________________________________________________________________________
@Atlantic Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, and the WesternHemisphere
Map references: World
Area:total area: 82.217 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean,but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributarywater bodies
Coastline: 111,866 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast ofAfrica near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea;hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent fromAugust to November
Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin; maximum depth is 8,605 meters in the Puerto Rico Trench
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Environment:current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee, seals,sea lions, turtles, and whales; driftnet fishing is exacerbatingdeclining fish stocks and contributing to international disputes;municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, andeastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico,Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste andmunicipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and MediterraneanSeanatural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, andthe northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have beenspotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; icebergs fromAntarctica occur in the extreme southern Atlantic Ocean; ships subjectto superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October toMay and extreme southern Atlantic from May to October; persistent fogcan be a maritime hazard from May to Septemberinternational agreements: NA
Note: major choke points include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar,access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include theStrait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound(Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the AtlanticOcean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
@Atlantic Ocean:Government
Digraph: ZH
@Atlantic Ocean:Economy
Overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
@Atlantic Ocean:Transportation
Ports: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium),Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco),Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk(Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (CanaryIslands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK),Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples(Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo(Norway), Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam(Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways
@Atlantic Ocean:Communications
Telephone system:international: numerous submarine cables with most between continentalEurope and the UK, North America and the UK, and in the Mediterranean;numerous direct links across Atlantic via INTELSAT satellite network
________________________________________________________________________
@Australia:Geography
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the SouthPacific Ocean
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 7,686,850 sq kmland area: 7,617,930 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than the USnote: includes Macquarie Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (AustralianAntarctic Territory)
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 58% forest and woodland: 14% other: 22%
Irrigated land: 18,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due tothe use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing foragricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many uniqueanimal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeastcoast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increasedshipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural freshwater resourcesnatural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer
@Australia:People
Population: 18,322,231 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (female 1,929,366; male 2,032,238)15-64 years: 67% (female 6,017,362; male 6,181,887)65 years and over: 11% (female 1,227,004; male 934,374) (July 1995est.)
Population growth rate: 1.31% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 14.13 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 7.37 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.78 years male: 74.67 years female: 81.04 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian
Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
Languages: English, native languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)total population: 100%male: 100%female: 100%
Labor force: 8.63 million (September 1991)by occupation: finance and services 33.8%, public and communityservices 22.3%, wholesale and retail trade 20.1%, manufacturing andindustry 16.2%, agriculture 6.1% (1987)
@Australia:Government
Names:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form: Australia
Digraph: AS
Type: federal parliamentary state
Capital: Canberra
Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; AustralianCapital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland,South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos(Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonaldIslands, Norfolk Island
Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General William George HAYDEN (since 16February 1989)head of government: Prime Minister Paul John KEATING (since 20December 1991); Deputy Prime Minister Brian HOWE (since 4 June 1991)cabinet: Cabinet; prime minister selects his cabinet from members ofthe House and Senate
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal ParliamentSenate: elections last held 13 March 1993 (next to be held by NA1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (76 total)Liberal-National 36, Labor 30, Australian Democrats 7, Greens 2,independents 1House of Representatives: elections last held 13 March 1993 (next tobe held by NA 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -(147 total) Labor 80, Liberal-National 65, independent 2
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: government: Australian Labor Party, Paul John KEATING opposition: Liberal Party, John HOWARD; National Party, Timothy FISCHER; Australian Democratic Party, Cheryl KERNOT; Green Party, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups: Australian Democratic Labor Party(anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and NuclearDisarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group,BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 8, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest),NEA, NSG, OECD, PCA, SPARTECA, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Eric RUSSELL chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000 FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Edward J. PERKINSembassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian CapitalTerritory 2600mailing address: APO AP 96549telephone: [61] (6) 270-5000FAX: [61] (6) 270-5970consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydneyconsulate(s): Brisbane
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
@Australia:Economy
Overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP comparable to levels in industrialized West European countries. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Primary products account for more than 60% of the value of total exports, so that, as in 1983-84, a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s. In 1992-93 the economy recovered slowly from the prolonged recession of 1990-91, a major restraining factor being weak world demand for Australia's exports. Growth picked up so strongly in 1994 that the government felt the need for fiscal and monetary tightening by yearend. Australia's GDP grew 6.4% in 1994, largely due to increases in industrial output and business investment. A severe drought in 1994 is expected to reduce the value of Australia's net farm production by $825 million in the twelve months through June 1995, but rising world commodity prices are likely to boost rural exports by 7.7% to $14.5 billion in 1995/96, according to government statistics.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $374.6 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6.4% (1994)
National product per capita: $20,720 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 8.9% (December 1994)
Budget:revenues: $83.8 billionexpenditures: $92.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY93/94)
Exports: $50.4 billion (1994)commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery andtransport equipmentpartners: Japan 25%, US 11%, South Korea 6%, NZ 5.7%, UK, Taiwan,Singapore, Hong Kong (1992)
Imports: $51.1 billion (1994) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, crude oil and petroleum products partners: US 23%, Japan 18%, UK 6%, Germany 5.7%, NZ 4% (1992)
External debt: $147.2 billion (1994)
Industrial production: growth rate 3.9% (FY93/94); accounts for 32% ofGDP
Electricity: capacity: 34,540,000 kW production: 155 billion kWh consumption per capita: 8,021 kWh (1993)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP and over 30% of export revenues; world's largest exporter of beef and wool, second-largest for mutton, and among top wheat exporters; major crops - wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruit; livestock - cattle, sheep, poultry
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
Economic aid: donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.4 billion
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.3058 (January 1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992), 1.2835 (1991), 1.2799 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Australia:Transportation
Railroads:total: 40,478 km (1,130 km electrified; 183 km dual gauge)broad gauge: 7,970 km 1.600-m gaugestandard gauge: 16,201 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 16,307 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:total: 837,872 kmpaved: 243,750 kmunpaved: gravel, crushed stone, stabilized earth 228,396 km;unimproved earth 365,726 km
Inland waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; natural gas5,600 km
Ports: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport, Fremantle,Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceton (Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne,Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:total: 81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,620,536 GRT/3,801,970DWTships by type: bulk 30, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk2, container 7, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 18,roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:total: 480with paved runways over 3,047 m: 9with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 128with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 125with paved runways under 914 m: 31with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 23with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 149
@Australia:Communications
Telephone system: 8,700,000 telephones; good international anddomestic servicelocal: NAintercity: domestic satellite serviceinternational: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, andIndonesia; 10 INTELSAT (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean) earthstations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 258, FM 67, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 134televisions: NA
@Australia:Defense Forces
Branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian AirForce
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 4,934,175; males fit formilitary service 4,274,900; males reach military age (17) annually131,852 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $7.2 billion, 2.2% ofGDP (FY94/95)
________________________________________________________________________
@Austria:Geography
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 83,850 sq kmland area: 82,730 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total 2,496 km, Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 37 km, Slovakia 91 km,Slovenia 262 km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along theeastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Natural resources: iron ore, petroleum, timber, magnesite, aluminum,lead, coal, lignite, copper, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 24% forest and woodland: 39% other: 19%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soilpollution; soil pollution results from the use of agriculturalchemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-firedpower stations and industrial plants and from trucks transitingAustria between northern and southern Europenatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Air Pollution-Sulpher 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of theSea, Whaling
Note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
@Austria:People
Population: 7,986,664 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (female 681,087; male 711,127)15-64 years: 67% (female 2,672,554; male 2,677,100)65 years and over: 16% (female 791,762; male 453,034) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.35% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 11.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 10.27 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.9 years male: 73.7 years female: 80.27 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian
Ethnic divisions: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 6%, other 9%
Languages: German
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1974 est.)total population: 99%
Labor force: 3.47 million (1989)by occupation: services 56.4%, industry and crafts 35.4%, agricultureand forestry 8.1%note: an estimated 200,000 Austrians are employed in other Europeancountries; foreign laborers in Austria number 177,840, about 5% oflabor force (1988)
@Austria:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Austriaconventional short form: Austrialocal long form: Republik Oesterreichlocal short form: Oesterreich
Digraph: AU
Type: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular - bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 12 November 1918 (from Austro-Hungarian Empire)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by a Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidentialelections
Executive branch:chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992); electionlast held 24 May 1992 (next to be held 1996); results of second ballot- Thomas KLESTIL 57%, Rudolf STREICHER 43%head of government: Chancellor Franz VRANITZKY (since 16 June 1986);Vice Chancellor Erhard BUSEK (since 2 July 1991)cabinet: Council of Ministers; chosen by the president on the adviceof the chancellor
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (Bundesversammlung)Federal Council (Bundesrat): consists of 63 members representing eachof the provinces on the basis of population, but with each provincehaving at least 3 representativesNational Council (Nationalrat): elections last held 9 October 1994(next to be held October 1998); results - SPOE 34.9%, OEVP 27.7%, FPOE22.5%, Greens 7.3%, LF 6.0% other 1.6%; seats - (183 total) SPOE 65,OEVP 52, FPOE 42, Greens 13, LF 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) forcivil and criminal cases, Administrative Court(Verwaltungsgerichtshof) for bureaucratic cases, Constitutional Court(Verfassungsgerichtshof) for constitutional cases
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austria(SPOE), Franz VRANITZKY, chairman; Austrian People's Party (OEVP),Erhard BUSEK, chairman; Freedom Movement (F) (was the Freedom Party ofAustria, FPOE), Joerg HAIDER, chairman; Communist Party (KPOE), WalterSILBERMAYER, chairman; The Greens, Madeleine PETROVIC; Liberal Forum(LF), Heide SCHMIDT
Other political or pressure groups: Federal Chamber of Commerce andIndustry; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist); threecomposite leagues of the Austrian People's Party (OEVP) representingbusiness, labor, and farmers; OEVP-oriented League of AustrianIndustrialists; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief layorganization, Catholic Action
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE,CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, GATT, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, UN,UNAMIR, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIH,UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERK chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Swanee G. HUNT chancery: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [43] (1) 313-39 FAX: [43] (1) 310-0682 consulate(s) general: none (Salzburg closed September 1993)
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
@Austria:Economy
Overview: Austria boasts a prosperous and stable market economy with a sizable but falling proportion of nationalized industry and with extensive welfare benefits. Thanks to its raw material endowment, a technically skilled labor force, and strong links to German industrial firms, Austria occupies specialized niches in European industry and services (tourism, banking) and produces almost enough food to feed itself with only 8% of the labor force in agriculture. After 11 consecutive years of growth, the Austrian economy experienced a mild recession in 1993, but growth resumed in 1994. Unemployment is 4.3% and will likely stay at that level as companies adjust to the competition of EU membership beginning 1 January 1995. To prepare for EU membership, Austria's government has taken measures to open the economy by introducing a major tax reform, privatizing state-owned firms, and liberalizing cross-border capital movements. Problems for the 1990s include an aging population, the high level of industrial subsidies, and the struggle to keep welfare benefits within budgetary capabilities - the deficit climbed to over 4% of GDP in 1994.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $139.3 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $17,500 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $52.2 billionexpenditures: $60.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1993 est.)
Exports: $44.1 billion (1994 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, iron and steel, lumber, textiles, paper products, chemicals partners: EC 63.5% (Germany 38.9%), EFTA 9.0%, Eastern Europe/FSU 12.3%, Japan 1.5%, US 3.4% (1993)
Imports: $53.8 billion (1994 est.) commodities: petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, vehicles, chemicals, textiles and clothing, pharmaceuticals partners: EC 66.8% (Germany 41.3%), EFTA 6.7%, Eastern Europe/FSU 7.5%, Japan 4.4%, US 4.4% (1993)
External debt: $21.5 billion (1994 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 2.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 17,230,000 kW production: 50.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,824 kWh (1993)
Industries: foods, iron and steel, machines, textiles, chemicals, electrical, paper and pulp, tourism, mining, motor vehicles
Agriculture: accounts for 3.2% of GDP (including forestry); principal crops and animals - grains, fruit, potatoes, sugar beets, sawn wood, cattle, pigs, poultry; 80%-90% self-sufficient in food
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian herointransiting the Balkan route and Eastern Europe
Economic aid:donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $2.4 billion
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (S) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (S) per US$1 - 10.774 (January 1995), 11.422 (1994), 11.632 (1993), 10.989 (1992), 11.676 (1991), 11.370 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Austria:Transportation
Railroads:total: 5,624 kmstandard gauge: 5,269 km 1.435-m gauge (3,162 km electrified)narrow gauge: 355 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified)(1994)
Highways:total: 110,000 kmpaved: 35,000 km (including 1,554 km of autobahn)unpaved: mostly gravel and earth 75,000 km (1992)
Inland waterways: 446 km
Pipelines: crude oil 554 km; petroleum products 171 km; natural gas 2,611 km
Ports: Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine:total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 152,885 GRT/235,719 DWTships by type: bulk 3, cargo 25, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:total: 55with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 41with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@Austria:Communications
Telephone system: 4,014,000 telephones; highly developed and efficient
local: NAintercity: NAinternational: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), andEUTELSAT earth stations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 21 (repeaters 545), shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 47 (repeaters 870)televisions: NA
@Austria:Defense Forces
Branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,026,567; males fit for military service 1,695,879; males reach military age (19) annually 46,821 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - about $1.8 billion, 0.9% of GDP (1994)
________________________________________________________________________
Note—Azerbaijan continues to be plagued by an unresolved seven-year-old conflict with Armenian separatists over its Nagorno-Karabakh region. The Karabakh Armenians have declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating almost 1 million Azeri displaced persons in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994, and support the OSCE-mediated peace process, now entering its fourth year. Nevertheless, Baku and Xankandi (Stepanakert) remain far apart on most substantive issues from the placement and composition of a peacekeeping force to the enclave's ultimate political status, and prospects for a negotiated settlement remain dim.
@Azerbaijan:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - European States
Area:total area: 86,600 sq kmland area: 86,100 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Mainenote: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and theNagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished byAzerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Land boundaries: total 2,013 km, Armenia (west) 566 km, Armenia (southwest) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (south) 432 km, Iran (southwest) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: violent and longstanding dispute with ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh over its status; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined
Climate: dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Lowland (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag (Karabakh) Upland in west; Baku lies on Abseron (Apsheron) Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use: arable land: 18% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 25% forest and woodland: 0% other: 53%
Irrigated land: 14,010 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: local scientists consider the Abseron (Apsheron)Peninsula (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be theecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air,water, and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of DDTas a pesticide and also from toxic defoliants used in the productionof cottonnatural hazards: droughts; some lowland areas threatened by risinglevels of the Caspian Seainternational agreements: signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,Climate Change
Note: landlocked
@Azerbaijan:People
