Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA Eiseleychancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard N. GARDNERembassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madridmailing address: APO AE 09642telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000, 577-2301FAX: [34] (1) 577-5735consulate(s) general: Barcelona
Flag: 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
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Spain, with a mixed capitalist economy and a per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four leading economies of Western Europe, has shared with these countries the recession of the early 1990s, the gradual upturn of 1994-95, and the ongoing controversies over the timing and terms of European economic union. Reduction of the budget deficit - at 5.9% of GDP in 1995 - to meet the Maastricht monetary convergence criterion of 3% by 1997 remains the primary goal of Spanish economic policy, but political pressures had kept the Socialist government from implementing the full range of reforms necessary to meet this goal. Spain's official unemployment rate of 23% is the highest in the EU, and the troubled Socialists had been reluctant to cut social spending. Parliament rejected the administration's proposed 1996 budget because of political wrangling - not because of great differences with the substance of the spending plan - forcing the government to continue spending at 1995 levels and use piecemeal decrees to raise consumption taxes to a level consistent with inflation. The conservative opposition Popular Party, now in power after ending 13 years of Socialist rule in the spring of 1996, has promised to cut government spending, loosen regulations on financial markets, and lower taxes to spur job creation. The conservatives have stated support for Spain's role in the EU but also have cautioned against harming Spain's economy by moving too quickly to meet the criteria for monetary union.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $565 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $14,300 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 33.6% services: 62.8% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1995)
Labor force: 11.837 million by occupation: services 59%, industry 21%, agriculture 11%, construction 9% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 22.8% (yearend 1995)
Budget:revenues: $96.8 billionexpenditures: $122.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7billion (1994 est.)
Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 43,800,000 kW production: 148 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,545 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets,citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish catch of 1.4million metric tons is among top 20 nations
Illicit drugs: key European gateway country for Latin Americancocaine and North African hashish entering the European market;transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
Exports: $85 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery partners: EU 68.7%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1994)
Imports: $110 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals partners: EU 60.9%, US 7.3%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 6.2% (1994)
External debt: $90 billion (1993 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.213 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 14,343 kmbroad gauge: 12,139 km 1.668-m gauge (6,510 km electrified; 2,295 kmdouble track)standard gauge: 488 km 1.435-m gauge (488 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,716 km (privately owned: 1,669 km 1.000-m gauge, 489km electrified; 28 km 0.914-m gauge, 28 km electrified; governmentowned: 19 km 1.000-m gauge, all electrified)
Highways:total: 331,961 kmpaved: 328,641 km (including 2,700 km of expressways)unpaved: 3,320 km (1991 est.)
Waterways: 1,045 km, but of minor economic importance
Pipelines: crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; naturalgas 1,666 km
Ports: Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon dela Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands),Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Puerto de Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife(Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
Merchant marine:total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 874,688 GRT/1,391,421DWTships by type: bulk 9, cargo 36, chemical tanker 11, combinationore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 25,passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32,short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 96with paved runways over 3 047 m: 15with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13with paved runways under 914 m: 28with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 12.6 million (1990 est.)
Telephone system: generally adequate, modern facilitiesdomestic: NAinternational: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations- 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat, NAInmarsat, and NA Marecs; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 190, FM 406 (repeaters 134),shortwave 0
Radios: 12 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 100 (repeaters 1,297)
Televisions: 15.7 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, NationalPolice, Coastal Civil Guard
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 10,360,209 males fit for military service: 8,370,197 males reach military age (20) annually: 341,670 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.3 billion, 1.4% of GDP (1995)
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@Spratly Islands ———————-
Map —-
Location: 8 38 N, 111 55 E — Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Geography ————-
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total area: NA sq km but less than 5 sq kmland area: less than 5 sq kmcomparative area: NAnote: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mountsscattered over the South China Sea
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 926 km
Maritime claims: NA
International disputes: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island
Climate: tropical
Terrain: flat lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gaspotential
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Environment:current issues: NAnatural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because ofnumerous reefs and shoalsinternational agreements: NA
Geographic note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
People ———
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scatteredgarrisons
Government —————
Name of country: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Data code: PG
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Industries: none
Transportation ———————
Ports: none
Airports:total: 4with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Defense ———-
Defense note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied byChina, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
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@Sri Lanka ————-
Map —-
Location: 7 00 N, 81 00 E — Southern Asia, island in the IndianOcean, south of India
Flag ——
Description: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
Geography ————-
Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:total area: 65,610 sq kmland area: 64,740 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,340 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems,phosphates, clay
Land use:arable land: 16%permanent crops: 17%meadows and pastures: 7%forest and woodland: 37%other: 23%
Irrigated land: 5,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populationsthreatened by poaching; coastal degradation from mining activitiesand increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted byindustrial wastes and sewage runoffnatural hazards: occasional cyclones and tornadoesinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands,Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Marine Life Conservation
Geographic note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean sealanes
People ———
Population: 18,553,074 (July 1996 est.) note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island; as of late 1992, nearly 115,000 were housed in refugee camps in south India, another 95,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought political asylum in the West
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 2,673,943; female 2,559,569)15-64 years: 66% (male 6,023,759; female 6,171,964)65 years and over: 6% (male 553,940; female 569,899) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.13% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 17.89 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.35 years male: 69.77 years female: 75.06 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sri Lankan(s) adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic divisions: Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher,Malay, and Vedda 1%
Religions: Buddhist 69%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8%
Languages: Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil(national language) 18%note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken by about10% of the population
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 90.2%male: 93.4%female: 87.2%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lankaconventional short form: Sri Lankaformer: Ceylon
Data code: CE
Type of government: republic
Capital: Colombo
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces; Central, North Central,North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
Independence: 4 February 1948 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence and National Day, 4 February (1948)
Constitution: adopted 16 August 1978
Legal system: a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President ChandrikaBandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994) was elected for asix-year term by popular vote; note - Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE is theprime minister; in Sri Lanka the president is considered to be boththe chief of state and the head of the government, this is incontrast to the more common practice of dividing the roles betweenthe president and the prime minister when both offices exist;election last held 9 November 1994 (next to be held NA November2000); results - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (People'sAlliance) 62%, Srima DISSANAYAKE (United National Party) 37%, other1%cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president in consultation withthe prime minister
Legislative branch: unicameralParliament: elections last held 16 August 1994 (next to be held byAugust 2000); results - PA 49.0%, UNP 44.0%, SLMC 1.8%, TULF 1.7%,SLPF 1.1%, EPDP 0.3%, UPF 0.3%, PLOTE 0.1%, other 1.7%; seats - (225total) PA 105, UNP 94, EPDP 9, SLMC 7, TULF 5, PLOTE 3, SLPF 1, UPF 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by theJudicial Service Commission
Political parties and leaders: All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC),C. G. Kumar PONNAMBALAM; Ceylon Workers Congress (CLDC), S.THONDAMAN; Communist Party, K. P. SILVA; Communist Party/Beijing(CP/B), N. SHANMUGATHASAN; Democratic People's Liberation Front(DPLF), leader NA; Democratic United National Front (DUNF), G. M.PREMACHANDRA; Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), DouglasDEVANANDA; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRL),Suresh PREMACHANDRAN; Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students(EROS), Shankar RAJI; Lanka Socialist Party/Trotskyite (LSSP, orLanka Sama Samaja Party), Colin R. DE SILVA; Liberal Party (LP),Chanaka AMARATUNGA; New Socialist Party (NSSP, or Nava Sama SamajaParty), Vasudeva NANAYAKKARA; People's Alliance (PA), ChandrikaBandaranaike KUMARATUNGA; People's Liberation Organization of TamilEelam (PLOTE), Dharmalingam SIDARTHAN; People's United Front (MEP,or Mahajana Eksath Peramuna), Dinesh GUNAWARDENE; Sri Lanka FreedomParty (SLFP), Sirimavo BANDARANAIKE; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress(SLMC), M. H. M. ASHRAFF; Sri Lanka People's Party (SLMP, or SriLanka Mahajana Party), Ossie ABEYGUNASEKERA; Sri Lanka ProgressiveFront (SLPF), leader NA; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO),leader NA; Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), M. SIVASITHAMBARAM;United National Party (UNP), Dingiri Banda WIJETUNGA; UpcountryPeople's Front (UPF), leader NA; several ethnic Tamil and Muslimparties, represented in either parliament or provincial councilsnote: the United Socialist Alliance (USA), which was formed in 1987and included the NSSP, LSSP, SLMP, CP/M, and CP/B, was defunct as of1993, following the formation of the People's Alliance Party (PA)
Other political or pressure groups: Liberation Tigers of TamilEelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; otherradical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist clergy; SinhaleseBuddhist lay groups; labor unions
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jayantha Cudah Bandara DHANAPALAchancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181consulate(s): New York
US diplomatic representation:chief of mission: Ambassador A. Peter BURLEIGHembassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombotelephone: [94] (1) 448007FAX: [94] (1) 437345
Flag: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has twoequal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the otherpanel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding asword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellowfield appears as a border that goes around the entire flag andextends between the two panels
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth accelerated in 1991-94 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. In 1995, however, the government's emphasis on populist measures and its preoccupation with the stepped-up Tamil insurgency have clouded Sri Lanka's economic prospects and discouraged foreign investors. A further problem for 1996 is the need to curb government overspending.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $65.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,600 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 24% industry: 24% services: 52% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.4% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 6.1 million by occupation: agriculture 45%, services 37%, industry 18% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13% (1994 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.7 billionexpenditures: $3.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $851million (1995)
Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 9% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 1,410,000 kW production: 3.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 168 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat
Exports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: garments and textiles, teas, diamonds, other gems,petroleum products, rubber products, other agricultural products,marine products, graphitepartners: US 34.7%, UK, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, France (1994)
Imports: $4.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: textiles and textile materials, machinery andequipment, transport equipment, food, petroleum, building materialspartners: Japan, India, UK, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan,Singapore, China (1994)
External debt: $8.8 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $423 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 54.158 (January 1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.830 (1992), 41.372 (1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 1,484 kmbroad gauge: 1,459 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 25 km .762-m gauge (1995)
Highways:total: 94,651 kmpaved: 25,749 kmunpaved: 68,902 km (1990)
Waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine:total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,508 GRT/329,410 DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 1, oil tanker 2,refrigerated cargo 8 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 13with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 6with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 175,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, goodinternational servicedomestic: NAinternational: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.525 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5
Televisions: 865,000 (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 5,085,306 males fit for military service: 3,960,070 males reach military age (18) annually: 180,825 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $640 million, 4.4% of GDP (1996)
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@Sudan ——-
Map —-
Location: 15 00 N, 30 00 E — Northern Africa, bordering the RedSea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, andblack with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Geography ————-
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egyptand Eritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total area: 2,505,810 sq kmland area: 2.376 million sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 7,687 kmborder countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km,Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km, Zaire 628 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km, tensions over this disputed area began to escalate in 1992 and remain high
Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season(April to October)
Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east andwestlowest point: Red Sea 0 mhighest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper,chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
Land use:arable land: 5%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 24%forest and woodland: 20%other: 51%
Irrigated land: 18,900 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlifepopulations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion;desertificationnatural hazards: dust stormsinternational agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Geographic note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nileand its tributaries
People ———
Population: 31,547,543 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 7,389,616; female 7,080,044)15-64 years: 52% (male 8,219,080; female 8,172,544)65 years and over: 2% (male 387,961; female 298,298) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.48% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 41.08 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.46 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.17 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.3 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 76 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.12 years male: 54.2 years female: 56.09 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic divisions: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%,other 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%,Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialectsof Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, Englishnote: program of Arabization in process
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 46.1%male: 57.7%female: 34.6%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of the Sudanconventional short form: Sudanlocal long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudanlocal short form: As-Sudanformer: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Data code: SU
Type of government: transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly
Capital: Khartoum
Administrative divisions: 9 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat orwilayah*); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Wusta*, Al Istiwa'iyah*(Equatoria), Al Khartum, Ash Shamaliyah*, Ash Sharqiyah*, Bahr alGhazal, Darfur, Kurdufannote: on 14 February 1994, the 9 states comprising Sudan weredivided into 26 new states; the following spellings have beenreported but not approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BahrAljebal, Blue Nile, Bohayrat, East Equatoria, Gedarif, Gezira,Jungle, Kassala, Khartoum, North, North Bahr Alghazal, North Darfur,North Kordofan, Red Sea, River Nile, Sinnar, South Darfur, SouthKordofan, Unity, Upper Nile, Warab, West Bahr Alghazal, West Darfur,West Kordofan, West Equatoria, White Nile)
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution to be drafted following national elections held in March 1996
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; the council is still studying criminal provisions under Islamic law; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsary
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Lt. General UmarHasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993) was elected to afive-year term by popular vote; election last held 6-17 March 1996(next to be held NA 2001); results - President al-BASHIR won 75.7%of the vote and defeated about forty other candidates; First VicePresident Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGORAROP (since NA February 1994)note: al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Councilfor National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 andserved concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, primeminister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he wasappointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved tothe president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan'sappointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by theNational Assembly which was elected in March 1996cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president; note - on 30October 1993, President al-BASHIR announced a new, predominantlycivilian cabinet, consisting of 20 federal ministers, most of whomretained their previous cabinet positions; on 9 February 1995, heabolished three ministries and redivided their portfolios to createseveral new ministries; these changes increased National IslamicFront presence at the ministerial level and consolidated its controlover the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; President al-BASHIR'sgovernment is dominated by members of Sudan's National IslamicFront, a fundamentalist political organization formed from theMuslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominatesmuch of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; Presidental-BASHIR is expected to name a new cabinet following the electionsheld in March 1996
Legislative branch: unicameralNational Assembly: elections last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to beheld NA); results - percent of vote NA; seats - (400 total, 275directly elected, and 125 elected by a supra assembly of interestgroups known as the National Congress); note - March 1996 electionswere held on a nonparty basis and parties are to be banned in thenew National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989coup
Other political or pressure groups: National Islamic Front, Hasanal-TURABI
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in US:chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Mahdi IBRAHIMchancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
US diplomatic representation: operations in Khartoum were suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to Sudan Timothy M. CARNEY and several members of the mission have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya and operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at the corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX: [254] (2) 340838
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blackwith a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has reduced levels of per capita income and consumption. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the civil war and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1995. Agricultural production in 1995, while fairly good, was not up to the bumper crop level of 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $25 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $800 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 17% services: 50% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 66% (1995 est.)
Labor force: 8.9 million (1993 est.)by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%,government 6%note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilledemployment (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
Budget:revenues: $382 millionexpenditures: $1.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $91million (1995 est.)
Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (FY92/93 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 500,000 kW production: 1.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 42 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cotton, oilseed, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic; sheep
Exports: $535 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: cotton 24%, livestock/meat 13%, gum arabic 11% partners: EU 39%, Saudi Arabia 19%, Japan 9%, US 3% (1993)
Imports: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles partners: EU 31%, Libya 19%, Egypt 5%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5% (1993)
External debt: $18 billion (yearend 1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $387 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (LSd) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (LSd) per US$1 - official rate: 750.0 (November 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8 (1993), 69.4 (1992), 5.4288 (1991); market rate: 571.02 (August 1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993), 97.43 (1992), 6.96 (1991) note: the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is quoted uniformly by all commercial banks
Fiscal year: calendar yearnote: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year,a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July - 31 December 1995;the new calendar year (1 January - 31 December) fiscal year becameeffective 1 January 1996
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 5,516 kmnarrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gaugeplantation line
Highways:total: 19,885 kmpaved: 1,989 kmunpaved: 17,896 km (1986 est.)
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products 815 km
Ports: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin
Merchant marine:total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 43,024 GRT/57,985 DWTships by type: cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 56with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 8with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 7with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 25 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 77,215 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by Africanstandards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modernstandardsdomestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephonecommunications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellitesystem with 14 earth stationsinternational: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 6.67 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 2.06 million (1992 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force Militia
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 7,152,884 males fit for military service: 4,399,445 males reach military age (18) annually: 329,460 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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@Suriname ————
Map —-
Location: 4 00 N, 56 00 W — Northern South America, bordering theNorth Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Flag ——
Description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Geography ————-
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North AtlanticOcean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:total area: 163,270 sq kmland area: 161,470 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: claims area in French Guiana betweenLitani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the LawaRivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) andCourantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swampslowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 mhighest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp,bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum,gold
Land use:arable land: NEGL%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 0%forest and woodland: 97%other: 3%
Irrigated land: 590 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: deforestation as foreign producers obtain timberconcessionsnatural hazards: NAinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling;signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of theSea
Geographic note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast
People ———
Population: 436,418 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34% (male 74,959; female 71,500)15-64 years: 62% (male 136,287; female 132,407)65 years and over: 4% (male 9,930; female 11,335) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.6% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 24.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.04 years male: 67.51 years female: 72.7 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic divisions: Hindustani (also known locally as "East" Indians; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed European and African ancestry) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Bush Black" (also known as "Bush Creole" whose ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, Europeans 1%, other 1.1%
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%,Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), SranangTongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language ofCreoles and much of the younger population and is lingua francaamong others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)total population: 93%male: 95.1%female: 91%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: Republic of Surinameconventional short form: Surinamelocal long form: Republiek Surinamelocal short form: Surinameformer: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Type of government: republic
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN(since 16 September 1991) and Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since16 September 1991), who is also the vice president, were elected forfive-year terms by the National Assembly; election last held 6September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - elected bythe National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), JulesWIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president fromamong the members of the National Assemblynote: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significantpower
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices nominated for life
Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF, and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Ernie BRUNINGS; Democratic Party (DP), Ernie BRUNINGS; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL
Other political or pressure groups: Surinamese Liberation Army(SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberationand Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro LiberationMovement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, ThomasSABAJO
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM,OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459 FAX: [597] 420800
Flag: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65% of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995. The VENETIAAN government unified the exchange rate and the currency gained some of its lost value. In addition, inflation fell to double digits and tax revenues increased sufficiently to nearly erase the budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure to initiate economic reforms - also helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued implementation of needed economic restructuring; the outcome of the national elections in May 1996 will be an important factor in determining future government policy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 0.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $2,950 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 21.6% industry: 23.7% services: 54.7% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 62% (1995)
Labor force: 98,240 by occupation: agriculture, industry, services
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $300 millionexpenditures: $700 million, including capital expenditures of $70million (1994 est.)
Industries: bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production,lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity: capacity: 420,000 kW production: 1.4 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,123 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of increasing importance
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe
Exports: $293.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK 3% (1992)
Imports: $194.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,consumer goodspartners: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil5% (1992)
External debt: $180 million (March 1993 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - central bank midpoint rate: 402.32 (December 1995), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994), 109 (January 1994) note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 166 km (single track)standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:total: 4,470 kmpaved: 1,162 kmunpaved: 3,308 km (1990)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoingvessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of theprincipal waterways
Ports: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam,Wageningen
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWTships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 38with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1with paved runways under 914 m: 31with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 6 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Forceelements), Civil Police
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 119,010 males fit for military service: 70,400 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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@Svalbard ————
(territory of Norway)
Map —-