Flag: two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellowrepresent grainfields under a blue sky
Economy ———-
Economic overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied equipment and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. In early 1992, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has developed a comprehensive economic reform program, maintained financial discipline, and removed almost all controls over prices and foreign trade. Implementation of KUCHMA's economic agenda is encountering considerable resistance from parliament, entrenched bureaucrats, and industrial interests. However, should KUCHMA succeed in implementing aggressive market reforms during 1996, the economy may stabilize and possibly achieve real growth in the range of 0.5%-1%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $174.6 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP real growth rate: -4% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $3,370 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 43% services: 26% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% monthly average (1995)
Labor force: 23.55 million (January 1994) by occupation: industry and construction 33%, agriculture and forestry 21%, health, education, and culture 16%, trade and distribution 7%, transport and communication 7%, other 16% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 0.7% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing(especially sugar)
Industrial production growth rate: -11% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 54,380,000 kW production: 192.1 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,200 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, vegetables; meat, milk
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy; mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Western Europe
Exports: $11.3 billion (1995)commodities: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals,chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, grain, meatpartners: other FSU countries, China, Italy, Switzerland
Imports: $10.7 billion (1995)commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment,chemicals, textilespartners: other FSU countries, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic
External debt: $8.8 billion (including $4.5 billion to Russia)(late 1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $220 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $4.5 billion ($4.1 billion drawn)
Currency: on 2 September 1996, Ukraine introduced the long-awaited hryvnia (plural hryvni) as its national currency, replacing the karbovanets (in circulation since 12 November 1992) at a rate of 100,000 karbovantsi to 1 hryvnia
Exchange rates: hryvnia per US$1 - 1.76 (2 September 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: total: 23,350 km broad gauge: 23,350 km 1.524-m gauge (8,600 km electrified)
Highways:total: 169,964 kmpaved: 168,094 km (including 1,767 km of expressways)unpaved: 1,870 km (1992 est.)
Waterways: 4,400 km navigable waterways, of which 1,672 km were onthe Pryp''yat' and Dnipro (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 2,010 km; petroleum products 1,920 km;natural gas 7,800 km (1992)
Ports: Berdyans'k, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev(Kyyiv), Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Pivdenne, Reni
Merchant marine:total: 353 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,262,341GRT/4,356,374 DWTships by type: barge carrier 5, bulk 39, cargo 217, chemical tanker2, combination bulk 1, container 11, multifunction large-loadcarrier 3, oil tanker 21, passenger 7, passenger-cargo 5, railcarcarrier 2, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32,short-sea passenger 3 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 706with paved runways over 3 047 m: 14with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 55with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 34with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 57with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 7with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 16with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 37with unpaved runways under 914 m: 476 (1994 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: system is unsatisfactory both for business and for personal use; 3.56 million applications for telephones had not been satisfied as of January 1991; electronic mail services have been established in Kiev, Odessa, and Luhans'k by Sprint domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Kiev (Kyyiv) and allows direct dialing of international calls through Kiev's digital exchange international: calls to other CIS countries are carried by landline or microwave radio relay; calls to 167 other countries are carried by satellite or by the 150 leased lines through the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and NA Intersputnik
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note - there are at least two radio broadcast stations of NA type
Radios: 15 million (1990)
Television broadcast stations: at least 2
Televisions: 17.3 million (1992)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Internal Troops,National Guard, Border Troops
Manpower availability:males age 15-49: 12,388,788males fit for military service: 9,716,127males reach military age (18) annually: 362,000 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: 1.35 billion hryvni, less than 2% of GDP(Ukrainian Government's forecast for 1996); note - conversion ofdefense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange ratecould produce misleading results
======================================================================
@United Arab Emirates ——————————
Map —-
Location: 24 00 N, 54 00 E — Middle East, bordering the Gulf ofOman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Flag ——
Description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white,and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
Geography ————-
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the PersianGulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total area: 75,581 sq kmland area: 75,581 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 867 km border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline: 1,318 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: location and status of boundary with Saudi Arabia is not final, defacto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; no defined boundary with most of Oman, but Administrative Line in far north; claims two islands in the Persian Gulf occupied by Iran: Lesser Tunb (called Tunb as Sughra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek in Persian by Iran) and Greater Tunb (called Tunb al Kubra in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg in Persian by Iran); claims island in the Persian Gulf jointly administered with Iran (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran); in 1992, the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE in the region
Climate: desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain: flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 2%forest and woodland: 0%other: 98%
Irrigated land: 50 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources being overcomeby desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oilspillsnatural hazards: frequent sand and dust stormsinternational agreements: party to - Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but notratified - Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: strategic location along southern approaches toStrait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
People ———
Population: 3,057,337 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (male 542,848; female 519,952)15-64 years: 64% (male 1,277,829; female 683,282)65 years and over: 1% (male 22,246; female 11,180) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.33% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 26.43 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 3.03 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 19.91 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: 1.87 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.99 male(s)/femaleall ages: 1.52 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.74 years male: 70.64 years female: 74.94 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.46 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Emiri(s) adjective: Emiri
Ethnic divisions: Emiri 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, SouthAsian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians)8% (1982)note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)
Religions: Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%
Languages: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write but definition ofliteracy not available (1995 est.)total population: 79.2%male: 78.9%female: 79.8%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: United Arab Emiratesconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Al Imarata al Arabiyah al Muttahidahlocal short form: noneformer: Trucial Statesabbreviation: UAE
Data code: TC
Type of government: federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE central government and other powers reserved to member emirates
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Administrative divisions: 7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah);Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah),Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn
Independence: 2 December 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1971)
Constitution: 2 December 1971 (provisional)
Legal system: federal court system introduced in 1971; all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah have joined the federal system; all emirates have secular and Islamic law for civil, criminal, and high courts
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:chief of state: President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (since 2December 1971), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since NA 1966) andVice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990),ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) were elected by the Supreme Council of Rulershead of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum(since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai) and Deputy PrimeMinister SULTAN bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) wereappointed by the presidentSupreme Council of Rulers: composed of the seven emirate rulers, thecouncil is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE;establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation, AbuZaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective vetopower; council meets four times a yearcabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral Federal National Council (MajlisWatani Itihad); no elections; reviews legislation, but cannot changeor veto
Judicial branch: Union Supreme Court, judges appointed by thepresident
Political parties and leaders: none
Other political or pressure groups: NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL,AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Husayn al-SHAALI chancery: Suite 600, 3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 338-6500
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador David C. LITT embassy: Al-Sudan Street, Abu Dhabi mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi; American Embassy Abu Dhabi, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6010 (pouch) telephone: [971] (2) 436691, 436692 FAX: [971] (2) 434771 consulate(s) general: Dubai
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, andblack with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The UAE has an open economy with one of the world's highest incomes per capita and with a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 33% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since 1973, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, crude oil reserves should last for over 100 years. Although much stronger economically than most Gulf states, the UAE faces similar problems with weak international oil prices and the pressures for cuts in OPEC oil production quotas. The UAE Government is encouraging increased privatization within the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $70.1 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $24,000 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 55% services: 43% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.6% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 794,400 (1993 est.)by occupation: industry and commerce 56%, services 38%, agriculture6% (1990 est.)note: 80% of labor force is foreign (est.)
Unemployment rate: NEGL% (1988)
Budget:revenues: $4.6 billionexpenditures: $4.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, fishing, petrochemicals, constructionmaterials, some boat building, handicrafts, pearling
Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 4,760,000 kW production: 16.5 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,796 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairyproducts; fish
Illicit drugs: growing role as heroin transshipment andmoney-laundering center
Exports: $25.3 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)commodities: crude oil 66%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, datespartners: Japan 45%, India 6%, Oman 6%, South Korea 5%, Iran 5%(1994)
Imports: $21.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,foodpartners: Japan 11%, UK 8%, Germany 8%, US 8%, Italy 7% (1994)
External debt: $11.6 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Emirian dirham (Dh) = 100 fils
Exchange rates: Emirian dirhams (Dh) per US$1 - 3.6710 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Transportation ———————
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,000 km paved: 3,000 km unpaved: 0 km (1993 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 830 km; natural gas, including natural gasliquids, 870 km
Ports: 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Das Island, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal'Ali, Mina' Khalid, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Umm alQaywayn
Merchant marine:total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,068,980 GRT/1,876,504DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 17, chemical tanker 2, container 7,liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 22,refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 36with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 3with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 3with paved runways under 914 m: 10with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 7 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 677,793 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: modern system consisting of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai domestic: microwave radio relay and coaxial cable international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 545,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 12
Televisions: 170,000 (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes FederalPolice Force)
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 1,102,080 males fit for military service: 599,439 males reach military age (18) annually: 21,250 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $1.59 billion, 4.3% of GDP (1994)
======================================================================
@United Kingdom ———————
Map —-
Location: 54 00 N, 2 00 W — Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
Flag ——
Description: blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and others
Geography ————-
Location: Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 54 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area:total area: 244,820 sq kmland area: 241,590 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than Oregonnote: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border country: Ireland 360 km
Coastline: 12,429 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or inaccordance with agreed upon boundariesexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: Northern Ireland question with Ireland;Gibraltar question with Spain; Argentina claims Falkland Islands(Islas Malvinas); Argentina claims South Georgia and the SouthSandwich Islands; Mauritius claims island of Diego Garcia in BritishIndian Ocean Territory; Rockall continental shelf dispute involvingDenmark, Iceland, and Ireland (Ireland and the UK have signed aboundary agreement in the Rockall area); territorial claim inAntarctica (British Antarctic Territory)
Climate: temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast
Terrain: mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast lowest point: Fenland -4 m highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m
Natural resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, tin, limestone,iron ore, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, lead, silica
Land use:arable land: 29%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 48%forest and woodland: 9%other: 14%
Irrigated land: 1,570 sq km (1989)
Environment:current issues: sulfur dioxide emissions from power plantscontribute to air pollution; some rivers polluted by agriculturalwastes and coastal waters polluted because of large-scale disposalof sewage at seanatural hazards: NAinternational 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
Geographic note: lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters
People ———
Population: 58,489,975 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20% (male 5,853,545; female 5,565,153)15-64 years: 65% (male 19,050,420; female 18,797,406)65 years and over: 15% (male 3,753,361; female 5,470,090) (July 1996est.)
Population growth rate: 0.22% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 13.12 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 11.24 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.41 years male: 73.78 years female: 79.17 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)adjective: British
Ethnic divisions: English 81.5%, Scottish 9.6%, Irish 2.4%, Welsh1.9%, Ulster 1.8%, West Indian, Indian, Pakistani, and other 2.8%
Religions: Anglican 27 million, Roman Catholic 9 million, Muslim 1million, Presbyterian 800,000, Methodist 760,000, Sikh 400,000,Hindu 350,000, Jewish 300,000 (1991 est.)note: the UK does not include a question on religion in its census
Languages: English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales),Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)
Literacy: age 15 and over has completed five or more years ofschooling (1978 est.)total population: 99%male: NA%female: NA%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and NorthernIrelandconventional short form: United Kingdomabbreviation: UK
Data code: UK
Type of government: constitutional monarchy
Capital: London
Administrative divisions: 47 counties, 7 metropolitan counties, 26districts, 9 regions, and 3 islands areasEngland: 39 counties, 7 metropolitan counties*; Avon, Bedford,Berkshire, Buckingham, Cambridge, Cheshire, Cleveland, Cornwall,Cumbria, Derby, Devon, Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex,Gloucester, Greater London*, Greater Manchester*, Hampshire,Hereford and Worcester, Hertford, Humberside, Isle of Wight, Kent,Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, Merseyside*, Norfolk, Northampton,Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Nottingham, Oxford, Shropshire,Somerset, South Yorkshire*, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Tyne andWear*, Warwick, West Midlands*, West Sussex, West Yorkshire*,WiltshireNorthern Ireland: 26 districts; Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena,Ballymoney, Banbridge, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh,Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne,Limavady, Lisburn, Londonderry, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry andMourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, StrabaneScotland: 9 regions, 3 islands areas*; Borders, Central, Dumfriesand Galloway, Fife, Grampian, Highland, Lothian, Orkney*, Shetland*,Strathclyde, Tayside, Western Isles*Wales: 8 counties; Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan,Powys, South Glamorgan, West Glamorgan
Dependent areas: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian OceanTerritory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands,Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong (scheduled to become a SpecialAdministrative Region of China on 1 July 1997), Jersey, Isle of Man,Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, South Georgia and theSouth Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
Independence: 1 January 1801 (United Kingdom established)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (secondSaturday in June)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law andpractice
Legal system: common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; no judicial review of Acts of Parliament; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is ahereditary monarch; Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen,born 14 November 1948)head of government: Prime Minister John MAJOR (since 28 November1990) is the leader of the party which holds the majority in theHouse of Commons and must have the consent of the monarchcabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral ParliamentHouse of Lords: consists of a 1,200-member body, four-fifths arehereditary peers, two archbishops, 24 other senior bishops, servingand retired Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, other life peers, ScottishpeersHouse of Commons: elections last held 9 April 1992 (next to be heldby NA April 1997); results - Conservative 41.9%, Labor 34.5%,Liberal Democratic 17.9%, other 5.7%; seats - (651 total)Conservative 336, Labor 271, Liberal Democratic 20, other 24
Judicial branch: House of Lords, several Lords of Appeal inOrdinary are appointed by the monarch for life
Political parties and leaders: Conservative and Unionist Party,John MAJOR; Labor Party, Anthony (Tony) Blair; Liberal Democrats(LD), Jeremy (Paddy) ASHDOWN; Scottish National Party, Alex SALMOND;Welsh National Party (Plaid Cymru), Dafydd Iwan WIGLEY; UlsterUnionist Party (Northern Ireland), David TRIMBLE; DemocraticUnionist Party (Northern Ireland), Rev. Ian PAISLEY; SocialDemocratic and Labor Party (SDLP, Northern Ireland), John HUME; SinnFein (Northern Ireland), Gerry ADAMS; Alliance Party (NorthernIreland), John ALDERDICE
Other political or pressure groups: Trades Union Congress;Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Campaignfor Nuclear Disarmament
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN,EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5,G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE,PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD,UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR,UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sir John Olav KERR chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-1340 FAX: [1] (202) 898-4255 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Dallas, Miami, and Seattle
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador William J. CROWE, Jr. embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W. 1A1AE mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, London; FPO AE 09498-4040 telephone: [44] (71) 499-9000 FAX: [44] (71) 409-1637 consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh
Flag: blue with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland) which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); known as the Union Flag or Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including dependencies, Commonwealth countries, and others
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The UK is one of the world's great trading powers and financial centers, and its economy ranks among the four largest in Western Europe. The economy is essentially capitalistic; over the past 13 years the ruling Tories have greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with only about 1% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves, and primary energy production accounts for 12% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance, now employing only 25% of the work force. The economy registered 3.9% GDP growth in 1994, the best rate for six years, but slipped back to 2.7% in 1995. Exports and manufacturing output have been the primary engines of growth. Unemployment is gradually falling. Inflation is at a tolerable 3%. A major economic policy question for the UK in the 1990s is the terms on which it participates in the financial and economic integration of Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.1384 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.7% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $19,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 1.7% industry: 27.7% services: 70.6% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.1% (November 1995)
Labor force: 28.048 million by occupation: services 62.8%, manufacturing and construction 25.0%, government 9.1%, energy 1.9%, agriculture 1.2% (June 1992)
Unemployment rate: 8% (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $388.9 billionexpenditures: $447.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY94/95 est.)
Industries: production machinery including machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (1995 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 65,360,000 kW production: 303 billion kWh consumption per capita: 5,123 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; producer of synthetic drugs; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
Exports: $200.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994)commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, chemicals,semifinished goods, transport equipmentpartners: EU countries 56.4% (Germany 12.7%, France 9.9%,Netherlands 7.0%), US 13.1%
Imports: $221.9 billion (c.i.f., 1994)commodities: manufactured goods, machinery, semifinished goods,foodstuffs, consumer goodspartners: EU countries 54.9% (Germany 14.6%, France 10.0%,Netherlands 6.7%), US 12.2%
External debt: $16.2 billion (June 1992)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $2.908 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 British pound (L) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: British pounds (L) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 17,561 kmbroad gauge: 434 km 1.600-m gauge (190 km double track); note - all1.600-m gauge track, of which 357 km is in common carrier use, is inNorthern Irelandstandard gauge: 16,892 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified;12,591 km double or multiple track); note - 16,532 km of 1.435-mroutes are in common carrier service; the remaining 360 km areoperated by a total of 40 tourist or other private companiesnarrow gauge: 235 km 0.260-m, 0.311-m, 0.381-m, 0.600-m, 0.610-m,0.686-m, 0.760-m, 0.762-m, 0.800-m, 0.825-m, 0.914-m and 1.067-mgauges; note - these short, narrow-gage lines are operated by atotal of 25 tourist and other private firms (1995)
Highways:total: 386,243 km (1993 est.)paved: NA km (including 3,237 km of expressways in Great Britain)unpaved: NA km
Waterways: 3,200 km under British Waterways Board
Pipelines: crude oil (almost all insignificant) 933 km; petroleumproducts 2,993 km; natural gas 12,800 km
Ports: Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Grangemouth, Hull,Leith, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Medway, Sullom Voe, Tees, Tyne
Merchant marine:total: 151 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,191,969GRT/3,861,239 DWTships by type: bulk 10, cargo 21, chemical tanker 2, container 24,liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 56, passenger 8, passenger-cargo1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 14, specializedtanker 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 388with paved runways over 3 047 m: 9with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 29with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 103with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 59with paved runways under 914 m: 166with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 22 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 10 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 29.5 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: technologically advanced domestic andinternational systemdomestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, andfiber-optic systemsinternational: 40 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations- 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat(Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 largeinternational switching centers
Radio broadcast stations: AM 225, FM 525 (mostly repeaters),shortwave 0
Radios: 70 million
Television broadcast stations: 207 (repeaters 3,210)
Televisions: 20 million
Defense ———-
Branches: Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal AirForce
Manpower availability: males age 15-49: 14,515,077 males fit for military service: 12,102,431 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $35.1 billion, 3.1% of GDP (FY95/96)
======================================================================
@United States ——————-
Map —-
Location: 38 00 N, 97 00 W — North America, bordering both theNorth Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada andMexico
Flag ——
Description: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Geography ————-
Location: North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Oceanand the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:total area: 9,372,610 sq kmland area: 9,166,600 sq kmcomparative area: about one-half the size of Russia; aboutthree-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size of SouthAmerica (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly smaller thanChina; about two and one-half times the size of Western Europenote: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Land boundaries:total: 12,248 kmborder countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),Cuba 29 km (US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 kmnote: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remainspart of Cuba
Coastline: 19,924 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: maritime boundary disputes with Canada (Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias Seal Island); US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other nation; Republic of Marshall Islands claims Wake Island
Climate: mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida and arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
Terrain: vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii lowest point: Death Valley -86 m highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:arable land: 20%permanent crops: 0%meadows and pastures: 26%forest and woodland: 29%other: 25%
Irrigated land: 181,020 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the USand Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxidefrom the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff ofpesticides and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh waterresources in much of the western part of the country require carefulmanagement; desertificationnatural hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity aroundPacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic coast; tornadoes in themidwest; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west;flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska is a major impediment todevelopmentinternational agreements: party to - Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, butnot ratified - Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Desertification,Hazardous Wastes, Tropical Timber 94
Geographic note: world's fourth-largest country (after Russia,Canada, and China)
People ———
Population: 266,476,278 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (male 29,718,390; female 28,335,934)15-64 years: 65% (male 86,225,056; female 87,411,573)65 years and over: 13% (male 13,850,234; female 20,021,655) (July1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.91% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 14.8 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.1 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaleall ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.95 years male: 72.65 years female: 79.41 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: American(s) adjective: American
Ethnic divisions: white 83.4%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, NativeAmerican 0.8% (1992)
Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other4%, none 10% (1989)
Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1979 est.)total population: 97%male: 97%female: 97%
Government —————
Name of country:conventional long form: United States of Americaconventional short form: United Statesabbreviation: US or USA
Data code: US
Type of government: federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital: Washington, DC
Administrative divisions: 50 states and 1 district*; Alabama,Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon,Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee,Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia,Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas: American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently entered into a new political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a Commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986)
Independence: 4 July 1776 (from England)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: 17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state and head of government: President William JeffersonCLINTON (since 20 January 1993) and Vice President Albert GORE, Jr.(since 20 January 1993) were elected for four-year terms by acollege of representatives elected directly from each state;election last held 3 November 1992 (next to be held 5 November1996); results - William Jefferson CLINTON (Democratic Party) 43.2%,George BUSH (Republican Party) 37.7%, Ross PEROT (independent)19.0%, other 0.1%cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the president with Senate approval
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress Senate: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) Republican Party 54, Democratic Party 46 House of Representatives: elections last held 8 November 1994 (next to be held 5 November 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (435 total) Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 203, independent 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for life by the president with confirmation by the Senate
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Haley BARBOUR, national committee chairman and Jeanie AUSTIN, co-chairman; Democratic Party, David C. WILHELM, national committee chairman; several other groups or parties of minor political significance
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer),ANZUS, APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CP, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC,ESCAP, FAO, G- 2, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN SecurityCouncil, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO, ZC
Flag: thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small white five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico
Economy ———-
Economic overview: The US has the most powerful, diverse, and technologically advanced economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $27,500, the largest among major industrial nations. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and government purchases of goods and services are made predominantly in the marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. In all economic sectors, US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, medical equipment, and aerospace, although their advantage has steadily narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. The years 1994-95 witnessed moderate gains in real output, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment below 6%. The capture of both houses of Congress by the Republicans in the elections of 8 November 1994 has intensified the debate over how the US should address its major economic problems. These problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical costs of an aging population, sizable budget and trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. The outlook for 1996 is for continued moderate growth, low inflation, and about the same level of unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.2477 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 2.1% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $27,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 23% services: 75% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1995)
Labor force: 132.304 million (includes unemployed) (1995) by occupation: managerial and professional 28.3%, technical, sales and administrative support 30.0%, services 13.5%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 25.3%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.8%
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (December 1995)
Budget:revenues: $1.258 trillionexpenditures: $1.461 trillion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994)
Industries: leading industrial power in the world, highlydiversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motorvehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics,food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 5.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity: capacity: 695,120,000 kW production: 3.1 trillion kWh consumption per capita: 11,236 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, other grains, corn, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for domesticconsumption with 1987 production estimated at 3,500 metric tons orabout 25% of the available marijuana; ongoing eradication programaimed at small plots and greenhouses has not reduced production
Exports: $578 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)commodities: capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and rawmaterials, consumer goods, agricultural productspartners: Western Europe 24.3%, Canada 22.1%, Japan 10.5% (1993)
Imports: $751 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)commodities: crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery,automobiles, consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food andbeveragespartners: Canada, 19.3%, Western Europe 18.1%, Japan 18.1% (1993)
External debt: $NA
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $9.721 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates:British pounds: (L) per US$ - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995),0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991)Canadian dollars: (Can$) per US$ - 1.3666 (January 1996), 1.3724(1995), 1.3656 (1994), 1.2901 (1993), 1.2087 (1992), 1.1457 (1991)French francs: (F) per US$ - 5.0056 (January 1996), 4.9915 (1995),5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991)Italian lire: (Lit) per US$ - 1,583.8 (January 1996), 1,629.6(1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992), 1,240.6(1991)Japanese yen: (Y) per US$ - 105.84 (January 1996), 94.06 (1995),102.21 (1994), 111.20 (1993), 126.65 (1992), 134.71 (1991)German deutsche marks: (DM) per US$ - 1.4617 (January 1996), 1.4331(1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993), 1.5617 (1992), 1.6595 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Transportation ———————
Railways:total: 240,000 km mainline routes (nongovernment owned)standard gauge: 240,000 km 1.435-m gauge (1989)
Highways:total: 6,284,488 kmpaved: 5,574,341 km (in 1991, included 85,267 km of expressways)unpaved: 710,147 km (1993 est.)
Waterways: 41,009 km of navigable inland channels, exclusive ofthe Great Lakes
Pipelines: petroleum 276,000 km; natural gas 331,000 km (1991)
Ports: Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth,Hampton Roads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, NewOrleans, New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon),Prudhoe Bay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine:total: 322 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,716,000GRT/15,259,000 DWTships by type: bulk 21, cargo 20, chemical tanker 17, intermodal125, liquefied gas tanker 14, passenger-cargo 2, tanker 110, tankertug-barge 13note: in addition, there are 190 government-owned vessels (1995 est.)
Airports:total: 13,387with paved runways over 3 047 m: 179with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 201with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1,204with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2,361with paved runways under 914 m: 7,720with unpaved runways over 3 047 m: 1with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 7with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 151with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1,563 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 63 (1995 est.)
Communications ———————
Telephones: 182.558 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay,coaxial cable, and domestic satellitesinternational: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earthstations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean)(1990 est.), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat(Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4,987, FM 4,932, shortwave 0
Radios: 540.5 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1,092 (in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems)
Televisions: 215 million (1993 est.)
Defense ———-
Branches: Department of the Army, Department of the Navy (includesMarine Corps), Department of the Air Forcenote: the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation,but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy