@West Bank, Communications
Highways:total:NApaved:NAunpaved:NAnote:small road network, Israelis developing east-west axial highways toservice new settlementsAirports:total:2usable:2with permanent-surface runways:2with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:0with runways 1,220-2,439 m:1Telecommunications:open-wire telephone system currently being upgraded; broadcaststations - no AM, no FM, no TV
@West Bank, Defense Forces
Branches:NADefense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
@Western Sahara, Geography
Location:Northern Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Morocco andMauritaniaMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:266,000 sq kmland area:266,000 sq kmcomparative area:slightly smaller than ColoradoLand boundaries:total 2,046 km, Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 kmCoastline:1,110 kmMaritime claims:contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issueInternational disputes:claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved andthe UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; theUN-administered cease-fire has been currently in effect sinceSeptember 1991Climate:hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fogand heavy dewTerrain:mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfacesrising to small mountains in south and northeastNatural resources:phosphates, iron oreLand use:arable land:0%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:19%forest and woodland:0%other:81%Irrigated land:NA sq kmEnvironment:current issues:sparse water and arable landnatural hazards:hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter andspring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severelyrestricting visibilityinternational agreements:NA
@Western Sahara, People
Population: 211,877 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.5% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 47.22 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 19.04 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -3.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 152.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.59 years male: 44.66 years female: 46.83 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.96 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian Ethnic divisions: Arab, Berber Religions: Muslim Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic Literacy: total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% Labor force: 12,000 by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
@Western Sahara, Government
Names:conventional long form:noneconventional short form:Western SaharaDigraph:WIType:legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved;territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front forthe Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which inFebruary 1976 formally proclaimed a government in exile of the SahrawiArab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Moroccoand Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northerntwo-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas,abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved tooccupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since assertedadministrative control; the Polisario's government in exile was seatedas an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically,until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991Capital:noneAdministrative divisions:none (under de facto control of Morocco)Executive branch:noneMember of:noneDiplomatic representation in US:noneUS diplomatic representation:none
@Western Sahara, Economy
Overview:Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and havinglittle rainfall, has a per capita GDP of roughly $300. Pastoralnomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining are the principal sources ofincome for the population. Most of the food for the urban populationmust be imported. All trade and other economic activities arecontrolled by the Moroccan Government.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $60 million (1991 est.)National product real growth rate:NA%National product per capita:$300 (1991 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues:$NAexpenditures:$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$8 million (f.o.b., 1982 est.)commodities:phosphates 62%partners:Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners areincluded in overall Moroccan accountsImports:$30 million (c.i.f., 1982 est.)commodities:fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffspartners:Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners areincluded in overall Moroccan accountsExternal debt:$NAIndustrial production:growth rate NA%Electricity:capacity:60,000 kWproduction:79 million kWhconsumption per capita:425 kWh (1989)Industries:phosphate mining, fishing, handicraftsAgriculture:limited largely to subsistence agriculture; some barley is grown innondrought years; fruit and vegetables are grown in the few oases;food imports are essential; camels, sheep, and goats are kept by thenomadic natives; cash economy exists largely for the garrison forcesEconomic aid:$NACurrency:1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimesExchange rates:Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.669 (January 1994), 9.299 (1993),8.538 (1992), 8.707 (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989)Fiscal year:NA
@Western Sahara, Communications
Highways:total:6,200 kmunpaved:gravel 1,450 km; improved, unimproved earth, tracks 4,750 kmPorts:El Aaiun, Ad DakhlaAirports:total:14usable:14with permanent-surface runways:3with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:3with runways 1,220-2,439 m:5Telecommunications:sparse and limited system; tied into Morocco's system by microwaveradio relay, troposcatter, and 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earthstations linked to Rabat, Morocco; 2,000 telephones; broadcaststations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV
@Western Sahara, Defense Forces
Branches:NADefense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
@Western Samoa, Geography
Location: Oceania, Polynesia, 4,300 km southwest of Honolulu in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand Map references: Oceania, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 2,860 sq km land area: 2,850 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Rhode Island Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 403 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: none Climate: tropical; rainy season (October to March), dry season (May to October) Terrain: narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior Natural resources: hardwood forests, fish Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 24% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 47% other: 10% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: soil erosion natural hazards: subject to occasional typhoons; active volcanism international agreements: party to - Biodiversity; signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Law of the Sea
@Western Samoa, People
Population:204,447 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:2.38% (1994 est.)Birth rate:32.41 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:6.02 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:37 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:67.97 yearsmale:65.59 yearsfemale:70.48 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:4.16 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Western Samoan(s)adjective:Western SamoanEthnic divisions:Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesianblood), Europeans 0.4%Religions:Christian 99.7% (about half of population associated with the LondonMissionary Society; includes Congregational, Roman Catholic,Methodist, Latter Day Saints, Seventh-Day Adventist)Languages:Samoan (Polynesian), EnglishLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1971)total population:97%male:97%female:97%Labor force:38,000by occupation:agriculture 22,000 (1987 est.)
@Western Samoa, Government
Names:conventional long form:Independent State of Western Samoaconventional short form:Western SamoaDigraph:WSType:constitutional monarchy under native chiefCapital:ApiaAdministrative divisions:11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga,Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti,VaisiganoIndependence:1 January 1962 (from UN trusteeship administered by New Zealand)National holiday:National Day, 1 June (1962)Constitution:1 January 1962Legal system:based on English common law and local customs; judicial review oflegislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:21 years of age; universal, but only matai (head of family) are ableto run for the Legislative AssemblyExecutive branch:chief of state:Chief Susuga Malietoa TANUMAFILI II (Co-Chief of State from 1 January1962 until becoming sole Chief of State on 5 April 1963)head of government:Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana (since 7 April 1988)cabinet:Cabinet; appointed by the head of state with the prime minister'sadviceLegislative branch:unicameralLegislative Assembly (Fono):elections last held 5 April 1991 (next to be held by NA 1996); results- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) HRPP 28, SNDP 18,independents 1Judicial branch:Supreme Court, Court of AppealPolitical parties and leaders:Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP), TOFILAU Eti Alesana, chairman;Samoan National Development Party (SNDP), TAPUA Tamasese Efi, chairmanMember of:ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, LORCS, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Neroni SLADEchancery:820 Second Avenue, Suite 800, New York, NY 10017telephone:(212) 599-6196 or 6197FAX:(212) 972-3970US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:the ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Western Samoaembassy:5th floor, Beach Road, Apiamailing address:P.O. Box 3430, Apiatelephone:(685) 21-631FAX:(685) 22-030Flag:red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearingfive white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Crossconstellation
@Western Samoa, Economy
Overview:Agriculture employs more than half of the labor force, contributes 50%to GDP, and furnishes 90% of exports. The bulk of export earningscomes from the sale of coconut oil and copra. The economy depends onemigrant remittances and foreign aid to support a level of importsmuch greater than export earnings. Tourism has become the mostimportant growth industry, and construction of the first internationalhotel is under way. The economy continued to falter in 1993, asremittances and tourist earnings fell off. A fungal plant diseaseseverely damaged the taro crop, the primary food and export crop.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $400 million (1992 est.)National product real growth rate:-4.3% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$2,000 (1992 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (1993 est.)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues:$95.3 millionexpenditures:$95.4 million, including capital expenditures of $41 million (1992est.)Exports:$5.7 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:coconut oil and cream, taro, copra, cocoapartners:New Zealand 34%, American Samoa 21%, Germany 18%, Australia 11%Imports:$11.5 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)commodities:intermediate goods 58%, food 17%, capital goods 12%partners:New Zealand 37%, Australia 25%, Japan 11%, Fiji 9%External debt:$83 million (December 1990 est.)Industrial production:growth rate -0.3% (1992 est.); accounts for 16% of GDPElectricity:capacity:29,000 kWproduction:45 million kWhconsumption per capita:240 kWh (1990)Industries:timber, tourism, food processing, fishingAgriculture:accounts for about 50% of GDP; coconuts, fruit (including bananas,taro, yams)Economic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $18 million; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $306million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 millionCurrency:1 tala (WS$) = 100 seneExchange rates:tala (WS$) per US$1 - 2.5920 (January 1994), 2.5681 (1993), 2.4655(1992), 2.3975 (1991), 2.3095 (1990), 2.2686 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Western Samoa, Communications
Highways:total:2,042 kmpaved:375 kmunpaved:gravel, crushed stone, earth 1,667 kmPorts:ApiaMerchant marine:1 roll on/roll off cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,838GRT/5,536 DWTAirports:total:3usable:3with permanent-surface runways:1with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:1with runways 1,220-2,439 m:0Telecommunications:7,500 telephones; 70,000 radios; broadcast stations - 1 AM, no FM, noTV; 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT ground station
@Western Samoa, Defense Forces
Branches:Department of Police and PrisonsDefense expenditures:$NA, NA% of GDP
@World, Geography
Map references:Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:510.072 million sq kmland area:148.94 million sq kmwater area:361.132 million sq kmcomparative area:land area about 16 times the size of the USnote:70.8% of the world is water, 29.2% is landLand boundaries:the land boundaries in the world total 250,883.64 km (not countingshared boundaries twice)Coastline:356,000 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:24 nm claimed by most but can varycontinental shelf:200-m depth claimed by most or to depth of exploitation, others claim200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive fishing zone:200 nm claimed by most but can varyexclusive economic zone:200 nm claimed by most but can varyterritorial sea:12 nm claimed by most but can varynote:boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countriesfrom extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm; 42nations and other areas that are landlocked include Afghanistan,Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia,Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, CzechRepublic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali,Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino,Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank,Zambia, ZimbabweClimate:two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrowtemperate zones from a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropicalclimatesTerrain:highest elevation is Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters and lowest depressionis the Dead Sea at 392 meters below sea level; greatest ocean depth isthe Marianas Trench at 10,924 metersNatural resources:the rapid using up of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion offorest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species,and the deterioration in air and water quality (especially in EasternEurope and the former USSR) pose serious long-term problems thatgovernments and peoples are only beginning to addressLand use:arable land:10%permanent crops:1%meadows and pastures:24%forest and woodland:31%other:34%Irrigated land:NA sq kmEnvironment:current issues:large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution(air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation(overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soildegradation, soil depletion, erosionnatural hazards:large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), naturaldisasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)international agreements:20 selected international environmental agreements included under theEnvironment entry for each country and in Appendix E: SelectedInternational Environmental Agreements
@World, People
Population: 5,643,289,771 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 1.5% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 25 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 65 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62 years male: 61 years female: 64 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1994 est.) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.); total population: 82% male: 68% female: 75% Labor force: 2.24 billion (1992) by occupation: NA
@World, Government
Digraph:XXAdministrative divisions:265 sovereign nations, dependent areas, other, and miscellaneousentriesLegal system:varies by individual country; 182 are parties to the United NationsInternational Court of Justice (ICJ or World Court)
@World, Economy
Overview: Real global output - gross world product (GWP) - rose roughly 2% in 1993, with results varying widely among regions and countries. Average growth of 1% in the GDP of industrialized countries (57% of GWP in 1993) and average growth of 6% in the GDP of less developed countries (37% of GWP) were partly offset by a further 10% drop in the GDP of the former USSR/Eastern Europe area (now only 6% of GWP). Within the industrialized world the US posted a 3% growth rate whereas both Japan and the 12-member European Union (formerly the European Community) had zero growth. With the notable exception of Japan at 2.5%, unemployment was typically 6-11% in the industrial world. The US accounted for 22% of GWP in 1993; Western Europe accounted for 22.5%; and Japan accounted for 9%. These are the three "economic superpowers" which are presumably destined to compete for mastery in international markets on into the 21st century. As for the less developed countries, China, India, and the Four Dragons—South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore—once again posted good records; however, many other countries, especially in Africa, continued to suffer from drought, rapid population growth, inflation, and civil strife. Central Europe, especially Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, made considerable progress in moving toward "market-friendly" economies, whereas the 15 ex-Soviet countries typically experienced further declines in output of 10-15%. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology. Internally, the central government in a number of cases is losing control over resources as separatist regional movements - typically based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in former Yugoslavia, and in India. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition of nearly 100 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own internal problems, the industrialized countries have inadequate resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from the economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. (For the specific economic problems of each country, see the individual country entries in this volume.) National product: GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power equivalent - $29 trillion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 2% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $5,200 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): developed countries: 5% (1993 est.) developing countries: 50% (1993 est.) note: these figures vary widely in individual cases Unemployment rate: developed countries typically 6%-11%; developing countries, extensive unemployment and underemployment (1993) Exports: $3.64 trillion (f.o.b., 1992 est.) commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services partners: in value, about 75% of exports from the developed countries Imports: $3.82 trillion (c.i.f., 1992 est.) commodities: the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services partners: in value, about 75% of imports by the developed countries External debt: $1 trillion for less developed countries (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate -1% (1992 est.) Electricity: capacity: 2,864,000,000 kW production: 11.45 trillion kWh consumption per capita: 2,150 kWh (1990) Industries: industry worldwide is dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces, and the technological gap between the industrial nations and the less-developed countries continues to widen; the rapid development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental problems Agriculture: the production of major food crops has increased substantially in the last 20 years; the annual production of cereals, for instance, has risen by 50%, from about 1.2 billion metric tons to about 1.8 billion metric tons; production increases have resulted mainly from increased yields rather than increases in planted areas; while global production is sufficient for aggregate demand, about one-fifth of the world's population remains malnourished, primarily because local production cannot adequately provide for large and rapidly growing populations, which are too poor to pay for food imports; conditions are especially bad in Africa where drought in recent years has intensified the consequences of overpopulation Economic aid: $NA
@World, Communications
Railroads:239,430 km of narrow gauge track; 710,754 km of standard gauge track;251,153 km of broad gauge track; includes about 190,000 to 195,000 kmof electrified routes of which 147,760 km are in Europe, 24,509 km inthe Far East, 11,050 km in Africa, 4,223 km in South America, and only4,160 km in North America; fastest speed in daily service is 300 km/hrattained by France's SNCF TGV-Atlantique lineHighways:total:NApaved:NAunpaved:NAPorts:Mina' al Ahmadi (Kuwait), Chiba, Houston, Kawasaki, Kobe, Marseille,New Orleans, New York, Rotterdam, YokohamaMerchant marine:23,943 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 397,225,000 GRT/652,025,000DWT, bulk carrier 5,473, freighter 12,581, passenger-cargo 347, tanker5,542 (all data as of January 1992)
@World, Defense Forces
Branches:ground, maritime, and air forces at all levels of technologyDefense expenditures:somewhat less than $1.0 trillion, 3% of total world output; decline of5%-10% (1993 est.)
@Yemen, Geography
Location:Middle East, along the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, south of SaudiArabiaMap references:Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:527,970 sq kmland area:527,970 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than twice the size of Wyomingnote:includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or NorthYemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY orSouth Yemen)Land boundaries:total 1,746 km, Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 kmCoastline:1,906 kmMaritime claims:contiguous zone:18 nm in the North; 24 nm in the Southcontinental shelf:200-m depth in the North; 200 nm in the South or to the edge of thecontinental marginexclusive economic zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:undefined section of boundary with Saudi Arabia; a treaty with Omandefining the Yemeni-Omani boundary was ratified in December 1992Climate:mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in westernmountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry,harsh desert in eastTerrain:narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains;dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desertinterior of the Arabian PeninsulaNatural resources:petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold,lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in westLand use:arable land:6%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:30%forest and woodland:7%other:57%Irrigated land:3,100 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:scarcity of natural freshwater resources (shortages of potable water);overgrazing; soil erosion; desertificationnatural hazards:subject to sandstorms and dust storms in summerinternational agreements:party to - Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea; signed, but notratified - Biodiversity, Climate ChangeNote:controls Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf ofAden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
@Yemen, People
Population:11,105,202 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:3.34% (1994 est.)Birth rate:50.72 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:14.94 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-2.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:112.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:51.47 yearsmale:50.34 yearsfemale:52.65 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:7.2 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Yemeni(s)adjective:YemeniEthnic divisions:predominantly Arab; Afro-Arab concentrations in coastal locations;South Asians in southern regions; small European communities in majormetropolitan areas; 60,000 (est.) Somali refugees encamped near AdenReligions:Muslim including Sha'fi (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), Jewish, Christian,HinduLanguages:ArabicLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population:38%male:53%female:26%Labor force:no reliable estimates exist, most people are employed in agricultureand herding or as expatriate laborers; services, construction,industry, and commerce account for less than half of the labor force
@Yemen, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Yemenconventional short form:Yemenlocal long form:Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyahlocal short form:Al YamanDigraph:YMType:republicCapital:SanaaAdministrative divisions:17 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, Adan, AlBayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Dhamar, Hadramaut,Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Marib, Sadah, Sana, Shabwah, Taizznote:there may be a new capital district of SanaIndependence:22 May 1990 Republic of Yemen was established on 22 May 1990 with themerger of the Yemen Arab Republic {Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen} andthe Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen {Yemen(Aden) or South Yemen}; previously North Yemen had become independenton NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen hadbecome independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)National holiday:Proclamation of the Republic, 22 May (1990)Constitution:16 May 1991Legal system:based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and localcustomary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state and head of government:President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former presidentof North Yemen); note - Sanaa dismissed Vice President Ali Salimal-BIDH, Prime Minister Haydar Abu Bakr al-ATTAS (the formerpresident of South Yemen), and 14 other southern officials followingthe outbreak of civil war on 4 May 1994five-member Presidential Council:president, vice president, two members from General People's Congressparty, two members from Yemeni Socialist Party, and one member fromYemeni Grouping for Reform, or Islaah partycabinet:Council of MinistersLegislative branch:unicameralHouse of Representatives:elections last held 27 April 1993 (next to be held NA); results -percent of vote NA; seats - (301 total) GPC 124, YSP 55, Islaah 61,Ba'thist parties 7, Nasserist parties 4, Hizb al-Haqq 2, Independents47, election nullified 1Judicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:Ba'thist parties; General People's Congress (GPC), Ali Abdallah SALIH;Hizb al Haqq, Ibrahim al-WAZIR, Sheikh Ahmad ibn Ali SHAMI (SecretaryGeneral); Nasserist parties; Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), Ali Salimal-BIDH; Yemeni Grouping for Reform or Islaah, Shaykh Abdallah binHusayn al-AHMAROther political or pressure groups:NAMember of:ACC, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM,OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Muhsin Ahmad AL-AYNIchancery:Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037telephone:(202) 965-4760 or 4761FAX:(202) 337-2017consulate general(s):DetroitUS diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Arthur H. HUGHESembassy:Dhahr Himyar Zone, Sheraton Hotel District, Sanaamailing address:P. O. Box 22347 Sanaa or Sanaa, Department of State, Washington, DC20521-6330telephone:[967] (1) 238-842 through 238-852FAX:[967] (1) 251-563Flag:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similarto the flag of Syria which has two green stars and of Iraq which hasthree green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal linecentered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt whichhas a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
@Yemen, Economy
Overview:Whereas the northern city Sanaa is the political capital of a unitedYemen, the southern city Aden, with its refinery and port facilities,is the economic and commercial capital. Future economic developmentdepends heavily on Western-assisted development of its moderate oilresources. Former South Yemen's willingness to merge stemmed partlyfrom the steady decline in Soviet economic support. The low level ofdomestic industry and agriculture have made northern Yemen dependenton imports for practically all of its essential needs. Large tradedeficits have been compensated for by remittances from Yemenis workingabroad and by foreign aid. Because of the Gulf crisis, remittanceshave dropped substantially. Once self-sufficient in food production,northern Yemen has become a major importer. Land once used for exportcrops - cotton, fruit, and vegetables - has been turned over togrowing a shrub called qat, whose leaves are chewed for theirstimulant effect by Yemenis and which has no significant exportmarket. Economic growth in former South Yemen has been constrained bya lack of incentives, partly stemming from centralized control overproduction decisions, investment allocation, and import choices.Nominal growth in 1994-95 is apt to be under 3% annually because oflow oil prices and political deadlock that is causing a lack ofeconomic cooperation and leadership.National product:GDP - exchange rate conversion - $9 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:3.1% (1993 est.)National product per capita:$800 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):55% (1993 est.)Unemployment rate:30% (December 1992)Budget:revenues:$NAexpenditures:$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$695 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities:crude oil, cotton, coffee, hides, vegetables, dried and salted fishpartners:Italy 55%, US 32%, Jordan 5% (1991)Imports:$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities:textiles and other manufactured consumer goods, petroleum products,sugar, grain, flour, other foodstuffs, cement, machinery, chemicalspartners:UAE 6%, Japan 6%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Kuwait 6%, US 6% (1991)External debt:$7 billion (1993)Industrial production:growth rate NA%, accounts for 18% of GDPElectricity:capacity:714,000 kWproduction:1.224 billion kWhconsumption per capita:120 kWh (1992)Industries:crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production ofcotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; smallaluminum products factory; cementAgriculture:accounted for 26% of GDP; products - grain, fruits, vegetables, qat(mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton, dairy, poultry, meat, fish;not self-sufficient in grainEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $389 million; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $2billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $3.2 billion; Communistcountries (1970-89), $2.4 billionCurrency:Yemeni rial (new currency); 1 North Yemeni riyal (YR) = 100 fils; 1South Yemeni dinar (YD) = 1,000 filsnote:following the establishment of the Republic of Yemen on 22 May 1990,the North Yemeni riyal and the South Yemeni dinar are to be replacedwith a new Yemeni rialExchange rates:Yemeni rials per US$1 - 12.0 (official); 70 (market rate, April 1994)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Yemen, Communications
Highways:total:15,500 kmpaved:4,000 kmunpaved:natural surface 11,500 kmPipelines:crude oil 644 km; petroleum products 32 kmPorts:Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Khalf, Al Mukalla, Mocha, Nishtun, Ra's Kathib,SalifMerchant marine:3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,309 GRT/6,568 DWT, cargo 2, oiltanker 1Airports:total:46usable:40with permanent-surface runways:10with runways over 3,659 m:0with runways 2,440-3,659 m:18with runways 1,220-2,439 m:11Telecommunications:since unification in 1990, efforts are still being made to create anational domestic civil telecommunications network; the networkconsists of microwave radio relay, cable and troposcatter; 65,000telephones (est.); broadcast stations - 4 AM, 1 FM, 10 TV; satelliteearth stations - 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1Intersputnik, 2 ARABSAT; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia, andDjibouti
@Yemen, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, PoliceManpower availability:males age 15-49 2,142,519; fit for military service 1,219,985; reachmilitary age (14) annually 137,497 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $762 million, 14% of GDP (1992)
@Zaire, Geography
Location:Central Africa, between Congo and ZambiaMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:2,345,410 sq kmland area:2,267,600 sq kmcomparative area:slightly more than one-quarter the size of USLand boundaries:total 10,271 km, Angola 2,511 km, Burundi 233 km, Central AfricanRepublic 1,577 km, Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Uganda765 km, Zambia 1,930 kmCoastline:37 kmMaritime claims:exclusive fishing zone:200 nmterritorial sea:12 nmInternational disputes:Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer beindefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of theZaire-Zambia boundary has been settled; long section with Congo alongthe Congo River is indefinite (no division of the river or its islandshas been made)Climate:tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier insouthern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north ofEquator - wet season April to October, dry season December toFebruary; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry seasonApril to OctoberTerrain:vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in eastNatural resources:cobalt, copper, cadmium, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold,silver, zinc, manganese, tin, germanium, uranium, radium, bauxite,iron ore, coal, hydropower potentialLand use:arable land:3%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:4%forest and woodland:78%other:15%Irrigated land:100 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;deforestationnatural hazards:periodic droughts in southinternational agreements:party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, NuclearTest Ban, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,Climate Change, Environmental ModificationNote:straddles Equator; very narrow strip of land that controls the lowerCongo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropicalrain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands
@Zaire, People
Population:42,684,091 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:3.17% (1994 est.)Birth rate:48.39 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:16.74 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:110.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:total population:47.4 yearsmale:45.57 yearsfemale:49.29 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:6.7 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Zairian(s)adjective:ZairianEthnic divisions:over 200 African ethnic groups, the majority are Bantu; four largesttribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande(Hamitic) make up about 45% of the populationReligions:Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, othersyncretic sects and traditional beliefs 10%Languages:French, Lingala, Swahili, Kingwana, Kikongo, TshilubaLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population:72%male:84%female:61%Labor force:15 million (13% of the labor force is wage earners; 51% of thepopulation is of working age)by occupation:agriculture 75%, industry 13%, services 12% (1985)
@Zaire, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Zaireconventional short form:Zairelocal long form:Republique du Zairelocal short form:Zaireformer:Belgian Congo Congo/Leopoldville Congo/KinshasaDigraph:CGType:republic with a strong presidential systemCapital:KinshasaAdministrative divisions:10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 town* (ville); Bandundu,Bas-Zaire, Equateur, Haut-Zaire, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental,Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Shaba, Sud-KivuIndependence:30 June 1960 (from Belgium)National holiday:Anniversary of the Regime (Second Republic), 24 November (1965)Constitution:24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978; amendedApril 1990; new transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994Legal system:based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsoryExecutive branch:chief of state:President Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga (since 24November 1965) election last held 29 July 1984 (next to be scheduledby High Council, the opposition-controlled transition legislature);results - President MOBUTU was reelected without oppositionhead of government:Prime Minister Etienne TSHISEKEDI (since NA 1993); note - de factoexecutive authority is exercised by President MOBUTUcabinet:National Executive Council; appointed by the president onrecommendation of the prime ministerLegislative branch:unicameralparliament:a single body consisting of the High Council of the Republic and theParliament of the Transition with membership equally divided betweenpresidential supporters and opponentsJudicial branch:Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)Political parties and leaders:sole legal party until January 1991 - Popular Movement of theRevolution (MPR); other parties include Union for Democracy and SocialProgress (UDPS), Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba; Democratic SocialChristian Party (PDSC), Joseph ILEO; Union of Federalists andIndependent Republicans (UFERI), NGUZ a Karl-I-Bond; Unified LumumbastParty (PALU), Antoine GIZENGAMember of:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador TATANENE Manatachancery:1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone:(202) 234-7690 or 7691US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:(vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission John YATESembassy:310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasamailing address:Unit 31550, Kinshasha; APO AE 09828telephone:[243] (12) 21532, 21628FAX:[243] (12) 21232 or 21534/5, ext. 2308consulate(s) general:Lubumbashi (closed and evacuated in October 1991 because of the poorsecurity situation)Flag:light green with a yellow disk in the center bearing a black armholding a red flaming torch; the flames of the torch are blowing awayfrom the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Zaire, Economy
Overview:Zaire's economy has continued to disintegrate. While meaningfuleconomic figures are difficult to come by, Zaire's hyperinflation, thelargest government deficit ever, and plunging mineral production havemade the country one of the world's poorest. Most formal transactionsare conducted in hard currency as indigenous banknotes have lostalmost all value, and a barter economy now flourishes in all but thelargest cities. Most individuals and families hang on grimly throughsubsistence farming and petty trade. The government has not been ableto meet its financial obligations to the International Momentary Fundor put in place the financial measures advocated by the IMF. Althoughshort-term prospects for improvement are dim, improved politicalstability would boost Zaire's long-term potential to effectivelyexploit its vast wealth of mineral and agricultural resources.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $21 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:-6% (1992 est.)National product per capita:$500 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):35%-40% per month (1992 est.)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues:$NAexpenditures:$NA, including capital expenditures of $NAExports:$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:copper, coffee, diamonds, cobalt, crude oilpartners:US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, South AfricaImports:$1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:consumer goods, foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transportequipment, fuelspartners:South Africa, US, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UKExternal debt:$9.2 billion (May 1992 est.)Industrial production:growth rate NA%Electricity:capacity:2,580,000 kWproduction:6 billion kWhconsumption per capita:160 kWh (1991)Industries:mining, mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles,footwear, and cigarettes), processed foods and beverages, cement,diamondsAgriculture:cash crops - coffee, palm oil, rubber, quinine; food crops - cassava,bananas, root crops, cornIllicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumptionEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.1 billion; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $6.9billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $35 million; Communistcountries (1970-89), $263 millionnote:except for humanitarian aid to private organizations, no US assistancewas given to Zaire in 1992Currency:1 zaire (Z) = 100 makutaExchange rates:zaire (Z) per US$1 - 7,915,000 (September 1993), 1,990,000 (1992),15,587 (1991), 719 (1990), 381 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Zaire, Communications
Railroads:5,254 km total; 3,968 km 1.067-meter gauge (851 km electrified); 125km 1.000-meter gauge; 136 km 0.615-meter gauge; 1,025 km 0.600-metergauge; limited trackage in use because of civil strifeHighways:total:146,500 kmpaved:2,800 kmunpaved:gravel, improved earth 46,200 km; unimproved earth 97,500 kmInland waterways:15,000 km including the Congo, its tributaries, and unconnected lakesPipelines:petroleum products 390 kmPorts:Matadi, Boma, BananaMerchant marine:1 passenger cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,489 GRT/13,481DWTAirports:total:278usable:233with permanent-surface runways:25with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:6with runways 1,220-2,439 m:72Telecommunications:barely adequate wire and microwave service; broadcast stations - 10AM, 4 FM, 18 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT,14 domestic
@Zaire, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, Civil Guard,Special Presidential DivisionManpower availability:males age 15-49 9,178,659; fit for military service 4,674,819Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $49 million, 0.8% of GDP (1988)
@Zambia, Geography
Location:Southern Africa, between Zaire and ZimbabweMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:752,610 sq kmland area:740,720 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than TexasLand boundaries:total 5,664 km, Angola 1,110 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km,Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zaire 1,930 km, Zimbabwe 797 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe is in disagreement;Tanzania-Zaire-Zambia tripoint in Lake Tanganyika may no longer beindefinite since it is reported that the indefinite section of theZaire-Zambia boundary has been settledClimate:tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)Terrain:mostly high plateau with some hills and mountainsNatural resources:copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium,hydropower potentialLand use:arable land:7%permanent crops:0%meadows and pastures:47%forest and woodland:27%other:19%Irrigated land:320 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros and elephant populations;deforestation; soil erosion; desertificationnatural hazards:NAinternational agreements:party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law ofthe Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, WetlandsNote:landlocked
@Zambia, People
Population: 9,188,190 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.83% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 45.99 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 17.65 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: -0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 85 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.18 years male: 43.82 years female: 44.54 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.68 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Zambian(s) adjective: Zambian Ethnic divisions: African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2% Religions: Christian 50-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24-49%, indigenous beliefs 1% Languages: English (official) note: about 70 indigenous languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 73% male: 81% female: 65% Labor force: 2.455 million by occupation: agriculture 85%, mining, manufacturing, and construction 6%, transport and services 9%
@Zambia, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Zambiaconventional short form:Zambiaformer:Northern RhodesiaDigraph:ZAType:republicCapital:LusakaAdministrative divisions:9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern,North-Western, Southern, WesternIndependence:24 October 1964 (from UK)National holiday:Independence Day, 24 October (1964)Constitution:2 August 1991Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdictionSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state and head of government:President Frederick CHILUBA (since 31 October 1991); Vice PresidentLevy MWANAWASA (since 31 October 1991); election last held 31 October1991 (next to be held in 1996); results - Frederick CHILUBA 84%,Kenneth KAUNDA 16%cabinet:Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the NationalAssemblyLegislative branch:unicameralNational Assembly:elections last held 31 October 1991 (next to be held in 1996); results- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150 total) MMD 125, UNIP 25;note - the MMD's majority was weakened by the defection of 13 of itsparliamentary members during 1993 and the defeat of its candidates in4 of the resulting by-electionsJudicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Frederick CHILUBA; UnitedNational Independence Party (UNIP), Kebby MUSOKATWANE; National Party(NP), Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA;Member of:ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-19, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFTU, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU,LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UNOSOM, UPU,WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Dunstan Weston KAMANAchancery:2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone:(202) 265-9717 through 9721US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Roland KUCHELembassy:corner of Independence Avenue and United Nations Avenue, Lusakamailing address:P. O. Box 31617, Lusakatelephone:[260-1] 228-595, 228-601, 228-602, 228-603FAX:[260-1] 261-538Flag:green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black,and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag
@Zambia, Economy
Overview:The economy has been in decline for more than a decade with fallingimports and growing foreign debt. Economic difficulties stem from achronically depressed level of copper production and ineffectiveeconomic policies. In 1991 real GDP fell by 2% and in 1992 by 3% more.An annual population growth of 3% has brought a decline in per capitaGDP of 50% over the past decade. A high inflation rate has also addedto Zambia's economic woes in recent years.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $7.3 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:-2.8% (1992)National product per capita:$800 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):191% (1992)Unemployment rate:NA%Budget:revenues:$665 millionexpenditures:$767 million, including capital expenditures of $300 million (1991est.)Exports:$1 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:copper, zinc, cobalt, lead, tobaccopartners:EC countries, Japan, South Africa, US, IndiaImports:$1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)commodities:machinery, transportation equipment, foodstuffs, fuels, manufacturespartners:EC countries, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, USExternal debt:$7.6 billion (1991)Industrial production:growth rate -2% (1991); accounts for 40% of GDPElectricity:capacity:2,775,000 kWproduction:12 billion kWhconsumption per capita:1,400 kWh (1991)Industries:copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,chemicals, textiles, and fertilizerAgriculture:accounts for 12% of GDP and 85% of labor force; crops - corn (foodstaple), sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower, tobacco, cotton,sugarcane, cassava; cattle, goats, beef, eggsIllicit drugs:role as regional transshipment center for mandrax and heroinEconomic aid:recipient:US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $4.8 billion; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.8billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $60 million; Communistcountries (1970-89), $533 millionCurrency:1 Zambian kwacha (ZK) = 100 ngweeExchange rates:Zambian kwacha (ZK) per US$1 - 344.8276 (October 1993), 156.25 (1992),61.7284 (1991), 28.9855 (1990), 12.9032 (1989)Fiscal year:calendar year
@Zambia, Communications
Railroads:1,266 km, all 1.067-meter gauge; 13 km double trackHighways:total:36,370 kmpaved:6,500 kmunpaved:crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 7,000 km; improved, unimprovedearth 22,870 kmInland waterways:2,250 km, including Zambezi and Luapula Rivers, Lake TanganyikaPipelines:crude oil 1,724 kmPorts:Mpulungu (lake port)Airports:total:113usable:103with permanent-surface runways:13with runways over 3,659 m:1with runways 2,440-3,659 m:4with runways 1,220-2,439 m:22Telecommunications:facilities are among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa; high-capacitymicrowave connects most larger towns and cities; broadcast stations -11 AM, 5 FM, 9 TV; satellite earth stations - 1 Indian Ocean INTELSATand 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT
@Zambia, Defense Forces
Branches:Army, Air Force, PoliceManpower availability:males age 15-49 1,882,053; fit for military service 988,913Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $45 million, 1% of GDP (1992 est.)
@Zimbabwe, Geography
Location:Southern Africa, between South Africa and ZambiaMap references:Africa, Standard Time Zones of the WorldArea:total area:390,580 sq kmland area:386,670 sq kmcomparative area:slightly larger than MontanaLand boundaries:total 3,066 km, Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225km, Zambia 797 kmCoastline:0 km (landlocked)Maritime claims:none; landlockedInternational disputes:quadripoint with Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia is in disagreementClimate:tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)Terrain:mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountainsin eastNatural resources:coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore,vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metalsLand use:arable land:7%permanent crops:NA% (coffee is a permanent crop)meadows and pastures:12%forest and woodland:62%other:NA%Irrigated land:2,200 sq km (1989 est.)Environment:current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollutionnatural hazards:recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rareinternational agreements:party to - Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea; signed,but not ratified - BiodiversityNote:landlocked
@Zimbabwe, People
Population:10,975,078 (July 1994 est.)Population growth rate:1.2% (1994 est.)Birth rate:37.24 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)Death rate:18.1 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)Net migration rate:-7.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)Infant mortality rate:7.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)Life expectancy at birth:tatal population:42.06 yearsmale:40.44 yearsfemale:43.74 years (1994 est.)Total fertility rate:5.1 children born/woman (1994 est.)Nationality:noun:Zimbabwean(s)adjective:ZimbabweanEthnic divisions:African 98% (Shona 71%, Ndebele 16%, other 11%), white 1%, mixed andAsian 1%Religions:syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%Languages:English (official), Shona, SindebeleLiteracy:age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.);total population:67%male:74%female:60%Labor force:3.1 millionby occupation:agriculture 74%, transport and services 16%, mining, manufacturing,construction 10% (1987)
@Zimbabwe, Government
Names:conventional long form:Republic of Zimbabweconventional short form:Zimbabweformer:Southern RhodesiaDigraph:ZIType:parliamentary democracyCapital:HarareAdministrative divisions:8 provinces; Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East,Mashonaland West, Masvingo (Victoria), Matabeleland North,Matabeleland South, MidlandsIndependence:18 April 1980 (from UK)National holiday:Independence Day, 18 April (1980)Constitution:21 December 1979Legal system:mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common lawSuffrage:18 years of age; universalExecutive branch:chief of state and head of government:Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987);Co-Vice President Simon Vengai MUZENDA (since 31 December 1987);Co-Vice President Joshua M. NKOMO (since 6 August 1990); election lastheld 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1996); results -Robert MUGABE 78.3%, Edgar TEKERE 21.7%cabinet:Cabinet; appointed by the president; responsible to ParliamentLegislative branch:unicameralParliament:elections last held 28-30 March 1990 (next to be held NA March 1995);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (150 total, 120elected) ZANU-PF 117, ZUM 2, ZANU-S 1Judicial branch:Supreme CourtPolitical parties and leaders:Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), RobertMUGABE; Zimbabwe African National Union-Sithole (ZANU-S), NdabaningiSITHOLE; Zimbabwe Unity Movement (ZUM), Edgar TEKERE and AbelMUYOREWA; Democratic Party (DP), Emmanuel MAGOCHE; Forum Party, EnockDUMBUTSHENAMember of:ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, FLS, G-15, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAVEM II,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMUR, UNOSOM, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTODiplomatic representation in US:chief of mission:Ambassador Amos Bernard Muvengwa MIDZIchancery:1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone:(202) 332-7100FAX:(202) 483-9326US diplomatic representation:chief of mission:Ambassador Edward Gibson LANPHERembassy:172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Hararemailing address:P. O. Box 3340, Hararetelephone:[263] (4) 794-521FAX:[263] (4) 796-488Flag:seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red,yellow, and green with a white equilateral triangle edged in blackbased on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird is superimposed on ared five-pointed star in the center of the triangle
@Zimbabwe, Economy
Overview:Agriculture employs three-fourths of the labor force and suppliesalmost 40% of exports. The manufacturing sector, based on agricultureand mining, produces a variety of goods and contributes 35% to GDP.Mining accounts for only 5% of both GDP and employment, but suppliesof minerals and metals account for about 40% of exports. Widefluctuations in agricultural production over the past six years haveresulted in an uneven growth rate, one that on average has matched the3% annual increase in population. Helped by an IMF/World Bankstructural adjustment program, output rose 3.5% in 1991. A severedrought in 1991/92 caused the economy to contract by about 10% in1992.National product:GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15.9 billion (1993 est.)National product real growth rate:2% (1993 est.)National product per capita:$1,400 (1993 est.)Inflation rate (consumer prices):22% (January 1994 est.)Unemployment rate:at least 35% (1993 est.)Budget:revenues:$1.7 billionexpenditures:$2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $253 million (FY93)Exports:$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities:agricultural 35% (tobacco 30%, other 10%), manufactures 25%, gold 12%,ferrochrome 10%, textiles 8% (1992)partners:UK 14%, Germany 11%, South Africa 10%, Japan 7%, US 5% (1991)Imports:$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)commodities:machinery and transportation equipment 41%, other manufactures 23%,chemicals 16%, fuels 12% (1991)partners:South Africa 25%, UK 15%, Germany 9%, US 6%, Japan 5% (1991)External debt:$3.5 billion (December 1992 est.)Industrial production:growth rate 2.3% (1992); accounts for 35% of GDPElectricity:capacity:3,650,000 kWproduction:8.18 billion kWh (1992)consumption per capita:740 kWh (1992)Industries:mining, steel, clothing and footwear, chemicals, foodstuffs,fertilizer, beverage, transportation equipment, wood productsAgriculture:accounts for 20% of GDP and employs 74% of population; 40% of landarea divided into 4,500 large commercial farms and 42% in communallands; crops - corn (food staple), cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee,sugarcane, peanuts; livestock - cattle, sheep, goats, pigs;self-sufficient in foodEconomic aid:NACurrency:1 Zimbabwean dollar (Z$) = 100 centsExchange rates:Zimbabwean dollars (Z$) per US$1 - 8.1037 (January 1994), 6.4725(1993), 5.1046 (1992), 3.4282 (1991), 2.4480 (1990), 2.1133 (1989)Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
@Zimbabwe, Communications
Railroads:2,745 km 1.067-meter gauge (including 42 km double track, 355 kmelectrified)Highways:total:85,237 kmpaved:15,800 kmunpaved:crushed stone, gravel, stabilized earth 39,090 km; improved earth23,097 km; unimproved earth 7,250 kmInland waterways:Lake Kariba is a potential line of communicationPipelines:petroleum products 212 kmAirports:total:477usable:401with permanent-surface runways:22with runways over 3,659 m:2with runways 2,440-3,659 m:3with runways 1,220-2,439 m:28Telecommunications:system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poormaintenance; consists of microwave links, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications stations; 247,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 8AM, 18 FM, 8 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Zimbabwe, Defense Forces
Branches:Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe RepublicPolice (including Police Support Unit, Paramilitary Police)Manpower availability:males 15-49 2,371,186; fit for military service 1,472,603 (1994 est.)Defense expenditures:exchange rate conversion - $412.4 million, about 6% of GDP (FY91 est.)
Appendix A: The United Nations System
The UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous subordinate agencies and bodies as follows:
1) Secretariat