Land boundaries: total 2,892.4 km, Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km,Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain623 km, Switzerland 573 km
Coastline: 3,427 km (mainland 2,783 km, Corsica 644 km)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; Seychelles claims Tromelin Island; Suriname claims part of French Guiana; Mexico claims Clipperton Island; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Saint Pierre and Miquelon is focus of maritime boundary dispute between Canada and France
Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters andhot summers along the Mediterranean
Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west;remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash
Land use: arable land: 32% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 27% other: 16%
Irrigated land: 11,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution fromindustrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes,agricultural runoffnatural hazards: floodinginternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - AirPollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: largest West European nation; occasional warm tropical windknown as mistral
@France:People
Population: 58,109,160 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19% (female 5,438,447; male 5,700,143)15-64 years: 65% (female 18,889,771; male 19,001,536)65 years and over: 16% (female 5,433,276; male 3,645,987) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 0.46% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years male: 74.5 years female: 82.44 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)adjective: French
Ethnic divisions: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, NorthAfrican, Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (NorthAfrican workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects andlanguages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque,Flemish)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991 est.)total population: 99%
Labor force: 24.17 millionby occupation: services 61.5%, industry 31.3%, agriculture 7.2% (1987)
@France:Government
Names:conventional long form: French Republicconventional short form: Francelocal long form: Republique Francaiselocal short form: France
Digraph: FR
Type: republic
Capital: Paris
Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular - region);Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne,Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpesnote: the 22 regions are subdivided into 96 departments; see separateentries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe,Martinique, Reunion) and the territorial collectivities (Mayotte,Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, GloriosoIslands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallisand Futunanote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);election last held 8 May 1988 (next to be held by May 1995); results -Second Ballot Francois MITTERRAND 54%, Jacques CHIRAC 46%head of government: Prime Minister Edouard BALLADUR (since 29 March1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president on thesuggestion of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)Senate (Senat): elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be heldSeptember 1995; nine-year term, elected by thirds every three years);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (321 total; 296metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 142, PS 66, PCF 16,independents 2, other 4National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 21 and 28March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote byparty NA; seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24,independents 26
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court (Cour Constitutionnelle)
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), AlainJUPPE, interim head; Union for French Democracy (UDF, coalition of PR,CDS, RAD, PSD), Valery Giscard d'ESTAING; Republican Party (PR),Gerard LONGUET; Center for Social Democrats (CDS), Francois BAYROU;Radical (RAD), Yves GALLAND; Socialist Party (PS), Henri EMMANUELLI;Left Radical Movement (MRG), Jean-Francois HORY; Communist Party(PCF), Robert HUE; National Front (FN), Jean-Marie LE PEN; The Greens,Antoine WAECHTER, Jean-Louis VIDAL, Guy CAMBOT; Generation Ecology(GE), Brice LALONDE
Other political or pressure groups: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - CGT) nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail or CFDT) about 800,000 members (est.); independent labor union (Force Ouvriere) 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais - CNPF or Patronat)
Member of: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC,BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EBRD, EC, ECA (associate),ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, GATT, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO,MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA,SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jacques ANDREANI chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela C. HARRIMAN embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 mailing address: Unit 21551, Paris; APO AE 09777 telephone: [33] (1) 42 96 12 02, 42 61 80 75 FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83 consulate(s) general: Bordeaux, Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
@France:Economy
Overview: One of the world's most highly developed economies, France has substantial agricultural resources and a diversified modern industrial sector. Large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make it the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Largely self-sufficient in agricultural products, France is a major exporter of wheat and dairy products. The industrial sector generates about one-quarter of GDP, and the growing services sector has become crucial to the economy. Following stagnation and recession in 1991-93, French GDP in 1994 expanded 2.4%. Growth in 1995 is expected to be in the 3.0% to 3.5% range. Persistently high unemployment will still pose a major problem for the government. Paris remains committed to maintaining the franc-deutsche mark parity, which has kept French interest rates high despite France's low inflation. Although the pace of economic and financial integration within the European Union has slowed down, integration presumably will remain a major force shaping the fortunes of the various economic sectors over the next few years.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.0801 trillion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $18,670 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.6% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 12.6% (yearend 1994)
Budget:revenues: $220.5 billionexpenditures: $249.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $47billion (1993 budget)
Exports: $249.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals,foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textilesand clothingpartners: Germany 18.6%, Italy 11.0%, Spain 11.0%, Belgium-Luxembourg9.1%, UK 8.8%, Netherlands 7.9%, US 6.4%, Japan 2.0%, FSU 0.7% (1991est.)
Imports: $238.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products partners: Germany 17.8%, Italy 10.9%, US 9.5%, Netherlands 8.9%, Spain 8.8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8.5%, UK 7.5%, Japan 4.1%, FSU 1.3% (1991 est.)
External debt: $300 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 2.6% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 105,250,000 kW production: 447 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,149 kWh (1993)
Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); one of the world's top five wheat producers; other principal products - beef, dairy products, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; self-sufficient for most temperate-zone foods; shortages include fats and oils and tropical produce, but overall net exporter of farm products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically
Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $75.1 billion
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9243 (January 1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@France:Transportation
Railroads:total: 34,074 kmstandard gauge: 33,975 km 1.435-m gauge (5,850 km electrified; 12,132km double or multiple track)other: 99 km various gauges including 1.000-m (privately owned andoperated) (1994)
Highways:total: 1,511,200 kmpaved: 811,200 km (including 7,700 km of controlled access dividedhighway)unpaved: 700,000 km (1992)
Inland waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; naturalgas 24,746 km
Ports: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, LeHavre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, SaintNazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Merchant marine:total: 78 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,186,183 GRT/3,323,068DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 7, chemical tanker 6, container 15,liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 21, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-offcargo 11, short-sea passenger 5, specialized tanker 2note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned shipsin the Kerguelen Islands (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) andFrench Polynesia
Airports:total: 476with paved runways over 3,047 m: 12with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 96with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 74with paved runways under 914 m: 188with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 74
@France:Communications
Telephone system: 39,200,000 telephones; highly developed; extensivecable and microwave radio relay networks; large-scale introduction ofoptical-fiber systems; satellite systems for domestic trafficlocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relay, optical fiber cable, and domesticsatellitesinternational: 2 INTELSAT earth stations (with total of 5 antennas - 2Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean); HF radio communications withmore than 20 countries; INMARSAT service; EUTELSAT TV service
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0radios: 48 million
Television:broadcast stations: 846 (mostly repeaters)televisions: 36 million
@France:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air), Air Force and Air Defense,National Gendarmerie
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,740,155; males fit for military service 12,258,691; males reach military age (18) annually 378,489 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $47.1 billion, 3.1% of GDP (1995)
________________________________________________________________________
(overseas department of France)
@French Guiana:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 91,000 sq kmland area: 89,150 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total 1,183 km, Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 82% other: 18%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severethunderstorms; floodinginternational agreements: NA
Note: mostly an unsettled wilderness
@French Guiana:People
Population: 145,270 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32% (female 22,511; male 23,535)15-64 years: 63% (female 41,995; male 50,064)65 years and over: 5% (female 3,608; male 3,557) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.13% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 25.23 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 4.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 20.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.52 years male: 72.27 years female: 78.94 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.46 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic divisions: black or mulatto 66%, Caucasian 12%, East Indian,Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)total population: 83%male: 84%female: 82%
Labor force: 23,265by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
@French Guiana:Government
Names:conventional long form: Department of Guianaconventional short form: French Guianalocal long form: nonelocal short form: Guyane
Digraph: FG
Type: overseas department of France
Capital: Cayenne
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)head of government: Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA 1992);President of the General Council Elie CASTOR (since NA); President ofthe Regional Council Antoine KARAM (22 March 1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council and a unicameralRegional CouncilGeneral Council: elections last held 25 September and 8 October 1988(next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(19 total) PSG 12, URC 7Regional Council: elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be heldNA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (31 total) PSG 16,FDG 10, RPR 2, independents 3French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be heldSeptember 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1total) PSG 1French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993(next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (2 total) RPR 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals (highest local court based inMartinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and FrenchGuiana)
Political parties and leaders: Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), ElieCASTRO; Conservative Union for the Republic (UPR), Leon BERTRAND;Rally for the Center Right (URC); Rally for the Republic (RPR); GuyanaDemocratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY; Walwari Committee, ChristineTAUBIRA-DELANON
Member of: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas department of France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas department of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
@French Guiana:Economy
Overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops - rice, cassava, bananas, and sugarcane - is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $800 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 13% (1990)
Budget:revenues: $735 millionexpenditures: $735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1987)
Exports: $59 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence partners: France 52%, Spain 15%, US 5% (1992)
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods, producer goods, petroleum partners: France 77%, Germany 11%, US 5% (1992)
External debt: $1.2 billion (1988)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 180,000 kW production: 450 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,149 kWh (1993)
Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum,gold mining
Agriculture: some vegetables for local consumption; rice, corn,manioc, cocoa, bananas, sugar; livestock - cattle, pigs, poultry
Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption
Economic aid:recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateralcommitments (1970-89), $1.51 billion
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9243 (January 1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@French Guiana:Transportation
Railroads: total: 22 km (est.)
