Capital: Georgetown
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni,Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-WestDemerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, UpperDemerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo
Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Constitution: 6 October 1980
Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures ofRoman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October1992); election last held 5 October 1992; results - Cheddi JAGAN waselected president since he was leader of the party with the most votesin the National Assembly electionshead of government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president, responsibleto the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997); results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total, 53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature
Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP),Cheddi JAGAN; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;Good and Green Georgetown (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; Working People'sAlliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic LaborMovement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM),Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; TheUnited Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP),Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN;Guyana Labor Party (GLP), Nanda GOPAUL
Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress (TUC);Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties ActionCommittee (CLAC)note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not wellorganized
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS,ONUSAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador George F. JONES embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969 FAX: [592] (2) 58497
Flag: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green
@Guyana:Economy
Overview: Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, has pushed ahead strongly in 1992-94, with an 8% average annual economic growth rate, led by gold mining, and rice, sugar, and forestry products for export. Favorable factors include recovery in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a sharp drop in the inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government will have to persist in efforts to manage its large $2.2 billion external debt, control inflation, and to extend the privatization program.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 8.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $1,950 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15.5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $23.7 millionexpenditures: $19.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994 est.)
Exports: $475 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses partners: UK 33%, US 31%, Canada 9%, France 5%, Japan 3% (1992)
Imports: $456 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food partners: US 37%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Italy 8%, Japan 5% (1992)
External debt: $2.2 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 5.6% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 110,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 286 kWh (1993)
Industries: bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining
Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and about half of exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential exists for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South America -primarily Venezuela - to the US and Europe; producer of cannabis
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $325 million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million
Currency: 1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 142.7 (January 1995), 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991), 39.533 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Guyana:Transportation
Railroads:total: 100 km NA-m gauge industrial lines for the transport ofminerals, including bauxite
Highways: total: 7,665 km paved: 550 km unpaved: gravel 5,000 km; earth 2,115 km
Inland waterways: 6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
Ports: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT
Airports:total: 54with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 34with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 14
@Guyana:Communications
Telephone system: over 27,000 telephones; fair system for longdistance callinglocal: NAintercity: microwave radio relay network for trunk linesinternational: tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; 1 INTELSAT(Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Guyana:Defense Forces
Branches: Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, CoastGuard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana NationalService (GNS)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 198,665; males fit for militaryservice 150,573 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
________________________________________________________________________
@Haiti:Geography
Location: Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 27,750 sq kmland area: 27,560 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 275 km, Dominican Republic 275 km
Coastline: 1,771 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims US-administered Navassa Island
Climate: tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain: mostly rough and mountainous
Natural resources: bauxite
Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 13% meadows and pastures: 18% forest and woodland: 4% other: 45%
Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: extensive deforestation (much of the remainingforested land is being cleared for agriculture and use as fuel); soilerosion; inadequate supplies of potable waternatural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subjectto severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding andearthquakes; periodic droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Note: shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (westernone-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
@Haiti:People
Population: 6,539,983 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (female 1,490,939; male 1,535,607)15-64 years: 50% (female 1,692,032; male 1,557,568)65 years and over: 4% (female 133,291; male 130,546) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.5% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 38.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 18.65 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 107.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 44.77 years male: 43.04 years female: 46.59 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Haitian(s) adjective: Haitian
Ethnic divisions: black 95%, mulatto and European 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80% (of which an overwhelming majority also practice Voodoo), Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
Languages: French (official) 10%, Creole
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1982)total population: 35%male: 37%female: 32%
Labor force: 2.3 million by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9% note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)
@Haiti:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Haiticonventional short form: Haitilocal long form: Republique d'Haitilocal short form: Haiti
Digraph: HA
Type: republic
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution: approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles reinstated March 1989; October 1991, government claims to be observing the Constitution
Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE (since 7 February1991), ousted in a coup in September 1991 but, with US militarysupport, returned to power on 15 October 1994; election last held 16December 1990 (next to be held by December 1995); results - Rev.Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 67.5%, Marc BAZIN 14.2%, Louis DEJOIE 4.9%head of government: Prime Minister Smarck MICHEL (since October 1994)cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by prime minister in consultation with thepresident
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)Senate: elections last held 18 January 1993, widely condemned asillegitimate (next to be held 25 June 1994); results - percent of voteby party NA; seats - (27 total) FNCD 12, MIDH-PANPRA 8, PAIN 2, MRN 1,RDNP 1, PNT 1, independent 2Chamber of Deputies: elections last held 16 December 1990, with runoffheld 20 January 1991 (next to be held 25 June 1995); results - percentof vote by party NA; seats - (83 total) FNCD 27, MIDH-PANPRA 17, PDCH7, PAIN 6, RDNP 6, MDN 5, PNT 3, MKN 2, MODELH 2, MRN 1, independents5, other 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: National Front for Change and Democracy(FNCD), Evans PAUL, including National Cooperative Action Movement(MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; National Congress of Democratic Movements(CONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the Installation of Democracyin Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National Progressive Revolutionary Party(PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National Patriotic Movement of November 28(MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE; National Agricultural and Industrial Party(PAIN), Louis DEJOIE; Movement for National Reconstruction (MRN), ReneTHEODORE; Haitian Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Joseph DOUZE;Assembly of Progressive National Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT;National Party of Labor (PNT), Thomas DESULME; Mobilization forNational Development (MDN), Hubert DE RONCERAY; Democratic Movementfor the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH), Francois LATORTUE; HaitianSocial Christian Party (PSCH), Gregoire EUGENE; Movement for theOrganization of the Country (MOP), Gesner COMEAU and Jean MOLIERE;Democratic Unity Confederation (KID), Evans PAUL; National LavalasPolitical Organization (OPL), Gerard PIERRE/CHARLES
Other political or pressure groups: Roman Catholic Church;Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers TradeUnions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National PopularAssembly (APN); Revolutionary Front for Haitian Advancement andProgress (FRAPH)
Member of: ACCT, ACP, CARICOM (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jean CASIMIR chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 through 4092 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING embassy: Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612 FAX: [509] 23-1641
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
@Haiti:Economy
Overview: About 75% of the population live in abject poverty. Agriculture is mainly small-scale subsistence farming and employs two-thirds of the work force. The majority of the population does not have ready access to safe drinking water, adequate medical care, or sufficient food. The lack of employment opportunities remains one of the most critical problems facing the economy, along with soil erosion and political instability. International trade sanctions in response to the September 1991 coup against President ARISTIDE further damaged the economy. The restoration of President ARISTIDE, the lifting of sanctions in late 1994, and foreign aid will alleviate some economic problems. Haiti will continue to depend heavily on foreign aid.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $5.6 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -15% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $870 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 52% (FY93/94 est.)
Unemployment rate: 50% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $56 millionexpenditures: $131 million, including capital expenditures of $6million (1994 est.)
Exports: $173.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: light manufactures 65%, coffee 19%, other agriculture 8%,other 8%partners: US 81%, Europe 12% (1993)
Imports: $476.8 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%,petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9%partners: US 51%, Europe 16%, Latin America 18% (1993)
External debt: $871 million (September 1994)
Industrial production: growth rate -2% (1991 est.); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 150,000 kW production: 590 million kWh consumption per capita: 86 kWh (1993)
Industries: sugar refining, textiles, flour milling, cement manufacturing, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts
Agriculture: accounts for 28% of GDP and employs two-thirds of work force; mostly small-scale subsistence farms; commercial crops - coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, wood; staple crops - rice, corn, sorghum; shortage of wheat flour
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en routeto the US and Europe
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1970-89), $700 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $770 million
Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1 - 14.10 (1 December 1994), 12.00 (1 July 1993), 8.4 (December 1991), fixed rate of 5.000 through second quarter of 1991
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Haiti:Transportation
Railroads:total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line)narrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,000 km paved: 950 km unpaved: otherwise improved 900 km; unimproved earth 2,150 km
Inland waterways: negligible; less than 100 km navigable
Ports: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Cayes, Miragoane,Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 14with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 6with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5
@Haiti:Communications
Telephone system: 36,000 telephones; domestic facilities barelyadequate, international facilities slightly betterlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 4televisions: NA
@Haiti:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy and Air Force are currently suspended and replaced by the Interim Public Security Force (IPSF)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,323,034; males fit formilitary service 716,233; males reach military age (18) annually64,371 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $34 million, 1.5% ofGDP (1988 est.)
________________________________________________________________________
(territory of Australia)
@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:total area: 412 sq kmland area: 412 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than 2.5 times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101.9 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Natural resources: none
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: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano calledBig Beninternational agreements: NA
Note: primarily used for research stations
@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:People
Population: uninhabited
@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Government
Names: conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Digraph: HM
Type: territory of Australia administered by the Ministry forEnvironment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Economy
Overview: no economic activity
@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Transportation
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
@Heard Island And Mcdonald Islands:Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
________________________________________________________________________
@Holy See (vatican City):Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 0.44 sq kmland area: 0.44 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: total 3.2 km, Italy 3.2 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
Natural resources: none
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: NAinternational agreements: signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution,Environmental Modification
Note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smalleststate; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and CastelGandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
@Holy See (vatican City):People
Population: 830 (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: NA
Death rate: NA
Net migration rate: NA
Infant mortality rate: NA
Life expectancy at birth: NA
Total fertility rate: NA
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Ethnic divisions: Italians, Swiss
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
Labor force: NAby occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 layworkers who live outside the Vatican
@Holy See (vatican City):Government
Names:conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Digraph: VT
Type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital: Vatican City
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978)(John Paul II)note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October1978); election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after thedeath of the current pope); results - Karol WOJTYLA was elected forlife by the College of Cardinalshead of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo CardinalSODANO (since NA 1991)cabinet: Pontifical Commission; appointed by Pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: none (exclusive of influenceexercised by church officers)
Member of: IAEA, ICFTU, INTELSAT, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer),OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop AgostinoCACCIAVILLANchancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN embassy: Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153 mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741 FAX: [39] (6) 6380159
Flag: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
@Holy See (vatican City):Economy
Overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Budget:revenues: $169 millionexpenditures: $167.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1993)
Electricity:capacity: 5,000 kW standbyproduction: power supplied by Italyconsumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics andstaff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1,609.5 (January 1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991), 1,198.1 (1990); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Holy See (vatican City):Transportation
Railroads:total: 862 meters; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's SaintPeter's stationnarrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge
Highways: none; all city streets
Ports: none
Airports: none
@Holy See (vatican City):Communications
Telephone system: 2,000 telephones; automatic exchangelocal: NAintercity: tied into Italian systeminternational: uses Italian system
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 0televisions: NA
@Holy See (vatican City):Defense Forces
Note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
________________________________________________________________________
@Honduras:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, betweenGuatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenEl Salvador and Nicaragua
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 112,090 sq kmland area: 111,890 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total 1,520 km, Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km,Nicaragua 922 km
Coastline: 820 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish
Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 30% forest and woodland: 34% other: 20%
Irrigated land: 900 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results fromlogging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; furtherland degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled developmentand improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands;mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largestsource of freshwater) with heavy metals as well as several rivers andstreamsnatural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaginghurricanes and floods along Caribbean coastinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,Climate Change
@Honduras:People
Population: 5,459,743 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (female 1,159,846; male 1,201,927)15-64 years: 53% (female 1,468,950; male 1,444,959)65 years and over: 4% (female 95,361; male 88,700) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.66% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 34.12 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.04 years male: 65.64 years female: 70.55 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran
Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Indian and European) 90%, Indian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages: Spanish, Indian dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 73%male: 76%female: 71%
Labor force: 1.3 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)
@Honduras:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Hondurasconventional short form: Honduraslocal long form: Republica de Honduraslocal short form: Honduras
Digraph: HO
Type: republic
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular -departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes,El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de laBahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle,Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence ofEnglish common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Roberto REINAIdiaquez (since 27 January 1994); election last held 28 November 1993(next to be held November 1997); results - Carlos Roberto REINAIdiaquez (PLH) 53%, Oswaldo RAMOS Soto (PNH) 41%, other 6%cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Congress (Congreso Nacional): elections last held on 27November 1993 (next to be held November 1997); results - PNH 53%, PLH41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%, other 2.5%; seats - (134 total) PNH 55,PLH 77, PINU-SD 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica)
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH), Rafael PINEDAPonce, president; National Party of Honduras (PNH), Oswaldo RAMOSSoto, president; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), OlbanVALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Efrain DIAZArrivillaga, president
Other political or pressure groups: National Association of HonduranCampesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise (COHEP);Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union of Campesinos(UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); United Federation ofHonduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense of Human Rights inHonduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations(CCOP)
Member of: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL,IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto FLORES Bermudezchancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William T. PRYCE embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 36-9320, 38-5114 FAX: [504] 36-9037
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
@Honduras:Economy
Overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Agriculture, the most important sector of the economy, accounts for 28% of GDP, employs 62% of the labor force, and produces two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Manufacturing, still in its early stages, employs 9% of the labor force, accounts for 15% of GDP, and generates 20% of exports. The service sectors, including public administration, account for 50% of GDP and employ 20% of the labor force. Many basic problems face the economy, including rapid population growth, high unemployment, inflation, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient public sector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee and bananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations. A far-reaching reform program, initiated by former President CALLEJAS in 1990 and scaled back by President REINA, is beginning to take hold.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $9.7 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: -1.9% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $1,820 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10%; underemployed 30%-40% (1992)
Budget:revenues: $527 millionexpenditures: $668 million, including capital expenditures of $166million (1993 est.)
Exports: $850 million (f.o.b., 1993 est) commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber partners: US 53%, Germany 11%, Belgium 8%, UK 5%
Imports: $990 million (c.i.f. 1994 est) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs partners: US 50%, Mexico 8%, Guatemala 6%
External debt: $4 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1992 est.); accounts for 22% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 290,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 445 kWh (1993)
Industries: agricultural processing (sugar and coffee), textiles, clothing, wood products
Agriculture: most important sector, accounting for 28% of GDP, more than 60% of the labor force, and two-thirds of exports; principal products include bananas, coffee, timber, beef, citrus fruit, shrimp; importer of wheat
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.4 billion;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $1.1 billion
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 - 9.1283 (October 1994), 7.2600 (1993), 5.8300 (1992), 5.4000 (1991); 2.0000 (fixed rate until 1991) 5.70 parallel black-market rate (November 1990); the lempira was allowed to float in 1992
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Honduras:Transportation
Railroads: total: 785 km narrow gauge: 508 km 1.067-m gauge; 277 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways: total: 8,950 km paved: 1,700 km unpaved: otherwise improved 5,000 km; unimproved earth 2,250 km
Inland waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Ports: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela,Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine:total: 271 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 802,990 GRT/1,210,553DWTships by type: bulk 31, cargo 171, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk1, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 2, livestock carrier 3, oiltanker 21, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 19,roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 1,vehicle carrier 1note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 14 ships, Vietnam 7,North Korea 4, US 3, Hong Kong 2, South Korea 2, Greece 1
Airports:total: 159with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4with paved runways under 914 m: 118with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 4with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 27
@Honduras:Communications
Telephone system: NA telephones; 7 telephones/1,000 persons;inadequate systemlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations and theCentral American microwave radio relay system
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 28televisions: NA
@Honduras:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Public SecurityForces (FUSEP)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,275,670; males fit for military service 760,113; males reach military age (18) annually 62,405 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $41 million, about 0.4% of GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Hong Kong:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 1,040 sq kmland area: 990 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than six times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: total 30 km, China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 12% other: 79%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanizationnatural hazards: occasional typhoonsinternational agreements: NA
Note: more than 200 islands
@Hong Kong:People
Population: 5,542,869 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19% (female 499,460; male 549,734)15-64 years: 70% (female 1,866,540; male 2,016,684)65 years and over: 11% (female 331,391; male 279,060) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.12% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 12.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.02 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.18 years male: 76.78 years female: 83.78 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1971)total population: 77%male: 90%female: 64%
Labor force: 2.8 million (1990) by occupation: manufacturing 28.5%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 27.9%, services 17.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 9.2%, transport and communications 4.5%, construction 2.5%, other 9.7% (1989)
@Hong Kong:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Hong Kong
Abbreviation: HK
Digraph: HK
Type: dependent territory of the UK scheduled to revert to China in 1997
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for 1997
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: direct election 21 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Governor Chris PATTEN (since 9 July 1992); ChiefSecretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November 1993)cabinet: Executive Council; appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameralLegislative Council: indirect elections last held 12 September 1991and direct elections were held for the first time 15 September 1991(next to be held 17 September 1995 when the number of directly-electedseats increases to 50); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(60 total; 21 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 18directly elected, 18 appointed by governor, 3 ex officio members);indirect elections - number of seats by functional constituency NA;direct elections - UDHK 12, Meeting Point 3, ADPL 1, other 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Martin LEE, chairman;Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing,chairman; Hong Kong Democratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying,chairmannote: in April 1994, the United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK) andMeeting Point merged to form the Democratic Party; the merger becameeffective in October 1994
Other political or pressure groups: Liberal Party, Allen LEE,chairman; Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL),Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HUFa-kuang, chairman; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), LEEChark-tim, president; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council(pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy), LAUChin-shek, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; ChineseGeneral Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong KongIndustries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong KongProfessional Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong KongAlliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China,Szeto WAH, chairman
Member of: APEC, AsDB, CCC, ESCAP (associate), GATT, ICFTU, IMO(associate), INTERPOL (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Consul General Richard W. MUELLER consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, Hong Kong, or FPO AP 96522-0002 telephone: [852] 523-9011 FAX: [852] 845-4845
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield
@Hong Kong:Economy
Overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing accounts for about 17% of GDP. Goods and services exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, 5.2% in 1993, and 5.5% in 1994. Unemployment, which has been declining since the mid-1980s, is now about 2%. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Prospects for 1995-96 remain bright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous and so long as investors feel China will support free market practices after the takeover in 1997.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $136.1 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 5.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $24,530 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.5% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 1.9% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $19.2 billionexpenditures: $19.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY93/94)
Exports: $168.7 billion (including re-exports of $121.0 billion)(f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electricalappliances, watches and clocks, toyspartners: China 32%, US 23%, Germany 5%, Japan 5%, UK 3% (1993 est.)
Imports: $160 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is re-exported partners: China 36%, Japan 19%, Taiwan 9%, US 7% (1993 est.)
External debt: none (1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 2% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 8,930,000 kW production: 33 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,628 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Agriculture: minor role in the economy; local farmers produce 26% fresh vegetables, 27% live poultry; 8% of land area suitable for farming
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipmentand major financial and money-laundering center; increasing indigenousamphetamine and cocaine abuse
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $152 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $923 million
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992), 7.771 (1991), 7.790 (1990); note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$ since 1985
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Hong Kong:Transportation
Railroads: total: 35 km standard gauge: 35 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 794 km unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 306 km
Ports: Hong Kong
Merchant marine:total: 217 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,657,749 GRT/13,181,496DWTships by type: bulk 116, cargo 29, chemical tanker 2, combination bulk2, combination ore/oil 6, container 28, liquefied gas tanker 5, oiltanker 18, refrigerated cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1, vehiclecarrier 3note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 15 countries amongwhich are UK with 53 ships, China 15, Bermuda 7, Japan 6, Belgium 3,Germany 3, Greece 3, Canada 2, Netherlands 2, Singapore 2
Airports: total: 3 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2
@Hong Kong:Communications
Telephone system: 3,000,000 telephones; modern facilities provideexcellent domestic and international serviceslocal: NAintercity: microwave transmission links and extensive optical fibertransmission networkinternational: 3 INTELSAT (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) earthstations; coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; links to 5 internationalsubmarine cables providing access to ASEAN member nations, Japan,Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0radios: 2.5 million
Television:broadcast stations: 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation repeater 1;British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)televisions: 1.312 million (1,224,000 color TV sets)
@Hong Kong:Defense Forces
Branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy, Royal AirForce, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong Kong PoliceForce
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,634,559; males fit formilitary service 1,245,905; males reach military age (18) annually40,996 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $207 million, 0.2% ofGDP (FY92/93); this represents 65% of the total cost of defending thecolony, the remainder being paid by the UK
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
________________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@Howland Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 1.6 sq kmland area: 1.6 sq kmcomparative area: about 2.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km