@Sweden:Government
Names:conventional long form: Kingdom of Swedenconventional short form: Swedenlocal long form: Konungariket Sverigelocal short form: Sverige
Digraph: SW
Type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan,Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan,Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan,Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan,Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan
Independence: 6 June 1809 (constitutional monarchy established)
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); HeirApparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the King(born 14 July 1977)head of government: Prime Minister Ingvar CARLSSON (since 6 October1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mona SAHLIN (since 6 October 1994)cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameralParliament (Riksdag): elections last held 18 September 1994 (next tobe held NA September 1998); results - Social Democrats 45.4%, ModerateParty (Conservatives) 22.3%, Center Party 7.7%, Liberals 7.2%, LeftParty 6.2%, Greens 5.8%, Christian Democrats 4.1%, New Democracy Party1.2%; seats - (349 total) Social Democrats 162, Moderate Party(Conservatives) 80, Center Party 27, Liberals 26, Left Party 22,Greens 18, Christian Democrats 14; note - the New Democracy Party didnot receive a seat because parties require a minimum of 4.8% of votesfor a seat in parliament
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Hogsta Domstolen)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, IngvarCARLSSON; Moderate Party (conservative), Carl BILDT; Liberal People'sParty, Maria LEISSNER; Center Party, Olof JOHANSSON; ChristianDemocratic Party, Alf SVENSSON; New Democracy Party, Vivianne FRANZEN;Left Party (VP; Communist), Gudrun SCHYMAN; Communist Workers' Party,Rolf HAGEL; Green Party, no formal leader but party spokesperson isBirger SHLAUG
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC,CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 8, G- 9, G-10, GATT,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR,NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, ONUSAL, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP,UNOMIG, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Henrik Sihver LILJEGREN chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas L. SIEBERT embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [46] (8) 783 53 00 FAX: [46] (8) 661 19 64
Flag: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Sweden:Economy
Overview: Aided by a long period of peace and neutrality during World War I through World War II, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy that is heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. In 1990, agriculture accounted for only 1.2% of GDP and 1.9% of the jobs, Sweden being about 50% sufficient in most products. In the last few years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by inflation, growing unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Although Prime Minister BILDT's center-right minority coalition had hoped to charge ahead with free-market-oriented reforms, a skyrocketing budget deficit - about 14% of GDP in FY93/94 projections - and record unemployment have forestalled many of the plans. Unemployment in 1994 is estimated at around 9% with another 5% in job training. Continued heavy foreign exchange speculation forced the government to cooperate in late 1992 with the opposition Social Democrats on two crisis packages - one a severe austerity pact and the other a program to spur industrial competitiveness - which basically set economic policy through 1997. In November 1992, Sweden broke its tie to the EC's ECU, and the krona has since depreciated about 25% against the dollar. The boost in export competitiveness from the depreciation helped lift Sweden out of its 3-year recession. To curb the budget deficit and bolster confidence in the economy, the new Social Democratic government is proposing cuts in welfare benefits, subsidies, defense, and foreign aid. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $163.1 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 2.4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $18,580 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.8% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $47.9 billionexpenditures: $70.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY93/94)
Exports: $59.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: machinery, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood,iron and steel products, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum productspartners: EC 55.8% (Germany 15%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.2%, France 5.8%),EFTA 17.4% (Norway 8.4%, Finland 5.1%), US 8.2%, Central and EasternEurope 2.5% (1992)
Imports: $49.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing partners: EC 53.6% (Germany 17.9%, UK 6.3%, Denmark 7.5%, France 4.9%), EFTA (Norway 6.6%, Finland 6%), US 8.4%, Central and Eastern Europe 3% (1992)
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 9% (1994)
Electricity: capacity: 34,560,000 kW production: 141 billion kWh consumption per capita: 14,891 kWh (1993)
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Agriculture: animal husbandry predominates, with milk and dairy products accounting for 37% of farm income; main crops - grains, sugar beets, potatoes; 100% self-sufficient in grains and potatoes; Sweden is about 50% self-sufficient in most products
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics shipped via the CISand Baltic states for the European market
Economic aid:donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $10.3 billion
Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1 - 7.4675 (January 1995), 7.7160 (1994), 7.7834 (1993), 5.8238 (1992), 6.0475 (1991) 5.9188 (1990)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Sweden:Transportation
Railroads:total: 12,000 km (includes 953 km of privately owned railways)standard gauge: 10,742 km 1.435-m gauge (7,502 km electrified and1,152 km double track); 8 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified; privatelyowned)narrow gauge: 61 km 0.891-m gauge (electrified; privately owned)other: 1,189 km NA-m gauge (1994)
Highways:total: 135,859 kmpaved: 97,818 km (including 936 km of expressways)unpaved: gravel 38,041 km (1991)
Inland waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
Ports: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar,Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Merchant marine:total: 157 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,872,350 GRT/2,075,722DWTships by type: bulk 10, cargo 24, chemical tanker 25, combinationore/oil 1, container 2, oil tanker 31, railcar carrier 2, refrigeratedcargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 37, short-sea passenger 8, specializedtanker 4, vehicle carrier 12
Airports:total: 253with paved runways over 3,047 m: 2with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 84with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 26with paved runways under 914 m: 129with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 4
@Sweden:Communications
Telephone system: 8,200,000 telephones; excellent domestic andinternational facilities; automatic systemlocal: NAintercity: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic;parallel microwave network carries TV, radio, and some additionaltelephone channelsinternational: 5 submarine coaxial cables; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean)and 1 EUTELSAT earth station
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0radios: 7 million
Television:broadcast stations: 880 (mostly repeaters)televisions: 3.5 million
@Sweden:Defense Forces
Branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish Air Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,133,420; males fit for military service 1,864,258; males reach military age (19) annually 52,937 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $5.4 billion, 2.4% ofGDP (FY94/95)
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@Switzerland:Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of France
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 41,290 sq kmland area: 39,770 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total 1,852 km, Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 40% forest and woodland: 26% other: 23%
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions and open airburning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agriculturalfertilizers; loss of biodiversitynatural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floodsinternational 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, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, contains the highest elevations in Europe
@Switzerland:People
Population: 7,084,984 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (female 594,565; male 622,436)15-64 years: 68% (female 2,375,792; male 2,448,213)65 years and over: 15% (female 623,136; male 420,842) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.57% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 12.04 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 9.16 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.36 years male: 74.99 years female: 81.88 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss
Ethnic divisions:total population: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%,other 6%Swiss nationals: German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%,other 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 47.6%, Protestant 44.3%, other 8.1% (1980)
Languages: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 12%, Romansch 1%, other 4% note: figures for Swiss nationals only - German 74%, French 20%, Italian 4%, Romansch 1%, other 1%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.) total population: 99%
Labor force: 3.48 million (900,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian) by occupation: services 50%, industry and crafts 34%, government 10%, agriculture and forestry 6% (1992)
@Switzerland:Government
Names:conventional long form: Swiss Confederationconventional short form: Switzerlandlocal long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German)Confederation Suisse (French) Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)local short form: Schweiz (German) Suisse (French) Svizzera (Italian)
Digraph: SZ
Type: federal republic
Capital: Bern
Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton inFrench; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular -kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Inner-Rhoden,Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen,Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud,Zug, Zurich
Independence: 1 August 1291
National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the SwissConfederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution: 29 May 1874
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Kaspar VILLIGER (1995calendar year; presidency rotates annually); Vice PresidentJean-Pascal DELAMURAZ (term runs concurrently with that of president)cabinet: Federal Council (German - Bundesrat, French - CenseilFederal, Italian - Consiglio Federale); elected by the FederalAssembly from own members
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly (German -Bundesversammlung, French - Assemblee Federale, Italian - AssembleaFederale)Council of States: German - Standerat, French - Conseil des Etats,Italian - Consiglio degli Stati; elections last held throughout 1991(next to be held NA 1995); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (46 total) FDP 18, CVP 16, SVP 4, SPS 3, LPS 3, LdU 1, TicinoLeague 1National Council: German - Nationalrat, French - Conseil National,Italian - Consiglio Nazionale; elections last held 20 October 1991(next to be held NA October 1995); results - percent of vote by partyNA; seats - (200 total) FDP 44, SPS 42, CVP 37, SVP 25, GPS 14, LPS10, AP 8, LdU 6, SD 5, EVP 3, PdA 2, Ticino League 2, other 2
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Free Democratic Party (FDP), Franz STEINEGGER, president; Social Democratic Party (SPS), Peter BODENMANN, president; Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP), Anton COTTIER, president; Swiss People's Party (SVP), Hans UHLMANN, president; Green Party (GPS), Verena DIENER, president; Freedom Party (FPS), Roland BORER, president; Liberal Party (LPS), Christoph EYMANN, president; Alliance of Independents' Party (LdU), Monica WEBER, president; Ticino League, Giuliano BIGNASCA, president; and other minor parties including the Automobile Party (AP), Swiss Democratic Party (SD), Workers' Party (PdA), and the Evangelical People's Party (EVP); note - see elections
Member of: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE,CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G- 8, G-10, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN (observer),UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNPROFOR, UNTSO,UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carlo JAGMETTI chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900 FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Pago Pago (American Samoa), and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador M. Larry LAWRENCE embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (31) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (31) 357 73 44 branch office: Geneva consulate(s) general: Zurich
Flag: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
@Switzerland:Economy
Overview: Switzerland's economy - one of the most prosperous and stable in the world - is nonetheless undergoing a stressful adjustment after both the inflationary boom of the late 1980s and the electorate's rejection of membership in the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992. So far the decision to remain outside the European single market structure does not appear to have harmed Swiss interests. In December 1994, the Swiss began bilateral negotiations with the EU aimed at establishing closer ties in areas of mutual interest and progressing toward the free circulation of persons, goods, capital, and services between the two parties. The Swiss emerged from a three-year recession in mid-1993 and posted 1.8% GDP growth in 1994. The Swiss central bank's tight monetary policies brought inflation down from about 4% in 1992 to just under 1% in 1994. Unemployment has fallen slightly from 5.1% in 1993 to 4.7% in 1994. Swiss per capita output, living standards, education, and health care remain unsurpassed in Europe. The country has few mineral resources, but its spectacular natural beauty sustains a substantial tourism industry.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $148.4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 1.8% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $22,080 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.7% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $26.7 billionexpenditures: $32 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994est.)
Exports: $69.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, precision instruments, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles and clothing partners: Western Europe 63.1% (EU countries 56%, other 7.1%), US 8.8%, Japan 3.4%
Imports: $68.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: agricultural products, machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, textiles, construction materials partners: Western Europe 79.2% (EU countries 72.3%, other 6.9%), US 6.4%
External debt: $NA
Industrial production: growth rate 0% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 15,430,000 kW production: 58 billion kWh consumption per capita: 6,699 kWh (1993)
Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Agriculture: dairy farming predominates; less than 50% self-sufficient in food; must import fish, refined sugar, fats and oils (other than butter), grains, eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat
Illicit drugs: money-laundering center
Economic aid:donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $3.5 billion
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes,rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.2880 (January 1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992), 1.4340 (1991), 1.3892 (1990)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Switzerland:Transportation
Railroads:total: 5,763 km (1,432 km double track)standard gauge: 3,533 km 1.435-m gauge (99% electrified; 560 kmnongovernment owned)narrow gauge: 1,094 km 1.000-m gauge (99% electrified; 1,020 kmnongovernment owned)other: 1,136 km NA-m gauge (1994)
Highways:total: 71,118 kmpaved: 71,118 km (including 1,514 km of expressways)
Inland waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen toBodensee); 12 navigable lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Ports: Basel
Merchant marine:total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 374,935 GRT/669,353 DWTships by type: bulk 12, cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, oil tanker 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:total: 69with paved runways over 3,047 m: 4with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5with paved runways under 914 m: 42with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1
@Switzerland:Communications
Telephone system: 5,890,000 telephones; excellent domestic,international, and broadcast serviceslocal: NAintercity: extensive cable and microwave networksinternational: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean) earthstations
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 265, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 18 (repeaters 1,322)televisions: NA
@Switzerland:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Air Force and Antiaircraft Command
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 1,847,639; males fit for military service 1,582,335; males reach military age (20) annually 41,831 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.1 billion, 1.4% ofGDP (1995)
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@Syria:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenLebanon and Turkey
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 185,180 sq kmland area: 184,050 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than North Dakotanote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Land boundaries: total 2,253 km, Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 41 nm territorial sea: 35 nm
International disputes: separated from Israel by the 1949 Armistice Line; Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; Hatay question with Turkey; ongoing dispute over water development plans by Turkey for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern Lebanon since October 1976
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically hits Damascus
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;mountains in west
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores,asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 28% permanent crops: 3% meadows and pastures: 46% forest and woodland: 3% other: 20%
Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1992)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewage and wastesfrom petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potable waternatural hazards: dust storms, sandstormsinternational agreements: party to - Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution; signed, but not ratified- Biodiversity, Desertification, Environmental Modification
Note: there are 42 Jewish settlements and civilian land use sites inthe Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1994 est.)
@Syria:People
Population: 15,451,917 (July 1995 est.)note: in addition, there are 31,000 people living in theIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights - 16,500 Arabs (15,000 Druze and 1,500Alawites) and 14,500 Jewish settlers (August 1994 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48% (female 3,639,776; male 3,826,154)15-64 years: 49% (female 3,691,862; male 3,854,989)65 years and over: 3% (female 219,251; male 219,885) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.71% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 43.21 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 41.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.81 years male: 65.67 years female: 68.01 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian
Ethnic divisions: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities inDamascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages: Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian,French widely understood
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 64%male: 78%female: 51%
Labor force: 4.3 million (1994 est.)by occupation: miscellaneous and government services 36%, agriculture32%, industry and construction 32%; note - shortage of skilled labor(1984)
@Syria:Government
Names:conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republicconventional short form: Syrialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyahlocal short form: Suriyahformer: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Digraph: SY
Type: republic under leftwing military regime since March 1963
Capital: Damascus
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat, singular -muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, AsSuwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, RifDimashq, Tartus
Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate underFrench administration)
National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution: 13 March 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971 seenote); Vice Presidents 'Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM, Rif'at al-ASAD,and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984); election lastheld 2 December 1991 (next to be held NA December 1998); results -President Hafiz al-ASAD was reelected for a fourth seven-year termwith 99.98% of the vote; note - President ASAD seized power in theNovember 1970 coup, assumed presidential powers 22 February 1971, andwas confirmed as president in the 12 March 1971 national electionshead of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZU'BI (since 1 November1987); Deputy Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March1984); Deputy Prime Minister Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981);Deputy Prime Minister Rashid AKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameralPeople's Council (Majlis al-Chaab): elections last held 24-25 August1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA;seats - (250 total) National Progressive Front 167, independents 83
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, High Judicial Council,Court of Cassation, State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:National Progressive Front includes: the ruling Arab SocialistResurrectionist (Ba'th) Party, Hafiz al-ASAD, President of theRepublic, Secretary General of the party, and Chairman of the NationalProgressive Front; Syrian Arab Socialist Party (ASP), 'Abd al-GhaniKANNUT; Arab Socialist Union (ASU), Jamal ATASSI; Syrian CommunistParty (SCP), Khalid BAKDASH; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement, SamiSOUFAN; and Democratic Socialist Union Party, leader NA
Other political or pressure groups: non-Ba'th parties have littleeffective political influence; Communist party ineffective;conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood
Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313 FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. S. ROSS embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 333-2814, 714-108, 333-3788 FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
@Syria:Economy
Overview: In 1990-93 Syria's state-dominated Ba'thist economy benefited from the Gulf war, increased oil production, good weather, and economic deregulation. Economic growth averaged roughly 10%. The Gulf war provided Syria an aid windfall of nearly $5 billion dollars from Arab, European, and Japanese donors. However, the benefits of the 1990-93 boom were not evenly distributed and the gap between rich and poor is widening. A nationwide financial scandal and increasing inflation were accompanied by a decline in GDP growth to 4% in 1994. For the long run, Syria's economy is still saddled with a large number of poorly performing public sector firms, and industrial productivity remains to be improved. Oil production is likely to fall off dramatically by the end of the decade. Unemployment will become a problem for the government when the more than 60% of the population under the age of 20 enter the labor force.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $74.4 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $5,000 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.3% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1993 est.)
Budget: NA
Exports: $3.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum 53%, textiles 22%, cotton, fruits and vegetables, wheat, barley, chickens partners: EC 48%, former CEMA countries 24%, Arab countries 18% (1991)
Imports: $4 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: foodstuffs 21%, metal products 17%, machinery 15% partners: EC 37%, former CEMA countries 15%, US and Canada 10% (1991)
External debt: $19.4 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate NA%
Electricity: capacity: 4,160,000 kW production: 13.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1993)
Industries: textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining, petroleum
Agriculture: accounts for 30% of GDP and one-third of labor force; all major crops (wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas) grown mainly on rain-watered land causing wide swings in production; animal products - beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk; not self-sufficient in grain or livestock products
Illicit drugs: a transit country for Lebanese and Turkish refinedcocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional andWestern markets
Economic aid:recipient: no US aid; about $4.2 billion in loans and grants from Araband Western donors 1990-92 as a result of Gulf war stance
Currency: 1 Syrian pound (#S) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (#S) per US$1 - 11.2 (official fixed rate), 26.6 (blended rate used by the UN and diplomatic missions), 42.0 (neighboring country rate - applies to most state enterprise imports), 46.0 - 53.0 (offshore rate) (yearend 1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Syria:Transportation
Railroads:total: 1,998 kmbroad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge
Highways:total: 31,569 kmpaved: 24,308 km (including 670 km of expressways)unpaved: 7,261 km
Inland waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
Ports: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine:total: 80 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,701 GRT/364,714 DWTships by type: bulk 10, cargo 68, vehicle carrier 2
Airports:total: 107with paved runways over 3,047 m: 5with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 67with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 3with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 15
@Syria:Communications
Telephone system: 512,600 telephones; 37 telephones/1,000 persons;fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digitalupgrades, including fiber optic technologylocal: NAintercity: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay networkinternational: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik earthstation; 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay toIraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0radios: NA
Television:broadcast stations: 17televisions: NA
@Syria:Defense Forces
Branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force,Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and Security Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 3,440,030; males fit formilitary service 1,927,930; males reach military age (19) annually159,942 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.2 billion, 6% ofGDP (1992)
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@Taiwan:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of thePhilippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 35,980 sq kmland area: 32,260 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland and Delaware combinednote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: involved in complex dispute over the SpratlyIslands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possiblyBrunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam andTaiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/DiaoyuTai) claimed by China and Taiwan
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (Juneto August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gentlyrolling plains in west
Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone,marble, and asbestos
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 55% other: 15%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage;air pollution; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade inendangered speciesnatural hazards: earthquakes and typhoonsinternational agreements: signed, but not ratified - Marine LifeConservation
@Taiwan:People
Population: 21,500,583 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (female 2,543,134; male 2,665,878)15-64 years: 68% (female 7,191,964; male 7,482,814)65 years and over: 8% (female 734,535; male 882,258) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 15.33 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 5.71 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 72.17 years female: 78.93 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chinese (singular and plural) adjective: Chinese
Ethnic divisions: Taiwanese 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakkadialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980)total population: 86%male: 93%female: 79%
Labor force: 7.9 million by occupation: industry and commerce 53%, services 22%, agriculture 15.6%, civil administration 7% (1989)
@Taiwan:Government
Names:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Taiwanlocal long form: nonelocal short form: T'ai-wan
Digraph: TW
Type: multiparty democratic regime; opposition political parties legalized in March, 1989
Capital: Taipei
Administrative divisions: some of the ruling party in Taipei claim to be the government of all China; in keeping with that claim, the central administrative divisions include 2 provinces (sheng, singular and plural) and 2 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural) - Fu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu), Kao-hsiung*, T'ai-pei*, and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); the more commonly referenced administrative divisions are those of Taiwan Province - 16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'un note: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary of theRevolution)
Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, presently undergoingrevision
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President LI Teng-hui (since 13 January 1988); VicePresident LI Yuan-zu (since 20 May 1990)head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) LIENChan (since 23 February 1993); Vice Premier (Vice President of theExecutive Yuan) HSU Li-teh (since 23 February 1993); presidentialelection last held 21 March 1990 (next election will probably be adirect popular election and will be held NA March 1996); results -President LI Teng-hui was reelected by the National Assembly; vicepresidential election last held 21 March 1990; results - LI Yuan-zuwas elected by the National Assemblycabinet: Executive Yuan; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan and unicameralNational AssemblyLegislative Yuan: elections last held 19 December 1992 (next to beheld NA December 1995); results - KMT 60%, DPP 31%, independents 9%;seats - (304 total, 161 elected) KMT 96, DPP 50, independents 15National Assembly: first National Assembly elected in November 1946with a supplementary election in December 1986; second and presentNational Assembly elected in December 1991; seats - (403 total) KMT318, DPP 75, other 10; (next election to be held probably in 1996 andwill be a direct popular election)
Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan
Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang (KMT, Nationalist Party), LITeng-hui, chairman; Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), SHIH Ming-teh,chairman; Chinese New Party (CNP); Labor Party (LP)
Other political or pressure groups: Taiwan independence movement,various environmental groupsnote: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within themainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalizationand the increased representation of the opposition DemocraticProgressive Party in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate onthe island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence, bothwithin the DPP and the ruling Kuomintang, oppose the ruling party'straditional stand that the island will eventually unify with mainlandChina; the aims of the Taiwan independence movement includeestablishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; otherorganizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World UnitedFormosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan NationBuilding
Member of: expelled from UN General Assembly and Security Council on 25 October 1971 and withdrew on same date from other charter-designated subsidiary organs; expelled from IMF/World Bank group April/May 1980; seeking to join GATT; attempting to retain membership in INTELSAT; suspended from IAEA in 1972, but still allows IAEA controls over extensive atomic development, APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, IOC, WCL
Diplomatic representation in US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 10 other US cities
US diplomatic representation: unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has offices in Taipei at #7, Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone [886] (2) 709-2000, and in Kao-hsiung at #2 Chung Cheng 3d Road, telephone [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, and the American Trade Center at Room 3207 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei 10548, telephone [886] (2) 720-1550
Flag: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
@Taiwan:Economy
Overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with considerable government guidance of investment and foreign trade and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GNP has averaged about 9% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are remarkably low. Agriculture contributes about 4% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Taiwan currently ranks as number 13 among major trading countries. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal.
National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $257 billion (1994 est.)
National product real growth rate: 6% (1994 est.)
National product per capita: $12,070 (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.2% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.6% (1994)
Budget:revenues: $30.3 billionexpenditures: $30.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1991 est.)
Exports: $93 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: electrical machinery 19.7%, electronic products 19.6%,textiles 10.9%, footwear 3.3%, foodstuffs 1.0%, plywood and woodproducts 0.9% (1993 est.)partners: US 27.6%, Hong Kong 21.7%, EC countries 15.2%, Japan 10.5%(1994 est.)
Imports: $85.1 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: machinery and equipment 15.7%, electronic products 15.6%,chemicals 9.8%, iron and steel 8.5%, crude oil 3.9%, foodstuffs 2.1%(1993 est.)partners: Japan 30.1%, US 21.7%, EC countries 17.6% (1993 est.)
External debt: $620 million (1992 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 4.5% (1994 est.); accounts for more than 40% of GDP
Electricity: capacity: 21,460,000 kW production: 108 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,789 kWh (1993)
Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining
Agriculture: accounts for 4% of GDP and 16% of labor force (includes part-time farmers); heavily subsidized sector; major crops - vegetables, rice, fruit, tea; livestock - hogs, poultry, beef, milk; not self-sufficient in wheat, soybeans, corn; fish catch increasing, reached 1.4 million metric tons in 1988
Illicit drugs: an important heroin transit point; also a major drugmoney laundering center
Economic aid:recipient: US, including Ex-Im (FY46-82), $4.6 billion; Western(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $500million
Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1 - 26.2 (1994), 26.6 (1993), 25.4 (1992), 25.748 (1991), 27.108 (1990), 26.407 (1989)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Taiwan:Transportation
Railroads:total: 4,600 km; note - 1,075 km in common carrier service and about3,525 km is dedicated to industrial usenarrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m
Highways:total: 20,041 kmpaved: bituminous, concrete pavement 17,095 kmunpaved: crushed stone, gravel 2,371 km; graded earth 575 km
Pipelines: petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km
Ports: Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung
Merchant marine:total: 198 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,635,682 GRT/8,652,111DWTships by type: bulk 55, cargo 30, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk2, combination ore/oil 1, container 78, oil tanker 17, passenger-cargo1, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
Airports:total: 41with paved runways over 3,047 m: 8with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 6with paved runways under 914 m: 8with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 2
@Taiwan:Communications
Telephone system: 7,800,000 telephones; best developed system in Asiaoutside of Japanlocal: NAintercity: extensive microwave radio relay links on east and westcoastsinternational: 2 INTELSAT (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earthstations; submarine cable links to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam,Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and WesternEurope
Radio:broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 23, shortwave 0radios: 8.62 million
Television:broadcast stations: 15 (repeaters 13)televisions: 6.386 million (color 5,680,000, monochrome 706,000)
@Taiwan:Defense Forces
Branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, Coastal Patrol andDefense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Military Police Command
Manpower availability: males age 15-49 6,293,884; males fit formilitary service 4,863,014; males reach military age (19) annually201,191 (1995 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $9.8 billion, 3.4% ofGDP (FY94/95); $9.77 billion proposed for FY95/96 budget
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Note—Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government since it gained independence in September 1991. The current president, Emomali RAKHMONOV, was elected to the presidency in November 1994, yet has been in power since 1992. The country is suffering through its third year of a civil war, with no clear end in sight. Underlying the conflict are deeply-rooted regional and clan-based animosities that pit a government consisting of people primarily from the Kulob (Kulyab), Khujand (Leninabad), and Hisor (Hissar) regions against a secular and Islamic-led opposition from the Gharm, Gorno-Badakhshan, and Qurghonteppa (Kurgan-Tyube) regions. Government and opposition representatives have held periodic rounds of UN-mediated peace talks and agreed in September 1994 to a cease-fire. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian border guards are stationed along the Tajik-Afghan border.
@Tajikistan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States - Central AsianStates
Area:total area: 143,100 sq kmland area: 142,700 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries: total 3,651 km, Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km,Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
International disputes: boundary with China in dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area; Afghanistan's and other foreign support to Tajik rebels based in northern Afghanistan
Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiaridto polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain: Pamir and Altay Mountains dominate landscape; western FerganaValley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, some petroleum,uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 23% forest and woodland: 0% other: 71%
Irrigated land: 6,940 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels ofsoil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of thebasin of the shrinking Aral Sea which suffers from severeoverutilization of available water for irrigation and associatedpollutionnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: NA
Note: landlocked
@Tajikistan:People
Population: 6,155,474 (July 1995 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (female 1,303,627; male 1,340,086)15-64 years: 53% (female 1,612,429; male 1,624,379)65 years and over: 4% (female 157,841; male 117,112) (July 1995 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.6% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 34.06 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 60.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.03 years male: 66.11 years female: 72.1 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tajik(s) adjective: Tajik
Ethnic divisions: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
Languages: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government andbusiness
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989)total population: 98%male: 99%female: 97%
Labor force: 1.95 million (1992)by occupation: agriculture and forestry 43%, government and services24%, industry 14%, trade and communications 11%, construction 8%(1990)
@Tajikistan:Government
Names:conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistanconventional short form: Tajikistanlocal long form: Jumhurii Tojikistanlocal short form: noneformer: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph: TI
Type: republic
Capital: Dushanbe
Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular - viloyat)and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati avtonomii); Viloyati AvtonomiiBadakhshoni Kuni* (Khorugh - formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon(Qurghonteppa - formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobad (Khujand -formerly Leninabad)note: the administrative center names are in parentheses
Independence: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, 9 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 6 November 1994
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Emomili RAKHMONOV (since 6 November 1994;was Head of State and Assembly Chairman since NA November 1992);election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1998); results- Emomili RAKHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLAJANOV 40%head of government: Prime Minister Jamshed KARIMOV (since 2 December1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers
Legislative branch: unicameralSupreme Soviet: elections last held 26 February 1994 (next to be heldNA); results - percent of vote by party NA; estimated seats - (181total) Communist Party and affiliates 100, Popular Party 10, Party ofPolitical and Economic Progress 1, Party of Popular Unity 6, other 64
Judicial branch: Prosecutor General
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party (People's Party of Tajikistan - PPT), Abdumalik ABDULAJANOV; Party of Economic Freedom (PEF), Abdumalik ABDULAJANOV; Tajik Socialist Party (TSP), Shodi SHABDOLOV; Tajik Democratic Party (TDP), Abdu-Nabi SATARZADE, chairman; note - suspended for six months; Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP), Sayed Abdullo NURI, chairman; Rebirth (Rastokhez), Takhir ABDUZHABOROV; Lali Badakhshan Society, Atobek AMIRBEK; People's Democratic Party (PDP), Abdujalil HAMIDOV, chairman; Tajikistan Party of Economic and Political Renewal (TPEPR), Mukhtor BOBOYEV note: all the above-listed parties except the Communist Party, the Party of National Unity, and the People's Party were banned in June 1993