Population: 7,789,886 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33% (female 1,241,952; male 1,315,313)15-64 years: 61% (female 2,437,810; male 2,307,496)65 years and over: 6% (female 303,926; male 183,389) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.32% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 22.05 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.09 years male: 67.4 years female: 74.97 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic divisions: Azeri 90%, Dagestani Peoples 3.2%, Russian 2.5%, Armenian 2.3%, other 2% (1995 est.) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages: Azeri 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)total population: 97%male: 99%female: 96%
Labor force: 2.789 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 32%, industry and construction 26%, other 42% (1990)
@Azerbaijan:Government
Names:conventional long form: Azerbaijani Republicconventional short form: Azerbaijanlocal long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasilocal short form: noneformer: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: AJ
Type: republic
Capital: Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions: 59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtarrespublika); Abscron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, AgdasRayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, AliBayramli Sahari*, AstaraRayonu, Baki Sahari*, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu,Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu,Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Ganca Sahari*, GoranboyRayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, IsmayilliRayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, LankaranRayonu, Lankaran Sahari*, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, MingacevirSahari*, Naftalan Sahari*, Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi**, NeftcalaRayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, QobustanRayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu,Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Saki Sahari*, Salyan Rayonu, SamaxiRayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Sumqayit Sahari*,Susa Rayonu, Susa Sahari*, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu,Xacmaz Rayonu, Xankandi Sahari*, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, XocaliRayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimb Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, YevlaxSahari*, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May
Constitution: adopted NA April 1978; writing a new constitution
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June 1993); electionlast held 3 October 1993 (next to be held NA); results - Heydar ALIYEVwon 97% of votehead of government: Acting Prime Minister Fuad QULIYEV (since 9October 1994); First Deputy Prime Ministers Abbas ABBASOV, SamedSADYKOV, Vahid AKHMEDOV (since NA)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president andconfirmed by the Mejlis
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Assembly (Milli Mejlis): elections last held 30 September and14 October 1990 for the Supreme Soviet (next expected to be heldSeptember 1995 for the National Assembly); seats for Supreme Soviet -(360 total) Communists 280, Democratic Bloc 45 (grouping of oppositionparties), other 15, vacant 20; note - on 19 May 1992 the SupremeSoviet was prorogued in favor of a Popular Front-dominated NationalCouncil; seats - (50 total) Popular Front 25, opposition elements 25note: since June 1993 ALIYEV has rotated in several supporters toreplace Popular Front adherents
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Azerbaijan Popular Front (APF), EbulfezELCIBEY, chairman; Musavat Party, Isa GAMBAR, chairman; NationalIndependence Party, Etibar MAMEDOV, chairman; Social Democratic Party(SDP), Araz ALIZADE, chairman; Communist Party, Ramiz AKHMEDOV,chairman; People's Freedom Party, Yunus OGUZ, chairman; IndependentSocial Democratic Party, Arif YUNUSOV and Leila YUNOSOVA, cochairmen;New Azerbaijan Party, Heydar ALIYEV, chairman; Boz Gurd Party,Iskander HAMIDOV, chairman; Azerbaijan Democratic Independence Party,Qabil HUSEYNLI, chairman; Islamic Party of Azerbaijan, Ali Akram,chairman; Ana Veten Party, Fazail AGAMALIYEV; Azerbaijan DemocraticParty, Sardar Jalaloglu MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Democratic Party ofProprietors (DPOP), Makhmud MAMEDOV; Azerbaijan Patriotic SolidarityParty, Sabir RUSTAMHANLI; Azerbaijan Republic Reform Party, FuadASADOV; Communist Party of Azerbaijan (unregistered), Sayad SAYADOV;Equality of the Peoples Party, Faukhraddin AYDAYEV; IndependentAzerbaijan Party, Nizami SULEYMANOV; Labor Party of Azerbaijan,Sabutai HAJIYEV; Liberal-Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, LyudmilaNIKOLAYEVNA; National Enlightenment Party, Hajy Osman EFENDIYEV;National Liberation Party, Panak SHAKHSEVEV; Peasant Party, FiruzMUSTAFAYEV; Radical Party of Azerbaijan, Malik SHARIFOV; UnitedAzerbaijan Party, Kerrar ABILOV; Vetan Adzhagy Party, Zakir TAGIYEV
Other political or pressure groups: self-proclaimed ArmenianNagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement
Member of: BSEC, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IBRD, ICAO, IDB,IFAD, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NACC, OIC, OSCE, PFP,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz Mir Jalal PASHAYEVchancery: (temporary) Suite 700, 927 15th Street NW, Washington, DC20005telephone: [1] (202) 842-0001FAX: [1] (202) 842-0004
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard D. KAUZLARICH embassy: Azadliq Prospect 83, Baku mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [9] (9412) 96-00-19, 98-03-37 FAX: [9] (9412) 98-37-55
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
@Azerbaijan:Economy
Overview: Azerbaijan is less developed industrially than either Armenia or Georgia, the other Transcaucasian states. It resembles the Central Asian states in its majority nominally Muslim population, high structural unemployment, and low standard of living. The economy's most prominent products are oil, cotton, and gas. Production from the Caspian oil and gas field has been in decline for several years, but the November 1994 ratification of the $7.5 billion oil deal with a consortium of Western companies should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Azerbaijan accounted for 1.5% to 2% of the capital stock and output of the former Soviet Union. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the ex-Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures have yet to be replaced.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $13.8 billion (1994 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1992)
National product real growth rate: -22% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $1,790 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 28% monthly average (1994)
Unemployment rate: 0.9% includes officially registered unemployed;also large numbers of other unemployed and underemployed workers(December 1994)
Budget:revenues: $167.5 millionexpenditures: $234.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994)
Exports: $366 million to non-FSU countries (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: oil and gas, chemicals, oilfield equipment, textiles,cotton (1991)partners: mostly CIS and European countries
Imports: $296 million from non-FSU countries (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: machinery and parts, consumer durables, foodstuffs,textiles (1991)partners: European countries
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate -25% (1994)
Electricity: capacity: 4,900,000 kW production: 17.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,270 kWh (1994)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Agriculture: cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep and goats
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Economic aid: recipient: wheat from Turkey
Currency: 1 manat = 100 gopik
Exchange rates: manats per US$1 - 4500 (April 1995), 4168 (end ofDecember 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Azerbaijan:Transportation
Railroads:total: 2,090 km in common carrier service; does not include industriallinesbroad gauge: 2,090 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways:total: 36,700 kmpaved or graveled: 31,800 kmunpaved: earth 4,900 km (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,130 km; petroleum products 630 km; natural gas1,240 km
Ports: Baku (Baki)
Airports:total: 69with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 7with unpaved runways under 914 m: 33
@Azerbaijan:Communications
Telephone system: 710,000 telephones; 90 telephones/1,000 persons(1991); 202,000 persons waiting for telephone installations (January1991); domestic telephone service is of poor quality and inadequatelocal: a joint venture to establish a cellular telephone system(Bakcel) in the Baku area is supposed to become operational in 1994intercity: NAinternational: connections to other former USSR republics by cable andmicrowave and to other countries via the Moscow international gatewayswitch; INTELSAT link installed in late 1992 in Baku with Turkishfinancial assistance with access to 200 countries through Turkey;since August 1993 an earth station near Baku has provided directcommunications with New York through Russia's Stationar-11 satellite
Radio:broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAradios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: NA; domestic and Russian TV programs are receivedlocally and Turkish and Iranian TV is received from an INTELSATsatellite through a receive-only earth stationtelevisions: NA
@Azerbaijan:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Maritime Border Guard, NationalGuard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,927,955; males fit formilitary service 1,553,736; males reach military age (18) annually68,407 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: 70.5 billion rubles, 10% of GDP (1993 budget allocation); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
________________________________________________________________________
@The Bahamas:Geography
Location: Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 13,940 sq kmland area: 10,070 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,542 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 32% other: 67%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: coral reef decaynatural hazards: hurricanes and other tropical storms that causeextensive flood and wind damageinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Note: strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive islandchain
@The Bahamas:People
Population: 256,616 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (female 35,924; male 36,504)15-64 years: 66% (female 87,868; male 82,780)65 years and over: 6% (female 8,247; male 5,293) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.09% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 19.23 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.12 years male: 67.37 years female: 76.97 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic divisions: black 85%, white 15%
Religions: Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Languages: English, Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write but definition ofliterary not available (1963 est.)total population: 90%male: 90%female: 89%
Labor force: 136,900 (1993) by occupation: government 30%, hotels and restaurants 25%, business services 10%, agriculture 5% (1989)
@The Bahamas:Government
Names:conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamasconventional short form: The Bahamas
Digraph: BF
Type: commonwealth
Capital: Nassau
Administrative divisions: 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands,Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour,Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, LongIsland, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nicholls Town andBerry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvadorand Rum Cay
Independence: 10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution: 10 July 1973
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Clifford DARLING (since 2 January1992)head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 19 August1992)cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor on the prime minister'srecommendation
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: a 16-member body appointed by the governor general House of Assembly: elections last held 19 August 1992 (next to be held by August 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (49 total) FNM 32, PLP 17
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), SirLynden O. PINDLING; Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert AlexanderINGRAHAM;
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Timothy Baswell DONALDSON chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS embassy: Mosmar Building, Queen Street, Nassau mailing address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau telephone: [1] (809) 322-1181, 328-2206 FAX: [1] (809) 328-7838
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
@The Bahamas:Economy
Overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation whose economy is based primarily on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone provides about 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs about 50,000 people or 40% of the local work force. The economy has slackened in recent years, as the annual increase in the number of tourists slowed. Nonetheless, per capita GDP is one of the highest in the region.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $4.4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $15,900 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (1993)
Budget:revenues: $696 millionexpenditures: $756 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY94/95)
Exports: $257 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)commodities: pharmaceuticals, cement, rum, crawfish, refined petroleumproductspartners: US 51%, UK 7%, Norway 7%, France 6%, Italy 5%
Imports: $1.15 billion (f.o.b,,1993 est.)commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, crude oil, vehicles,electronicspartners: US 55%, Japan 17%, Nigeria 12%, Denmark 7%, Norway 6%
External debt: $455 million (December 1993)
Industrial production: growth rate 3% (1990); accounts for 15% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 424,000 kW production: 929 million kWh consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1993)
Industries: tourism, banking, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt production, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral welded steel pipe
Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP; dominated by small-scaleproducers; principal products - citrus fruit, vegetables, poultry;large net importer of food
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound forUS and Europe; also a money-laundering center
Economic aid:recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY85-89), $1 million;Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1970-89), $345 million
Currency: 1 Bahamian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bahamian dollar (B$) per US$1 - 1.00 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@The Bahamas:Transportation
Railroads: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,400 km paved: 1,350 km unpaved: gravel 1,050 km
Ports: Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Merchant marine:total: 936 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,815,474GRT/35,253,416 DWTships by type: bulk 162, cargo 181, chemical tanker 39, combinationbulk 9, combination ore/oil 19, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 20,oil tanker 182, passenger 55, refrigerated cargo 146, roll-on/roll-offcargo 43, short-sea passenger 16, vehicle carrier 12note: a flag of convenience registry; includes 46 countries amongwhich are UK 158 ships, Norway 125, Greece 100, US 94, Denmark 80,Netherlands 53, France 36, Finland 35, Japan 35, Sweden 25
Airports:total: 60with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 11with paved runways under 914 m: 22with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 8
@The Bahamas:Communications
Telephone system: 99,000 telephones; totally automatic system; highlydevelopedlocal: NAintercity: NAinternational: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable links toFlorida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earthstation
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 1televisions: NA
@The Bahamas:Defense Forces
Branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), RoyalBahamas Police Force
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $65 million, 2.7% ofGDP (1990)
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@Bahrain:Geography
Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of SaudiArabia
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 620 sq kmland area: 620 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined territorial sea: 12 nm