May to December, but are most frequent from August toNovemberTerrain:surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait,and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad,circular system of currents) in the north Atlantic, counterclockwisewarm water gyre in the south Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated bythe Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entireAtlantic basin; maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the Puerto RicoTrenchNatural resources:oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand andgravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, preciousstonesEnvironment:current issues:endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions,turtles, and whales; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in CaribbeanSea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea;industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, NorthSea, and Mediterranean Seanatural hazards:icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwesternAtlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as farsouth as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs from Antarcticaoccur in the extreme southern Atlantic Oceaninternational agreements:NANote:ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north Atlantic fromOctober to May and extreme south Atlantic from May to October;persistent fog can be a hazard to shipping from May to September;major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar,access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include theStrait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound(Oresund), and Windward Passage; north Atlantic shipping lanes subjectto icebergs from February to August; the Equator divides the AtlanticOcean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
@Atlantic Ocean, Government
Digraph:ZH
@Atlantic Ocean, Economy
Overview:The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavilytrafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and WesternHemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation ofnatural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (TheBahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea,Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
@Atlantic Ocean, Communications
Ports:Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona(Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon(Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland),Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands,Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille(France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), NewOrleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Piraeus(Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), SaintPetersburg (formerly Leningrad; Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)Telecommunications:numerous submarine cables with most between continental Europe and theUK, North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean; numerousdirect links across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite networkNote:Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
@Australia, Geography
Location:Southwestern Oceania, between Indonesia and New ZealandMap references:Southeast Asia, Oceania, Antarctic Region, Standard Time Zones of theWorldArea:total area:7,686,850 sq kmland area:7,617,930 sq kmcomparative area:slightly smaller than the USnote:includes Macquarie IslandLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:25,760 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:12 nmcontinental shelf:200-m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)Climate:generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical innorthTerrain:mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeastNatural resources:bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel,tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleumLand use:arable land:6%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:58%forest and woodland:14%other:22%Irrigated land:18,800 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization,and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use ofpoor quality water; desertification; clearing for agriculturalpurposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plantspecies; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largestcoral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and itspopularity as a tourist site; limited freshwater availabilitynatural hazards:cyclones along the coast; subject to severe droughtsinternational agreements:party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but notratified - Law of the SeaNote:world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; populationconcentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular,tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs alongthe west coast in the summer
@Australia, People
Population:18,077,419 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:1.38% (1994 est.)Birth rate:14.29 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:6.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:77.57 yearsmale:74.45 yearsfemale:80.84 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:1.83 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Australian(s)adjective:AustralianEthnic divisions:Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%Religions:Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%Languages:English, native languagesLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)total population:100%male:100%female:100%Labor force:8.63 million (September 1991)by occupation:finance and services 33.8%, public and community services 22.3%,wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing and industry 16.2%,agriculture 6.1% (1987)
@Australia, Government
Names:conventional long form:Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form:AustraliaDigraph:ASType:federal parliamentary stateCapital:CanberraAdministrative divisions:6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New SouthWales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania,Victoria, Western AustraliaDependent areas:Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, NorfolkIslandIndependence:1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)Constitution:9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901Legal system:based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservationsSuffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsoryExecutive branch:chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by GovernorGeneral William George HAYDEN (since 16 February 1989)head of government:Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20 December 1991); DeputyPrime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)cabinet:Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members of the Houseand SenateLegislative branch:bicameral Federal ParliamentSenate:elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)Liberal-National 36, Labor 30, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2,independents 1House of Representatives:elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA 1996);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (147 total) Labor 80,Liberal-National 65, independent 2Judicial branch:High CourtPolitical parties and leaders:government:Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATINGopposition:Liberal Party, John HEWSON; National Party, Timothy FISCHER;Australian Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, leader NAOther political or pressure groups:Australian Democratic Labor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splintergroup); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear DisarmamentParty splinter group)Member of:AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC,COCOM, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, G-8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA,SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM,UNPROFOR, UNTAC, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Donald RUSSELLchancery:1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone:(202) 797-3000FAX:(202) 797-3168consulate(s) general:Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (AmericanSamoa), and San FranciscoUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Edward PERKINSembassy:Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600mailing address:APO AP 96549telephone:[61] (6) 270-5000FAX:[61] (6) 270-5970consulate(s) general:Melbourne, Perth, and Sydneyconsulate(s):BrisbaneFlag:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and alarge seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; theremaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellationin white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger,seven-pointed stars
@Australia, Economy
Overview:Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with aper capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West Europeancountries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter ofagricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Primaryproducts account for more than 60% of the value of total exports, sothat, as in 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have abig impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increasedexports of manufactured goods, but competition in internationalmarkets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the lowgrowth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in theearly 1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from theprolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weakworld demand for Australia's exports. Unemployment has hovered around10% and probably will remain at that level in 1994 as productivitygains rather than more jobs account for growth.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $339.7 billion (1993)National product real growth rate:4% (1993)National product per capita:$19,100 (1993)Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.1% (1993)Unemployment rate:10% (December 1993)Budget:revenues:$71.9 billionexpenditures:$83.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY93)Exports:$44.1 billion (1992)commodities:coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transportequipmentpartners:Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan, Singapore,Hong Kong (1992)Imports:$43.6 billion (1992)commodities:machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,crude oil and petroleum productspartners:US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)External debt:$141.1 billion (1993)Industrial production:growth rate 1.9% (FY93); accounts for 32% of GDPElectricity:capacity:40,000,000 kWproduction:150 billion kWhconsumption per capita:8,475 kWh (1992)Industries:mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,chemicals, steelAgriculture:accounts for 5% of GDP and over 30% of export revenues; world'slargest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, andamong top wheat exporters; major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane,fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep, poultryIllicit drugs:Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiateproducts; government maintains strict controls over areas of opiumpoppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrateEconomic aid:donor:ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billionCurrency:1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 centsExchange rates:Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.4364 (January 1994), 1.4704(1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990), 1.2618 (1989)Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
@Australia, Communications
Railroads:40,478 km total; 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435-meterstandard gauge, 16,307 km 1.067-meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130km electrified; government owned (except for a few hundred kilometersof privately owned track) (1985)Highways:total:837,872 kmpaved:243,750 kmunpaved:gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 228,396 km; unimproved earth365,726 kmInland waterways:8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craftPipelines:crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas 5,600 kmPorts:Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle, Geelong,Hobart, Launceston, Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, TownsvilleMerchant marine:83 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,517,538 GRT/3,711,549 DWT,bulk 30, cargo 8, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 2, container 7,liquefied gas 5, oil tanker 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-seapassenger 2, vehicle carrier 1Airports:total:481usable:440with permanent-surface runways:241with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:20with runways 1,220-2,439 m:268Telecommunications:good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones;broadcast stations - 258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV; submarine cables to NewZealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; domestic satellite service;satellite stations - 4 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 6 Pacific Ocean INTELSATearth stations
@Australia, Defense Forces
Branches:Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air ForceManpower availability:males age 15-49 4,885,574; fit for military service 4,239,459; reachmilitary age (17) annually 133,337 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $7.1 billion, 2.4% of GDP (FY92/93)
@Austria, Geography
Location:Central Europe, between Germany and HungaryMap references:Africa, Arctic Region, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:83,850 sq kmland area:82,730 sq kmcomparative area:slightly smaller than MaineLand boundaries:total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km,Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 262 km,Switzerland 164 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:noneClimate:temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain inlowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showersTerrain:in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern andnorthern margins mostly flat or gently slopingNatural resources:iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum, lead, coal, lignite,copper, hydropowerLand use:arable land:17%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:24%forest and woodland:39%other:19%Irrigated land:40 sq km (1989)Environment:current issues:some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soilpollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; airpollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stationsand industrial plantsnatural hazards:NAinternational agreements:party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber,Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile OrganicCompounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Law of theSeaNote:landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europewith many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river isthe Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because ofsteep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
@Austria, People
Population:7,954,974 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:0.45% (1994 est.)Birth rate:11.38 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:10.34 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:3.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:76.65 yearsmale:73.44 yearsfemale:80.03 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:1.48 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Austrian(s)adjective:AustrianEthnic divisions:German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%Languages:GermanLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)total population:99%male:NA%female:NA%Labor force:3.47 million (1989)by occupation:services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agriculture and forestry8.1%note:an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other Europeancountries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 6% oflabor force (1988)
@Austria, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Austriaconventional short form:Austrialocal long form:Republik Oesterreichlocal short form:OesterreichDigraph:AUType:federal republicCapital:ViennaAdministrative divisions:9 states (bundeslander, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Karnten,Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol,Vorarlberg, WienIndependence:12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)National holiday:National Day, 26 October (1955)Constitution:1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)Legal system:civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislativeacts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative andcivil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdictionSuffrage:19 years of age, universal; compulsory for presidential electionsExecutive branch:chief of state:President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992); election last held 24May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot - ThomasKLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%head of government:Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986); Vice ChancellorErhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)cabinet:Council of Ministers; chosen by the president on the advice of thechancellorLegislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)Federal Council (Bundesrat):consists of 63 members representing each of the provinces on the basisof population, but with each province having at least 3representativesNational Council (Nationalrat):elections last held 7 October 1990 (next to be held October 1994);results - SPOE 43%, OEVP 32.1%, FPOE 16.6%, GAL 4.5%, KPOE 0.7%, other3.1%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 80, OEVP 60, FPOE 33, GAL 10Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) for civil and criminalcases, Administrative Court (Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucraticcases, Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) forconstitutional casesPolitical parties and leaders:Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman;Austrian People's Party (OEVP), Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Partyof Austria (FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPOE),Walter SILBERMAYER, chairman; Green Alternative List (GAL), PeterPILZ, chairman; Liberal Forum (LF), Heidi SCHMIDTOther political or pressure groups:Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Austrian Trade UnionFederation (primarily Socialist); three composite leagues of theAustrian People's Party (OEVP) representing business, labor, andfarmers; OEVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists; RomanCatholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic ActionMember of:AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN,COCOM (cooperating), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-9, GATT, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNDOF, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNTAC, UNTSO,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZCDiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Helmut TUERKchancery:3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035telephone:(202) 895-6700FAX:(202) 895-6750consulate(s) general:Chicago, Los Angeles, and New YorkUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Swanee G. HUNTchancery:Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Viennamailing address:Unit 27937, Viennatelephone:[43] (1) 313-39FAX:[43] (1) 513-43-51consulate(s) general:SalzburgFlag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
@Austria, Economy
Overview:Austria boasts a prosperous and stable socialist market economy with asizable but falling proportion of nationalized industry and extensivewelfare benefits. Thanks to its raw material endowment, a technicallyskilled labor force, and strong links to German industrial firms,Austria occupies specialized niches in European industry and services(tourism, banking) and produces almost enough food to feed itself withonly 8% of the labor force in agriculture. Increased export salesresulting from German unification, boosted Austria's economy through1991, but Austria's GDP growth slowed to 2% in 1992 and -0.5% in 1993due to the weak international economy, particularly in Germany - itslargest trading partner. GDP growth will resume slowly in 1994, withestimates ranging from a 0.5% to a 1% increase. Unemployment has risento 7% as a result of the slowdown and will continue to rise in 1994.Problems for the l990s include an aging population, the high level ofsubsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetarycapabilities. Austria's government has taken measures to make theeconomy more liberal and open by introducing a major tax reform,privatizing state-owned firms, and liberalizing cross-border capitalmovements. Although it will face increased competition, Austria shouldbenefit from the continued opening of eastern European markets, aswell as the 1 January 1994 start of the European Economic Area whichextends the European Union rules on the free movement of people,capital, and goods and services to four members (including Austria) ofthe European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Austria has concludedmembership negotiations with the European Union and is expected tojoin in early 1995, thus broadening European economic unity. Thegovernment, however, plans to hold a national referendum on the matteron 12 June 1994; support for and opposition to membership appearsabout equal.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $134.4 billion (1993)National product real growth rate:-0.5% (1993)National product per capita:$17,000 (1993)Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.7% (1993 est.)Unemployment rate:7% (1993 est.)Budget:revenues:$52.2 billionexpenditures:$60.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)Exports:$39.9 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paperproducts, chemicalspartners:EC 63.5% (Germany 38.9%), EFTA 9.0%, Eastern Europe/FSU 12.3%, Japan1.5%, US 3.35% (1993)Imports:$48.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals,textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticalspartners:EC 66.8% (Germany 41.3%), EFTA 6.7%, Eastern Europe/FSU 7.5%, Japan4.4%, US 4.4% (1993)External debt:$16.2 billion (1993 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -4.5% (1993 est.)Electricity:capacity:17,600,000 kWproduction:49.5 billion kWhconsumption per capita:6,300 kWh (1992)Industries:foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical,paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehiclesAgriculture:accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops andanimals - grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle,pigs, poultry; 80%-90% self-sufficient in foodIllicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkanroute and Eastern EuropeEconomic aid:donor:ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billionCurrency:1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschenExchange rates:Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 12.255 (January 1994), 11.632(1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990), 13.231 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Austria, Communications
Railroads:5,749 km total; 5,652 km government owned and 97 km privately owned(0.760-, 1.435- and 1.000-meter gauge); 5,394 km 1.435-meter standardgauge of which 3,154 km is electrified and 1,520 km is double tracked;339 km 0.760-meter narrow gauge of which 84 km is electrifiedHighways:total:95,412 kmpaved:21,812 km (including 1,012 km of autobahn)unpaved:mostly gravel and earth 73,600 kmInland waterways:446 kmPipelines:crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas 2,611 kmPorts:Vienna, Linz (Danube river ports)Merchant marine:29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 158,724 GRT/259,594 DWT, bulk 3,cargo 23, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2Airports:total:55usable:55with permanent-surface runways:20with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:6with runways 1,220-2,439 m:4Telecommunications:highly developed and efficient; 4,014,000 telephones; broadcaststations - 6 AM, 21 (545 repeaters) FM, 47 (870 repeaters) TV;satellite ground stations for Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, Indian OceanINTELSAT, and EUTELSAT systems
@Austria, Defense Forces
Branches:Army (including Flying Division)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 2,018,954; fit for military service 1,693,341; reachmilitary age (19) annually 48,710 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $1.7 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1993)
@Azerbaijan, Geography
Location:Southwestern Asia, between Armenia and Turkmenistan, bordering theCaspian SeaMap references:Africa, Asia, Commonwealth of Independent States - Central AsianStates, Commonwealth of Independent States - European States, MiddleEast, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:86,600 sq kmland area:86,100 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than Mainenote:includes the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakhregions; regions' autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Sovieton 26 November 1991Land boundaries:total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km,Georgia 322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia284 km, Turkey 9 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)note:Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)Maritime claims:NAnote:Azerbaijani claims in Caspian Sea unknown; 10-nm fishing zone providedfor in 1940 treaty regarding trade and navigation between Soviet Unionand IranInternational disputes:violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians ofNagorno-Karabakh over its status, lesser dispute concerns Nakhichevan;some Azerbaijanis desire absorption of and/or unification with theethnic Azeri portion of IranClimate:dry, semiarid steppeTerrain:large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with GreatCaucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west;Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into Caspian SeaNatural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, aluminaLand use:arable land:18%permanent crops:4%meadows and pastures:25%forest and woodland:0%other:53%Irrigated land:14,010 sq km (1990)Environment:current issues:local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula (includingBaku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically mostdevastated area in the world because of severe air, water, and soilpollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDT as a pesticideand also from toxic defoliants used in the production of cottonnatural hazards:subject to drought; some coastal areas threatened by rising levels ofthe Caspian Seainternational agreements:signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate ChangeNote:landlocked
@Azerbaijan, People
Population:7,684,456 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:1.41% (1994 est.)Birth rate:23.04 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:34.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:70.85 yearsmale:67.08 yearsfemale:74.8 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:2.7 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Azerbaijani(s)adjective:AzerbaijaniEthnic divisions:Azeri 82.7%, Russian 5.6%, Armenian 5.6%, Dagestani 3.2%, other 2.9%(1989)note:Armenian share is now approximately 0.3% because most Armenians havefled the ethnic violence since 1989 census; Russian percentage isprobably half what it was for the same reasonReligions:Muslim 87%, Russian Orthodox 5.6%, Armenian Orthodox 5.6%, other 1.8%Languages:Azeri 82%, Russian 7%, Armenian 5%, other 6%Literacy:age 9-49 can read and write (1970)total population:100%male:100%female:100%Labor force:2.789 millionby occupation:agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42%(1990)
@Azerbaijan, Government
Names:conventional long form:Azerbaijani Republicconventional short form:Azerbaijanlocal long form:Azarbaycan Respublikasilocal short form:noneformer:Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist RepublicDigraph:AJType:republicCapital:Baku (Baky)Administrative divisions:1 autonomous republic (avtomnaya respublika); Nakhichevan(administrative center at Nakhichevan)note:all rayons except for the exclave of Nakhichevan are under directrepublic jurisdictionIndependence:30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)National holiday:Novruz Bayram, 21-22 MarchConstitution:adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution mid-1993Legal system:based on civil law systemSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state:President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993 after President ELCIBEYleft Baku for Nakhichevan); election last held 3 October 1993 (next tobe held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEV won 97% of votehead of government:Prime Minister Surat HUSEYNOV (since 30 June 1993)cabinet:Council of Ministers; appointed by the president and confirmed by theMejlasLegislative branch:unicameralNational Assembly (Milli Mejlis):elections last held 30 September and 14 October 1990 for the SupremeSoviet (next expected to be held NA 1994 for the National Assembly);seats for Supreme Soviet - (360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc45 (grouping of opposition parties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19May 1992 the Supreme Soviet was prorogued in favor of a PopularFront-dominated National Council; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25,opposition elements 25Judicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF), Ebulfez ELCIBEY, chairman; MusavatParty, Isa GAMBAR, chairman; National Independence Party, EtibarMAMEDOV, chairman; Social Democratic Party (SDP), Araz ALIZADE,chairman; Communist Party, Ramiz AKHMEDOV, chairman; People's FreedomParty, Yunus OGUZ, chairman; Independent Social Democratic Party, ArifYUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen; New Azerbaijan Party, HeydarALIYEV, chairman; Boz Gurd Party, Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman;Azerbaijan Democratic Party, Sardar MAMEDOV, chairman; AzerbaijanDemocratic Independence Party, Qabil HUSELNLI, chairman; Islamic Partyof Azerbaijan, Ali Akram, chairmanOther political or pressure groups:self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talyshindependence movementMember of:BSEC, CCC, CIS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO,IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU,WHODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal Ogly PASHAYEVchancery:Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005telephone:(202) 842-0001FAX:(202) 842-0004US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Richard KAZLAURICHembassy:Hotel Intourist, Bakumailing address:use embassy street addresstelephone:7-8922-92-63-06 through 09, extension 441, 442, 446, 447, 448, 450FAX:Telex 142110 AMEMB SUFlag:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescentand eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
@Azerbaijan, Economy
Overview:Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia orGeorgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the CentralAsian states in its majority Muslim population, high structuralunemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominentproducts are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil andgas field has been in decline for several years. With foreignassistance, the oil industry might generate the funds needed to spurindustrial development. However, civil unrest, marked by armedconflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Muslim Azeris andChristian Armenians, makes foreign investors wary. Azerbaijanaccounted for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the formerSoviet Union. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of theex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to amarket economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten itsprospects somewhat. Old economic ties and structures have yet to bereplaced. A particularly galling constraint on economic revival is theNagorno-Karabakh conflict, said to consume 25% of Azerbaijan'seconomic resources.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15.5 billion (1993 estimate fromthe UN International Comparison Program, as extended to 1991 andpublished in the World Bank's World Development Report 1993; and asextrapolated to 1993 using official Azerbaijani statistics, which arevery uncertain because of major economic changes since 1990)National product real growth rate:-13.3% (1993 est.)National product per capita:$2,040 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):20% per month (average 1993); above 50% per month (February 1994)Unemployment rate:0.7% includes officially registered unemployed; also large numbers ofunderemployed workers (December 1993)Budget:revenues:$NAexpenditures:$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$355 million to outside the FSU countries (f.o.b., 1993)commodities:oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles, cotton (1991)partners:mostly CIS and European countriesImports:$240 million from outside the FSU countries (c.i.f., 1993)commodities:machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs, textiles (1991)partners:European countriesExternal debt:$NAIndustrial production:growth rate -7% (1993)Electricity:capacity:6,025,000 kWproduction:22,300 kWhconsumption per capita:2,990 kWh (1992)Industries:petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textilesiculture:cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle,pigs, sheep and goatsIllicit drugs:illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CISconsumption; limited government eradication program; transshipmentpoint for illicit drugs to Western EuropeEconomic aid:recipient:wheat from TurkeyCurrency:1 manat = 100 gopikExchange rates:NAFiscal year:calendar year
@Azerbaijan, Communications
Railroads:2,090 km; does not include industrial lines (1990)Highways:total:36,700 kmpaved or graveled:31,800 kmunpaved:earth 4,900 km (1990)Pipelines:crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas 1,240 kmPorts:inland - Baku (Baky)Airports:total:65usable:33with permanent-surface runways:26with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:8with runways 1,220-2,439 m:23Telecommunications:domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequate; 710,000domestic telephone lines [density - 9 lines per 100 persons (1991)],202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January 1991);connections to other former USSR republics by cable and microwave andto other countries via the Moscow international gateway switch;INTELSAT earth station installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkishfinancial assistance with access to 200 countries through Turkey;since August 1993 an earth station near Baku has provided directcommunications with New York through Russia's Stationar-11 satellite;a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system (Bakcel) inthe Baku area is supposed to become operational in 1994; domestic andRussian TV programs are received locally and Turkish and Iranian TV isreceived from an INTELSAT satellite through a receive-only earthstation
@Azerbaijan, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Air Force, Navy, Maritime Border Guard, National Guard, SecurityForces (internal and border troops)Manpower availability:males age 15-49 1,884,458; fit for military service 1,525,123; reachmilitary age (18) annually 68,192 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:2,848 million rubles, NA% of GDP (1992 est.); note - conversion of themilitary budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate couldproduce misleading results
@The Bahamas, Geography
Location:Caribbean, in the western North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Floridaand northwest of CubaMap references:Central America and the Caribbean, North America, Standard Time Zonesof the WorldArea:total area:13,940 sq kmland area:10,070 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than ConnecticutLand boundaries:0 kmCoastline:3,542 kmMaritime claims:continental shelf:200-m depth or to depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea:3 nmInternational disputes:noneClimate:tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf StreamTerrain:long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hillsNatural resources:salt, aragonite, timberLand use:arable land:1%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:0%forest and woodland:32%other:67%Irrigated land:NA sq kmEnvironment:current issues:NAnatural hazards:subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensiveflood and wind damageinternational agreements:party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship PollutionNote:strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain
@The Bahamas, People
Population:273,055 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:1.57% (1994 est.)Birth rate:18.86 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:5.38 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:33.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:71.52 yearsmale:67.66 yearsfemale:75.49 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:1.88 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Bahamian(s)adjective:BahamianEthnic divisions:black 85%, white 15%Religions:Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church ofGod 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%Languages:English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)Literacy:age 15 and over but definition of literacy not available (1963 est.)total population:90%male:90%female:89%Labor force:127,400by occupation:government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business services 10%,agriculture 5% (1989)