Highways: total: 1,137 km paved: 455 km unpaved: improved, unimproved earth 682 km (1988)
Inland waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
Ports: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 11with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 5with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@French Guiana:Communications
Telephone system: 18,100 telephones; fair open-wire and microwaveradio relay systemlocal: NAintercity: open wire and microwave radio relayinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 7, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 9televisions: NA
@French Guiana:Defense Forces
Branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 41,986; males fit for military service 27,298
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
(overseas territory of France)
@French Polynesia:Geography
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 3,941 sq kmland area: 3,660 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,525 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 19% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 31% other: 44%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in Januaryinternational agreements: NA
Note: includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru
@French Polynesia:People
Population: 219,999 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (female 38,361; male 39,744)15-64 years: 60% (female 64,034; male 69,024)65 years and over: 4% (female 4,437; male 4,399) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.23% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 27.56 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.75 years male: 68.32 years female: 73.29 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic divisions: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy: age 14 and over can read and write but definition ofliterary not available (1977)total population: 98%male: 98%female: 98%
Labor force: 76,630 employed (1988)
@French Polynesia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesiaconventional short form: French Polynesialocal long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaiselocal short form: Polynesie Francaise
Digraph: FP
Type: overseas territory of France since 1946
Capital: Papeete
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); thereare no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel desMarquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent,and Iles Sous-le-Ventnote: Clipperton Island is administered by France from FrenchPolynesia
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: based on French system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981);High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since 8 August 1994)head of government: President of the Territorial Government of FrenchPolynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 10 May 1991); Deputy to the FrenchAssembly and President of the Territorial Assembly Jean JUVENTIN(since NA November 1992); Territorial Vice President and Minister ofHealth Michel BUILLARD (since 12 September 1991)cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members ofthe Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
Legislative branch: unicameralTerritorial Assembly: elections last held 17 March 1991 (next to beheld March 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (41total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 18, Polynesian UnionParty 12, New Fatherland Party 7, other 4French Senate: elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be heldSeptember 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1total) party NAFrench National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993(next to be held NA March 1998); results - percent of vote by partyNA; seats - (2 total) People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Court of the First Instance, Courtof Administrative Law
Political parties and leaders: People's Rally for the Republic(Tahoeraa Huiraatira), Gaston FLOSSE; Polynesian Union Party (includesTe Tiarama), Alexandre LEONTIEFF; Here Ai'a Party, Jean JUVENTIN; NewFatherland Party (Ai'a Api), Emile VERNAUDON; Polynesian LiberationFront (Tavini Hviraatira No Te Ao Maohi), Oscar TEMARU; IndependentParty (Ia Mana Te Nunaa), Jacques DROLLET; other small parties
Member of: ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (overseas territory of France)
US diplomatic representation: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
@French Polynesia:Economy
Overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about 20% of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $7,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1990 est.)
