Nationality: noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic divisions: black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions: Anglican (predominant), other Protestant sects, someRoman Catholic
Languages: English (official), local dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years ofschooling (1960 est.)total population: 89%male: 90%female: 88%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Data code: AC
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Saint John's
Administrative divisions: 6 parishes and 2 dependencies*;Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, SaintPaul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Independence: 1 November 1981 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 November (1981)
Constitution: 1 November 1981
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is ahereditary monarch, represented by Governor General James B.CARLISLE (since NA 1993) who was chosen by the queen on advice fromthe prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Lester Bryant BIRD (since 8 March1994) was appointed by the governor generalcabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the governor generalon the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: 17- member body appointed by the governor general House of Representatives: elections last held 8 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) ALP 11, UPP 5, independent 1
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in SaintLucia), one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islandsand presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Antigua Labor Party (ALP), LesterBryant BIRD; United Progressive Party (UPP), headed by BaldwinSPENCER, a coalition of three opposition political parties-theUnited National Democratic Party (UNDP); the Antigua CaribbeanLiberation Movement (ACLM); and the Progressive Labor Movement (PLM)
Other political or pressure groups: Antigua Trades and Labor Union(ATLU), William ROBINSON; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), HughMARSHALL
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO(subscriber), ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel Alexander HURST chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5211, 5166, 5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
Flag: red with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white with a yellow rising sun in the black band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Tourism continues to be by far the dominant activity in the economy but the combined share in GDP of transport and communications, trade, and public utilities has increased markedly in recent years. Tourism's direct contribution to output in 1994 was about 20%. In addition, increased tourist arrivals helped spur growth in the construction and transport sectors. The dual island nation's agricultural production is mainly directed to the domestic market; the sector is constrained by the limited water supply and labor shortages that reflect the pull of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing - which accounts for 3.5% of GDP - comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for about half of all tourist arrivals.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $425 million (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 4.2% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $6,600 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 19.3% services: 77.2% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (1994)
Labor force: 30,000by occupation: commerce and services 82%, agriculture 11%, industry7% (1983)
Unemployment rate: 5%-10%(1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $134 millionexpenditures: $135.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995)
Industries: tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing,alcohol, household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate: -4.9% (1993 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 52,100 kW production: 95 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,242 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock
Illicit drugs: a long-time but relatively minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe and recent transshipment point for heroin from Europe to the US; more significant as a drug money laundering center
Exports: $40.9 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, food and live animals 4%, machinery and transport equipment 17% partners: OECS 26%, Barbados 15%, Guyana 4%, Trinidad and Tobago 2%, US 0.3%
Imports: $443.8 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil partners: US 27%, UK 16%, Canada 4%, OECS 3%, other 50%
External debt: $377 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 77 kmnarrow gauge: 64 km 0.760-m gauge; 13 km 0.610-m gauge (used almostexclusively for handling sugarcane)
Highways:total: 240 kmpaved: NA kmunpaved: NA km
Ports: Saint John's
Merchant marine:total: 367 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,573,063GRT/2,147,243 DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 247, chemical tanker 6, combinationbulk 1, container 72, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 3,refrigerated cargo 14, roll-on/roll-off cargo 16note: a flag of convenience registry: Germany owns 12 ships,Slovenia 3, Croatia 2, Cyprus 1, and US 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 3with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 6,700
Telephone system:domestic: good automatic telephone systeminternational: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station -1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba(Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 2
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 28,000 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force, Royal Antiguaand Barbuda Police Force (includes the Coast Guard)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: NA males fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.4 million, 1% of GDP (FY90/91)
======================================================================
@Arctic Ocean ——————
Map —-
Location: 90 00 N, 0 00 E — body of water mostly north of theArctic Circle
Geography ————-
Location: body of water mostly north of the Arctic Circle
Geographic coordinates: 90 00 N, 0 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:total area: 14.056 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 1.5 times the size of the US;smallest of the world's four oceans (after Pacific Ocean, AtlanticOcean, and Indian Ocean)note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, KaraSea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies
Coastline: 45,389 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute between Norway and Russia
Climate: polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
Terrain: central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that averages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges may be three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling land masses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonsov Ridge) lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
Environment:current issues: endangered marine species include walruses andwhales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover fromdisruptions or damagenatural hazards: ice islands occasionally break away from northernEllesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenlandand extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtuallyicelocked from October to June; ships subject to superstructureicing from October to Mayinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia, floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months
Government —————
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
Transportation ———————
Ports: Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)
Transportation note: sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways
Communications ———————
Telephone system:international: no submarine cables
======================================================================
@Argentina ————-
Map —-
Location: 34 00 S, 64 00 W — Southern South America, borderingthe South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May
Geography ————-
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South AtlanticOcean, between Chile and Uruguay
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 S, 64 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 2,766,890 sq kmland area: 2,736,690 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 9,665 kmborder countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km,Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
Coastline: 4,989 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: short section of the boundary with Uruguayis in dispute; short section of the boundary with Chile isindefinite; claims British-administered Falkland Islands (IslasMalvinas); claims British-administered South Georgia and the SouthSandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica
Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic insouthwest
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat torolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along westernborderlowest point: Salinas Chicas -40 mhighest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin,copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land use:arable land: 9%permanent crops: 4%meadows and pastures: 52%forest and woodland: 22%other: 13%
Irrigated land: 17,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: erosion results from inadequate flood controls andimproper land use practices; irrigated soil degradation;desertification; air pollution in Buenos Aires and other majorcities; water pollution in urban areas; rivers becoming polluted dueto increased pesticide and fertilizer usenatural hazards: Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject toearthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike thePampas and northeast; heavy floodinginternational agreements: party to - Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification,Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: second-largest country in South America (afterBrazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between SouthAtlantic and South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, BeagleChannel, Drake Passage)
People ———
Population: 34,672,997 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 4,904,380; female 4,707,293)15-64 years: 63% (male 10,851,004; female 10,834,593)65 years and over: 9% (male 1,414,412; female 1,961,315) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 1.1% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 19.41 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.62 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.18 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: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.66 years male: 68.37 years female: 75.12 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Argentine(s) adjective: Argentine
Ethnic divisions: white 85%, mestizo, Indian, or other nonwhitegroups 15%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 90% (less than 20%practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 6%
Languages: Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 96.2%male: 96.2%female: 96.2%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Argentine Republicconventional short form: Argentinalocal long form: Republica Argentinalocal short form: Argentina
Data code: AR
Type of government: republic
Capital: Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (provincias, singular -provincia), and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); BuenosAires; Catamarca; Chaco; Chubut; Cordoba; Corrientes; DistritoFederal*; Entre Rios; Formosa; Jujuy; La Pampa; La Rioja; Mendoza;Misiones; Neuquen; Rio Negro; Salta; San Juan; San Luis; Santa Cruz;Santa Fe; Santiago del Estero; Tierra del Fuego, Antartida e Islasdel Atlantico Sur; Tucumannote: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica orArgentina's claims to the Falkland Islands
Independence: 9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Constitution: 1 May 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system: mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Carlos Saul MENEM(since 8 July 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universalsuffrage; election last held 14 May 1995 (next to be held May 1999);results - Carlos Saul MENEM was reelected; Vice President CarlosRUCKAUFcabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)Senate: elections last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA);results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) PJ 38,others 34Chamber of Deputies: one-half of the members elected every two yearsto four-year terms; elections last held 14 May 1995; (next to beheld NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (257total) PJ 132, UCR 68, Frepaso 26, other 31
