Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals,paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement,fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 3,990,000 kW production: 12 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,022 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoesand other tubers, beans; livestock
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: sugar, nickel, shellfish, tobacco, medical products,citrus, coffeepartners: Canada 15%, China 15%, Russia 15% (1995 est.)
Imports: $2.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals partners: Spain 15%, Mexico 15%, Russia 10%, (1995 est.)
External debt: $9.1 billion (convertible currency,1995); another$20 billion owed to Russia (1995)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (non-convertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 4,677 kmstandard gauge: 4,677 km 1.435-m gauge (132 km electrified)note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations
Highways:total: 26,500 kmpaved: 14,575 kmunpaved: 11,925 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 240 km
Ports: Cienfuegos, La Habana, Manzanillo, Mariel, Matanzas,Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,870 GRT/310,169 DWTships by type: cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 4,oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 9note: Cuba owns an additional 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling462,517 DWT operating under the registries of Panama, Cyprus, Malta,Belize, and Mauritius (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 156with paved runways over 3 047 m: 7with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 14with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9with paved runways under 914 m: 87with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 31 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 430,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephonesystemsdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (AtlanticOcean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 2.14 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 58
Televisions: 2.5 million (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) includes ground forces,Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),Territorial Troops Militia (MTT), and Youth Labor Army (EJT);Interior Ministry Border Guards (TGF)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 3,053,431 females age 15-49: 3,009,852 males fit for military service: 1,898,644 females fit for military service: 1,866,313 males reach military age (17) annually: 65,182 females reach military age (17) annually: 61,960 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $NA, roughly 4%of GDP (1995 est.)
Defense note: Moscow, for decades the key military supporter andsupplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
======================================================================
@Cyprus ———
Map —-
Location: 35 00 N, 33 00 E — Middle East, island in theMediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Flag ——
Description: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south ofTurkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 9,250 sq km (note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area)land area: 9,240 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 648 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island
Climate: temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters
Terrain: central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Olympus 1,952 m
Natural resources: copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber,salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use:arable land: 40%permanent crops: 7%meadows and pastures: 10%forest and woodland: 18%other: 25%
Irrigated land: 350 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: water resource problems (no natural reservoircatchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potableresources concentrated in the Turkish Cypriot area); water pollutionfrom sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss ofwildlife habitats from urbanizationnatural hazards: moderate earthquake activityinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, ClimateChange
People ———
Population: 744,609 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25% (male 97,400; female 92,110)15-64 years: 64% (male 240,716; female 238,039)65 years and over: 11% (male 33,340; female 43,004) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.11% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 15.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.26 years male: 74.11 years female: 78.52 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic divisions:total: Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area; 0.5%of the Greeks live in the Turkish area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of theTurks live in the Greek area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkisharea), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greekarea; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish area)
Religions: Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, ArmenianApostolic, and other 4%
Languages: Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1987 est.)total population: 94%male: 98%female: 91%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Cyprusconventional short form: Cyprusnote: the Turkish area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic" orthe "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Data code: CY
Type of government: republicnote: a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting theisland began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; thisseparation was further solidified following the Turkish invasion ofthe island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de factocontrol in the north; Greek Cypriots control the onlyinternationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 TurkishCypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and theformation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), whichhas been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for theresolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a newfederal system of government
Capital: Nicosianote: the Turkish area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)
Administrative divisions: 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia,Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish areaadministrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part ofFamagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca
Independence: 16 August 1960 (from UK)note: Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on NA February 1975 fromRepublic of Cyprus
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 Octobernote: Turkish area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day
Constitution: 16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
Legal system: based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES(since 28 February 1993) was elected for a five-year term byuniversal suffrage; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to beheld NA February 1998); results - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.3%, YeoryiosVASSILIOU 49.7%cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed jointly by the presidentand vice presidentnote: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish areasince 13 February 1975 (president is elected for a five-year term byuniversal suffrage); Hakki ATUN has been "prime minister" of theTurkish area since 1 January 1994; there is a Council of Ministers(cabinet) in the Turkish area; elections last held 15 and 22 April1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%
Legislative branch: unicameralGreek area: House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon): electionslast held 19 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - DISY35.8%, AKEL (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10.9%; others 3.2%;seats - (56 total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7Turkish area: Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi):elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results -UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats - (50total) UBP (conservative) 15, DP 16, CTP 13, TKP 5, UDP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by theSupreme Council of Judicaturenote: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area
Political parties and leaders:Greek area: Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, CommunistParty), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), IoannisMATSIS; Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU; United DemocraticUnion of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS; Socialist DemocraticRenewal Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU; Liberal Party,Nikolaos ROLANDIS; Free Democrats, Yeoryios VASSILIOU; New Horizons,Nikolaos KOUTSOU, secretary generalTurkish area: National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU; CommunalLiberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI; Republican Turkish Party(CTP), Mehmet ALI TALAT; New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN;Free Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK; Nationalist Justice Party(MAP), Zorlu TORE; Unity and Sovereignty Party (BEP), Arif SalihKIRDAG; Democratic Party (DP), Serdar DENKTASH; National Birth Party(UDP), Enver EMIN; the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the labelNational Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12 December1993 legislative election
Other political or pressure groups: United Democratic YouthOrganization (EDON, Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers(EKA, Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK, pro-West);Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO, Communist controlled);Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK, pro-West); Federation ofTurkish Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen); Confederation ofRevolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)
International organization participation: C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE,EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD,IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas J. JACOVIDES chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 consulate(s) general: New York note: Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202) 887-6198
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard A. BOUCHER embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836 telephone: [357] (2) 476100 FAX: [357] (2) 465944
Flag: white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (thename Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above twogreen crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branchessymbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greekand Turkish communitiesnote: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at thetop and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on awhite field
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 25% to GDP and employs 26% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 70% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. After surging 9.7% in 1992, economic growth slowed to 1.6% in 1993 - its lowest level in two decades - because of the decline in tourist arrivals associated with the recession in Western Europe, Cyprus' main trading partner, and the loss in export competitiveness due to a sharp rise in unit labor costs. However, real GDP picked up in 1994 and 1995, as inflation fell from 4.7% to about 3%. Economic prospects appear favorable for 1996: real GDP is likely to grow between 3% and 4%, and inflation is likely to rise slightly to 3.5%-4.5%. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. Economic growth sharply dropped during 1994 because of the severe economic crisis affecting the mainland, and inflation soared to 215%. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support has risen and now equals in value about one-third of Turkish Cypriot GDP.
GDP:Greek area: purchasing power parity - $7.8 billion (1995 est.)Turkish area: purchasing power parity - $520 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate:Greek area: 5% (1995 est.)Turkish area: 0.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita:Greek area: $13,000 (1995 est.)Turkish area: $3,900 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:Greek area - agriculture: 5.6%Greek area - industry: 24.9%Greek area - services: 69.5% (1994)Turkish area - agriculture: 11.4%Turkish area - industry: 22.9%Turkish area - services: 65.7% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):Greek area: 3% (1995 est.)Turkish area: 215% (1994)
Labor force:Greek area: 294,100by occupation: services 61.5%, industry 26%, agriculture 12.5% (1994)Turkish area: 75,320by occupation: services 52.9%, industry 23.6%, agriculture 23.5%(1994)
Unemployment rate:Greek area: 2.7% (1994)Turkish area: 1.6% (1994)
Budget:revenues: Greek area - $2.3 billion, Turkish area - $246 millionexpenditures: Greek area - $3.4 billion, including capitalexpenditures of $500 million, Turkish area - $350 million, includingcapital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products,tourism, wood products
Industrial production growth rate:Greek area: 3.7% (1994)Turkish area: 2.6% (1992)
Electricity: capacity: 550,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,903 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, citrus, vegetables
Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey, also some cocaine transits en route to Russia
Exports:Greek area: $968 million (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing andshoespartners: UK 16%, Lebanon 9%, Greece 8%, Russia 12%Turkish area: $59 million (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: citrus, potatoes, textilespartners: UK 48%, Turkey 22%
Imports:Greek area: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feedgrains, machinerypartners: UK 12%, Japan 9%, Italy 10%, Germany 9%, US 8%Turkish area: $330 million (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: food, minerals, chemicals, machinerypartners: Turkey 48%, UK 19%
External debt:Greek area: $1.4 billion (1994)
Economic aid:Greek area - recipient: ODA, $NATurkish area: during 1977-93, received substantial grants and loansfrom Turkey
Currency: 1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) =100 kurus
Exchange rates: Cypriot pounds per US1$ - 0.4628 (January 1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4633 (1991); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 60,502.1 (January 1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways:Greek area - total: 10,448 kmGreek area - paved: 5,694 kmGreek area - unpaved: 4,754 kmTurkish area - total: 6,116 kmTurkish area - paved: 5,278 kmTurkish area - unpaved: 838 km
Ports: Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Bay
Merchant marine:total: 1,524 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,949,242GRT/40,236,638 DWTships by type: bulk 490, cargo 562, chemical tanker 27, combinationbulk 53, combination ore/oil 22, container 115, liquefied gas tanker3, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 129, passenger 6,passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 62, roll-on/roll-off cargo 28,short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 2note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48countries among which are Greece 706, Germany 171, Russia 44,Netherlands 31, Belgium 30, Japan 29, Cuba 21, UK 17, Spain 14, andHong Kong 13 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 15with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 3with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 331,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: excellent in both the Greek and Turkish areas domestic: open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay international: tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:Greek area: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 0Turkish area: AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios:Greek area: 270,000 (1993 est.)Turkish area: 42,170 (1985 est.)
Television broadcast stations:Greek area: 1 (repeaters 34)Turkish area: 1
Televisions:Greek area: 107,000 (1992 est.)Turkish area: 75,000 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches:Greek area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air andnaval elements), Greek Cypriot PoliceTurkish area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: 190,372males fit for military service: 130,880males reach military age (18) annually: 5,749 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $493 million,5.6% of GDP (1995)
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@Czech Republic ———————
Map —-
Location: 49 45 N, 15 30 E — Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Flag ——
Description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)
Geography ————-
Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 78,703 sq kmland area: 78,645 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 1,880 kmborder countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,Slovakia 214 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II versus the Czech Republic claims that restitution does not precede February 1948 when the Communists seized power; unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak federal government
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country lowest point: Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%meadows and pastures: NA%forest and woodland: NA%other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwestBohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks;acid rain damaging forestsnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands; signed, but notratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe
People ———
Population: 10,321,120 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 965,861; female 918,745)15-64 years: 68% (male 3,519,753; female 3,524,913)65 years and over: 14% (male 526,841; female 865,007) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: -0.03% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.89 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.76 years male: 70.08 years female: 77.65 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.38 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994
Ethnic divisions: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%
Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%,Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
Languages: Czech, Slovak
Literacy: age NA and over can read and write (est.)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Czech Republicconventional short form: Czech Republiclocal long form: Ceska Republikalocal short form: Cechy
Data code: EZ
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Prague
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular);Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky,Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky
Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of theRepublic, 28 October
Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993) waselected for a five-year term by the Parliament; election last held26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); results - VaclavHAVEL was electedhead of government: Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992)was appointed by the president; Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK(since NA June 1992), Josef LUX (since NA June 1992), Jan KALVODA(since NA June 1992)cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president on recommendation ofthe prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlament) Senate (Senate): elections to be held 15-16 November 1996 (next to be held NA); seats (81 total) Chamber of Deputies (Snemovna Poslancu): elections last held 5-6 June 1992 (next to be held 31 May-1 June 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA given breakup and realignment of all parliamentary opposition parties since 1992; seats - (200 total) governing coalition (ODS 65, KDS 10, ODA 16, KDU-CSL 15), opposition (CSSD 18, LB 25, KSCM 10, LSU 9, LSNS 5, CMUS 9, SPR-RSC 6, independents 12)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:governing coalition: Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Vaclav KLAUS,chairman; Christian Democratic Party (KDS), Ivan PILIP, chairman;Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), Jan KALVODA, chairman; ChristianDemocratic Union/Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL), Josef LUX,chairman; note - KDS was to merge with ODS in March 1996opposition: Czech Social Democrats (CSSD - left opposition), MilosZEMAN, chairman; Left Bloc (LB - left opposition), Jaroslav ORTMAN,chairman; Communist Party (KSCM - left opposition), MiroslavGREBENICEK, chairman; Liberal Social Union (LSU - left opposition),Frantisek TRNKA, chairman, note - may not still be in existence;Liberal National Social Party (LSNS - center party), VavrinecBODENLOS, chairman; Bohemian-Moravian Center Union (CMUS - centerparty), Jan JEGLA, chairman; Assembly for the Republic (SPR-RSC -right radical), Miroslav SLADEK, chairman
Other political or pressure groups: Czech-Moravian Chamber ofTrade Unions; Civic Movement
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,CCC, CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPROFOR, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ZANTOVSKY chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 363-6315, 6316 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: Unit 1330, APO AE 09213-1330 telephone: [42] (2) 2451-0847 FAX: [42] (2) 2451-1001
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The Czech Republic, which separated from Slovakia on 1 January 1993, emerged from recession with 2.6% growth in 1994 and 5% growth in 1995. Inflation in 1994-95 was cut in half; unemployment was kept at about 3%; the budget was balanced; and exports were reoriented to the EU. Prague's mass privatization program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares to Czech citizens via "coupon vouchers," has made the most rapid progress in Eastern Europe. About 80% of the economy is wholly or partially in private hands. Because of its progress on reform, the Czech Republic in 1995 became the first post-Communist member of the OECD. Its solid economic performance also led Standard and Poor's to upgrade the country's sovereign credit rating to "A" and attracted nearly $5.3 billion in direct foreign investment to Czech industry between 1990 and September 1995. The Czech crown became convertible for current account transactions in October 1995. Czech companies increasingly are using the international capital market to fund capital investment, and foreign currency reserves totaled $13.9 billion at the end of 1995. Prague's biggest macroeconomic concern now is limiting the inflationary effect of these large capital inflows. The Czech economy also still faces microeconomic problems. Prague has promised to strengthen its bankruptcy law and improve the transparency of stock market operations in 1996, but some changes probably will not take effect until some time after the parliamentary elections of mid-1996 and will depend largely on voluntary compliance. Prague forecasts a balanced budget, 5.5% GDP growth, 2.8% unemployment, and 8.1% inflation for 1996.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $106.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $10,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 5.8% industry: 40.7% services: 53.5%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.1% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 5.389 million by occupation: industry 37.9%, agriculture 8.1%, construction 8.8%, communications and other 45.2% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 2.9% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $16.5 billionexpenditures: $16.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment,coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 12.9% (January-November 1995)
Electricity: capacity: 14.470,000 kW production: 56.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,842 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs,cattle, poultry; forest products
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin andLatin American cocaine to Western Europe
Exports: $17.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,chemicals, fuels, minerals, metals, agricultural productspartners: Germany 32.4%, Slovakia 16.1%, Austria 6.7%, Poland 5.3%,Italy 4%, Russia 3.3%, Netherlands 2.8%, France 2.6%, UK 2.2%,Hungary 2.1%, US 1.8%, Belgium 1.5% (January-September 1995)
Imports: $21.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,chemicals, fuels and lubricants, raw materials, agricultural productspartners: Germany 26%, Slovakia 13.2%, Russia 9.2%, Austria 7%,Italy 5.6%, France 4.1%, US 3.8%, Poland 3.1%, Netherlands 2.9%, UK2.9%, Switzerland 2.1%, Belgium 2.0% (January-September 1995)
External debt: $14.9 billion (June 1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $27 million (1993)
Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 26.967 (January 1996),26.541 (1995), 28.785 (1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992), 29.53(1991), 17.95 (1990)note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 9,413 kmstandard gauge: 9,316 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2640 km electrified)narrow gauge: 97 km several narrow gauges (1995)
Highways:total: 55,557 km (1994 est.)paved: NA kmunpaved: NA km
Waterways: NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river
Pipelines: natural gas 5,400 km
Ports: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Merchant marine:total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,946 GRT/251,624 DWTships by type: bulk 5, cargo 5 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 116with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13with paved runways under 914 m: 5with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 10with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 32with unpaved runways under 914 m: 41 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 3,349,539 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlanticand Indian Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense,Railroad Units
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 2,724,607 males fit for military service: 2,074,331 males reach military age (18) annually: 88,418 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $931 million, 2.5% of GDP (1995)
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@Denmark ———-
Map —-
Location: 56 00 N, 10 00 E — Northern Europe, bordering theBaltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Flag ——
Description: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the NorthSea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 43,070 sq kmland area: 42,370 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Massachusettsnote: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the restof metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Land boundaries: total: 68 km border country: Germany 68 km
Coastline: 3,379 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 4 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area)
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone
Land use:arable land: 61%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 6%forest and woodland: 12%other: 21%
Irrigated land: 4,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle emissions;nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking andsurface water becoming polluted from animal wastesnatural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country(e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island ofLolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikesinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but notratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile OrganicCompounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law ofthe Sea
Geographic note: controls Danish Straits linking Baltic and NorthSeas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen
People ———
Population: 5,249,632 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 469,672; female 446,907)15-64 years: 67% (male 1,789,552; female 1,738,870)65 years and over: 16% (male 330,396; female 474,235) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 12.24 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.42 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.97 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.3 years male: 73.78 years female: 81.01 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish
Ethnic divisions: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and RomanCatholic 2%, other 7% (1988)
Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect),German (small minority)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmarkconventional short form: Denmarklocal long form: Kongeriget Danmarklocal short form: Danmark
Data code: DA
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Copenhagen
Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties(amter, singular - amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholms,Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordjyllands, Ribe, Ringkobing,Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstroms, Vejle,Vestsjaellands, Viborgnote: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrativedivisions
Independence: 10th century first organized as a unified state; in1849 became a constitutional monarchy
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since NA January 1972) is aconstitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elderson of the queen (born 26 May 1968)head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since NAJanuary 1993) was appointed by the queencabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameralParliament (Folketing): elections last held 21 September 1994 (nextto be held by December 1998); results - Social Democrats 34.6%,Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Social People's Party 7.3%,Progress Party 6.4%, Radical Liberals 4.6%, Unity Party 3.1%, CenterDemocrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats - (179 total)Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Social People'sParty 13, Progress Party 11, Radical Liberals 8, Unity Party 6,Center Democrats 5, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by themonarch for life
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party, Poul NyrupRASMUSSEN; Conservative Party, Hans ENGELL; Liberal Party, UffeELLEMANN-JENSEN; Socialist People's Party, Holger K. NIELSEN;Progress Party, Group Chairman Kim BEHNKE and Policy Spokesman JanKopke CHRISTENSEN; Center Democratic Party, Mimi Stilling JAKOBSEN;Radical Liberal Party, Marianne JELVED; Christian People's Party,Jann SJURSEN; Danish Workers' Party, Common Cause, Preben MollerHANSEN; Unity Party
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB,ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN,UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESENchancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. ELSONembassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagenmailing address: APO AE 09716, PSC 73telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44FAX: [45] (35) 43 02 23
Flag: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Economy ———-
Economic overview: This thoroughly modern economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is self-sufficient in food production. The new center-left coalition government will concentrate on reducing the persistently high unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. In the face of recent international market pressure on the Danish krone, the coalition has also vowed to maintain a stable currency. The coalition hopes to lower marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boost industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improve welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms will focus on adapting Denmark to the criteria for European integration by 1999; Copenhagen has won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European Monetary Union (EMU) if a national referendum rejects it. Denmark is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on time. Denmark is weathering the current worldwide slump better than many West European countries. Although unemployment is high, it remains stable compared to most European countries.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $112.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $21,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 23.5% services: 73.5% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 2,553,900by occupation: private services 37.1%, government services 30.4%,manufacturing and mining 20%, construction 6.3%, agriculture,forestry, and fishing 5.6%, electricity/gas/water 0.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 9.5% (1995)
Budget:revenues: $56.5 billionexpenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994 est.)
Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding
Industrial production growth rate: -2.5% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 10,030,000 kW production: 32 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,835 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; meat, dairy products; fish
Exports: $39.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: meat and meat products, dairy products, transportequipment (shipbuilding), fish, chemicals, industrial machinerypartners: EU 49.4% (Germany 22.4%, UK 8.2%), Sweden 10.4%, Norway6.5%, US 5.5%, Japan 4.1%, FSU 1.7% (1994)
Imports: $34 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)commodities: petroleum, machinery and equipment, chemicals, grainand foodstuffs, textiles, paperpartners: EU 51% (Germany 22%, UK 6.5%), Sweden 11.6%, Norway 5.1%,US 5.2%, Japan 3.5%, FSU 1.7% (1994)
External debt: $40.9 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.34 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 5.652 (January 1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 2,848 km (499 km privately owned and operated)standard gauge: 2,848 km 1.435-m gauge (326 km electrified; 760 kmdouble track) (1995)
Highways:total: 71,042 kmpaved: 71,042 km (including 696 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 417 km
Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; naturalgas 700 km
Ports: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Grenaa,Koge, Odense, Struer
Merchant marine:total: 334 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,013,054GRT/7,171,871 DWTships by type: bulk 13, cargo 114, chemical tanker 25, container 65,liquefied gas tanker 27, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 31, railcarcarrier 1, refrigerated cargo 17, roll-on/roll-off cargo 26,short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 1note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called theDanish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have tomeet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag ofconvenience within the Danish register (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 109with paved runways over 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13with paved runways under 914 m: 77with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 4.005 million (1985 est.)
Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph servicesdomestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay formtrunk networkinternational: 19 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations- 7 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian OceanRegions); note - Denmark shares the Inmarsat earth station with theother Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 2.04 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish AirForce, Home Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,338,791 males fit for military service: 1,150,996 males reach military age (20) annually: 34,324 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $3.2 billion, 1.8% of GDP (1995)
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@Djibouti ————
Map —-
Location: 11 30 N, 43 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulfof Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Flag ——
Description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the RedSea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 22,000 sq kmland area: 21,980 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 508 km border countries: Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains lowest point: Asal -155 m highest point: Mousa Alli 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 9%forest and woodland: 0%other: 91%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertificationnatural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonicdisturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floodsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution; signed, but notratified - Desertification
Geographic note: strategic location near world's busiest shippinglanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic intoEthiopia; a vast wasteland
People ———
Population: 427,642 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (male 91,687; female 91,242)15-64 years: 55% (male 123,699; female 110,530)65 years and over: 2% (male 5,389; female 5,095) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.5% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 42.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.26 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 106.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.15 years male: 48.24 years female: 52.12 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.08 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic divisions: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%