Communications ———————
Telephones: 2.3 million (1990 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: poor service; 89% of telephone network is automatic; trunknetwork is microwave radio relay; roughly 3,300 villages with noservice (February 1990 est.)international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digitalinternational direct-dial exchanges are in Bucharest (1993 est.)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 4.64 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 (1990 est.)
Televisions: 4.58 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, ParamilitaryForces, Civil Defense
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,572,383 males fit for military service: 4,693,376 males reach military age (20) annually: 198,125 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $885 million, 3.0% of GDP (1995)
Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997). ======================================================================
@Russia ———
Map —-
Location: 60 00 N, 100 00 E — Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue,and red
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is sometimes included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:total area: 17,075,200 sq kmland area: 16,995,800 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 19,913 kmborder countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441km, Norway 167 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576km
Coastline: 37,653 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: inherited disputes from former USSR including sections of the boundary with China; islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; maritime dispute with Norway over portion of the Barents Sea; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined; potential dispute with Ukraine over Crimea; Estonia claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora regions; the Abrene section of the border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation
Climate: ranges from steppes in the south through humidcontinental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia totundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool alongBlack Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in thesteppes to cool along Arctic coast
Terrain: broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferousforest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southernborder regionslowest point: Caspian Sea -28 mhighest point: Mount El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources: wide natural resource base including majordeposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals,timbernote: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinderexploitation of natural resources
Land use:arable land: 8%permanent crops: NEGL%meadows and pastures: 5%forest and woodland: 45%other: 42%
Irrigated land: 56,000 sq km (1992)
Environment:current issues: air pollution from heavy industry, emissions ofcoal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities;industrial and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination fromimproper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas ofsometimes intense radioactive contaminationnatural hazards: permafrost over much of Siberia is a majorimpediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands;volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsulainternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - AirPollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of theSea
Geographic note: largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture
People ———
Population: 148,178,487 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 15,792,573; female 15,213,854)15-64 years: 67% (male 48,145,679; female 51,125,902)65 years and over: 12% (male 5,403,066; female 12,497,413) (July1996 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.07% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 16.34 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.47 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: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.43 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.88 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.24 years male: 56.51 years female: 70.31 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.42 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Russian(s) adjective: Russian
Ethnic divisions: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1%
Religions: Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other
Languages: Russian, other
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)total population: 98%male: 100%female: 97%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Russian Federationconventional short form: Russialocal long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiyalocal short form: Rossiyaformer: Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
Data code: RS
Type of government: federation
Capital: Moscow
Administrative divisions: 21 autonomous republics (avtomnykh respublik, singular - avtomnaya respublika); Adygea (Maykop), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatia (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashia (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Gorno-Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Ingushetia (Nazran'), Kabardino-Balkaria (Nal'chik), Kalmykia (Elista), Karachay-Cherkessia (Cherkessk), Karelia (Petrozavodsk), Khakassia (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mari El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordovia (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tuva (Kyzyl), Udmurtia (Izhevsk), Yakutia - also known as Sakha (Yakutsk); 49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast'); Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orel, Orenburg, Penza, Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'; 6 krays (krayev, singular - kray); Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok), Stavropol'; 10 autonomous okrugs; Aga (Aginskoye), Chukotka (Anadyr'), Evenkia (Tura), Khantia-Mansia (Khanty-Mansiysk), Koryakia (Palana), Nenetsia (Nar'yan-Mar), Permyakia (Kudymkar), Taymyria (Dudinka), Ust'-Onda (Ust'-Ordynskiy), Yamalia (Salekhard); 1 autonomous oblast (avtomnykh oblast'); Birobijan note: the autonomous republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia were formerly the autonomous republic of Checheno-Ingushetia (the boundary between Chechnya and Ingushetia has yet to be determined); the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg are federal cities; an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, June 12 (1990)
Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Boris Nikolayevich YEL'TSIN (since 12 June1991) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage underthe constitution of 12 December 1993, but subsequent presidents,beginning with the 16 June 1996 election, will serve a four-yearterm; election last held 12 June 1991 (next to be held 16 June1996); results - percent of vote NA; note - no vice president; ifthe president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because ofill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; thepremier serves as acting president until a new presidential electionis held, which must be within three monthshead of government: Premier and Chairman of the Russian FederationGovernment Viktor Stepanovich CHERNOMYRDIN (since 14 December 1992),First Deputy Premiers and First Deputy Chairmen of the GovernmentOleg SOSKOVETS (since 30 April 1993) and Vladimir KADANNIKOV (since25 January 1996) were appointed by the president on approval of theDumasSecurity Council: originally established as a presidential advisorybody in June 1991, but restructured in March 1992, withresponsibility for managing individual and state securityPresidential Administration: drafts presidential edicts and providesstaff and policy support to the entire executive branchcabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" was appointedby the presidentGroup of Assistants: schedules president's appointments, processespresidential edicts and other official documents, and houses thepresident's press service and primary speechwritersCouncil of Heads of Republics: includes the leaders of the 21ethnic-based RepublicsCouncil of Heads of Administrations: includes the leaders of the 66autonomous territories and regions, and the mayors of Moscow and St.PetersburgPresidential Council: prepares policy papers for the president
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly Federation Council: 178 seats, filled ex-officio by the top executive and legislative officials in each of the 89 federal administrative units (oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg) State Duma: elections last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA December 1999); results - percent of vote received by parties clearing the 5% threshold entitling them to a proportional share of the 225 party list seats: Communist Party of the Russian Federation 22.3%, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 11.2%, Our Home Is Russia 10.1%, Yabloko Bloc 6.9%; seats - (450 total - half elected in single-member districts and half elected from national party lists) Communist Party of the Russian Federation 157, Independents 78, Our Home Is Russia 55, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia 51, Yabloko Bloc 45, Agrarian Party of Russia 20, Russia's Democratic Choice 9, Power To the People 9, Congress of Russian Communities 5, Forward, Russia! 3, Women of Russia 3, other parties 15
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president; Supreme Court (highest court for criminal, civil, and administrative cases), judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president; Superior Court of Arbitration (highest court that resolves economic disputes), judges are appointed by the Federation Council on recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders:pro-market democrats: Our Home Is Russia, Viktor CHERNOMYRDIN;Yabloko Bloc, Grigoriy YAVLINSKIY; Russia's Democratic Choice Party,Yegor GAYDAR; Forward, Russia!, Boris FEDOROVcentrists/special interest parties: Congress of Russian Communities,Yuriy SKOKOV; Women of Russia, Alevtina FEDULOVA and YekaterinaLAKHOVAanti-market and/or ultranationalist parties: Communist Party of theRussian Federation, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV; Liberal Democratic Party ofRussia, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY; Agrarian Party, Mikhail LAPSHIN;Power To the People, Nikolay RYZHKOV and Sergey BABURIN; RussianCommunist Workers' Party, Viktor ANPILOV and Viktor TYULKINnote: some 269 political parties, blocs, and associations tried togather enough signatures to run slates of candidates in the 17December 1995 Duma elections; 43 succeeded
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International organization participation: BSEC, CBSS, CCC, CE,CERN (observer), CIS, EBRD, ECE, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NSG, OAS (observer),OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCRO,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(applicant), ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Yuliy Mikhaylovich VORONTSOV chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700 through 5704 FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735 consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas R. PICKERING embassy: Novinskiy Bul'var 19/23, Moscow mailing address: APO AE 09721 telephone: [7] (095) 252-24-51 through 59 FAX: [7] (095) 956-42-61 consulate(s) general: St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Russia, a vast country with a wealth of natural resources, a well-educated population, and a diverse industrial base, continues to experience formidable difficulties in moving from its old centrally planned economy to a modern-market economy. The break-up of the USSR into 15 successor states in late 1991 destroyed major economic links that have been only partially replaced. As a result of these dislocations and the failure of the government to implement a rigorous and consistent reform program, output in Russia has dropped by one-third since 1990 (instead of the one-half previously estimated). On the one hand, President YEL'TSIN's government has made substantial strides in converting to a market economy since launching its economic reform program in January 1992 by freeing nearly all prices, slashing defense spending, eliminating the old centralized distribution system, completing an ambitious voucher privatization program in 1994, establishing private financial institutions, and decentralizing foreign trade. On the other hand, Russia has made little progress in a number of key areas that are needed to provide a solid foundation for the transition to a market economy; and the strong showing of the communists and nationalists in the Duma elections in December 1995 casts a shadow over prospects for further reforms. In 1995, the new cash privatization program went slower than planned. The state claims that the nonstate sector produced approximately 70% of GDP in 1995, up from 62% in 1994, although these figures apparently include many enterprises that have only nominally moved out of state control. Moscow has been slow to develop the legal framework necessary to fully support a market economy and to encourage foreign investment. Stockholder rights remain ill-defined and the Duma has yet to adopt a land code that would allow development of land markets as sources of needed capital. Russia's securities market remains largely unregulated and suffers from the lack of a comprehensive securities law. In addition, Moscow has yet to develop a social safety net that would allow faster restructuring by relieving enterprises of the burden of providing social benefits for their workers. Most rank-and-file Russians perceive they are worse off because of growing crime and health problems, the drop in real wages, the great rise in wage arrears, and the widespread threat of unemployment. The number of Russians living below the official poverty level rose by 10% to 36.6 million people, or 25% of the population. The decline in output slowed during 1995, and some sectors showed signs of a turnaround; analysts forecast the resumption of growth in 1996 - at a low rate. Russian official data, which fail to capture a considerable portion of private sector output and employment, show that GDP declined by 4% in 1995, as compared with a 15% decline in 1994. Despite continued declines in agricultural and industrial production, unemployment climbed only slowly to about 8% of the work force by yearend because government policies aimed at softening the impact of reforms have created incentives for enterprises to keep workers on the rolls even as production slowed to a crawl. Moscow renewed tightened financial policies in early 1995 and succeeded in reducing monthly consumer price inflation from 18% in January to about 3% in December, the lowest monthly rate since the beginning of reform. According to official trade statistics, Russia ran a $19.9 billion trade surplus for 1995, up from $15.9 billion in 1994. It continued to shift its trade away from the other former Soviet republics toward the West, with the CIS countries' share of Russian trade falling to 22% in 1995. Russia made good progress with official and commercial creditors in 1995 in resolving the issue of its $105 billion in Soviet-era debts. When completed, these Paris Club and London Club rescheduling agreements will reduce Russia's repayment liabilities from $20 billion to less than $5 billion annually through the end of the decade. Capital flight reportedly continued to be a problem in 1995, with billions of additional dollars in assets being moved abroad, primarily to bank accounts in Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $796 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 41% services: 53%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% monthly average (1995 est.)
Labor force: 85 million (1993) by occupation: production and economic services 83.9%, government 16.1%
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (December 1995) with considerable additional underemployment
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: -3% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 213,100,000 kW production: 876 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,800 kWh (1994)
Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits (because of its northern location does not grow citrus, cotton, tea, and other warm climate products); meat, milk
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for domestic consumption; government has active eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe and Latin America
Exports: $77.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood andwood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian andmilitary manufacturespartners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba
Imports: $57.9 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, grain, sugar, semifinished metal products partners: Europe, North America, Japan, Third World countries, Cuba
External debt: $130 billion (yearend 1995)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $2.8 billion (1993)note: US commitments, including Ex-Im (1990-95), $14 billion(1990-95); other countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments(1990-95), $125 billion
Currency: 1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks
Exchange rates: rubles per US$1 - 4,640 (29 December 1995), 3,550 (29 December 1994), 1,247 (27 December 1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 154,000 km; note - 87,000 km in common carrier service(38,000 km electrified); 67,000 km serve specific industries and arenot available for common carrier usebroad gauge: 154,000 km 1.520-m gauge (1 January 1994)
Highways:total: 934,000 km (including 445,000 km which serve specificindustries or farms and are not available for common carrier use)paved: NA kmunpaved: NA km (1994 est.)
Waterways: total navigable routes in general use 101,000 km; routes with navigation guides serving the Russian River Fleet 95,900 km; routes with night navigational aids 60,400 km; man-made navigable routes 16,900 km (1 January 1994)
Pipelines: crude oil 48,000 km; petroleum products 15,000 km;natural gas 140,000 km (30 June 1993)
Ports: Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Kaliningrad, Kazan', Khabarovsk,Kholmsk, Krasnoyarsk, Moscow, Murmansk, Nakhodka, Nevel'sk,Novorossiysk, Petropavlovsk, St. Petersburg, Rostov, Sochi, Tuapse,Vladivostok, Volgograd, Vostochnyy, Vyborg
Merchant marine:total: 745 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,730,178GRT/9,385,565 DWTships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 25, cargo 406, chemical tanker6, combination bulk 21, combination ore/oil 17, container 31,multifunction large-load carrier 3, oil tanker 134, passenger 4,passenger-cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 19, roll-on/roll-off cargo 54,short-sea passenger 16, specialized tanker 2note: Russia owns an additional 163 ships (1,000 GRT or over)totaling 2,276,829 DWT operating under the registries of Malta,Cyprus, Liberia, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Honduras,The Bahamas, and Vanuatu (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 2,517with paved runways over 3 047 m: 54with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 202with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 108with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 115with paved runways under 914 m: 151with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 25with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 45with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 134with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 291with unpaved runways under 914 m: 1,392 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 25.4 million (1993 est.)
Telephone system: total pay phones for long distant calls 34,100; enlisting foreign help, by means of joint ventures, to speed up the modernization of its telecommunications system; in 1992, only 661,000 new telephones were installed compared with 855,000 in 1991, and in 1992 the number of unsatisfied applications for telephones reached 11,000,000; expanded access to international electronic mail service available via Sprint network; the inadequacy of Russian telecommunications is a severe handicap to the economy, especially with respect to international connections domestic: NMT-450 analog cellular telephone networks are operational and growing in Moscow and St. Petersburg; intercity fiber-optic cable installation remains limited international: international traffic is inadequately handled by a system of satellites, landlines, microwave radio relay, and outdated submarine cables; much of this traffic passes through the international gateway switch in Moscow which carries most of the international traffic for the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States; a new Russian Intersputnik satellite will link Moscow and St. Petersburg with Rome from whence calls will be relayed to destinations in Europe and overseas; satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, 4 Intersputnik (2 Atlantic Ocean Region and 2 Indian Ocean Region), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean Region), and NA Orbita
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are about 1,050 (including AM, FM, and shortwave) radio broadcast stations throughout the country
Radios: 50 million (1993 est.)(radio receivers with multiple speaker systems for program diffusion 74,300,000)
Television broadcast stations: 7,183
Televisions: 54.85 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Forces, Air Defense Forces,Strategic Rocket Forces
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 38,673,991 males fit for military service: 30,224,738 males reach military age (18) annually: 1,105,004 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP note: the Intelligence Community estimates that defense spending in Russia fell by about 20% in real terms in 1995, reducing Russian defense outlays to about one-fifth of peak Soviet levels in the late 1980s
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@Rwanda ———
Map —-
Location: 2 00 S, 30 00 E — Central Africa, east of Zaire
Flag ——
Description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band
Geography ————-
Location: Central Africa, east of Zaire
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 26,340 sq kmland area: 24,950 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 893 kmborder countries: Burundi 290 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km,Zaire 217 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
International disputes: none
Climate: temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain: mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources: gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite(tungsten ore), natural gas, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 29%permanent crops: 11%meadows and pastures: 18%forest and woodland: 10%other: 32%
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting oftrees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosionnatural hazards: periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountainsare in the northwest along the border with Zaireinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, NuclearTest Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; predominantly rural population
People ———
Population: 6,853,359 (July 1996 est.)note: genocide and civil war in 1994 killed more than 1 millionRwandans and forced more than 2 million to flee to neighboringcountries
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 1,582,928; female 1,573,536)15-64 years: 51% (male 1,734,716; female 1,772,722)65 years and over: 3% (male 78,854; female 110,603) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 16.49% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.83 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 20.33 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 146.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.) note: since April 1994, more than two million refugees have fled the civil strife between the Hutu and Tutsi factions in Rwanda and crossed into Zaire, Burundi, and Tanzania; close to 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis who fled civil strife in earlier years have returned to Rwanda, and 90,000 of the Hutu refugees are going home despite the perceived danger of doing so; the ethnic violence continues and in 1996 could produce further refugee flows as well as discourage returns
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 118.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 40.12 years male: 39.72 years female: 40.53 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Rwandan(s) adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic divisions: Hutu 80%, Tutsi 19%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 65%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 1%,indigenous beliefs and other 25%
Languages: Kinyarwanda (official), French (official), Kiswahili(Swahili) used in commercial centers
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 60.5%male: 69.8%female: 51.6%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Rwandaconventional short form: Rwandalocal long form: Republika y'u Rwandalocal short form: Rwanda
Data code: RW
Type of government: republic; presidential system
Capital: Kigali
Administrative divisions: 10 prefectures (prefectures, singular -prefecture in French; plural - NA, singular - prefegitura inKinyarwanda); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi,Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali, Ruhengeri
Independence: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UNtrusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution: 18 June 1991
Legal system: based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Pasteur BIZIMUNGU (since 19 July 1994);installed by force by the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front; no date setfor elections; president is normally elected for a five-year term byuniversal suffrage; Vice President Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME (since NA)head of government: Prime Minister Celestin RWIGEMA (since NASeptember 1995) was appointed by the presidentcabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): sworn in on 25 November1994; seats - (70 total) RPF 19, MDR 13, PSD 13, PL 13, PDC 6, PSR2, PDI 2, other 2
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, consists of the Court ofCassation and the Council of State in joint session
Political parties and leaders: significant parties include:Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Alexis KANYARENGWE, chairman;Democratic Republican Movement (MDR); Liberal Party (PL); Democraticand Socialist Party (PSD); Christian Democratic Party (PDC); IslamicDemocratic Party (PDI); Rwandan Socialist Party (PSR); NationalMovement for Democracy and Development (MRND), former ruling party
Other political or pressure groups: Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA),the RPF military wing, Maj. Gen. Paul KAGAME, commander; Rally forthe Democracy and Return (RDR)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,NAM, OAU, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Theogene RUDASINGWAchancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert GRIBBIN III embassy: Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 756 01 through 03, 721 26, 771 47 FAX: [250] 721 28
Flag: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green with a large black letter R centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Guinea, which has a plain yellow band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Rwanda is a poor African nation suffering bitterly from ethnic-based civil war. The agricultural sector dominates the economy; coffee and tea normally make up 80%-90% of total exports. The amount of fertile land is limited, however, and deforestation and soil erosion continue to create problems. Manufacturing focuses mainly on the processing of agricultural products. Weak international prices since 1986 have caused the economy to contract and per capita GDP to decline. A structural adjustment program with the World Bank began in October 1990. Ethnic-based insurgency since 1990 has devastated wide areas, especially in the north, and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A peace accord in mid-1993 temporarily ended most of the fighting, but resumption of large-scale civil warfare in April 1994 in the capital city Kigali and elsewhere has been taking thousands of lives and severely affecting short-term economic prospects. The economy suffers massively from failure to maintain the infrastructure, looting, neglect of important cash crops, and lack of health care facilities. GDP in 1994 may have dropped by as much as half. The further decline of GDP in 1995 was much smaller and was more than offset by aid from the outside. Because of the severe damage to real property and the decline in public discipline, recovery of domestic production toward previous levels is proceeding slowly.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: -2.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $400 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 13% services: 35% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 64% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 3.6 million by occupation: agriculture 93%, government and services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Industries: mining of cassiterite (tin ore) and wolframite (tungsten ore), tin, cement, agricultural processing, small-scale beverage production, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate: -50% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 60,000 kW production: 190 million kWh consumption per capita: 23 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Exports: $52 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: coffee 63%, tea, cassiterite, wolframite, pyrethrum partners: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Uganda, UK, France, US
Imports: $37 million (1994 est.) commodities: textiles, foodstuffs, machines and equipment, capital goods, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material partners: US, Belgium, Germany, Kenya, Japan
External debt: $873 million (1993 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $NAnote: in October 1990 Rwanda launched a Structural AdjustmentProgram with the IMF; since September 1991, the EC has given $46million and the US $25 million in support of this program (1993)
Currency: 1 Rwandan franc (RF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Rwandan francs (RF) per US$1 - 401.27 (2nd quarter 1994), 168.20 (1993), 133.35 (1992), 125.14 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 13,173 km paved: 1,186 km unpaved: 11,987 km (1990 est.)
Waterways: Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft
Ports: Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Airports:total: 7with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2with paved runways under 914 m: 3with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 6,400 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: telephone system does not provide service to the general public but is intended for business and government use domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the prefectures by microwave radio relay; the remainder of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone international: international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 630,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Gendarmerie
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,582,656 males fit for military service: 805,722 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $112.5 million, 7% of GDP (1992)
======================================================================
@Saint Helena ——————
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map —-
Location: 15 56 S, 5 42 W — Southern Africa, island in the SouthAtlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way fromSouth America to Africa
Flag ——
Description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of Angola, about two-thirds of the way from South America to Africa
Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 42 W
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 410 sq kmland area: 410 sq kmcomparative area: nearly two times the size of Washington, DCnote: includes Ascension, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island,Nightingale Island, and Tristan da Cunha
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 60 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Terrain: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Queen Mary's Peak 2,060 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:arable land: 7%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 7%forest and woodland: 3%other: 83%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunhainternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: Napoleon Bonaparte's place of exile and burial(his remains were taken to Paris in 1840); harbors at least 40species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is abreeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
People ———
Population: 6,782 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.31% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 9.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 6.33 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: NA male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: NA male(s)/female15-64 years: NA male(s)/female65 years and over: NA male(s)/femaleall ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: 35.14 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.34 years male: 73.28 years female: 77.16 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.12 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic divisions: NA
Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist,Roman Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy: age 20 and over can read and write (1987 est.)total population: 97%male: 97%female: 98%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena
Data code: SH
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: Jamestown
Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen, 10June 1989 (second Saturday in June)
Constitution: 1 January 1989
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA years of age
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the UK since 6 February 1952)is a hereditary monarchhead of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David LeslieSMALLMAN (since NA 1995)cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, threeex-officio officers, and five elected members of the LegislativeCouncil
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council: elections last held NA July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (15 total, 12 elected) independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in US: none (dependent territory of theUK)
US diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy depends primarily on financial assistance from the UK. The local population earns some income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas.
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: 2,416 (1991 est.) by occupation: professional, technical, and related workers 8.7%, managerial, administrative, and clerical 12.8%, sales people 8.1%, farmer, fishermen, etc. 5.4%, craftspersons, production process workers 14.7%, others 50.3% (1987) note: a large proportion of the work force has left to seek employment overseas
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $11.2 millionexpenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY92/93)
Industries: crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 9,800 kW production: 10 million kWh consumption per capita: NA kWh (1993)
Agriculture: maize, potatoes, vegetables; timber production being developed; crawfishing on Tristan da Cunha
Exports: $27,400 (f.o.b., FY92/93) commodities: fish (frozen and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), handicrafts partners: South Africa, UK
Imports: $9.8 million (c.i.f., FY92/93) commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts partners: UK, South Africa
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Saint Helenian pound (LS) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: NA km (mainland 118 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NAkm)paved: 180.7 km (mainland 98 km, Ascension 80 km, Tristan da Cunha2.70 km)unpaved: NA km (mainland 20 km, Ascension NA km, Tristan da Cunha NAkm)
Ports: Georgetown, Jamestown
Merchant marine: none
Airports: total: 1 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 550
Telephone system:domestic: automatic network; HF radiotelephone to Ascension, theninto worldwide submarine cable and satellite networksinternational: major coaxial submarine cable relay point betweenSouth Africa, Portugal, and UK at Ascension; satellite earthstations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,500 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
======================================================================
@Saint Kitts and Nevis ——————————-
Map —-
Location: 17 20 N, 62 45 W — Caribbean, islands in the CaribbeanSea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad andTobago
Flag ——
Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
Geography ————-
Location: Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-thirdof the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total area: 269 sq kmland area: 269 sq kmcomparative area: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 135 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to the edge of the continentalmarginterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: subtropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain: volcanic with mountainous interiors lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:arable land: 22%permanent crops: 17%meadows and pastures: 3%forest and woodland: 17%other: 41%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: hurricanes (July to October)international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Whaling
People ———
Population: 41,369 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (male 7,371; female 7,026)15-64 years: 58% (male 12,090; female 12,057)65 years and over: 7% (male 1,162; female 1,663) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.98% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 23.28 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9.21 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.99 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.86 years male: 63.84 years female: 70.06 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kittsian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittsian, Nevisian
Ethnic divisions: black African
Religions: Anglican, other Protestant sects, Roman Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1980 est.)total population: 97%male: 97%female: 98%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevisconventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevisformer: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Data code: SC
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Basseterre
Administrative divisions: 14 parishs; Christ Church Nichola Town,Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint GeorgeGingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capisterre, Saint JohnFigtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capisterre, Saint PaulCharlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, SaintThomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence: 19 September 1983 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution: 19 September 1983
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), ahereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Dr. CuthbertMontraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996), previously GovernorGeneral of the West Indies Associated States (since NA November 1981)head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995) wereappointed by the governor generalcabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general inconsultation with the prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameralHouse of Assembly: elections last held 3 July 1995 (next to be heldby July 2000); results - SKLNP 58%, PAM 41%; seats - (14 total, 11elected) SKNLP 7, PAM 1, NRP 1, CCM 2
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on SaintLucia)
Political parties and leaders: People's Action Movement (PAM), Dr.Kennedy SIMMONDS; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party (SKNLP), Dr.Denzil DOUGLAS; Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), Joseph PARRY;Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM), Vance AMORY
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, IMF,Interpol, IOC, OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,WCL, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Erstein Mallet EDWARDSchancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy inSaint Kitts and Nevis; US interests are monitored by the embassy inBridgetown, Barbados
Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy has traditionally depended on the growing and processing of sugarcane; decreasing world prices have hurt the industry in recent years. Tourism and export-oriented manufacturing have begun to assume larger roles. Most food is imported. The newly elected government has undertaken a program designed to revitalize the faltering sugar sector. It is also working to improve revenue collection in order to better fund social programs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $220 million (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $5,380 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2% industry: 35.7% services: 58.1% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.9% (1995)
Labor force: 18,172 (June 1995); by occupation - services 69%, manufacturing 31%