Coastline: 125.5 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coraline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water) with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low-rising hills in center, mountains in south
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 11% meadows and pastures: 15% forest and woodland: 18% other: 45%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: frequent squalls during rainy season; relativelyrare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (especially in August)
international agreements: NA
Note: largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
@Guam:People
Population: 153,307 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.42% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 25.01 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 3.86 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.29 years male: 72.42 years female: 76.13 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guamanian(s) adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic divisions: Chamorro 47%, Filipino 25%, Caucasian 10%, Chinese,Japanese, Korean, and other 18%
Religions: Roman Catholic 98%, other 2%
Languages: English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)total population: 99%male: 99%female: 99%
Labor force: 46,930 (1990) by occupation: federal and territorial government 40%, private 60% (trade 18%, services 15.6%, construction 13.8%, other 12.6%) (1990)
@Guam:Government
Names:conventional long form: Territory of Guamconventional short form: Guam
Digraph: GQ
Type: organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Territorial and International Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Capital: Agana
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
Independence: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Guam Discovery Day (first Monday in March) (1521);Liberation Day, 21 July
Constitution: Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system: modeled on US; federal laws apply
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote inUS presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993)head of government: Governor Carl GUTIERREZ (since 8 November 1994);Lieutenant Governor Madeleine BORDALLO (since 8 November 1994);election last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998);results - Carl GUTIERREZ (Democrat) was elected Governor and MadeleineBORDALLO (Democrat) was elected Lieutenant Governorcabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor withthe consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) Democrats 14, Republican 7 US House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1996); Guam elects one delegate; results - Robert UNDERWOOD was reelected as delegate; seats - (1 total) Democrat 1
Judicial branch: Federal District Court, Territorial Superior Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party (controls the legislature); Republican Party (party of the Governor)
Member of: ESCAP (associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of the US)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of the US)
Flag: territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag
@Guam:Economy
Overview: The economy depends mainly on US military spending and on revenues from tourism. Over the past 20 years the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. Visitors numbered about 900,000 in 1992. The slowdown in Japanese economic growth has been reflected in less vigorous growth in the tourism sector. About 60% of the labor force works for the private sector and the rest for government. Most food and industrial goods are imported, with about 75% from the US. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2 billion (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $14,000 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $525 millionexpenditures: $395 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1991)
Exports: $34 million (f.o.b., 1984) commodities: mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction materials, fish, food and beverage products partners: US 25%, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 63%, other 12%
Imports: $493 million (c.i.f., 1984)commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufacturedgoodspartners: US 23%, Japan 19%, other 58%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 300,000 kW production: 750 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,797 kWh (1993)
Industries: US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Agriculture: relatively undeveloped with most food imported; fruits, vegetables, eggs, pork, poultry, beef, copra
Economic aid: although Guam receives no foreign aid, it does receive large transfer payments from the general revenues of the US Federal Treasury into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guamanian Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Guam:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 674 km (all-weather roads) paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: Apra Harbor
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 5with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Guam:Communications
Telephone system: 26,317 telephones (1989)local: NAintercity: NAinternational: 2 INTELSAT (Pacific Ocean) earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 3televisions: NA
@Guam:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the US
________________________________________________________________________
@Guatemala:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, betweenHonduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between ElSalvador and Mexico
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 108,890 sq kmland area: 108,430 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total 1,687 km, Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km,Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline: 400 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: border with Belize in dispute; talks toresolve the dispute are stalled
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)
Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 40% other: 32%
Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollutionnatural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequentviolent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and othertropical stormsinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea
Note: no natural harbors on west coast
@Guatemala:People
Population: 10,998,602 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (female 2,324,041; male 2,424,686)15-64 years: 53% (female 2,939,170; male 2,934,334)65 years and over: 4% (female 198,807; male 177,564) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.53% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 34.65 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.85 years male: 62.27 years female: 67.56 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.63 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic divisions: Mestizo - mixed Amerindian-Spanish ancestry (inlocal Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominentlyAmerindian 44%
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
Languages: Spanish 60%, Indian language 40% (23 Indian dialects,including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 55%male: 63%female: 47%
Labor force: 3.2 million (1994 est.)by occupation: agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%,commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.7%, mining0.3% (1985)
@Guatemala:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Guatemalaconventional short form: Guatemalalocal long form: Republica de Guatemalalocal short form: Guatemala
Digraph: GT
Type: republic
Capital: Guatemala
Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos, singular -departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula,El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa,Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, SanMarcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986 note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Ramiro DE LEON Carpio(since 6 June 1993); Vice President Arturo HERBRUGER (since 18 June1993); election runoff held on 11 January 1991 (next to be heldNovember 1995); results - Jorge SERRANO Elias (MAS) 68.1%, JorgeCARPIO Nicolle (UCN) 31.9%note: President SERRANO resigned on 1 June 1993 shortly afterdissolving Congress and the judiciary; on 6 June 1993, Ramiro DE LEONCarpio was chosen as the new president by a vote of Congress; he willfinish off the remainder of SERRANO's term which expires 14 January1996cabinet: Council of Ministers; named by the president
Legislative branch: unicameralCongress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica): by agreement of11 November 1993, a special election was held on 14 August 1994 toselect 80 new congressmen (next election to be held in November 1995for full four year terms); results - percent of vote by party; FRG40%, PAN 31.25%, DCG 15%, UCN 10%, MLN 2.5%, UD 1.25%; seats - (80total) FRG 32, PAN 25, DCG 12, UCN 8, MLN 2, UD 1note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that wouldreduce its membership from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided fora special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80members to serve until replaced in a general election in November1995; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January 1994and the special election was held on 14 August 1994
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia);additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by thePresident of the Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Centrist Union (UCN),(vacant); Solidarity Action Movement (MAS), Oliverio GARCIA Rodas;Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo; NationalAdvancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen; National LiberationMovement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon; Social Democratic Party (PSD),Mario SOLORZANO Martinez; Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos CHAVARRIAPerez; Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Efrain RIOS Montt;Democratic Union (UD)
Other political or pressure groups: Coordinating Committee ofAgricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations(CACIF); Mutual Support Group (GAM); Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO);Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC); leftist guerrilla movement knownas Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union (URNG) has four mainfactions - Guerrilla army of the Poor (EGP); RevolutionaryOrganization of the People in Arms (ORPA); Rebel Armed Forces (FAR);Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT/O)
Member of: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS,OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edmond MULET chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn McAFEE embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] (2) 311541 FAX: [502] (2) 318885
Flag: three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath
@Guatemala:Economy
Overview: The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing, predominantly in private hands, accounts for about 15% of GDP and 12% of the labor force. In both 1990 and 1991, the economy grew by 3%, the fourth and fifth consecutive years of mild growth. In 1992 growth picked up to almost 5% as government policies favoring competition and foreign trade and investment took stronger hold. In 1993-94, despite political unrest, this momentum continued, foreign investment held up, and annual growth was 4%.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $33 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $3,080 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9%; underemployment 30%-40% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $604 million (1990)expenditures: $808 million, including capital expenditures of $134million (1990)
Exports: $1.38 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamon, beef partners: US 30%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras
Imports: $2.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles partners: US 44%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany
External debt: $2.2 billion ( 1992 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 700,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 211 kWh (1993)
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP; most important sector of economy; contributes two-thirds of export earnings; principal crops - sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; livestock - cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer
Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; illicit producerof opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; thegovernment has an active eradication program for cannabis and opiumpoppy
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $1.1 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $7.92 billion
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 5.7372 (January 1995), 5.7512 (1994), 5,6354 (1993), 5.1706 (1992), 5.0289 (1991), 4.4858 (1990); note - black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guatemala:Transportation
Railroads:total: 1,019 km (102 km privately owned)narrow gauge: 1,019 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)
Highways: total: 26,429 km paved: 2,868 km unpaved: gravel 11,421 km; unimproved earth 12,140 km
Inland waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season
Pipelines: crude oil 275 km
Ports: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, SantoTomas de Castilla
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 528with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5with paved runways under 914 m: 360with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 12with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 146
@Guatemala:Communications
Telephone system: 97,670 telephones; fairly modern network centered inthe city of Guatemalalocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: connection into Central American Microwave System; 1INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 25televisions: NA
@Guatemala:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,574,501; males fit for military service 1,683,028; males reach military age (18) annually 123,715 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $121 million, 1% ofGDP (1993)
________________________________________________________________________
(British crown dependency)
@Guernsey:Geography
Location: Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest ofFrance
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 194 sq kmland area: 194 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DCnote: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smallerislands
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 50 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast
Terrain: mostly level with low hills in southwest
Natural resources: cropland
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% meadows and pastures: NA% forest and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Note: large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
@Guernsey:People
Population: 64,353 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (female 5,664; male 5,892)15-64 years: 66% (female 21,574; male 21,030)65 years and over: 16% (female 6,059; male 4,134) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.98% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.29 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.93 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.34 years male: 75.63 years female: 81.07 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist,Congregational, Methodist
Languages: English, French; Norman-French dialect spoken in countrydistricts
Literacy: NA%
Labor force: NA
@Guernsey:Government
Names:conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernseyconventional short form: Guernsey
Digraph: GK
Type: British crown dependency
Capital: Saint Peter Port
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law andpractice
Legal system: English law and local statute; justice is administeredby the Royal Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in ChiefVice-Admiral Sir John COWARD (since NA 1994); Bailiff Mr. GrahamMartyn DOREY (since February 1992)cabinet: Advisory and Finance Committee (other committees); appointedby the States
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States: elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (60 total, 33 elected), all independents
Judicial branch: Royal Court
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
Member of: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
Flag: white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint ofEngland) extending to the edges of the flag
@Guernsey:Economy
Overview: Financial services account for more than 50% of total income. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Bank profits (1992) registered a record 26% growth. Fund management and insurance are the two other major income generators. Per capita output and living standards are somewhat lower than the levels of the less affluent EU countries.
National product: GDP $NA
National product real growth rate: 9% (1987)
National product per capita: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (1988)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $208.9 millionexpenditures: $173.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1988)
Exports: $NAcommodities: tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant,other vegetablespartners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
Imports: $NA commodities: coal, gasoline, and oil partners: UK (regarded as internal trade)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 173,000 kW production: 525 million kWh consumption per capita: 9,060 kWh (1992)
Industries: tourism, banking
Agriculture: tomatoes, flowers (mostly grown in greenhouses), sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Guernsey (#G) pound = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Guernsey pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990); note - the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guernsey:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports: Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 1
@Guernsey:Communications
Telephone system: 41,900 telephones local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 submarine cable
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Guernsey:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
@Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 245,860 sq kmland area: 245,860 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total 3,399 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 42% other: 40%
Irrigated land: 240 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishingnatural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibilityduring dry seasoninternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands;signed, but not ratified - Desertification
@Guinea:People
Population: 6,549,336 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (female 1,450,501; male 1,448,164)15-64 years: 53% (female 1,784,420; male 1,691,502)65 years and over: 3% (female 102,735; male 72,014) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 43.43 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 19.13 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: Guinea has received about 400,000 refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone; the continued fighting in Sierra Leone will likely drive more refugees into Guinea in 1995; on the other hand, peace may be achieved in Liberia and permit Liberian refugees to return home
Infant mortality rate: 136.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.6 years male: 42.31 years female: 46.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean
Ethnic divisions: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller tribes 10%
Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages: French (official); each tribe has its own language
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 24%male: 35%female: 13%
Labor force: 2.4 million (1983) by occupation: agriculture 80.0%, industry and commerce 11.0%, services 5.4%, civil servants 3.6%
@Guinea:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Guineaconventional short form: Guinealocal long form: Republique de Guineelocal short form: Guineeformer: French Guinea
Digraph: GV
Type: republic
Capital: Conakry
Administrative divisions: 33 administrative regions (regionsadministratives, singular - region administrative); Beyla, Boffa,Boke, Conakry, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Faranah, Forecariah,Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou,Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali,Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou
Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)
Constitution: 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system: based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Lansana CONTE,elected in the first multi-party election 19 December 1993; prior tothe election he had ruled as head of military government since 5 April1984cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameralPeople's National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale Populaire): thePeople's National Assembly was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup;framework established in December 1991 for a new National Assemblywith 114 seats; legislative elections, tentatively scheduled for 1994,were not held and are now rescheduled for 11 June 1995
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)
Political parties and leaders: political parties were legalized on 1April 1992pro-government: Party for Unity and Progress (PUP)other: Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Alpha CONDE; Union for aNew Republic (UNR), Mamadou BAH; Party for Renewal and Progress (PRP),Siradiou DIALLO; Movement of Patriotic Democrats (MDP), Ahmed TidianeCISSE
Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, FAO,G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Elhadj Boubacar BARRY chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM III embassy: 2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, Conakry mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry telephone: [224] 44 15 20 through 44 15 23 FAX: [224] 44 15 22
Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band
@Guinea-bissau:Economy
Overview: Although possessing major mineral and hydropower resources and considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about 40% to GDP and employs 80% of the work force, while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounted for 85% of exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in literacy, financial institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Except in the bauxite industry, foreign investment remains minimal.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 0.8% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $980 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $449 millionexpenditures: $708 million, including capital expenditures of $361million (1990 est.)
Exports: $622 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples,bananas, palm kernelspartners: US 23%, Belgium 12%, Ireland 12%, Spain 12%
Imports: $768 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transportequipment, foodstuffs, textiles, and other grainpartners: France 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 12%, Hong Kong 6%, Germany 6%
External debt: 2.5 billion (1992)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 180,000 kW production: 520 million kWh consumption per capita: 77 kWh (1993)
Industries: mining - bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Agriculture: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry); mostly subsistence farming; principal products - rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber; livestock - cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $1.465 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $446 million
Currency: 1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 810.94 (1 July 1993), 922.9 (30 September 1992), 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440 (1987), 383 (1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guinea:Transportation
Railroads: total: 1,048 km standard gauge: 241 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:total: 30,100 kmpaved: 1,145 kmunpaved: gravel, crushed stone 12,955 km (of which barely 4,500 arecurrently all-weather roads); unimproved earth 16,000 km (1987)
Inland waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Ports: Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 15with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 1with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 7with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3
@Guinea:Communications
Telephone system: 15,000 telephones; poor to fair system of open-wirelines, small radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay systemlocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relay and radio communication stationsinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 1, shortwave 0radios: 200,000
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: 65,000
@Guinea:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force,Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary NationalGendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,478,653; males fit formilitary service 745,990 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $50 million, 1.6% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
@Guinea-bissau:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea and Senegal
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 36,120 sq kmland area: 28,000 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three times the size ofConnecticut
Land boundaries: total 724 km, Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Natural resources: unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite, phosphates, fish, timber
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 43% forest and woodland: 38% other: 7%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishingnatural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibilityduring dry season; brush firesinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of theSea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
@Guinea-bissau:People
Population: 1,124,537 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (female 242,518; male 243,093)15-64 years: 54% (female 320,987; male 286,308)65 years and over: 3% (female 16,129; male 15,502) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.36% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 40.24 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 16.62 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 117.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.87 years male: 46.21 years female: 49.57 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guinea-Bissauan(s) adjective: Guinea-Bissauan
Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 36%male: 50%female: 24%
Labor force: 403,000 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%, government 5%
@Guinea-bissau:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissauconventional short form: Guinea-Bissaulocal long form: Republica de Guine-Bissaulocal short form: Guine-Bissauformer: Portuguese Guinea
Digraph: PU
Type: republic, formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991
Capital: Bissau
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao);Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Independence: 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 September (1974)
Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau JoaoBernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980); election last heldAugust 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA52%, Kumba YALLA 48%head of government: Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO, since 5 November1994cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, Union for Change Coalition 6, FLING 1
Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Councilof Ministers
Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence ofGuinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA,leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB); Democratic Front (FD),Aristides MENEZES, leader; Social Renovation Party (PRS); Union forChange Coalition; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea(FLING); Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; BafataMovement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance(RGB); Union for Change Coalition; Front for the Liberation andIndependence of Guinea (FLING)
Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT,IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRALchancery: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006telephone: [1] (202) 872-4222FAX: [1] (202) 872-4226
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. McGUIRE embassy: Bairro de Penha, Bissau mailing address: C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau telephone: [245] 252273, 252274, 252275, 252276 FAX: [245] 252282
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell
@Guinea:Economy
Overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development. With IMF support the country is committed to an economic reform program emphasizing monetary stability and private sector growth. This process will continue at a slow pace because of a heavy foreign debt burden and internal constraints.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $900 million (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.9% (1993 est.)
National product per capita: $840 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 55% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $33.6 millionexpenditures: $44.8 million, including capital expenditures of$570,000 (1991 est.)
Exports: $19 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels partners: Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria
Imports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and equipment partners: Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal
External debt: $462 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate NA (1991 est.); accounts for 8% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 22,000 kW production: 40 million kWh consumption per capita: 37 kWh (1993)
Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks
Agriculture: accounts for over 45% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and 90% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully exploited
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $615 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $68 million
Currency: 1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 14,482 (December 1994), 12,892 (1994), 10,082 (1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guinea-bissau:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,218 km paved: bituminous 2,698 km unpaved: earth 520 km
Inland waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce
Ports: Bissau
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 32with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 22with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6
@Guinea-bissau:Communications
Telephone system: 3,000 telephones; poor system; telephone density -2.7 telephones/1,000 personslocal: NAintercity: combination of microwave radio relay, open wire lines andradiocommunicationsinternational: NA
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Guinea-bissau:Defense Forces
Branches: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army,Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 251,636; males fit for militaryservice 143,694 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9 million, 4.5% ofGDP (1994)
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@Guyana:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 214,970 sq kmland area: 196,850 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries: total 2,462 km, Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km,Venezuela 743 km
Coastline: 459 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continentalmarginexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo Riverclaimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (UpperCourantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of theCourantyne)
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; tworainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 83% other: 8%
Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural andindustrial chemicals; deforestationnatural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainyseasonsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, TropicalTimber 83
@Guyana:People
Population: 723,774 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33% (female 118,515; male 123,048)15-64 years: 62% (female 224,484; male 225,543)65 years and over: 5% (female 17,540; male 14,644) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.81% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 19.41 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.34 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -20.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 47.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.1 years male: 61.86 years female: 68.5 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%,European and Chinese 2%
Religions: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%
Languages: English, Amerindian dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1990 est.)total population: 96%male: 98%female: 95%
Labor force: 268,000by occupation: industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%,services 21.7%note: public-sector employment amounts to 60%-80% of the total laborforce (1985)
@Guyana:Government
Names:conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyanaconventional short form: Guyanaformer: British Guiana
Digraph: GY
Type: republic