US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Parker W. BORGembassy: Laufasvegur 21, Reykjavikmailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340telephone: [354] 5629100FAX: [354] 5629139
Flag: blue with a red cross outlined in white 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)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, but with an extensive welfare system, low unemployment, and comparatively even distribution of income. The economy is heavily dependent on the fishing industry, which provides nearly 75% of export earnings and employs 12% of the work force. In the absence of other natural resources - except energy - Iceland's economy is vulnerable to changing world fish prices. The economy, in recession since 1988, began to recover in 1993, posting 0.4% growth, but was still hampered by cutbacks in fish quotas as well as falling world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. The center-right government plans to continue its policies of reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government, however, remains divided on the issue of EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $18,800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 9.6% industry: 22.1% services: 68.3% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 127,900by occupation: commerce, transportation, and services 60.0%,manufacturing 12.5%, fishing and fish processing 11.8%, construction10.8%, agriculture 4.0%, other 0.9% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 3.9% (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $1.9 billionexpenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $297million (1994 est.)
Industries: fish processing, aluminum smelting, ferrosiliconproduction, geothermal power
Industrial production growth rate: 1.75% (1991 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 1,070,000 kW production: 4.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 16,458 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: potatoes, turnips; cattle, sheep; fish catch of about 1.1 million metric tons in 1992
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: fish and fish products, animal products, aluminum, ferrosilicon, diatomite partners: EC 68% (UK 25%, Germany 12%), US 11%, Japan 8% (1992)
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles partners: EC 53% (Germany 14%, Denmark 10%, UK 9%), Norway 14%, US 9% (1992)
External debt: $2.5 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Icelandic krona (IKr) = 100 aurar
Exchange rates: Icelandic kronur (IKr) per US$1 - 65.970 (January 1996), 64.692 (1995), 69.944 (1994), 67.603 (1993), 57.546 (1992), 58.996 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 11,373 km paved: 2,513 km unpaved: 8,860 km (1992 est.)
Ports: Akureyri, Hornafjordur, Isafjordur, Keflavik, Raufarhofn,Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur, Straumsvik, Vestmannaeyjar
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,025 GRT/40,410 DWTships by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 1,refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 84with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5with paved runways under 914 m: 49with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 4with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 22 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 143,600 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: adequate domestic service domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 147 (transmitters and repeaters), shortwave 0
Radios: 91,500 licensed (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 202 (transmitters and repeaters)
Televisions: 96,100 licensed (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: no regular armed forces; Police, Coast Guard; note -Iceland's defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic DefenseForce (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: 71,317males fit for military service: 63,126 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: none
======================================================================
@India ——-
Map —-
Location: 20 00 N, 77 00 E — Southern Asia, bordering the ArabianSea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay ofBengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 77 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:total area: 3,287,590 sq kmland area: 2,973,190 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 14,103 kmborder countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline: 7,000 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh and China in dispute; status of Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges and Pakistan over the Indus (Wular Barrage)
Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone
Land use:arable land: 55%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 4%forest and woodland: 23%other: 17%
Irrigated land: 430,390 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing;desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicleemissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff ofagricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout thecountry; huge and rapidly growing population is overstrainingnatural resourcesnatural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstormscommon; earthquakesinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, butnot ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification
Geographic note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; nearimportant Indian Ocean trade routes
People ———
Population: 952,107,694 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34% (male 168,030,766; female 159,283,151)15-64 years: 62% (male 304,805,787; female 281,311,834)65 years and over: 4% (male 19,148,385; female 19,527,771) (July1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.64% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 25.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.04 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: 1.08 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.71 years male: 59.12 years female: 60.32 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Indian(s) adjective: Indian
Ethnic divisions: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid andother 3%
Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%,Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%
Languages: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication, Hindi the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, Bengali (official), Telugu (official), Marathi (official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati (official), Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official), Punjabi (official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi (official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani a popular variant of Hindu/Urdu, is spoken widely throughout northern India note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually unintelligible
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 52%male: 65.5%female: 37.7%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Republic of India conventional short form: India
Data code: IN
Type of government: federal republic
Capital: New Delhi
Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*;Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh,Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*,Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachel Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir,Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab,Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26 January (1950)
Constitution: 26 January 1950
Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992)was elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consistingof elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislaturesof the states; Vice President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 21August 1992) was elected by both houses of Parliamenthead of government: Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21June 1991) was appointed by the presidentcabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president onrecommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad) Council of States (Rajya Sabha): body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 appointed by the president, the remainder chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies People's Assembly (Lok Sabha): elections last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June 1991 (next to be held 27 April through May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2 appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, BJP 119, Janata Dal Party 39, Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20, CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13, AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party 5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1, Congress (S) Party 1, other 23, vacant 9; note - the distribution of seats as of 18 January 1995 is as follows: Congress (I) Party 260, BJP 117, CPI/M 36, Janata Dal Party 24, Samata Party 14, CPI 14, AIADMK 12, Janata Dal (Ajit) 7, Telugu Desam 7, RSP 4, Janata Dal (Ex-Ajit) 3, Samajwadi Party 3, BSP 3, AIFB 3, Shiv Sena 2, Congress (S) Party 1, Kerala Congress (Mani faction) 1, Bihar Peoples Party 1, India National League 1, other 14, vacant 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by thepresident
Political parties and leaders: Congress (I) Party, P. V. NarasimhaRAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), L.K. ADVANI; JanataDal Party, Laloo Prasad YADAV; Janata Dal (Ajit), Ajit SINGH; JanataDal (Ex-Ajit), leader NA; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M),Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), IndrajitGUPTA; Telugu Desam (Naidu) (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh),Chandrababu NAIDU; All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK;a regional party in Tamil Nadu), Jayaram JAYALALITHA; SamajwadiParty (SP), Mulayam Singh YADAV (president), Om Prakash CHAUTALA,Devi LAL; Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party(RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM;Congress (S) Party, leader NA; Communist Party ofIndia/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Vinod MISHRA; Dravida MunnetraKazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI; Akali Dalfactions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab;National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir),Farooq ABDULLAH; Bihar Peoples Party, Lovely ANAND; Samata Party(formerly Janata Dal members), George FERNANDES; Indian NationalLeague, Suliaman SAIT; Kerala Congress (Mani faction), K.M. MANI;All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Prem Dutta PALIWAL (chairman), ChittaBASU (general secretary); Congress (Tiwari), Arjun SINGH and N.D.TIWARI
Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groupsseeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy; numerousreligious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including AdamSena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya SwayamsevakSangh
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM,OAS (observer), PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIL, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Naresh CHANDRA chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Frank G. WISNER embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [91] (11) 600651 FAX: [91] (11) 6872028 consulate(s) general: Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai (Bombay)
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. Faster economic growth in the 1980s permitted a significant increase in real per capita private consumption. A large share of the population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford an adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990 and 1991 prompted government austerity measures that slowed industrial growth but permitted India to meet its international payment obligations without rescheduling its debt. Production, trade, and investment reforms since 1991 have provided new opportunities for Indian businessmen and an estimated 200 million plus middle class consumers. New Delhi has always paid its foreign debts on schedule and has stimulated exports, attracted foreign investment, and revived confidence in India's economic prospects. GDP growth in 1992-95 has averaged nearly 5%. Most of the country's external fundamentals - including the current account balance and reserves (now nearly $17 billion) are healthy. Party politics is increasingly shaping the debate over economic reforms. In addition, the 25 Indian states and several union territories, which are playing a more active role in determining economic policy, are further complicating the economic climate. The Indian Government will also have to watch closely rising government expenditures and higher debt servicing which could create a debt trap by the turn of the century. Nevertheless, India should achieve economic growth of 5.5%-6.5% annually through the next several years. Even if a weak coalition government comes to power in 1996 and is unable to push reforms aggressively, parts of the economy that have already benefited from deregulation will continue to grow. Moreover, the country can build on other strengths, including its diverse industrial base, large scientific and technical pool, well-developed legal system, and its large middle class to achieve higher growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.4087 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1995)
Labor force: 314.751 million (1990) by occupation: agriculture 65% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $36.5 billionexpenditures: $54.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.4billion (FY94/95)
Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel,transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1995 est.)
Electricity:capacity: 81,200,000 kW (March 1995)production: 314 billion kWh (1993)consumption per capita: 324 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane,potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catchof about 3 million metric tons ranks India among the world's top 10fishing nations
Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of hashish and methaqualone; produced 70 metric tons of illicit opium in 1995
Exports: $29.96 billion (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: clothing, gems and jewelry, engineering goods,chemicals, leather manufactures, cotton yarn, and fabricpartners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Hong Kong
Imports: $33.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, machinery, gems,fertilizer, chemicalspartners: US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UK, Belgium, Japan
External debt: $97.9 billion (March 1995)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $1.237 billion (1993); US ODA bilateral commitments$171 million; US Ex-Im bilateral commitments $680 million; Western(non-US) countries, ODA bilateral commitments $2.48 billion; OPECbilateral aid $200 million; World Bank (IBRD) multilateralcommitments $2.8 billion; Asian Development Bank (AsDB) multilateralcommitments $760 million; International Finance Corporation (IFC)multilateral commitments $200 million; other multilateralcommitments $554 million (1995-96)
Currency: 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 62,462 km (11,793 km electrified; 12,617 km double track)broad gauge: 37,824 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 20,653 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,985 km 0.762-m and 0.610-mgauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 2.037 million km paved: 981,834 km unpaved: 1,055,166 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 3,005 km; petroleum products 2,687 km;natural gas 1,700 km (1995)
Ports: Calcutta, Cochin, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Madras, Mumbai(Bombay), Vishakhapatnam
Merchant marine:total: 310 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,787,834GRT/11,296,222 DWTships by type: bulk 133, cargo 65, chemical tanker 10, combinationbulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 11, liquefied gas tanker 6,oil tanker 73, passenger-cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1,short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 288with paved runways over 3 047 m: 11with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 48with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 59with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 68with paved runways under 914 m: 62with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 36 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 15 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 9.8 million (1995)
Telephone system: probably the least adequate telephone system of any of the industrializing countries; three of every four villages have no telephone service; only 5% of India's villages have long-distance service; poor telephone service significantly impedes commercial and industrial growth and penalizes India in global markets; slow improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but demand for communication services is also growing rapidly domestic: local service is provided mostly by open wire and obsolete electromechanical and manual switchboard systems; within the last 10 years a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been introduced for local service; long-distance traffic is carried mostly by open wire, coaxial cable, and low-capacity microwave radio relay; since 1985, however, significant trunk capacity has been added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite system with over 100 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); submarine cables to Malaysia and UAE
Radio broadcast stations: AM 96, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 70 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 274 (government controlled)
Televisions: 33 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 260,624,007 males fit for military service: 153,176,413 males reach military age (17) annually: 9,770,331 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.0 billion, 2.7% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Indian Ocean ——————
Map —-
Location: 30 00 S, 80 00 E — body of water between Africa,Antarctica, Asia, and Australia
Geography ————-
Location: body of water between Africa, Antarctica, Asia, andAustralia
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 80 00 E
Map references: World
Area:total area: 73.6 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of the US;third-largest ocean (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, butlarger than the Arctic Ocean)note: includes Arabian Sea, Bass Straight, Bay of Bengal, GreatAustralian Bight, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait ofMalacca, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline: 66,526 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoralstates)
Climate: northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon(June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June andOctober/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/Februaryin the southern Indian Ocean
Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninety East Ridge lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand andgravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules
Environment:current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,and Red Seanatural hazards: ships subject to superstructure icing in extremesouth near Antarctica from May to Octoberinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait
Government —————
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
Transportation ———————
Ports: Calcutta (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (SouthAfrica), Jakarta (Indonesia), Madras (India), Melbourne (Australia),Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richard's Bay (South Africa)
Communications ———————
Telephone system:international: submarine cables from India to UAE and Malaysia andfrom Sri Lanka to Djibouti and Indonesia
======================================================================
@Indonesia ————-
Map —-
Location: 5 00 S, 120 00 E — Southeastern Asia, archipelagobetween the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean
Flag ——
Description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red
Geography ————-
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Oceanand the Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 5 00 S, 120 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 1,919,440 sq kmland area: 1,826,440 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 2,602 km border countries: Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km
Coastline: 54,716 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East TimorProvince) disputed with Portugal and not recognized by the UN; twoislands in dispute with Malaysia
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interiormountainslowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber,bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver
Land use:arable land: 8%permanent crops: 3%meadows and pastures: 7%forest and woodland: 67%other: 15%
Irrigated land: 75,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; water pollution from industrialwastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areasnatural hazards: occasional floods, severe droughts, and tsunamisinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Desertification, Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: archipelago of 13,500 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean
People ———
Population: 206,611,600 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32% (male 33,354,840; female 32,414,363)15-64 years: 64% (male 66,385,852; female 66,827,085)65 years and over: 4% (male 3,380,567; female 4,248,893) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 1.53% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23.67 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 63.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.64 years male: 59.51 years female: 63.88 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Indonesian(s) adjective: Indonesian
Ethnic divisions: Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%,coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%
Religions: Muslim 87%, Protestant 6%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%,Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1985)
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay),English, Dutch, local dialects the most widely spoken of which isJavanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 83.8%male: 89.6%female: 78%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Indonesiaconventional short form: Indonesialocal long form: Republik Indonesialocal short form: Indonesiaformer: Netherlands East Indies; Dutch East Indies
Data code: ID
Type of government: republic
Capital: Jakarta
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Bengkulu, Irian Jaya, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Lampung, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Riau, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Timor Timur, Yogyakarta*
Independence: 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from theNetherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1945)
Constitution: August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal and married personsregardless of age
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Gen. (Ret.)SOEHARTO (since 27 March 1968) and Vice President Gen. (Ret.) TrySUTRISNO (since 11 March 1993) were elected for five-year terms bythe People's Consultative Assemblycabinet: Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameralHouse of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat or DPR): electionslast held 8 June 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - GOLKAR68%, PPP 17%, PDI 15%; seats - (500 total, 400 elected, 100 militaryrepresentatives appointed) GOLKAR 282, PPP 62, PDI 56note: the People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis PermusyawaratanRakyat or MPR) includes the DPR plus 500 indirectly elected memberswho meet every five years to elect the president and vice presidentand, theoretically, to determine national policy
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung), the judges areappointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: GOLKAR (quasi-official party basedon functional groups), HARMOKO, general chairman; IndonesiaDemocracy Party (PDI - federation of former Nationalist andChristian Parties), Megawati SUKARNOPUTRI, chairman; DevelopmentUnity Party (PPP, federation of former Islamic parties), IsmailHasan METAREUM, chairman
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC,OPEC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Arifin Mohamad SIREGARchancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, SanFrancisco
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador J. Stapleton ROYembassy: Medan Merdeka Selatan 5, Jakartamailing address: Box 1, APO AP 96520telephone: [62] (21) 360360FAX: [62] (21) 3862259consulate(s) general: Medan, Surabaya
Flag: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similarto the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag ofPoland, which is white (top) and red
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Indonesia is a mixed economy with some central planning but with an emphasis on rapid deregulation and private enterprise. Real GDP growth in 1985-95 averaged about 7%, quite impressive, but not sufficient to both slash underemployment and absorb the 2.3 million workers annually entering the labor force. Plantation crops - rubber and palm oil - and textiles and plywood are being encouraged for both export and job generation. Industrial output is based on a supply of diverse natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, timber, metals, and coal. Foreign investment has also boosted manufacturing output and exports in recent years. Indeed, the economy's growth is highly dependent on the continuing expansion of nonoil exports. Japan remains Indonesia's most important customer and supplier of aid. Like some other rapidly developing countries in Southeast Asia, Indonesia is struggling to keep the economy from overheating.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $710.9 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 7.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 32.6% services: 50.4%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 67 million by occupation: agriculture 55%, manufacturing 10%, construction 4%, transport and communications 3% (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3% official rate; underemployment 40% (1994est.)
Budget:revenues: $38.1 billionexpenditures: $38.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $14.5billion (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: petroleum and natural gas, textiles, mining, cement,chemical fertilizers, plywood, food, rubber
Industrial production growth rate: 13.9% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 12,100,000 kW production: 44 billion kWh consumption per capita: 207 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, other tropical products; poultry, beef, pork, eggs
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; government actively eradicating plantings and prosecuting traffickers; minor role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin
Exports: $39.9 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: manufactures 51.9%, fuels 26.4%, foodstuffs 12.7%, rawmaterials 9.0%partners: Japan 27.4%, US 14.6%, Singapore 10.1%, South Korea 6.5%,Taiwan 4.1%, Netherlands 3.3%, China 3.3%, Hong Kong 3.3%, Germany3.2%
Imports: $32 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: manufactures 75.3%, raw materials 9.0%, foodstuffs7.8%, fuels 7.7%partners: Japan 24.2%, US 11.2%, Germany 7.7%, South Korea 6.8%,Singapore 5.9%, Australia 4.8%, Taiwan 4.5%, China 4.3%
External debt: $97.6 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $1.542 billion (1993)
Currency: Indonesian rupiah (Rp)
Exchange rates: Indonesian rupiahs (Rp) per US$1 - 2,306.3 (January 1996), 2,248.6 (1995), 2,160.8 (1994), 2,087.1 (1993), 2,029.9 (1992), 1,950.3 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 6,458 kmnarrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (101 km electrified; 101 kmdouble track); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (1995)
Highways:total: 283,516 kmpaved: 125,051 kmunpaved: 158,465 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 21,579 km total; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km
Pipelines: crude oil 2,505 km; petroleum products 456 km; naturalgas 1,703 km (1989)
Ports: Cilacap, Cirebon, Jakarta, Kupang, Palembang, Semarang,Surabaya, Ujungpandang
Merchant marine:total: 457 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,098,958GRT/3,056,040 DWTships by type: bulk 30, cargo 265, chemical tanker 6, container 11,liquefied gas tanker 5, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 98,passenger 5, passenger-cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-seapassenger 6, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 4 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 414with paved runways over 3 047 m: 4with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 9with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 35with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 41with paved runways under 914 m: 299with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 23 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 1,276,600 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic service fair, international service good domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net; domestic satellite communications system international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 618, FM 38, shortwave 0
Radios: 28.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 11.5 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 57,222,025 males fit for military service: 33,702,395 males reach military age (18) annually: 2,280,360 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.7 billion, 1.4% of GNP (FY95/96)
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@Iran ——
Map —-
Location: 32 00 N, 53 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Gulf ofOman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq andPakistan
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the PersianGulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 1.648 million sq kmland area: 1.636 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 5,440 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km
Coastline: 2,440 kmnote: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: natural prolongationexclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines inthe Persian Gulfterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt al-Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); it jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran); in 1992 the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region, but in 1994 it increased its military presence on the disputed islands; periodic disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand water rights; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined; support to clients in Afghanistan
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:arable land: 8%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 27%forest and woodland: 11%other: 54%
Irrigated land: 57,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution, especially in urban areas, fromvehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in thePersian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable waternatural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms;earthquakes along the Western borderinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
People ———
Population: 66,094,264 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 15,166,131; female 14,289,283)15-64 years: 52% (male 17,326,388; female 16,731,470)65 years and over: 3% (male 1,327,718; female 1,253,274) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 2.21% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 33.67 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -5 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: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 52.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.39 years male: 66.12 years female: 68.72 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.72 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Iranian(s)adjective: Iranian
Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki andMazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%,other 1%
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian,Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%
Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkicdialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%,other 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1994 est.)total population: 72.1%male: 78.4%female: 65.8%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iranconventional short form: Iranlocal long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iranlocal short form: Iran
Data code: IR
Type of government: theocratic republic
Capital: Tehran
Administrative divisions: 25 provinces (ostanha, singular -ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr,Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan,Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan,Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers ofthe presidency and eliminate the prime ministership
Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles ofgovernment
Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal
Executive branch:supreme leader (rahbar-e moazam) and functional chief of sta: Leaderof the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4June 1989) was appointed for life by Council of Expertshead of government: President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3August 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage;First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA August 1989);election last held 11 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997);results - Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of thevotecabinet: Council of Ministers was selected by the president withlegislative approval
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami): elections last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: there are at least 76 licensed parties, none are, as yet, openly active; the most important groupings are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association, leader NA; Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Servants of Reconstruction (G-6), leader NA
Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, and the Islamic Coalition Association; opposition groups include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran party; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran; the Society for the Defense of Freedom
International organization participation: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP,FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Iran has anInterests Section in the Pakistani Embassy, headed by FaramarzFATH-NEJAD; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy,2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202)965-4990
US diplomatic representation: none; note - protecting power inIran is Switzerland
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. Over the past several years, the government has introduced several measures to liberalize the economy and reduce government intervention, but most of these changes have moved slowly or have been reversed because of political opposition. Iran has faced increasingly severe financial difficulties since mid-1992 due to an import surge that began in 1989 and general financial mismanagement. At yearend 1993 the Iranian Government estimated that it owed foreign creditors about $30 billion; an estimated $8 billion of this debt was in arrears. At yearend 1994, Iran rescheduled $12 billion in debt. Earnings from oil exports - which provide 85% of Iran's export revenues - are providing less relief to Iran than usual because of reduced oil prices. Iran's financial situation will remain tight in 1996 because the bulk of payments due under its rescheduling agreements in 1993-94 will be coming due.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $323.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 37% services: 42% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 60% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 15.4 million by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21% note: shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)
Unemployment rate: over 30% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and otherconstruction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refiningand vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 4.3% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 19,080,000 kW production: 50.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 745 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domesticand international drug trade; produced 35-70 metric tons in 1993;net opiate importer but also a key transshipment point for SouthwestAsian heroin to Europe
Exports: $16 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, iron, steelpartners: Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg,Spain, and Germany
Imports: $13 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil productspartners: Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, UAE
External debt: $30 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $40 million (1993)
Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic figuresare generally referred to in terms of the toman
Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,750 (January 1996), 1,747.93 (1995), 1,748.75 (1994), 1,267.77 (1993), 65.55 (1992), 67.51 (1991); black market rate: 4,000 rials per US$1 (December 1995); note - as of May 1995, the "official rate" of 1,750 rials per US$1 is used for imports of essential goods and services and for oil exports, wheras the "official export rate" of 3,000 rials per US$1 is used for non-oil exports and imports not covered by the official rate
Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 5,093 kmbroad gauge: 96 km 1.676-m gaugestandard gauge: 4,997 km 1.432-m gauge (146 km electrified) (1995)
Highways:total: 140,200 kmpaved: 42,700 kmunpaved: 97,500 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3 m and is in use