Telephone system:domestic: NAinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 0note: there are more than 20 regional and local radio broadcaststations
Radios: 596,100 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 note: there are more than 20 local cable television broadcast stations
Televisions: 454,400 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Slovene Defense Forces
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 525,925 males fit for military service: 419,456 males reach military age (19) annually: 15,350 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 13.5 billion tolars, 3.6% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion of the military budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
======================================================================
@Solomon Islands ———————-
Map —-
Location: 8 00 S, 159 00 E — Oceania, group of islands in theSouth Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Flag ——
Description: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
Geography ————-
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean,east of Papua New Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total area: 28,450 sq kmland area: 27,540 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 5,313 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Natural resources: fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead,zinc, nickel
Land use:arable land: 1%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 1%forest and woodland: 93%other: 4%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; much of the surroundingcoral reefs are dead or dyingnatural hazards: typhoons, but they are rarely destructive;geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanicactivityinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling; signed, but notratified - Law of the Sea
People ———
Population: 412,902 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 96,241; female 92,722)15-64 years: 51% (male 107,482; female 104,293)65 years and over: 3% (male 6,129; female 6,035) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.35% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 37.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 4.41 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.14 years male: 68.67 years female: 73.74 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Solomon Islander(s) adjective: Solomon Islander
Ethnic divisions: Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%,European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Religions: Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United(Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, otherProtestant 5%, traditional beliefs 4%
Languages: Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is linguafranca, English spoken by 1%-2% of populationnote: 120 indigenous languages
Literacy: NA
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Solomon Islands former: British Solomon Islands
Data code: BP
Type of government: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Honiara
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western note: there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been abolished
Independence: 7 July 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Constitution: 7 July 1978
Legal system: common law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is ahereditary monarch, represented by Governor General Moses PITAKAKA(since 10 June 1994) who was appointed for up to five years by thequeen on the advice of Parliamenthead of government: Prime Minister Solomon MAMALONI (since 7November 1994) was elected by and from Parliament; Deputy PrimeMinister Danny PHILIP (since NA October 1995) was appointed by thegovernor general on the advice of the prime minister from among themembers of Parliamentcabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the adviceof the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament: elections last held 26 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (47 total) GNUR 21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leaders: National Unity and ReconciliationGroup (GNUR), Solomon MAMALONI; People's Alliance Party (PAP);National Action Party (NAPSI), leader NA; Solomon Islands LaborParty (SILP), leader NA; United Party (UP), leader NA; NationalistFront for Progress (NFP), Andrew NORI; Labor Party (LP), JosesTUHANUKU; Christian Fellowship, leader NA
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: Solomon Islands do not have anembassy in the US; the ambassador to the US traditionally resides inHoniara (Solomon Islands)
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy inSolomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to PapuaNew Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Flag: divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The bulk of the population depend on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. The government of the Solomon Islands is nearing financial insolvency. In mid-1995 the central bank suspended interest and principal payments on government bonds and treasury bills held by financial institutions and the general public. The government has taken no steps to restrain expenditure or address the deficit, which is expected to be considerably higher than the $20 million forecasted in the 1996 budget.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1992 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 8% (1992 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,590 (1992 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13% (1994)
Labor force: 26,842by occupation: services 41.5%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing23.7%, commerce, transport, and finance 21.7%, construction,manufacturing, and mining 13.1% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $81.3 millionexpenditures: $101.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: copra, fish (tuna)
Industrial production growth rate: -3.8% (1991 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 21,000 kW production: 30 million kWh consumption per capita: 80 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish
Exports: $94 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: fish 46%, timber 31%, palm oil 5%, cocoa, copra partners: Japan 39%, UK 23%, Thailand 9%, Australia 5%, US 2% (1991)
Imports: $101 million (c.i.f., 1993)commodities: plant and machinery, manufactured goods, food and liveanimals, fuelpartners: Australia 34%, Japan 16%, Singapore 14%, NZ 9%
External debt: $128 million (1988 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Solomon Islands dollar (SI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Solomon Islands dollars (SI$) per US$1 - 3.3713 (2d quarter 1995), 3.2914 (1994), 3.1877 (1993), 2.9281 (1992), 2.7148 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 1,300 kmpaved: 30 kmunpaved: 1,270 kmnote: in addition, there are 800 km of private logging andplantation roads of varied surface (1982 est.)
Ports: Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina
Merchant marine: none
Airports:total: 30with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 18with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 5,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 38,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 2,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: no regular military forces; Solomon Islands NationalReconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police(RSIP)
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: NAmales fit for military service: NA
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@Somalia ———-
Map —-
Location: 10 00 N, 49 00 E — Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulfof Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Flag ——
Description: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
Geography ————-
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and theIndian Ocean, east of Ethiopia
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 49 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 637,660 sq kmland area: 627,340 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries: total: 2,366 km border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,626 km, Kenya 682 km
Coastline: 3,025 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
International disputes: southern half of boundary with Ethiopia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute with Ethiopia over the Ogaden
Climate: principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Shimbiris 2,450 m
Natural resources: uranium and largely unexploited reserves ofiron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 46%forest and woodland: 14%other: 38%
Irrigated land: 1,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: famine; use of contaminated water contributes tohuman health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;desertificationnatural hazards: recurring droughts; frequent dust storms overeastern plains in summerinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of theSea; signed, but not ratified - Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban
Geographic note: strategic location on Horn of Africa alongsouthern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea andSuez Canal
People ———
Population: 9,639,151 (July 1996 est.) note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1987 by the Somali Government with the cooperation of the UN and the US Bureau of the Census; population estimates are updated year by year between census years by factoring growth rates into them, and by taking account of refugee movements, and of losses due to famine; lower estimates of Somalia's population in mid-1996 (on the order of 6.0 to 6.5 million) have been made by aid and relief agencies, based on the number of persons being fed; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large numbers of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (male 2,143,775; female 2,139,104)15-64 years: 52% (male 2,609,911; female 2,387,620)65 years and over: 4% (male 182,991; female 175,750) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.1% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.17 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 13.22 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.05 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 121.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.49 years male: 55.18 years female: 55.8 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.01 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Somali(s) adjective: Somali
Ethnic divisions: Somali 85%, Bantu, Arabs 30,000
Religions: Sunni Muslim
Languages: Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)total population: 24%male: 36%female: 14%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic
Data code: SO
Type of government: none
Capital: Mogadishu
Administrative divisions: 18 regions (plural - NA, singular -gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo,Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag,Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland,which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and ItalianSomaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administeredUN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: 25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Somalia has no functioning government; the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the regime of Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre on 27 January 1991; the present political situation is one of anarchy, marked by interclan fighting and random banditry
Legislative branch: unicameral People's AssemblyPeople's Assembly (Golaha Shacbiga): not functioning
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (not functioning)
Political parties and leaders: the United Somali Congress (USC) ousted the former regime on 27 January 1991; formerly the only party was the Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party (SRSP), headed by former President and Commander in Chief of the Army Major General Mohamed SIAD Barre
Other political or pressure groups: numerous clan and subclanfactions are currently vying for power
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,AMF, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US: Somalia does not have an embassyin the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991)
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi at Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mail address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX [254] (2) 340838
Flag: light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the flag of the UN (Italian Somaliland was a UN trust territory)
Economy ———-
Economic overview: One of the world's poorest and least developed countries, Somalia has few resources. Moreover, much of the economy has been devastated by the civil war. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings. Nomads and seminomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Crop production generates only 10% of GDP and employs about 20% of the work force. The main export crop is bananas; sugar, sorghum, and corn are grown for the domestic market. The small industrial sector is based on the processing of agricultural products and accounts for less than 10% of GDP; most facilities have been shut down because of the civil strife. The greatly increased political turmoil of 1991-93 resulted in a substantial drop in agricultural output, with widespread famine. In 1994 economic conditions stabilized in the countryside, followed in 1995 by slight improvements. However, ongoing civil strife in Mogadishu and outlying areas is interfering with any substantial recovery.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA
Labor force: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)(1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: a few small industries, including sugar refining, textiles, petroleum refining (mostly shut down)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity:capacity: 75,000 kW prior to the civil war, but now largely shutdown due to war damage; some localities operate their own generatingplants, providing limited municipal power; note - UN and relieforganizations use their own portable power systemsproduction: NA kWhconsumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture: bananas, sorghum, corn, mangoes, sugarcane; cattle,sheep, goats; fishing potential largely unexploited
Exports: $100 million (1995 est.)commodities: bananas, live animals, fish, hidespartners: Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states, Italy, US (bananas)
Imports: $249 million (1990 est.)commodities: petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materialspartners: US 13%, Italy, FRG, Kenya, UK, Saudi Arabia (1986)
External debt: $1.9 billion (1989)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Somali shilling (So. Sh.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Somali shillings (So. Sh.) per US$1 - approximately 7,000 (January 1996), 5,000 (1 January 1995), 2,616 (1 July 1993), 4,200 (December 1992), 3,800.00 (December 1990), 490.7 (1989),
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 22,500 km paved: 2,700 km unpaved: 19,800 km (1992 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 15 km
Ports: Bender Cassim (Boosaaso), Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo),Merca, Mogadishu
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,529 GRT/6,892 DWTships by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 52with paved runways over 3 047 m: 3with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 6with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 20 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 9,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: the public telecommunications system was completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; all relief organizations depend on their own private systems domestic: recently, local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers international: international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there are at least five radio broadcast stations of NA type)
Radios: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (Somalia's only TV station was demolished during the civil strife, sometime in 1991)
Televisions: 113,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: NA; note - no functioning central government militaryforces; clan militias continue to battle for control of key economicor political prizes
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: 2,333,994males fit for military service: 1,301,954 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
======================================================================
@South Africa ——————
Map —-
Location: 29 00 S, 24 00 E — Southern Africa, at the southern tipof the continent of Africa
Flag ——
Description: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isoceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent ofAfrica
Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 1,219,912 sq kmland area: 1,219,912 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texasnote: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and PrinceEdward Island)
Land boundaries:total: 4,750 kmborder countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491km, Namibia 855 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline: 2,798 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Swaziland has asked South Africa to opennegotiations on reincorporating some nearby South Africanterritories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were longago part of the Swazi Kingdom
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunnydays, cool nights
Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrowcoastal plainlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore,manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum,copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 1%meadows and pastures: 65%forest and woodland: 3%other: 21%
Irrigated land: 11,280 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requiresextensive water conservation and control measures; growth in waterusage threatens to outpace supply; pollution of rivers fromagricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting inacid rain; soil erosion; desertificationnatural hazards: prolonged droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;signed, but not ratified - Climate Change, Desertification, Law ofthe Sea
Geographic note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho andalmost completely surrounds Swaziland
People ———
Population: 41,743,459 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (male 7,578,639; female 7,428,123)15-64 years: 60% (male 12,356,753; female 12,516,467)65 years and over: 4% (male 744,806; female 1,118,671) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 1.76% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 27.91 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 10.32 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 48.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.47 years male: 57.21 years female: 61.8 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.43 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African
Ethnic divisions: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian2.6%
Religions: Christian (most whites and Coloreds and about 60% ofblacks), Hindu (60% of Indians), Muslim 2%
Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English,Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 81.8%male: 81.9%female: 81.7%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of South Africaconventional short form: South Africaabbreviation: RSA
Data code: SF
Type of government: republic
Capital: Pretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative);Bloemfontein (judicial)
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State,Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape,Northern Province, Western Cape
Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)
National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution: 27 April 1994 (interim constitution, replacing the constitution of 3 September 1984); note - on 8 May 1996, the Constitutional Assembly voted 421 to two to pass a new constitution which, after certification by the Constitutional Court, will gradually go into effect over a three-year period and come into full force with the next national elections in April 1999
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Nelson MANDELA(since 10 May 1994); Deputy Executive Presidents Thabo MBEKI (since10 May 1994) and Frederik W. DE KLERK (since 10 May 1994) wereelected by the National Assemblynote: any political party that wins 20% or more of the NationalAssembly votes in a general election is entitled to name a deputyexecutive president; moreover, any party that wins 20 or more seatsin the National Assembly is entitled to become a member of thegoverning coalition; currently, the ANC, the IFP, and the NPconstitute a Government of National Unity (GNU)cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: bicameralNational Assembly: elections last held 26-29 April 1994 (next to beheld NA April 1999); results - ANC 62.6%, NP 20.4%, IFP 10.5%, FF2.2%, DP 1.7%, PAC 1.2%, ACDP 0.5%, other 0.9%; seats - (400 total)ANC 252, NP 82, IFP 43, FF 9, DP 7, PAC 5, ACDP 2Senate: the Senate is composed of members who are nominated by thenine provincial parliaments (which are elected in parallel with theNational Assembly) and has special powers to protect regionalinterests, including the right to limited self-determination forethnic minorities; seats - (90 total) ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP3note: when the National Assembly meets in joint session with theSenate to consider the provisions of the constitution, the combinedgroup is referred to as the Constitutional Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: African National Congress (ANC), Nelson MANDELA, president; National Party (NP), Frederik W. DE KLERK, president; Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president; Freedom Front (FF), Constand VILJOEN, president; Democratic Party (DP), Tony LEON, president; Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC), Clarence MAKWETU, president; African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Kenneth MESHOE, president note: in addition to these seven parties which received seats in the National Assembly, 11 other parties won votes in the national elections in April 1994
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International organization participation: BIS, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM, OAU, SACU,SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin SONN chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400 consulate(s) general: Beverly Hills (California), Chicago, and New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador James A. JOSEPH embassy: 877 Pretorius St., Arcadia 0083 mailing address: P.O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048 FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244 consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side, embracing a black isoceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which has three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags are a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Many of the white one-seventh of the South African population enjoy incomes, material comforts, and health and educational standards equal to those of Western Europe. In contrast, most of the remaining population suffers from the poverty patterns of the Third World, including unemployment and lack of job skills. The main strength of the economy lies in its rich mineral resources, which provide two-thirds of exports. Economic developments for the remainder of the 1990s will be driven largely by the new government's attempts to improve black living conditions, to set the country on a steady export-led growth path, and to cut back the enormous numbers of unemployed. The economy in recent years has absorbed less than 5% of the more than 300,000 workers entering the labor force annually. Local economists estimate that the economy must grow between 5% and 6% in real terms annually to absorb all of the new entrants, much less reduce the accumulated total.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $215 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $4,800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.7% (1995)
Labor force: 14.2 million economically active (1996) by occupation: services 35%, agriculture 30%, industry 20%, mining 9%, other 6%
Unemployment rate: 32.6% (1996 est.); an additional 11%underemployment
Budget:revenues: $30.5 billionexpenditures: $38 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6billion (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemical, fertilizer, foodstuffs
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 39,750,000 kW production: 163 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,482 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; cattle, poultry, sheep, wool, milk, beef
Illicit drugs: transshipment center for heroin and cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana
Exports: $27.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995)commodities: gold 27%, other minerals and metals 20%-25%, food 5%,chemicals 3% (1994)partners: Italy, Japan, US, Germany, UK, other EU countries, HongKong
Imports: $27 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery 32%, transport equipment 15%, chemicals 11%, oil, textiles, scientific instruments (1994) partners: Germany, US, Japan, UK, Italy
External debt: $22 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid:recipient: ODA, $NAnote: current aid pledges include US $600 million over three yearsending in 1996; UK $150 million over three years; Australia $21million over three years; Japan $1.3 billion over two years endingin 1996; EU $833 million over five years
Currency: 1 rand (R) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: rand (R) per US$1 - 3.6417 (January 1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992), 2.7563 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 21,431 kmnarrow gauge: 20,995 km 1.067-m gauge (9,087 km electrified); 436 km0.610-m gauge (1995)
Highways:total: 182,329 kmpaved: 55,428 km (including 2,040 km of expressways)unpaved: 126,901 km (1991 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; naturalgas 322 km
Ports: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mosselbaai, Port Elizabeth,Richards Bay, Saldanha
Merchant marine:total: 4 container ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 211,276GRT/198,602 DWT (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 667with paved runways over 3 047 m: 10with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 4with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 44with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 75with paved runways under 914 m: 221with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 33with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 280 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 5,206,235 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: the system is the best developed, most modern, and has the highest capacity in Africa domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, and radiotelephone communication stations; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 286, shortwave 0
Radios: 12.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 67 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 3.45 million (1990 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: South African National Defense Force (SANDF; includesArmy, Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African PoliceService (SAPS)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,686,976 males fit for military service: 6,502,265 males reach military age (18) annually: 424,854 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $2.9 billion, 2.2% of GDP (FY95/96)
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@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands ——————————————————————
(dependent territory of the UK)
Map —-
Location: 54 30 S, 37 00 W — Southern South America, islands inthe South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America
Flag ——
Description: the flag of the UK is used
Geography ————-
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South AtlanticOcean, east of the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates: 54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area:total area: 4,066 sq kmland area: 4,066 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Rhode Islandnote: includes Shag Rocks, Clerke Rocks, Bird Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: NA km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: administered by the UK, claimed byArgentina
Climate: variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year, interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow
Terrain: most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Paget 2,915 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with somesparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weatherconditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship;they are also subject to active volcanisminternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in this century, live on South Georgia
People ———
Population: no indigenous population; there is a small military garrison on South Georgia, and the British Antarctic Survey has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsconventional short form: none
Data code: SX
Type of government: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: none; Grytviken on South Georgia is the garrison town
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985
Legal system: English common law
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by CommissionerDavid Everard TATHAM (since August 1992; resident at Stanley,Falkland Islands)
Legislative branch: no elections
Judicial branch: none
Flag: the flag of the UK is used
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters.There is a potential source of income from harvesting fin fish andkrill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced inthe UK.
Budget:revenues: $291,777expenditures: $451,000, including capital expenditures of $NA (1988est.)
Electricity:capacity: 900 kWproduction: 2 million kWhconsumption per capita: NA kWh (1992)
Transportation ———————
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports: Grytviken
Airports: none
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
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@Spain ——-
Map —-
Location: 40 00 N, 4 00 W — Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France
Flag ——
Description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
Geography ————-
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 504,750 sq kmland area: 499,400 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregonnote: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places ofsovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco -Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon deVelez de la Gomera
Land boundaries:total: 1,903.2 kmborder countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,Portugal 1,214 kmnote: excludes the length of the boundary between the places ofsovereignty and Morocco
Coastline: 4,964 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas Chafarinas
Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Teide on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 31%permanent crops: 10%meadows and pastures: 21%forest and woodland: 31%other: 7%
Irrigated land: 33,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewageand effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; airpollution; deforestation; desertificationnatural hazards: periodic droughtsinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - AirPollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: strategic location along approaches to Strait ofGibraltar
People ———
Population: 39,181,114 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16% (male 3,237,942; female 3,055,881)15-64 years: 68% (male 13,380,956; female 13,352,582)65 years and over: 16% (male 2,566,728; female 3,587,025) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.16% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 10.04 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.26 years male: 74.95 years female: 81.81 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish
Ethnic divisions: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%
Languages: Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.)total population: 96%male: 98%female: 94%
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local short form: Espana
Data code: SP
Type of government: parliamentary monarchy
Capital: Madrid
Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidadesautonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon,Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon,Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares,La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasconote: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast ofMorocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, andPenon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown
Independence: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
National holiday: National Day, 12 October
Constitution: 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system: civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975) is ahereditary monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria AZNAR (since 5 May1996) was proposed by the king and voted into office by the NationalAssembly on 4 May 1996; AZNAR's Popular Party defeated FelipeGONZALEZ Marques's Socialist Workers Party in the 3 March 1996legislative election; Deputy Prime Minister (vacant)cabinet: Council of Ministers was designated by the prime ministerCouncil of State: is the supreme consultative organ of the government
Legislative branch: bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales) Senate (Senado): elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (256 total) PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9 Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados): elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - PP 38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%, CiU 4.6%; seats - (350 total) PSOE 141, PP 156, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)
Political parties and leaders:principal national parties from right to left: Popular Party (PP),Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE),Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Spanish Communist Party(PCE), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez; United Left (IU - a coalition ofparties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other smallparties), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalezchief regional parties: Convergence and Union (CiU), Jordi PUJOL,secretary general (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence ofCatalonia (CDC), Pere ESTEVE, and the Democratic Union of Catalonia(UDC), Josep Antoni DURAN LLEIDA); Basque Nationalist Party (PNV),Xabier ARZALLUS Antia and Jose Antonio ARDANZA; Basque United People(HB or Herri Batasuna, ETA's political wing), Juan Cruz IDIGORAS;Canarian Coalition (CC), a coalition of five parties
Other political or pressure groups: on the extreme left, theBasque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of OctoberAntifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose thegovernment; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); WorkersConfederation (CC.OO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT),and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); businessand landowning interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; universitystudents
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,ESA, EU, FAO, G- 8, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL,WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC