Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (female 1,084,615; male 1,111,928)15-64 years: 51% (female 1,280,142; male 1,199,149)65 years and over: 4% (female 86,390; male 75,013) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.84% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 42.64 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 14.28 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 99.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.2 years male: 50.66 years female: 53.81 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.98 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic divisions: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, LaoSoung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%,ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethniclanguages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1992)total population: 50%male: 65%female: 35%
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 millionby occupation: agriculture 80% (1992 est.)
@Laos:Government
Names:conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republicconventional short form: Laoslocal long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Laolocal short form: none
Digraph: LA
Type: Communist state
Capital: Vientiane
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural)and 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural); Attapu,Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha,Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*,Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of theLao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (since 25 November 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15August 1991)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president, approved bythe Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: elections last held on 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (85 total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court
Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party(LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed
Other political or pressure groups: non-Communist political groupsproscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
Member of: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatoryuser), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANHchancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416, 6417FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Victor L. TOMSETHembassy: Rue Bartholonie, Vientianemailing address: B. P. 114, Vientiane; American Embassy, Box V, APO AP96546telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585FAX: [856] (21) 212584
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), andred with a large white disk centered in the blue band
@Laos:Economy
Overview: The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official Communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR and Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 8.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $850 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 21% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Exports: $277 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garmentspartners: Thailand 57%, Germany 10%, France 10%, Japan 5% (1991)
Imports: $528 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures partners: Thailand 55%, Japan 16%, China 8%, Italy 4% (1991)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 7.5% (1992 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP (1992 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 260,000 kW production: 870 million kWh consumption per capita: 44 kWh (1993)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction
Agriculture: principal crops - rice (80% of cultivated land), sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; livestock - buffaloes, hogs, cattle, poultry
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium poppy for the international drug trade, fourth largest opium producer (85 metric tons in 1994); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $276 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $605 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $995 million;international assistance in loans and grant aid (1993/94) $217.7million
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 717 (1994 est.), 720 (July 1993). 710 (May 1992), 710 (December 1991), 700 (September 1990), 576 (1989)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Laos:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 14,130 km paved: 2,260 km unpaved: 11,870 km (1992 est.)
Inland waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports: none
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT
Airports:total: 52with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 25with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 17
@Laos:Communications
Telephone system: 7,390 telephones (1986); service to general public very poor; radio communications network provides generally erratic service to government users local: 16 telephone lines per 1,000 people intercity: radio communications international: 1 earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 2televisions: NA
@Laos:Defense Forces
Branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,051,105; males fit for military service 567,017; males reach military age (18) annually 51,437 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $105 million, 8.1% ofGDP (FY92/93)
________________________________________________________________________
@Latvia:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 64,100 sq kmland area: 64,100 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total 1,078 km, Belarus 141 km, Estonia 267 km,Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
International disputes: the Abrene section of border ceded by theLatvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 13% forest and woodland: 39% other: 21%
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of wasteconversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted;contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleumproducts at military basesnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Hazardous Wastes,Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, ClimateChange
@Latvia:People
Population: 2,762,899 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (female 294,521; male 304,830)15-64 years: 65% (female 933,003; male 870,128)65 years and over: 13% (female 247,476; male 112,941) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.5% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 13.71 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 12.49 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.65 years male: 64.6 years female: 74.95 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Ethnic divisions: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%,Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)total population: 100%male: 100%female: 99%
Labor force: 1.407 million by occupation: industry and construction 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, other 43% (1990)
@Latvia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Latviaconventional short form: Latvialocal long form: Latvijas Republikalocal short form: Latvijaformer: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: LG
Type: republic
Capital: Riga
Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, DobelesRajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons,Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, LiepajasRajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons,Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, SaldusRajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons,Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: newly elected Parliament in 1993 restored the 1933 constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993);Parliament (Saeima) elected President ULMANIS in the third round ofballoting on 7 July 1993head of government: Prime Minister Maris GAILIS (since September 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the Supreme Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Saeima): elections last held 5-6 June 1993 (next to be held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) LC 36, LNNK 15, Concord for Latvia 13, LZS 12, Equal Rights 7, LKDS 6, TUB 6, DCP 5
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Latvian Way Union (LC), Valdis BIRKAVS;Latvian Farmers Union (LZS), Alvars BERKIS; Latvian NationalIndependence Movement (LNNK), Andrejs KRASTINS, Aristids LAMBERGS,cochairmen; Concord for Latvia, Janis JURKANS; Equal Rights, SergejsDIMANIS; Christian Democrat Union (LKDS), Peteris CIMDINS, AndrisSAULITIS, Janis RUSKO; Fatherland and Freedom (TUB), Maris GRINBLATS,Roberts MILBERGS, Oigerts DZENTIS; Democratic Center (DCP), IntsCALITIS; Popular Front of Latvia (LTF), Uldis AUGSTKALNS
Member of: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214 FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Ints M, SILINS embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, Riga 226050 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [371] (2) 213-962 FAX: [371] 882-0047 (cellular)
Flag: two horizontal bands of maroon (top and bottom), white (middle, narrower than other two bands)
@Latvia:Economy
Overview: Latvia is rapidly becoming a dynamic market economy, rivaled only by Estonia among the former Soviet states in the speed of its transformation. However, the transition has been painful; in 1994 the IMF reported a 2% growth in GDP, following steep declines in 1992-93. The government's tough monetary policies and reform program have kept inflation at less than 2% a month, supported a dynamic private sector now accounting for more than half of GDP, and spurred the growth of trade ties with the West. Much of agriculture is already privatized and the government plans to step up the pace of privatization of state enterprises. Latvia thus is in the midst of recovery, helped by the country's strategic location on the Baltic Sea, its well-educated population, and its diverse - albeit largely obsolete - industrial structure.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: 2% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,480 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.9% (monthly average 1994)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (December 1994)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: oil products, timber, ferrous metals, dairy products,furniture, textilespartners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Belarus
Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: fuels, cars, ferrous metals, chemicals partners: Russia, Germany, Sweden, Ukraine
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate -9.5% (1994 est.); accounts for 27% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 2,080,000 kW production: 5.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,864 kWh (1993)
Industries: highly diversified; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products; produces buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles
Agriculture: principally dairy farming and livestock feeding; products - meat, milk, eggs, grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; fishing and fish packing
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe; limited producer of illicit opium; mostly for domestic consumption; also produces illicit amphetamines for export
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 lat = 100 cents; introduced NA March 1993
Exchange rates: lats per US$1 - 0.55 (December 1994), 0.5917 (January 1994), 1.32 (March 1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Latvia:Transportation
Railroads: total: 2,400 km broad gauge: 2,400 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)
Highways: total: 59,500 km paved and graveled: 33,000 km unpaved: earth 26,500 km (1990)
Inland waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:total: 85 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 774,182 GRT/1,010,517 DWT
ships by type: cargo 17, oil tanker 37, refrigerated cargo 24,roll-on/roll-off cargo 7
Airports:total: 50with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 27with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2with unpaved runways under 914 m: 10
@Latvia:Communications
Telephone system: 660,000 telephones; 240 telephones/1,000 persons(1993); Latvia is better provided with telephone service than most ofthe other former Soviet republics; an NMT-450 analog cellulartelephone network covers 75% of Latvia's populationlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: international traffic carried by leased connection tothe Moscow international gateway switch and through the new EricssonAXE local/transit digital telephone exchange in Riga and through theFinnish cellular net; electronic mail capability by Sprint datanetwork
Radio:broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAradios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: NAtelevisions: NA
@Latvia:Defense Forces
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, SecurityForces (internal and border troops), Border Guard, Home Guard(Zemessardze)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 658,193; males fit for militaryservice 517,896; males reach military age (18) annually 18,736 (1995est.)
Defense expenditures: 176 million rubles, 3% to 5% of GDP (1994); note- conversion of the military budget into US dollars using theprevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
Note—Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since December 1990, the Lebanese have formed three cabinets and conducted the first legislative election in 20 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Sh'ia party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, The Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzine. As of December 1993, Syria maintained about 30,000-35,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League early in Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Beirut.
@Lebanon:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 10,400 sq kmland area: 10,230 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total 454 km, Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, drysummers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separatesLebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in awater-deficit region
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 8% other: 61%
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; airpollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning ofindustrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oilspillsnatural hazards: duststorms, sandstormsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified -Desertification, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation
Note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
@Lebanon:People
Population: 3,695,921 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (female 657,403; male 682,757)15-64 years: 58% (female 1,131,450; male 1,016,859)65 years and over: 6% (female 111,585; male 95,867) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.15% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 27.9 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.44 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.69 years male: 67.22 years female: 72.28 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.31 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic divisions: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite orNusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legallyrecognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 80%male: 88%female: 73%
Labor force: 650,000by occupation: industry, commerce, and services 79%, agriculture 11%,government 10% (1985)
@Lebanon:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Lebanonconventional short form: Lebanonlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyahlocal short form: none
Digraph: LE
Type: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular -muhafazah); Al Biqa, 'Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate underFrench administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized forwomen at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989); note- by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime ministeris a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'aMuslimhead of government: Prime Minister Rafiq HARIRI (since 22 October1992)cabinet: Cabinet; chosen by the president in consultation with themembers of the National Assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly: (Arabic - Majlis Alnuwab, French - Assemblee Nationale) Lebanon's first legislative election in 20 years was held in the summer of 1992; the National Assembly is composed of 128 deputies, one-half Christian and one-half Muslim; its mandate expires in 1996
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organizedalong largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist,consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated byreligious, clan, and economic considerations
Member of: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Riyad TABBARAH chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: (vacant)embassy: Antelias, Beirutaddress: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, Beirut; FPO AE09836-0002telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 416502, 426183, 417774FAX: [961] (1) 407112
Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), andred with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
@Lebanon:Economy
Overview: The 1975-1991 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. A tentative peace has enabled the central government to begin restoring control in Beirut, collect taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. The battered economy has also been propped up by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers. Family remittances, banking transactions, manufactured and farm exports, the narcotics trade, and international emergency aid are the main sources of foreign exchange. In the relatively settled year of 1991, industrial production, agricultural output, and exports showed substantial gains. The further rebuilding of the war-ravaged country was delayed in 1992 because of an upturn in political wrangling. In October 1992, Rafiq HARIRI was appointed Prime Minister. HARIRI, a wealthy entrepreneur, announced ambitious plans for Lebanon's reconstruction which involve a substantial influx of foreign aid and investment. Progress on restoring basic services is limited. Since Prime Minister HARIRI's appointment, the most significant improvement lies in the stabilization of the Lebanese pound, which had gained over 30% in value by yearend 1993. The years 1993 and 1994 were marked by efforts of the new administration to encourage domestic and foreign investment and to obtain additional international assistance. The construction sector led the 8.5% advance in real GDP in 1994.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $15.8 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 8.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $4,360 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 35% (1993 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.4 billion expenditures: $3.2 billion (1994 est.)
Exports: $925 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: agricultural products, chemicals, textiles, precious and semiprecious metals and jewelry, metals and metal products partners: Saudi Arabia 21%, Switzerland 9.5%, Jordan 6%, Kuwait 12%, US 5%
Imports: $4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transport equipment,petroleum productspartners: Italy 14%, France 12%, US 6%, Turkey 5%, Saudi Arabia 3%
External debt: $765 million (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 25% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 1,220,000 kW production: 2.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 676 kWh (1993)
Industries: banking, food processing, textiles, cement, oil refining, chemicals, jewelry, some metal fabricating
Agriculture: principal products - citrus fruits, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish), sheep, goats; not self-sufficient in grain
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; increasingly a key locus of cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian 1994 eradication campaign eliminated the opium crop and caused a 50% decrease in the cannabis crop
Economic aid: the government estimates that it has received $1.7 billion in aid and has an additional $725 million in commitments to support its $3 billion National Emergency Recovery Program
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (#L) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (#L) per US$1 - 1,644.6 (January 1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8 (1992), 928.23 (1991), 695.09 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Lebanon:Transportation
Railroads: total: 222 km standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m note: system in disrepair, considered inoperable
Highways: total: 7,300 km paved: 6,200 km unpaved: gravel 450 km; improved earth 650 km
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports: Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, Az Zahrani, Beirut,Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka Jadidah, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 260,383 GRT/381,937 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 41, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 6,refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker 1,vehicle carrier 2
Airports:total: 9with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Lebanon:Communications
Telephone system: 325,000 telephones; 95 telephones/1,000 persons;telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuildingstill underwaylocal: NAintercity: primarily microwave radio relay and cableinternational: 2 INTELSAT (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) earthstations (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radiorelay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarinecoaxial cables
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0; note - numerous AM and FMstations are operated sporadically by various factionsradios: NA
Television: broadcast stations: 13 televisions: NA
@Lebanon:Defense Forces
Branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and AirForce)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 857,698; males fit for militaryservice 533,640 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $278 million, 5.5% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
@Lesotho:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 30,350 sq kmland area: 30,350 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 909 km, South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 66% forest and woodland: 0% other: 24%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginalareas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion;desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, andredirect water to South Africanatural hazards: periodic droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but notratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law ofthe Sea, Marine Dumping
Note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
@Lesotho:People
Population: 1,992,960 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41% (female 407,213; male 416,709)15-64 years: 54% (female 558,106; male 520,961)65 years and over: 5% (female 51,809; male 38,162) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.44% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 33.39 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 8.96 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 67.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.56 years male: 60.74 years female: 64.43 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.41 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)adjective: Basotho
Ethnic divisions: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1966)total population: 59%male: 44%female: 68%
Labor force: 689,000 economically activeby occupation: 86.2% of resident population engaged in subsistenceagriculture; roughly 60% of the active male wage earners work in SouthAfrica
@Lesotho:Government
Names:conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesothoconventional short form: Lesothoformer: Basutoland
Digraph: LT
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Maseru
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing,Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King MOSHOESHOE II (since February 1995)head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993)cabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consisting of the Assembly or lower house whose members are chosen by popular election and the Senate or upper house whose members consist of the 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party; election last held in March 1993 (first since 1971); all 65 seats in the Assembly were won by the BCP
Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal, Magistrate's Court,customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party (BNP), EvaristusSEKHONYANA; Basotho Congress Party (BCP), Ntsu MOKHEHLE; NationalIndependent Party (NIP), A. C. MANYELI; Marematlou Freedom Party(MFP), Vincent MALEBO; United Democratic Party, Charles MOFELI;Communist Party of Lesotho (CPL), Jacob M. KENA
Member of: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user),INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Mokhali A.LITHEBE (since 2 July 1994)chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Myrick BISMARCK embassy: address NA, Maseru mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 312666 FAX: [266] 310116
Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
@Lesotho:Economy
Overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed in South Africa (these remittances supplement domestic income by as much as 45%). The great majority of households gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a large portion of the adult male work force is employed in South African mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products to support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries; other industries include textile, clothing, and construction. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, improvement of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of water to South Africa and allow Lesotho's economy to continue its moderate growth.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.6 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $1,340 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.9% (1993)
Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment
Budget:revenues: $438 millionexpenditures: $430 million, including capital expenditures of $155million (FY93/94 est.)
Exports: $109 million (f.o.b., 1992)commodities: wool, mohair, wheat, cattle, peas, beans, corn, hides,skins, basketspartners: South Africa 42%, EC 28%, North and South America 25% (1991)
Imports: $964 million (c.i.f., 1992)commodities: mainly corn, building materials, clothing, vehicles,machinery, medicines, petroleumpartners: South Africa 94%, Asia 3%, EC 1% (1991)
External debt: $512 million (1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 10%; accounts for 17% of GDP (1993 est.)
Electricity: power supplied by South Africa
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts, tourism
Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP (1993 est.); exceedingly primitive, mostly subsistence farming and livestock; principal crops corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $268 million; US(1992), $10.3 million; US (1993 est.), $10.1 million; Western (non-US)countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $819 million;OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4 million; Communist countries(1970-89), $14 million
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 3.5389 (January 1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991), 2.5863 (1990); note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Lesotho:Transportation
Railroads:total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in thestatistics of South Africanarrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:total: 7,215 kmpaved: 572 kmunpaved: gravel, stabilized earth 2,337 km; improved earth 1,806 km;unimproved earth 2,500 km (1988)
Ports: none
Airports:total: 29with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 23with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@Lesotho:Communications
Telephone system: 5,920 telephones; rudimentary systemlocal: NAintercity: consists of a few land lines, a small microwave radio relaysystem, and a minor radio communication systeminternational: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@Lesotho:Defense Forces
Branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and Air Wing),Lesotho Mounted Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 453,844; males fit for militaryservice 244,767 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $25 million, NA% ofGDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
@Liberia:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenCote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 111,370 sq kmland area: 96,320 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total 1,585 km, Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km,Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool tocold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rollingplateau and low mountains in northeast
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 2% forest and woodland: 39% other: 55%
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soilerosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of rivers from the dumping ofiron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and rawsewagenatural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara(December to March)international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Nuclear TestBan, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94; signed,but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, EnvironmentalModification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Liberia:People
Population: 3,073,245 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (female 674,155; male 680,952)15-64 years: 52% (female 768,147; male 844,326)65 years and over: 4% (female 55,575; male 50,090) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.32% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 43.08 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 12.05 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) note: if the Ghanaian-led peace negotiations, under way in 1995, are successful, many Liberian refugees may return from exile
Infant mortality rate: 110.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.17 years male: 55.67 years female: 60.75 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.3 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian
Ethnic divisions: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle,Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai,and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)
Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages: English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group about 20local languages come from this group
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 40%male: 50%female: 29%
Labor force: 510,000 including 220,000 in the monetary economy by occupation: agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and commerce 4.5%, other 14.2% note: non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and engineering jobs
@Liberia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Liberiaconventional short form: Liberia
Digraph: LI
Type: republic
Capital: Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, GrandCape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution: 6 January 1986
Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Council ofState David KPOMAKPOR (since March 1994); election last held on 15October 1985; results - Gen. Dr. Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%,Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7%note: constitutional government ended in September 1990 when PresidentSamuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; civil war ensued and inJuly 1993 the Cotonou Peace Treaty was negotiated by the major warringfactions under UN auspices; a transitional coalition government underDavid KROMAKPOR was formed in March 1994 but has been largelyineffective and unable to implement the provisions of the peacetreaty; Ghanaian-led negotiations are now underway to seat a newinterim government that would oversee elections proposed for late 1995
cabinet: Cabinet; selected by the leaders of the major factions in thecivil war
Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly, themembers of which are appointed by the leaders of the major factions inthe civil warnote: the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and there isno assurance that it will be reconstituted very soon
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of Liberia(NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman; Liberian Action Party (LAP),Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Joseph KOFA, chairman;United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman;National Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles TAYLOR, chairman; LiberianPeoples Party (LPP), Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman
Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT(nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Konah K. BLACKETT chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d' Affaires William P. TWADDELL embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia mailing address: P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia telephone: [231] 222991 through 222994 FAX: [231] 223710
Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
@Liberia:Economy
Overview: Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. Political instability threatens prospects for economic reconstruction and repatriation of some 750,000 Liberian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. The political impasse between the interim government and rebel leader Charles TAYLOR has prevented restoration of normal economic life, including the re-establishment of a strong central government with effective economic development programs. The economy deteriorated further in 1994.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $2.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: NA%
National product per capita: $770 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $242.1 millionexpenditures: $435.4 million, including capital expenditures of $29.5million (1989 est.)
Exports: $505 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.) commodities: iron ore 61%, rubber 20%, timber 11%, coffee partners: US, EC, Netherlands
Imports: $394 million (c.i.f., 1989 est.) commodities: mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, rice and other foodstuffs partners: US, EC, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS
External debt: $2.1 billion (September 1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate NA% (1993-94); much industrial damage caused by factional warfare
Electricity: capacity: 330,000 kW production: 440 million kWh consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)
Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction materials, furniture, palm oil processing, mining (iron ore, diamonds)
Agriculture: accounts for about 40% of GDP (including fishing and forestry); principal products - rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava, palm oil, sugarcane, bananas, sheep, goats; not self-sufficient in food, imports 25% of rice consumption
Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for heroin andcocaine
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $665 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $870 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $25 million;Communist countries (1970-89), $77 million
Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.00 (officially fixed rate since 1940); unofficial parallel exchange rate of US$1 - L$7 (January 1992), unofficial rate floats against the US dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liberia:Transportation
Railroads:total: 490 km (single track); note - three rail systems owned andoperated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction withLiberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989after iron ore production ceased; the other two have been shut down bythe civil warstandard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:total: 10,087 kmpaved: 603 kmunpaved: gravel 5,171 km (includes 2,323 km of private roads of rubberand timber firms, open to the public); earth 4,313 km