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), the nine SupremeCourt judges are appointed by the president with approval of theSenate
Political parties and leaders: Justicialist Party (PJ), Carlos Saul MENEM, Peronist umbrella political organization; Radical Civic Union (UCR), Rodolfo TERRAGNO, moderately left-of-center party; Union of the Democratic Center (UCD), conservative party; Dignity and Independence Political Party (MODIN), Aldo RICO, right-wing party; Grand Front (Frente Grande), Carlos ALVAREZ, center-left coalition; Front for a Country in Solidarity (Frepaso, a four party coalition), leader Jose Octavio BORDON; several provincial parties
Other political or pressure groups: Peronist-dominated labor movement; General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization; Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business organizations; students; the Roman Catholic Church; the Armed Forces
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),Australia Group, BCIE, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G- 6, G-11, G-15, G-19,G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MTCR, NSG (observer), OAS,OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMIR, UNAVEMIII, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,UNMIH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Enrique GRANILLO OCAMPOchancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 939-6400 through 6403consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador James R. CHEEKembassy: 4300 Colombia, 1425 Buenos Airesmailing address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034telephone: [54] (1) 777-4533, 4534FAX: [54] (1) 777-0197
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Argentina, rich in natural resources, benefits also from a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Nevertheless, following decades of mismanagement and statist policies, the economy in the late 1980s was plagued with huge external debts and recurring bouts of hyperinflation. Elected in 1989, in the depths of recession, President MENEM has implemented a comprehensive economic restructuring program that shows signs of putting Argentina on a path of stable, sustainable growth. Argentina's currency has traded at par with the US dollar since April 1991, and inflation has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years. Argentines have responded to the relative price stability by repatriating flight capital and investing in domestic industry. After registering impressive 7.4% growth in 1994, based largely on inflows of foreign capital and strong domestic consumption, the Argentine economy stumbled in 1995 as financial pressures fueled by the Mexican peso crisis and political squabbling within the MENEM administration undermined investor confidence and triggered capital outflows. By yearend, GDP had contracted 4.4%, unemployment reached 16%, and Buenos Aires struggled to meet fiscal targets. On the trade front, exports soared during the first half of 1995 - largely because of strong demand in Brazil and high commodity prices - while anemic domestic consumption lowered imports; the resulting yearend trade surplus was about $1.2 billion. However, because exports contribute only 7.5% to GDP, increased foreign sales had little impact on aggregate growth. High unemployment will continue to plague the MENEM administration for the next several years as provincial entities are readied for privatization and more public sector employees are laid off.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $278.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -4.4%
GDP per capita: $8,100 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 31% services: 63% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 10.9 million by occupation: agriculture 12%, industry 31%, services 57% (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $48.46 billionexpenditures: $46.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.5billion (1994 est.)
Industries: food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables,textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel
Industrial production growth rate: -4.6% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 17,330,000 kW production: 54.8 billion kWh consumption per capita: 1,610 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets; livestock
Illicit drugs: increasing use as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US
Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: meat, wheat, corn, oilseed, manufactures partners: US 9%, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands
Imports: $19.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, fuels and lubricants, agricultural products partners: US 21%, Brazil, Germany, Bolivia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands
External debt: $90 billion (December 1995)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 nuevo peso argentino = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: pesos per US$1 - 1.00000 (January 1996), 0.99975 (1995), 0.99901 (1994), 0.99895 (1993), 0.99064 (1992), 0.95355 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 37,910 kmbroad gauge: 24,124 km 1.676-m gauge (142 km electrified)standard gauge: 2,765 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 11,021 km 1.000-m gauge (26 km electrified)
Highways: total: 215,578 km paved: 61,440 km unpaved: 154,138 km
Waterways: 11,000 km navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 4,090 km; petroleum products 2,900 km; natural gas 9,918 km
Ports: Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Comodoro Rivadavia, Concepciondel Uruguay, La Plata, Mar del Plata, Necochea, Rio Gallegos,Rosario, Santa Fe, Ushuaia
Merchant marine:total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 303,448 GRT/458,864 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 11, chemical tanker 1, container 3, oiltanker 14, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-offcargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 1,253with paved runways over 3 047 m: 5with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 25with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 54with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 46with paved runways under 914 m: 511with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 2with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 60with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 549 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 2.7 million (1983 est.)
Telephone system: 12,000 public telephones; extensive modern system but many families do not have telephones; despite extensive use of microwave radio relay, the telephone system frequently grounds out during rainstorms, even in Buenos Aires domestic: microwave radio relay and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 171, FM 0, shortwave 13
Radios: 22.3 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 231
Televisions: 7.165 million (1991 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic,Argentine Air Force, National Gendarmerie, Argentine NavalPrefecture (Coast Guard only), National Aeronautical Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 8,707,014 males fit for military service: 7,063,304 males reach military age (20) annually: 310,107 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $4.7 billion, 1.5% of GDP (1995)
======================================================================
@Armenia ———-
Map —-
Location: 40 00 N, 45 00 E — Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, andgold
Geography ————-
Location: Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total area: 29,800 sq kmland area: 28,400 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 1,254 kmborder countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivanexclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: supports ethnic Armenians inNagorno-Karabakh in their separatist conflict against theAzerbaijani Government; traditional demands on former Armenian landsin Turkey have subsided
Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: high Armenian Plateau with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley lowest point: Debed River 400 m highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
Natural resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum,zinc, alumina
Land use:arable land: 17%permanent crops: 3%meadows and pastures: 20%forest and woodland: 0%other: 60%
Irrigated land: 3,050 sq km (1990)
Environment:current issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT;energy blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led todeforestation as citizens scavenge for firewood; pollution ofHrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich, aresult of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinkingwater supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant withoutadequate (IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systemsnatural hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -Desertification
Geographic note: landlocked
People ———
Population: 3,463,574 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 497,461; female 476,649)15-64 years: 64% (male 1,085,935; female 1,132,282)65 years and over: 8% (male 111,661; female 159,586) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.02% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 16.27 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.3 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: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.06 years male: 64.44 years female: 73.92 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Armenian(s) adjective: Armenian
Ethnic divisions: Armenian 93%, Azeri 3%, Russian 2%, other(mostly Yezidi Kurds) 2% (1989)note: as of the end of 1993, virtually all Azeris had emigrated from======================================================================
@Aruba ——-
(part of the Dutch realm)
Map —-
Location: 12 30 N, 69 58 W — Caribbean, island in the CaribbeanSea, north of Venezuela
Flag ——
Description: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
Geography ————-
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north ofVenezuela
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 193 sq kmland area: 193 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources: negligible; white sandy beaches
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane beltinternational agreements: NA
People ———
Population: 67,794 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (male 7,850; female 7,155)15-64 years: 69% (male 22,499; female 24,596)65 years and over: 9% (male 2,353; female 3,341) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.31% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 14.62 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.93 male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 8.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.68 years male: 73 years female: 80.55 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban
Ethnic divisions: mixed European/Caribbean Indian 80%
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: NA
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba
Data code: AA
Type of government: part of the Dutch realm; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
Capital: Oranjestad
Administrative divisions: none (self-governing part of theNetherlands)
Independence: none (part of the Dutch realm; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (of the Netherlandssince 30 April 1980), a constitutional monarch, is represented byGovernor General Olindo KOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992) who wasappointed for a six-year term by the queenhead of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROES wereappointed by the legislaturecabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the legislature
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature (Staten): elections last held 29 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (21 total) AVP 10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party (MEP),Nelson ODUBER; Aruban People's Party (AVP), Jan (Henny) H. EMAN;National Democratic Action (ADN), Pedro Charro KELLY; New PatrioticParty (PPN), Eddy WERLEMEN; Aruban Patriotic Party (PPA), BennyNISBET; Aruban Democratic Party (PDA), Leo BERLINSKI; DemocraticAction '86 (AD '86), Arturo ODUBER; Aruban Liberal Party (OLA),Glenbert CROESnote: governing coalition includes the AVP and OLA
International organization participation: ECLAC (associate),Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in US: none (self-governing part of theNetherlands)
US diplomatic representation: none (self-governing part of theNetherlands)
Flag: blue with two narrow horizontal yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6.1% (1994 est.)
GDP per capita: $18,000 (1994 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.1% (1994)
Labor force: NA by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1995)
Unemployment rate: 0.5% (1994)
Budget:revenues: $145 millionexpenditures: $185 million, including capital expenditures of $42million (1988)
Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 90,000 kW production: 330 million kWh consumption per capita: 4,761 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: aloes; livestock; fishing
Illicit drugs: major drug money laundering center and minor transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe
Exports: $1.3 billion (including oil re-exports) (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: mostly refined petroleum products partners: US 64%, EU
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products, crude oil for refining and reexport partners: US 8%, EU
External debt: $669 million (December 1995)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1 - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 2with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1note: government-owned airport east of Oranjestad acceptstransatlantic flights (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 22,922 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: more than adequateinternational: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (NetherlandsAntilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 19,000 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the Netherlands
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@Ashmore and Cartier Islands —————————————-
(territory of Australia)
Map —-
Location: 12 14 S, 123 05 E — Southeastern Asia, islands in theIndian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Flag ——
Description: the flag of Australia is used
Geography ————-
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean,northwest of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: 5 sq kmland area: 5 sq kmcomparative area: about eight times the size of The Mall inWashington, DCnote: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) andCartier Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can posemaritime hazardsinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve establishedin August 1983
People ———
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are onlyseasonal caretakers
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Data code: AT
Type of government: territory of Australia administered by theAustralian Ministry for the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in US: none (territory of Australia)
US diplomatic representation: none (territory of Australia)
Flag: the flag of Australia is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: no economic activity
Transportation ———————
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodicvisits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
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@Atlantic Ocean ———————
Map —-
Location: 0 00 N, 25 00 W — body of water between Africa, Europe,Antarctica, and the Western Hemisphere
Geography ————-
Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, Antarctica, andthe Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references: World
Area:total area: 82.217 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than nine times the size of the US;second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the Pacific Ocean,but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and othertributary water bodies
Coastline: 111,866 km
International disputes: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November
Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Environment:current issues: endangered marine species include the manatee,seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing ishastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing tointernational disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in CaribbeanSea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and NorthSea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea,North Sea, and Mediterranean Seanatural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and havebeen spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands;icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern AtlanticOcean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northernAtlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from Mayto October; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May toSeptemberinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: major choke points include the Dardanelles,Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategicstraits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, MonaPassage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equatordivides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South======================================================================
@Australia ————-
Map —-
Location: 27 00 S, 133 00 E — Oceania, continent between theIndian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Flag ——
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and theSouth Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 7,686,850 sq kmland area: 7,617,930 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than the USnote: includes Macquarie Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica(Australian Antarctic Territory)
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain insoutheastlowest point: Lake Eyre -15 mhighest point: Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,natural gas, petroleum
Land use:arable land: 6%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 58%forest and woodland: 14%other: 22%
Irrigated land: 18,800 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrialdevelopment, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinityrising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification;clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat ofmany unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off thenortheast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatenedby increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limitednatural fresh water resourcesnatural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification
Geographic note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer
People ———
Population: 18,260,863 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 2,009,915; female 1,912,605)15-64 years: 66% (male 6,129,285; female 5,980,315)65 years and over: 13% (male 967,291; female 1,261,452) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.99% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.99 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.74 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: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.39 years male: 76.44 years female: 82.5 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.84 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian
Ethnic divisions: Caucasian 95%, Asian 4%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%
Languages: English, native languages
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)total population: 100%male: 100%female: 100%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form: Australia
Data code: AS
Type of government: federal parliamentary state
Capital: Canberra
Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; AustralianCapital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*,Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island andMcDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory