Other political or pressure groups: the Roman Catholic Church;three major trade union confederations (Confederazione GeneraleItaliana del Lavoro or CGIL which is PDS-dominated, ConfederazioneItaliana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL which is centrist, andUnione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL which is center-left); Italianmanufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria,Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori,Confagricoltura)
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CEI, CERN,EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer),MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU,WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinando SALLEO chancery: 1601 Fuller Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 328-5500 FAX: [1] (202) 483-2187 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit and New Orleans
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Reginald BARTHOLOMEW embassy: Via Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, Rome; APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (6) 46741 FAX: [39] (6) 488-2672 consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
Flag: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Since World War II, the Italian economy has changed from one based on agriculture into a ranking industrial economy, with approximately the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. The country is still divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and an undeveloped agricultural south, dominated by large public enterprises. Most raw materials needed by industry and over 75% of energy requirements must be imported. In the second half of 1992, Rome became unsettled by the prospect of not qualifying to participate in EU plans for economic and monetary union later in the decade; thus, it finally began to address its huge fiscal imbalances. Subsequently, the government has adopted fairly stringent budgets, abandoned its inflationary wage indexation system, and started to scale back its generous social welfare programs, including pension and health care benefits. Monetary officials were forced to withdraw the lira from the European monetary system in September 1992, when it came under extreme pressure in currency markets. For the 1990s, Italy faces the problems of pushing ahead with fiscal reform, refurbishing a tottering communications system, curbing pollution in major industrial centers, and adjusting to the new competitive forces accompanying the ongoing expansion and economic integration of the EU.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.0886 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $18,700 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2.9% industry: 31.6% services: 65.5% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1995)
Labor force: 23.988 million by occupation: services 58%, industry 32.2%, agriculture 9.8% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 12.2% (January 1995)
Budget:revenues: $339 billionexpenditures: $431 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994 est.)
Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, foodprocessing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 61,630,000 kW production: 209 billion kWh consumption per capita: 4,033 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; meat and dairy products; fish catch of 525,000 metric tons in 1990
Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market
Exports: $190.8 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: metals, textiles and clothing, production machinery,motor vehicles, transportation equipment, chemicalspartners: EU 53.4%, US 7.8%, OPEC 3.8% (1994)
Imports: $168.7 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: industrial machinery, chemicals, transport equipment,petroleum, metals, food, agricultural productspartners: EU 56.3%, OPEC 5.3%, US 4.6% (1994)
External debt: $67 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $3.043 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Italian lira (Lit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Italian lire (Lit) per US$1 - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 18,961 kmstandard gauge: 17,981 km 1.435-m gauge; Italian Railways (FS)operates 16,118 km of the total standard gauge routes (10,560 kmelectrified)narrow gauge: 113 km 1.000-m gauge (113 km electrified); 867 km0.950-m gauge (144 km electrified)
Highways:total: 305,388 km (including 45,076 km major roads, 112,111 kmsecondary roads, 6,301 km motorways)paved: 271,674 kmunpaved: 33,714 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 2,400 km for various types of commercial traffic,although of limited overall value
Pipelines: crude oil 1,703 km; petroleum products 2,148 km;natural gas 19,400 km
Ports: Ancona, Augusta, Bari, Cagliari (Sardinia), Catania, Gaeta,Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Naples, Oristano (Sardinia), Palermo(Sicily), Piombino, Porto Torres (Sardinia), Ravenna, Savona,Trieste, Venice
Merchant marine:total: 419 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,480,320GRT/7,919,064 DWTships by type: bulk 35, cargo 57, chemical tanker 39, combinationbulk 1, combination ore/oil 3, container 16, liquefied gas tanker37, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 123, passenger 5,roll-on/roll-off cargo 53, short-sea passenger 31, specializedtanker 11, vehicle carrier 7 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 132with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 34with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 24with paved runways under 914 m: 32with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 20 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 25.6 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean Region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 135, FM 28 (repeaters 1,840), shortwave 0
Radios: 45.7 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 83 (repeaters 1,000)
Televisions: 24.35 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 14,739,097 males fit for military service: 12,769,628 males reach military age (18) annually: 358,884 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $20.4 billion, 1.9% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Jamaica ———-
Map —-
Location: 18 15 N, 77 30 W — Caribbean, island in the CaribbeanSea, south of Cuba
Flag ——
Description: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
Geography ————-
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 10,990 sq kmland area: 10,830 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,022 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use:arable land: 19%permanent crops: 6%meadows and pastures: 18%forest and woodland: 28%other: 29%
Irrigated land: 350 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrialwaste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollutionin Kingston results from vehicle emissionsnatural hazards: hurricanes (especially July to November)international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
Geographic note: strategic location between Cayman Trench andJamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for Panama Canal
People ———
Population: 2,595,275 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32% (male 430,609; female 411,966)15-64 years: 61% (male 781,626; female 795,808)65 years and over: 7% (male 77,725; female 97,541) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.8% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 22.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.57 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.88 years male: 72.6 years female: 77.29 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.45 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Jamaican(s)adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic divisions: African 76.3%, Afro-European 15.1%, East Indianand Afro-East Indian 3%, white 3.2%, Chinese and Afro-Chinese 1.2%,other 1.2%
Religions: Protestant 55.9% (Church of God 18.4%, Baptist 10%,Anglican 7.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.9%, Pentecostal 5.2%,Methodist 3.1%, United Church 2.7%, other 2.5%), Roman Catholic 5%,other, including some spiritual cults 39.1% (1982)
Languages: English, Creole
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)total population: 85%male: 80.8%female: 89.1%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica
Data code: JM
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Kingston
Administrative divisions: 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover,Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, SaintCatherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas,Trelawny, Westmoreland
Independence: 6 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day (first Monday in August) (1962)
Constitution: 6 August 1962
Legal system: based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), ahereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Sir HowardCOOKE (since 1 August 1991) who was appointed by the queen onrecommendation of the prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since30 March 1992) and the Deputy Prime Minister Seymour MULLINGS (sinceNA 1993) were appointed by the governor generalcabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the adviceof the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral ParliamentSenate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governorgeneralHouse of Representatives: elections last held 30 March 1993 (next tobe held by March 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats- (60 total) PNP 52, JLP 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the governorgeneral on advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: People's National Party (PNP), P.J. PATTERSON; Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Edward SEAGA; NationalDemocratic Movement (NDM), Bruce GOLDING
Other political or pressure groups: Rastafarians (blackreligious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists); New Beginnings Movement(NBM)
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC,CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO,ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Leighton BERNAL chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660 FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador J. Gary COOPERembassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,Kingstonmailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [1] (809) 929-4850 through 4859FAX: [1] (809) 926-6743
Flag: diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles -green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Key sectors in this island economy are bauxite (alumina and bauxite account for more than half of exports) and tourism. Since assuming office in 1992, Prime Minister PATTERSON has consolidated the market-oriented reforms initiated by his predecessor, Michael MANLEY, to make Jamaica a regional leader in economic reform. PATTERSON has eliminated most price controls, streamlined tax schedules, and privatized government enterprises. Tight monetary and fiscal policies under an IMF program have helped slow inflation and stabilize the exchange rate, but, as a result, economic growth has slowed down and unemployment remains high. Jamaica's medium-term prospects depend largely on its ability to continue to attract foreign capital and limit speculation against the Jamaican dollar.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $8.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0.8% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,200 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 7.9% industry: 28.1% services: 64% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 25.5% (1995)
Labor force: 1,062,100 by occupation: services 41%, agriculture 22.5%, industry 19%, unemployed 17.5% (1989)
Unemployment rate: 15.4% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.45 billionexpenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $732million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: bauxite, tourism, textiles, food processing, lightmanufactures
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 730,000 kW production: 2.6 billion kWh consumption per capita: 988 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine from Central andSouth America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation ofcannabis; government has an active cannabis eradication program
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rumpartners: US 47%, UK 11%, Canada 9%, Norway 7%, France 4% (1993)
Imports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, fuel, food, chemicals partners: US 54%, Japan 4.0%, Mexico 6%, UK 4%, Venezuela 3% (1993)
External debt: $3.6 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $239 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Jamaican dollar (J$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Jamaican dollars (J$) per US$1 - 39.86 (December 1995), 33.086 (1994), 24.949 (1993), 22.960 (1992), 12.116 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 272 kmstandard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km belonging to theJamaica Railway Corporation which were in common carrier service areno longer operational; the remaining track is privately owned andused to transport bauxite
Highways: total: 18,094 km paved: 12,528 km unpaved: 5,566 km (1988 est.)
Pipelines: petroleum products 10 km
Ports: Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, OchoRios, Port Antonio, Longs Wharf, Rocky Point
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,435 GRT/6,105 DWTships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 27with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 21with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 212,257 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: fully automatic domestic telephone networkdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); 3 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 0
Radios: 1.04 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 8
Televisions: 330,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Jamaica Defense Force (includes Ground Forces, CoastGuard and Air Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 680,965 males fit for military service: 481,616 males reach military age (18) annually: 25,810 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $30 million, NA% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@Jan Mayen ————-
(territory of Norway)
Map —-
Location: 71 00 N, 8 00 W — Northern Europe, island between theGreenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Flag ——
Description: the flag of Norway is used
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea andthe Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates: 71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:total area: 373 sq kmland area: 373 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 124.1 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 10 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 4 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen (Beerenberg) 2,277 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: dominated by the volcano Beerenberg; volcanicactivity resumed in 1970international agreements: NA
Geographic note: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
People ———
Population: no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who man the Long Range Navigation (LORAN) C base and the weather and coastal services radio station
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Data code: JN
Type of government: territory of Norway
Capital: none
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
Executive branch: administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard); however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service
Flag: the flag of Norway is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with noexploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited toproviding services for employees of Norway's radio andmeteorological stations located on the island.
Electricity:capacity: 15,000 kWproduction: 40 million kWhconsumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
Transportation ———————
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: total: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: radio and meteorological station
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
======================================================================
@Japan ——-
Map —-
Location: 36 00 N, 138 00 E — Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Flag ——
Description: white with a large red disk (representing the sunwithout rays) in the center
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Asia, island chain between the North PacificOcean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates: 36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:total area: 377,835 sq kmland area: 374,744 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Californianote: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,Minami-jima, Okinotori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), andVolcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 29,751 km
Maritime claims:exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the international straits - LaPerouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels ofthe Korea or Tsushima Strait
International disputes: islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan,and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, nowadministered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks disputedwith South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by Chinaand Taiwan
Climate: varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use:arable land: 13%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 1%forest and woodland: 67%other: 18%
Irrigated land: 28,680 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from power plant emissions results inacid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading waterquality and threatening aquatic life; Japan's appetite for fish andtropical timber is contributing to the depletion of these resourcesin Asia and elsewherenatural hazards: many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamisinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: strategic location in northeast Asia
People ———
Population: 125,449,703 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16% (male 10,121,414; female 9,644,243)15-64 years: 69% (male 43,624,464; female 43,359,249)65 years and over: 15% (male 7,737,781; female 10,962,552) (July1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.21% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.19 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.71 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.55 years male: 76.57 years female: 82.68 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Japanese (singular and plural)adjective: Japanese
Ethnic divisions: Japanese 99.4%, other 0.6% (mostly Korean)
Religions: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Languages: Japanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1970 est.)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan
Data code: JA
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Tokyo
Administrative divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori,Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima,Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima,Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano,Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga,Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo,Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
National holiday: Birthday of the Emperor, 23 December (1933)
Constitution: 3 May 1947
Legal system: modeled after European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) is aconstitutional monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Ryutaro HASHIMOTO (since 11January 1996) and Deputy Prime Minister Wataru KUBO (since 11January 1996) were designated by the Diet and appointed by theemperorcabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Diet (Kokkai) House of Councillors (Sangi-in): half of the members elected every three years to six-year terms; elections last held 23 July 1995 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (252 total, with 126 up for election) LDP 110 (49 newly won), Shinshinto 56 (40 newly won), SDP 38 (16 newly won), JCP 14 (8 newly won), Sakigate 3 (3 newly won), others 19 (4 newly won), independents 12 (6 newly won); note - the distribution of seats as of 1 March 1996 is as follows - LDP 111, Heisei-kai 69, SDP 35, JCP 14, Sakigake 3, others and independents 19, vacancies 1 House of Representatives (Shugi-in): all members elected every four years to four-year terms; elections last held 18 July 1993 (next to be held by July 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (511 total) LDP 223, SDP 70, Shinseito 55, Komeito 51, JNP 35, JCP 15, DSP 15, Sakigake 13, others 4, independents 30; note - the distribution of seats as of 1 March 1996 is as follows - LDP 207, Shinshinto 170, SDP 63, Sakigake 22, JCP 15, others and independents 19, vacant 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the emperor after designation by the cabinet, all other justices are appointed by the cabinet
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),Ryutaro HASHIMOTO, president and Koichi KATO, secretary general;Social Democratic Party (SDP), Tomiichi MURAYAMA, president andKanju SATO, secretary general; Sakigake (Harbinger), MasayoshiTAKEMURA, chairman and Yukio HATOYAMA, secretary general; Shinshinto(New Frontier Party, NFP), Ichiro OZAWA, chairman and TakashiYONEZAWA, secretary general; Japan Communist Party (JCP), TetsuzoFUWA, presidium chairmannote: Shinshinto was formed in December 1994 by the merger ofShinseito (Japan Renewal Party, JRP), Komeito (Clean GovernmentParty, CGP), Japan New Party (JNP), Democratic Socialist Party(DSP), and several minor groups; Heisei-kai is a joint bloc ofShinshinto and Komei members; Komei is a group formed from whatremains of Komeito in the upper house
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G- 2,G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE (partner),PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNU, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kunihiko SAITO chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Walter F. MONDALE embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku (107), Tokyo mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-0001 telephone: [81] (3) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (3) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag: white with a large red disk (representing the sun withoutrays) in the center
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (roughly 1% of GDP) have helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in the world. One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force; this guarantee is slowly eroding. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades overall economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s and 1980s. Growth came to a halt in 1992-95 largely because of the aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. At yearend 1995, the financial structure is shaky with banks holding hundreds of billions of dollars of suspect assets. At the same time, the continued basic strength of the economy has been reflected in substantial trade surpluses, sizable foreign investments, and remarkably low rates of unemployment, inflation, and social disorder. The crowding of the habitable land area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.6792 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $21,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2.1% industry: 40.2% services: 57.7% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.1% (1995)
Labor force: 65.87 million (December 1994) by occupation: trade and services 54%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7%, government 3%, other 3% (1988)
Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1995)
Budget:revenues: $595 billionexpenditures: $829 billion, including capital expenditures (publicworks only) of about $122 billion (1995 est.)
Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of steel and non-ferrous metallurgy, heavy electrical equipment, construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and parts, electronic and telecommunication equipment, machine tools, automated production systems, locomotives and railroad rolling stock, ships, chemicals; textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995)
Electricity:capacity: 205,140,000 kW (1993)production: 915 billion kWh (1995)consumption per capita: 7,293 kWh (1995)
Agriculture: rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; world's largest fish catch of 10 million metric tons in 1991
Exports: $442.84 billion (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: manufactures 97% (including machinery 46%, motorvehicles 20%, consumer electronics 10%)partners: Southeast Asia 38%, US 27%, Western Europe 17%, China 5%
Imports: $336.09 billion (c.i.f., 1995)commodities: manufactures 52%, fossil fuels 20%, foodstuffs and rawmaterials 28%partners: Southeast Asia 25%, US 22%, Western Europe 16%, China 11%
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $11.259 billion (1993) note: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-95), $143 billion
Currency: yen (Y)
Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1 - 105.84 (January 1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 26,506 kmstandard gauge: 3,233 km 1.435-m gauge (entirely electrified)narrow gauge: 72 km 1.372-m gauge (72 km electrified); 23,154 km1.067-m gauge (13,835 km electrified); 47 km 0.762-m gauge (47 kmelectrified) (1994)
Highways:total: 1,112,844 kmpaved: 790,119 km (including 5,054 km of expressways)unpaved: 322,725 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inlandseas
Pipelines: crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; natural gas1,800 km
Ports: Akita, Amagasaki, Chiba, Hachinohe, Hakodate,Higashi-Harima, Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kinuura, Kobe, Kushiro,Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Sakaide, Shimizu, Tokyo,Tomakomai
Merchant marine:total: 796 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,944,137GRT/23,662,930 DWTships by type: bulk 192, cargo 57, chemical tanker 6, combinationbulk 2, combination ore/oil 6, container 38, liquefied gas tanker39, oil tanker 259, passenger 9, passenger-cargo 3, refrigeratedcargo 35, roll-on/roll-off cargo 43, short-sea passenger 28,specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 77note: Japan owns an additional 1,587 ships (1,000 GRT or over)totaling 50,072,815 DWT operating under the registries of Panama,Liberia, Vanuatu, The Bahamas, Singapore, Cyprus, Philippines, HongKong, and Malta (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 164with paved runways over 3 047 m: 6with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 32with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 34with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 30with paved runways under 914 m: 60with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 11 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 64 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 PacificOcean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region), and1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions); submarine cables toChina, Philippines, Russia, and US (via Guam)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 318, FM 58, shortwave 0
Radios: 97 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 12,350 (1 kW or greater 196)
Televisions: 100 million (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Japan MaritimeSelf-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 31,833,691 males fit for military service: 27,322,517 males reach military age (18) annually: 858,912 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $50.2 billion, 1% of GDP (FY95/96)
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@Jarvis Island ——————-
(territory of the US)
Map —-
Location: 0 22 S, 160 03 W — Oceania, island in the South PacificOcean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
Flag ——
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, aboutone-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0 22 S, 160 03 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 4.5 sq kmland area: 4.5 sq kmcomparative area: about eight times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 8 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 23 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: no natural fresh water resourcesnatural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island canbe a maritime hazardinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
People ———
Population: uninhabited; note - Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Data code: DQ
Type of government: unincorporated territory of the US administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag: the flag of the US is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation ———————
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
Transportation note: there is a day beacon near the middle of thewest coast
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visitedannually by the US Coast Guard
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@Jersey ———
(British crown dependency)
Map —-
Location: 49 15 N, 2 10 W — Western Europe, island in the EnglishChannel, northwest of France
Flag ——
Description: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick(patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
Geography ————-
Location: Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwestof France
Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 117 sq kmland area: 117 sq kmcomparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 70 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along northcoastlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources: agricultural land
Land use:arable land: 57%permanent crops: NA%meadows and pastures: NA%forest and woodland: NA%other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment: current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Geographic note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands;about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
People ———
Population: 87,848 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 7,787; female 7,284)15-64 years: 69% (male 29,928; female 30,395)65 years and over: 14% (male 5,107; female 7,347) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.77% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 12.93 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.11 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.95 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.36 years male: 75.63 years female: 81.39 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic divisions: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational NewChurch, Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-Frenchdialect spoken in country districts
Literacy: NA
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey
Data code: JE
Type of government: British crown dependency
Capital: Saint Helier
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6February 1952) is a hereditary monarchHead of Government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief SirMichael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE(since NA 1995) were appointed by the queencabinet: committees were appointed by the Assembly of the States
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States: elections last held NA (next to be held NA); results - no percent of vote by party since all are independents; seats - (56 total, 52 elected) independents 52
Judicial branch: Royal Court, judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in US: none (British crown dependency)
US diplomatic representation: none (British crown dependency)
Flag: white with the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patronsaint of Ireland) extending to the corners of the flag
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1986 the finance sector overtook tourism as the main contributor to GDP, accounting for 40% of the island's output. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP real growth rate: NA%
GDP per capita: $NA
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $643.7 millionexpenditures: $597.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:capacity: 50,000 kW standbyproduction: power supplied by Franceconsumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
Agriculture: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; meat, dairy products
Exports: $NAcommodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs,textilespartners: UK
Imports: $NAcommodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicalspartners: UK
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Jersey pound (LJ) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 61,447 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Johnston Atoll ———————
(territory of the US)
Map —-
Location: 16 45 N, 169 30 W — Oceania, atoll in the North PacificOcean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Flag ——
Description: the flag of the US is used
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, aboutone-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 169 30 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 2.8 sq kmland area: 2.8 sq kmcomparative area: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 10 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm