Constitution: new constitution promulgated in December 1994
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President MELES Zenawi (since 1 June 1991); appointedby the Council of Representatives following the military defeat of theMENGISTU government; following the elections to the National Assemblyscheduled for May 1995 the lower house of the National Assembly willnominate a new presidenthead of government: Prime Minister TAMIRAT Layne (since 6 June 1991);a new prime minister will be designated by the party in powerfollowing the elections to the General Assembly in May 1995cabinet: Council of Ministers; presently designated by the chairman ofthe Council of Representatives; under the new constitution andfollowing the elections in May 1995 the cabinet officers will beselected by the prime minister
Legislative branch:Constituent Assembly: elections were held on 5 June 1994; results -government parties swept almost all seats; in December 1994 theConstituent Assembly ratified the new constitution with few changes;the new constitution prescribes two chambers for the new NationalAssembly - one which is elected by popular vote and one whichrepresents the ethnic interests of the regional governments
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's RevolutionaryDemocratic Front (EPRDF), MELES Zenawi;
Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front (OLF); AllAmhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People's DemocraticCoalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formed sinceMengistu's resignation, including several Islamic militant groups
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2281, 2282 FAX: [1] (202) 328-7950
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Irvin HICKS embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] (1) 550666 FAX: [251] (1) 552191
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors
@Ethiopia:Economy
Overview: With the independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993, Ethiopia continues to face difficult economic problems as one of the poorest and least developed countries in Africa. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for about 45% of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state run. The government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants, and is implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads, water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected during years of civil strife.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $20.3 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $380 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (FY93/94)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $1.2 billionexpenditures: $1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $707million (FY93/94)
Exports: $219.8 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: coffee, leather products, goldpartners: Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy
Imports: $1.04 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, fuel partners: US, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Japan
External debt: $3.7 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -3.3% (FY91/92); accounts for 12% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 460,000 kW production: 1.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Agriculture: accounts for 45% of GDP; export crops of coffee and oilseeds are grown partly on state farms; estimated 50% of agricultural production is at subsistence level; principal crops and livestock - cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and other vegetables, hides and skins, cattle, sheep, goats
Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for southern African markets; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $504 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $3.4 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $8 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $2 billion
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 - 5.9500 (January 1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93); fixed at 2.070 before 1992; note - official rate pegged to the US$
Fiscal year: 8 July - 7 July
@Ethiopia:Transportation
Railroads: total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:total: 24,127 kmpaved: 3,289 kmunpaved: gravel 6,664 km; improved earth 1,652 km; unimproved earth12,522 km (1993)
Ports: none
Merchant marine:total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 62,627 GRT/88,909 DWTships by type: cargo 8, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:total: 98with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 24with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 4with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 14with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 42
@Ethiopia:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; open-wire and radio relay systemadequate for government uselocal: NAintercity: open wire and microwave radio relay linksinternational: open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relayto Kenya and Djibouti; 3 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 PacificOcean) earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: 9 million
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: 100,000
@Ethiopia:Defense Forces
Branches: Transitional Government of Ethiopia Forces, Air Force,Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 12,658,084; males fit formilitary service 6,569,759; males reach military age (18) annually565,976 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $140 million, 4.1% ofGDP (FY94/95)
________________________________________________________________________
(possession of France)
@Europa Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 28 sq kmland area: 28 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 22.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claimed by Madagascar
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Natural resources: negligible
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%meadows and pastures: NA%forest and woodland: NA% (heavily wooded)other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: wildlife sanctuary
@Europa Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Europa Island:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Europa Islandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile Europa
Digraph: EU
Type: French possession administered by Commissioner of the Republic; resident in Reunion
Capital: none; administered by France from Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
@Europa Island:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Europa Island:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: total: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Europa Island:Communications
Note: 1 meteorological station
@Europa Island:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 12,170 sq kmland area: 12,170 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticutnote: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland andabout 200 small islands
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 99% forest and woodland: 0% other: 1%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the yearinternational agreements: NA
Note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; shortgrowing season
@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):People
Population: 2,317 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Net migration rate: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA
Life expectancy at birth: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
Nationality: noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic divisions: British
Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church,Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-DayAdventist
Languages: English
Labor force: 1,100 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)
@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Government
Names:conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islandsconventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Digraph: FA
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992)cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members elected by the LegislativeCouncil, 2 ex-officio members (chief executive and the financialsecretary), and the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10 total, 8 elected) independents 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: NA
Member of: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Economy
Overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. The economy has diversified since 1987 when the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year and support the island's health, education, and welfare system. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993 and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1980-87 average)
Unemployment rate: NA%; labor shortage
Budget:revenues: $65 millionexpenditures: $55.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1992-93)
Exports: at least $14.7 millioncommodities: wool, hides and skins, and meatpartners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)
Imports: at least $13.9 million commodities: food, clothing, timber, and machinery partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 9,200 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)
Industries: wool and fish processing
Agriculture: predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; somefodder and vegetable crops
Economic aid:recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateralcommitments (1992-93), $87 million
Currency: 1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 510 km paved: 30 km unpaved: gravel 80 km; unimproved earth 400 km
Ports: Stanley
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 5with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 4
@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Communications
Telephone system: 590 telephoneslocal: NAintercity: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radionetworks provide effective service to almost all points on bothislandsinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station with linksthrough London to other countries
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas):Defense Forces
Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal AirForce, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
(part of the Danish realm)
@Faroe Islands:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 1,400 sq kmland area: 1,400 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than eight times the size ofWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 764 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 98%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
@Faroe Islands:People
Population: 48,871 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (female 5,673; male 6,119)15-64 years: 63% (female 14,164; male 16,835)65 years and over: 13% (female 3,335; male 2,745) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.99% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 17.54 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.59 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.29 years male: 74.91 years female: 81.8 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese
Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: 17,585 by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce
@Faroe Islands:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Faroe Islandslocal long form: nonelocal short form: Foroyar
Digraph: FO
Type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark
Capital: Torshavn
Administrative divisions: none (self-governing overseas administrativedivision of Denmark)
Independence: none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972),represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA)head of government: Prime Minister Edmund JOENSEN (since 15 September1994)cabinet: Landsstyri; elected by the local legislature
Legislative branch: unicameralFaroese Parliament (Logting): elections last held 8 July 1994 (next tobe held by July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(32 total) Liberal Party 8, People's Party 6, Social Democrats 5,Republicans 4, Workers' Party 3, Christian Democrats 2, Center Party2, Home Rule Party 2Danish Parliament: elections last held on 21 September 1994 (next tobe held by September 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (2 total) Liberals 2
Judicial branch: none
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, MaritaPETERSEN; Workers Front, Oli JACOBSEN; Home Rule Party, Helena Dam ANEYSTABOE; The 'Coalition Party', Edmund JOENSEN; Republican Party,Finnbogir ESAKSON; Centrist Party, Tordur NICLASEN; Christian People'sParty, Niels Pauli DANIELSEN; People's Party, Arnfinn KALLSBERG;Liberal Party; Christian Democratic Party
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark)
Flag: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
@Faroe Islands:Economy
Overview: The Faroese, who have long enjoyed the affluent living standards of the Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the decline of the all-important fishing industry and one of the world's heaviest per capita external debts of about $25,000. When the nations of the world extended their fishing zones to 200 nautical miles in the early 1970s, the Faroese no longer could continue their traditional long-distance fishing and subsequently depleted their own nearby fishing areas. The government's tight controls on fish stocks and its austerity measures have caused a recession, and subsidy cuts will force nationalization in the fishing industry, which has already been plagued with bankruptcies. Copenhagen has threatened to withhold its annual subsidy of $130 million - roughly one-third of the islands' budget revenues - unless the Faroese make significant efforts to balance their budget. To this extent the Faroe government is expected to continue its tough policies, including introducing a 20% value-added tax (VAT) in 1993, and has agreed to an IMF economic-political stabilization plan. In addition to its annual subsidy, the Danish government has bailed out the second largest Faroe bank to the tune of $140 million since October 1992.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $662 million (1989 est.)
National product real growth rate: -10.8% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $14,000 (1989 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.8% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 23% (1993)
Budget:revenues: $407.2 millionexpenditures: $482.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1993 est.)
Exports: $345.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs, transportequipment (ships) (1989)partners: Denmark 20%, Germany 18.3%, UK 14.2%, France 11.2%, Spain7.9%, US 4.5%
Imports: $234.4 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures 24%, food and livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5% partners: Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US 1.3%
External debt: $1.2 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 200 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,953 kWh (1992)
Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts
Agriculture: accounts for 27% of GDP; principal crops - potatoes andvegetables; livestock - sheep; annual fish catch about 360,000 metrictons
Economic aid:recipient: receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130million
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.034 (January 1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Faroe Islands:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 200 km paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: Klaksvick, Torshavn, Tvoroyri
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,879 GRT/18,444 DWTships by type: cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger1
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Faroe Islands:Communications
Telephone system: 27,900 telephones; good internationalcommunications; fair domestic facilitieslocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: 3 coaxial submarine cables
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3 repeaters 10, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 3 (repeaters 29)televisions: NA
@Faroe Islands:Defense Forces
Branches: no organized native military forces; only a small PoliceForce and Coast Guard are maintained
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
Note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
________________________________________________________________________
@Fiji:Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 18,270 sq kmland area: 18,270 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 5% meadows and pastures: 3% forest and woodland: 65% other: 19%
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosionnatural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to Januaryinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Lawof the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Tropical Timber 94
Note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
@Fiji:People
Population: 772,891 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (female 136,570; male 142,581)15-64 years: 61% (female 235,491; male 235,411)65 years and over: 3% (female 11,943; male 10,895) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 23.69 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.42 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.42 years male: 63.13 years female: 67.82 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.87 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Fijian(s) adjective: Fijian
Ethnic divisions: Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other PacificIslanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is aMuslim minority (1986)
Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986)total population: 87%male: 90%female: 84%
Labor force: 235,000by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salaryearners 15% (1987)
@Fiji:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Fijiconventional short form: Fiji
Digraph: FJ
Type: republicnote: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declaredFiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital: Suva
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a newConstitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25July 1990; the 1990 Constitution is under review; the review isscheduled to be complete by 1997
Legal system: based on British system
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (since 12 January1994); First Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAIQIA (since 12January 1994); Second Vice President Ratu Inoke TAKIVEIKATA (since 12January 1994); note - President GANILAU died on 15 December 1993 andVice President MARA became acting president; MARA was electedpresident by the Great Council of Chiefs on 12 January 1994head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June 1992)
Presidential Council: appointed by the governor generalGreat Council of Chiefs: highest ranking members of the traditionalchiefly systemcabinet: Cabinet; appointed by prime minister from members ofParliament and responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: the bicameral Parliament was dissolved followingthe coup of 14 May 1987Senate: nonelective body containing 34 seats, 24 reserved for ethnicFijians, 9 for Indians and others, 1 for the island of Rotuma;appointed by PresidentHouse of Representatives: elections last held 18-25 February 1994(next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (70 total, with ethnic Fijians allocated 37 seats, ethnicIndians 27 seats, and independents and other 6 seats) number of seatsby party SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FA 5, GVP 4, independents 2, ANC 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party (SVT - primarily Fijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National Federation Party (NFP; primarily Indian), Jai Ram REDDY; Fijian Nationalist Party (FNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP), Mahendra CHAUDHRY; General Voters Party (GVP), Bill SORBY; Fiji Conservative Party (FCP), Isireli VUIBAU; Conservative Party of Fiji (CPF), Jolale ULUDOLE and Viliame SAVU; Fiji Indian Liberal Party, Swami MAHARAJ; Fiji Indian Congress Party, Ishwari BAJPAI; Fiji Independent Labor (Muslim), leader NA; Four Corners Party, David TULVANUAVOU; Fijian Association (FA), leader NA; General Electors' Association, leader NA note: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All National Congress (ANC) merged with the Fijian Association (FA); the new FA is scheduled to hold its first meeting in April 1995 at which time the leaders of the party will be chosen; it is likely that Josevata KAMIKAMICA, the leader of the FA before the merger, will be elected leader and Adi Kuini Bavadra SPEED, the leader of the ANC before the merger, will be elected deputy leader; the remaining members of the ANC have renamed their party the General Electors' Association
Member of: ACP, AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC,ITU, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pita Kewa NACUVA chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996 consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael W. MARINE embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva telephone: [679] 314466 FAX: [679] 300081
Flag: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
@Fiji:Economy
Overview: Fiji's economy is primarily agricultural, with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and tourism are the major sources of foreign exchange. Industry contributes 13% to GDP, with sugar processing accounting for one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political uncertainty and drought, however, contribute to substantial fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar and to the emigration of skilled workers. In 1992, growth was approximately 3%, based on growth in tourism and a lessening of labor-management disputes in the sugar and gold-mining sectors. In 1993, the government's budgeted growth rate of 3% was not achieved because of a decline in non-sugar agricultural output and damage from Cyclone Kina. Growth in 1994 is estimated to be 5%, largely attributed to increased tourism and expansion in domestic production, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $5,650 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 5.4% (1992)
Budget:revenues: $485 millionexpenditures: $579 million, including capital expenditures of $58million (1994)
Exports: $405 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: sugar 40%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber partners: EC 26%, Australia 15%, Pacific Islands 11%, Japan 6%
Imports: $634 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, consumer goods, chemicals partners: Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EC 6%, US 6%
External debt: $670 million (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1993 est.); accounts for 13% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 200,000 kW production: 480 million kWh consumption per capita: 581 kWh (1993)
Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber, small cottage industries
Agriculture: accounts for 23% of GDP; principal cash crop is sugarcane; coconuts, cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; small livestock sector includes cattle, pigs, horses, and goats; fish catch nearly 33,000 tons (1989)
Economic aid:recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateralcommitments (1980-89), $815 million
Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1 - 1.4140 (January 1995), 1.4641 (1994), 1.5418 (1993), 1.5030 (1992), 1.4756 (1991), 1.4809 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Fiji:Transportation
Railroads:total: 644 km; note - belongs to the government owned Fiji SugarCorporationnarrow gauge: 644 km 0.610-m gauge
Highways:total: 3,300 kmpaved: 1,590 kmunpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 1,290 km; unimprovedearth 420 km (1984)
Inland waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and200-metric-ton barges
Ports: Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva
Merchant marine:total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,267 GRT/17,884 DWTships by type: chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo2
Airports:total: 23with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 16with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@Fiji:Communications
Telephone system: 53,228 telephones; 71 telephones/1,000 persons;modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated)public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinterfacilities; regional radio centerlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: important COMPAC cable link between US-Canada andNZ-Australia; 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 1, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Fiji:Defense Forces
Branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes army, navy, and air elements)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 201,441; males fit for military service 111,046; males reach military age (18) annually 8,466 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $22.4 million, about 2% of GDP (FY91/92)
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@Finland:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 337,030 sq kmland area: 305,470 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total 2,628 km, Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia1,313 km
Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 6 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 4 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 76% other: 16%
Irrigated land: 620 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plantscontributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes,agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populationsnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
@Finland:People
Population: 5,085,206 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19% (female 469,666; male 491,484)15-64 years: 67% (female 1,683,371; male 1,716,307)65 years and over: 14% (female 457,061; male 267,317) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 12.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.77 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.22 years male: 72.51 years female: 80.11 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish
Ethnic divisions: Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other1%
Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), smallLapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)total population: 100%
Labor force: 2.533 million by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%
@Finland:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Finlandconventional short form: Finlandlocal long form: Suomen Tasavaltalocal short form: Suomi
Digraph: FI
Type: republic
Capital: Helsinki
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani);Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu,Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa
Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution: 17 July 1919
Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994);election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held January2000); results - Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April1995); Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)cabinet: Council of State (Valtioneuvosto); appointed by thepresident, responsible to Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameralParliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to beheld March 1999); results - Social Democratic Party 28.3%, CenterParty 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%, LeftistAlliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%,Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats - (200 total)Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National Coalition(Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22, SwedishPeople's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, FinnishChristian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus)
Political parties and leaders:government coalition: Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN;National Coalition (conservative) Party, Sauli NIINISTO; LeftistAlliance (Communist) People's Democratic League and DemocraticAlternative, Claes ANDERSON; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) OleNORRBACK; Green League, Pekka HAAVISTOother: Center Party, Esko AHO; Finnish Christian League, ToimiKANKAANNIEMI; Rural Party, Tina MAKELA; Liberal People's Party,Tuulikki UKKOLA; Greens Ecological Party (EPV); Young Finns
Other political or pressure groups: Finnish Communist Party-Unity,Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party;Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC,CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA (associate), EU, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC(observer), NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka VALTASAARI chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: [358] (0) 171931 FAX: [358] (0) 174681
Flag: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)
@Finland:Economy
Overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free market economy, with per capita output two-thirds of the US figure. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989, sank into deep recession in 1991 as GDP contracted by 6.5%. The recession - which continued in 1992 with GDP contracting by 4.1% - has been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The Finnish Government has proposed efforts to increase industrial competitiveness and efficiency by an increase in exports to Western markets, cuts in public expenditures, partial privatization of state enterprises, and changes in monetary policy. In June 1991 Helsinki had tied the markka to the European Union's (EU) European Currency Unit (ECU) to promote stability. Ongoing speculation resulting from a lack of confidence in the government's policies forced Helsinki to devalue the markka by about 12% in November 1991 and to indefinitely break the link in September 1992. The devaluations have boosted the competitiveness of Finnish exports. The recession bottomed out in 1993, and Finland participated in the general European upturn of 1994. Unemployment probably will remain a serious problem during the next few years; the majority of Finnish firms face a weak domestic market and the troubled German and Swedish export markets. The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and Finland officially joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Increasing integration with Western Europe will dominate the economic picture over the next few years.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $81.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $16,140 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 22% (1993)
Budget:revenues: $21.7 billionexpenditures: $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1993 est.)
Exports: $23.4 billion (f.o.b., 1993)commodities: paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timberpartners: EC 53.2% (Germany 15.6%, UK 10.7%), EFTA 19.5% (Sweden12.8%), US 5.9%, Japan 1.3%, Russia 2.8% (1992)
Imports: $18 billion (c.i.f., 1993)commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn andfabrics, fodder grainspartners: EC 47.2% (Germany 16.9%, UK 8.7%), EFTA 19.0% (Sweden11.7%), US 6.1%, Japan 5.5%, Russia 7.1% (1992)
External debt: $30 billion (December 1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 5% (1993 est.); accounts for 28% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 13,360,000 kW production: 58 billion kWh consumption per capita: 12,196 kWh (1993)
Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, forestry and wood processing (pulp, paper), copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Agriculture: accounts for 7% of GDP (including forestry); livestock production, especially dairy cattle, predominates; main crops - cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; 85% self-sufficient, but short of foodgrains and fodder grains; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for theWest European market
Economic aid:donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.7 billion
Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia
Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 4.7358 (January 1995), 5.2235 (1994), 5.7123 (1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440 (1991), 3.8235 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Finland:Transportation
Railroads:total: 5,864 kmbroad gauge: 5,864 km 1.524-m gauge (1,710 km electrified; 480 kmmultiple track)
Highways:total: 76,755 kmpaved: bituminous concrete, bituminous treated soil 47,588 km (318 kmof expressways)unpaved: gravel 29,167 km (1992)
Inland waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 kmsuitable for steamers
Pipelines: natural gas 580 km
Ports: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma,Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
Merchant marine:total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,050,270 GRT/1,080,150DWTships by type: bulk 7, cargo 20, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gastanker 3, oil tanker 12, passenger 3, refrigerated cargo 1,roll-on/roll-off cargo 31, short-sea passenger 10, vehicle carrier 1
Airports:total: 159with paved runways over 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 21with paved runways under 914 m: 94with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
@Finland:Communications
Telephone system: 3,140,000 telephones; good service from cable andmicrowave radio relay networklocal: NAintercity: cable and microwave radio relayinternational: 1 submarine cable; INTELSAT satellite transmissionservice via Swedish earth station and a receive-only INTELSAT earthstation near Helsinki for TV programs
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 235televisions: NA
@Finland:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,318,231; males fit for military service 1,083,749; males reach military age (17) annually 33,085 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.86 billion, about 1.9% of GDP (1994)
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@France:Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and EnglishChannel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering theMediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 547,030 sq kmland area: 545,630 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Coloradonote: includes Corsica and the rest of metropolitan France, butexcludes the overseas administrative divisions