Budget:revenues: $614 millionexpenditures: $957 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1988)
Exports: $88.9 million (f.o.b., 1989)commodities: coconut products 79%, mother-of-pearl 14%, vanilla, sharkmeatpartners: France 54%, US 17%, Japan 17%
Imports: $765 million (c.i.f., 1989) commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment partners: France 53%, US 11%, Australia 6%, NZ 5%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 75,000 kW production: 275 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,189 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
Agriculture: coconut and vanilla plantations; vegetables and fruit;poultry, beef, dairy products
Economic aid:recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateralcommitments (1970-88), $3.95 billion
Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 96.25 (January 1995), 100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993), 96.24 (1992), 102.57 (1991), 99.00 (1990); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
@French Polynesia:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 600 km (1982) paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,127 GRT/6,710 DWTships by type: passenger-cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1note: a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships tooperate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations thanpermissable under the main French register
Airports:total: 43with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14with paved runways under 914 m: 18with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@French Polynesia:Communications
Telephone system: 33,200 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 2, shortwave 0radios: 84,000
Television:broadcast stations: 6televisions: 26,400
@French Polynesia:Defense Forces
Branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Note: defense is responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
(overseas territory of France)
@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - "French Southern and Antarctic Lands" includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antartica, "Terre Adelie"; the United States does not recognize the French claim to "Terre Adelie"
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:total area: 7,781 sq kmland area: 7,781 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than 1.5 times the size of Delawarenote: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and IlesKerguelen; excludes "Terre Adelie" claim of about 500,000 sq km inAntarctica that is not recognized by the US
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,232 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen onlyterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: "Terre Adelie" claim in Antarctica is notrecognized by the US
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: volcanic
Natural resources: fish, crayfish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinctvolcanoesinternational agreements: NA
Note: remote location in the southern Indian Ocean
@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are researchers whose numbers vary from 150 in winter (July) to 200 in summer (January)
@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Government
Names:conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and AntarcticLandsconventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Landslocal long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et AntarctiquesFrancaiseslocal short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Digraph: FS
Type: overseas territory of France since 1955; governed by High Administrator Bernard de GOUTTES (since May 1990), who is assisted by a 7-member Consultative Council and a 12-member Scientific Council
Capital: none; administered from Paris, France
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Terre Adelie" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Flag: the flag of France is used
@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Economy
Overview: Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.
Budget: revenues: $17.5 million expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Transportation
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,290,975 GRT/2,403,050DWTships by type: bulk 5, cargo 6, chemical tanker 4, container 1,liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker15, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, specializedliquefied tanker 1note: a subset of the French register allowing French-owned ships tooperate under more liberal taxation and manning regulations thanpermissable under the main French register
Airports: none
@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: NA
Radio:broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAradios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: NAtelevisions: NA
@French Southern And Antarctic Lands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of France
________________________________________________________________________
@Gabon:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 267,670 sq kmland area: 257,670 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries: total 2,551 km, Cameroon 298 km, Congo 1,903 km,Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline: 885 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary dispute with EquatorialGuinea because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east andsouth
Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, ironore
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 78% other: 2%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: deforestation; poachingnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
@Gabon:People
Population: 1,155,749 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34% (female 193,859; male 194,761)15-64 years: 61% (female 347,839; male 359,997)65 years and over: 5% (female 30,218; male 29,075) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.46% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 28.34 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 13.72 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 92.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.14 years male: 52.31 years female: 58.06 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic divisions: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings(Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans100,000, including 27,000 French
Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,Bandjabi
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 61%male: 74%female: 48%
Labor force: 120,000 salaried by occupation: agriculture 65.0%, industry and commerce 30.0%, services 2.5%, government 2.5%
@Gabon:Government
Names:conventional long form: Gabonese Republicconventional short form: Gabonlocal long form: Republique Gabonaiselocal short form: Gabon
Digraph: GB
Type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized 1990)
Capital: Libreville
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Renovation Day, 12 March (1968) (Gabonese DemocraticParty established)
Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967);election last held on 5 December 1993 (next to be held 1998); results- President Omar BONGO was reelected with 51% of the votehead of government: Prime Minister Paulin OBAME Nguema (since 9December 1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister inconsultation with the president
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held on 5 December 1993 (next to be held by 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (120 total) PDG 62, Morena-Bucherons/RNB 19, PGP 18, National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original) 7, APSG 6, USG 4, CRP 1, independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG, former sole party), Jaques ADIAHENOT, Secretary General; National Recovery Movement - Lumberjacks (Morena-Bucherons/RNB), Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE, leader; Gabonese Party for Progress (PGP), Pierre-Louis AGONDHO-OKAWE, President; National Recovery Movement (Morena-Original), Pierre ZONGUE-NGUEMA, Chairman; Association for Socialism in Gabon (APSG), leader NA; Gabonese Socialist Union (USG), leader NA; Circle for Renewal and Progress (CRP), leader NA; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), leader NA; Rally of Democrats (RD), leader NA; Forces of Change for Democratic Union, leader NA
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24,G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS(associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU,NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007, Suite 200 telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph C. WILSON IV embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92 FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
@Gabon:Economy
Overview: Notwithstanding its serious ongoing economic problems, Gabon enjoys a per capita income more than twice that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Real growth was feeble in 1992 and Gabon continues to face the problem of fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite an abundance of natural wealth, and a manageable rate of population growth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% in January 1994 did not set off an expected inflationary spiral but the government must continue to keep a tight reign on spending and wage increases.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 1.9% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,900 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $1.3 billionexpenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $311million (1993 est.)
Exports: $2.1 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est) commodities: crude oil 80%, timber 10%, manganese 6%, uranium 2% partners: US 38%, France 26%, Japan, Germany
Imports: $832 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, chemical products, petroleum products, construction materials, manufactures, machinery partners: France 42%, African countries 23%, US, Japan
External debt: $3.3 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -3% (1991)
Electricity: capacity: 315,000 kW production: 910 million kWh consumption per capita: 757 kWh (1993)
Industries: food and beverages, lumbering and plywood, textiles, cement, petroleum refining, mining - manganese, uranium, gold, petroleum
Agriculture: cash crops - cocoa, coffee, palm oil; livestock raisingnot developed; importer of food; small fishing operations provide acatch of about 20,000 metric tons; okoume (a tropical softwood) is themost important timber product
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $68 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-90), $2.342 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $27 million
Currency: 1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1- 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992),282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Gabon:Transportation
Railroads:total: 649 km single track (Transgabonese Railroad)standard gauge: 649 km 1.437-m gauge
Highways: total: 7,500 km paved: 560 km unpaved: crushed stone 960 km; earth 5,980 km
Inland waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports: Cape Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,281 GRT/12,665 DWT
Airports:total: 69with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 28with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 8with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 23
@Gabon:Communications
Telephone system: 15,000 telephones; telephone density - 13/1,000personslocal: NAintercity: adequate system, comprising cable, microwave radio relay,tropospheric scatter, radiocommunication stations, and 12 domesticsatellite linksinternational: 3 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 3 (repeaters 5)televisions: NA
@Gabon:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard, NationalGendarmerie, National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 272,025; males fit for militaryservice 138,197; males reach military age (20) annually 10,516 (1995est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $154 million, 2.4% ofGDP (1993)
________________________________________________________________________
@The Gambia:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean andSenegal
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 11,300 sq kmland area: 10,000 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries: total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: short section of boundary with Senegal isindefinite
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dryseason (November to May)
Terrain: flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 16% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 9% forest and woodland: 20% other: 55%
Irrigated land: 120 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseasesprevalentnatural hazards: rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last thirty yearsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continentof Africa
@The Gambia:People
Population: 989,273 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47% (female 231,636; male 231,053)15-64 years: 51% (female 257,329; male 244,947)65 years and over: 2% (female 11,850; male 12,458) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.08% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 45.97 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 15.19 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 120.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.55 years male: 48.25 years female: 52.92 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gambian(s) adjective: Gambian
Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1%
Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenousvernaculars
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 27%male: 39%female: 16%
Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%
@The Gambia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of The Gambiaconventional short form: The Gambia
Digraph: GA
Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Banjul
Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, LowerRiver, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution: 24 April 1970
Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Armed ForcesProvisional Ruling Council Capt. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since themilitary coup of 22 July 1994); Vice Chairman of the Armed ForcesProvisional Ruling Council Capt. Edward SINGHATEH (since March 1995);election last held on 29 April 1992; results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP)58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0%(prior to the 22 July 1994 coup, next election was scheduled for April1997)cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the Houseof Representatives (present cabinet appointed by Chairman of the ArmedForces Provisional Ruling Council)
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives: elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP 30, NCP 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), DawdaK. JAWARA (in exile), secretary general; National Convention Party(NCP), Sheriff DIBBA (in exile); Gambian People's Party (GPP), HassanMusa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's DemocraticOrganization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA;People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH