Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 192,593 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 132,412 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 6,038 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $405 million (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.4% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: 1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island
Illicit drugs: transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well ______________________________________________________________________
@Czech Republic:Geography
Location: Central Europe, southeast of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 78,703 sq km land: 78,645 sq km water: 58 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 1,881 kmborder countries: Austria 362 km, Germany 646 km, Poland 658 km,Slovakia 215 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Elbe River 115 m highest point: Snezka 1,602 m
Natural resources: hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite
Land use: arable land: 41% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 34% other: 12% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 240 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note: landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe
@Czech Republic:People
Population: 10,298,324 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 930,874; female 886,444) 15-64 years : 69% (male 3,542,900; female 3,539,351) 65 years and over: 13% (male 535,049; female 863,706) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.13% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 8.84 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.02 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.86 years male: 70.49 years female: 77.42 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.17 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Czech(s) adjective: Czech note: 300,000 Slovaks declared themselves Czech citizens in 1994
Ethnic groups: Czech 94.4%, Slovak 3%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%, Gypsy 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 1%
Religions: atheist 39.8%, Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%,Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%
Languages: Czech, Slovak
Literacy: definition: age NA and over can read and write total population: 99% (est.) male: NA% female : NA%
@Czech Republic:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Czech Republic conventional short form: Czech Republic local long form: Ceska Republika local short form: Ceska Republika
Data code: EZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Prague
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, kraj - singular);Jihocesky, Jihomoravsky, Praha, Severocesky, Severomoravsky,Stredocesky, Vychodocesky, Zapadocesky
Independence: 1 January 1993 (from Czechoslovakia)
National holiday: National Liberation Day, 8 May; Founding of theRepublic, 28 October
Constitution: ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 26 January 1993) head of government : Prime Minister Vaclav KLAUS (since NA June 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Ivan KOCARNIK (since NA June 1992), Josef LUX (since NA June 1992), Josef ZIELENIEC (since NA June 1992) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections : president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 26 January 1993 (next to be held NA January 1998); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Vaclav HAVEL elected president; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve staggered two-, four-, and six-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Snemovna Poslancu (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : Senate - last held 15-16 and 22-23 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998 - to replace/re-elect 20 senators serving two-year terms); Chamber of Deputies - last held 31 May-1 June 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000) election results : Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - governing coalition (ODS 32, KDU-CSL 13, ODA 7), opposition (CSSD 25, KCSM 2, DEU 1, independent 1); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - governing coalition (ODS 68, KDU-CSL 18, ODA 13), opposition (CSSD 61, KCSM 22, SPR-RSC 18)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: governing coalition : Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Vaclav KLAUS, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Michael ZANTOVSKY, chairman]; Christian Democratic Union-Czech People's Party or KDU-CSL [Josef LUX, chairman] opposition: Czech Social Democrats or CSSD - left opposition [Milos ZEMAN, chairman]; Communist Party or KSCM - left opposition [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Assembly for the Republic or SPR-RSC - extreme right radical [Miroslav SLADEK, chairman]; Democratic Union or DEU [Ratibor MAJZLIK, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Czech-Moravian Chamber of TradeUnions; Civic Movement
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CCC,CE (guest), CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NACC, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UPU, WEU (associatepartner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VONDRA chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 274-9101, 9102 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540 consulate(s) general : Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jenonne R. WALKER embassy : Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1 mailing address: Unit 1330, APO AE 09213 telephone: [420] (2) 5732-0663 FAX: [420] (2) 5732-0920
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (almost identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)
Economy
Economy - overview: Western observers view the Czech Republic as one of the most politically and economically stable post-Communist states. Its key macroeconomic indicators are, in the aggregate, the best in the region, and public opinion polls show strong support for reform. The country emerged from recession in 1994 with 2.6% growth and reached about 5% growth in both 1995 and 1996 while keeping a balanced budget and reorienting exports to the EU. Inflation and unemployment of 8.7% and 3.3% respectively in 1996 are among the lowest in the region. Prague's mass privatization program, including its innovative distribution of ownership shares to Czech citizens via "coupon vouchers," has made the most rapid progress in Eastern Europe. About 80% of the economy is in private hands or is partially privatized. The Czech Republic appears to be the East European frontrunner in economic integration with the West; for example, in 1996 it began to strengthen its bankruptcy law and to improve the transparency of stock market operations. It was the first post-Communist member of the OECD and is expected to be in the next group of new EU members. Its solid economic performance has led Standard and Poor's to upgrade the country's sovereign credit rating to "A" and has attracted over $6.7 billion in direct foreign investment to Czech industry between 1990 and September 1996 - one quarter from the US. Prague's biggest macroeconomic concerns now are mounting trade and current account deficits. In addition, the Czech economy still faces transition problems. The government continues to exert too much direct and indirect influence on the privatized economy, and the management of privatized firms sometimes is ineffective. Insufficient regulation and lack of public information in the capital markets and the banking system, combined with a shortage of experienced financial analysts, limit the ability to distribute new credit efficiently. The judicial system also has trouble speedily processing bankruptcy cases. Prague has promised to overhaul its bankruptcy law and improve stock market and bank operations, but it will take years to ensure compliance. Prague forecasts a balanced budget, 4.5% GDP growth, 3.3% unemployment and 7.5% to 8% inflation for 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $114.3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,100 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 43% services : 53% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 5.107 million (1996) by occupation: industry 33.1%, agriculture 6.9%, construction 9.1%, transport and communications 7.2%, services 43.7% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 3.3% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $18.4 billion expenditures: $18.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: fuels, ferrous metallurgy, machinery and equipment, coal, motor vehicles, glass, armaments
Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 13.85 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 55.38 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 4,712 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports: total value: $21.9 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: manufactured goods 32.4%, machinery and transport equipment 26.3%, chemicals 10.4%, raw materials and fuel 11.3% (1995) partners : EU 55.1%, Eastern Europe, excluding Slovakia, and CIS countries 16.9%, Slovakia 16.2%, developing countries 6.6%, EFTA 1.8% (1995)
Imports: total value: $27.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 35.6%, manufactured goods 17.9%, chemicals 13.2%, raw materials and fuels 14.4% (1994) partners : EU 56.4%, Eastern Europe, excluding Slovakia, and CIS countries 15.7%, Slovakia 13.1%, developing countries 6.0%, EFTA 2.5% (1995)
Debt - external: $17.1 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $27 million (1993)
Currency: 1 koruna (Kc) = 100 haleru
Exchange rates: koruny (Kcs) per US$1 - 27.516 (January 1997), 27.145 (1996), 26.541 (1995), 28.785 (1994), 29.153 (1993), 28.26 (1992) note: values before 1993 reflect Czechoslovak exchange rates
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Czech Republic:Communications
Telephones: 3,349,539 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international : satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
@Czech Republic:Transportation
Railways: total: 9,441 km standard gauge : 9,345 km 1.435-m standard gauge (2641 km electrified at three voltages) narrow gauge: 96 km two narrow gauges (1995)
Highways: total: 124,770 km paved: 16,719 km (including 414 km of expressways) unpaved : 108,051 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: NA km; the Elbe (Labe) is the principal river
Pipelines: natural gas 5,400 km
Ports and harbors: Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 80,117 GRT/134,890 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 116 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 29 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 over 3,047 m : 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m : 41 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, Civil Defense,Railroad Units
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,715,759 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 2,068,143 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 84,516 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.22 billion (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Liechtenstein claims restitution for 1,600 sq km of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power; individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II; unresolved property issues with Slovakia over redistribution of property of the former Czechoslovak federal government
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish and Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; domestic consumption - especially of locally produced synthetic drugs - on the rise ______________________________________________________________________
@Denmark:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 43,094 sq km land: 42,394 sq km water: 700 sq km note: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the rest of metropolitan Denmark, but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 68 km border countries : Germany 68 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 4 nm continental shelf : 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 3 nm
Climate: temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain: low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m highest point: Ejer Bavnehoj 173 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, stone, gravel and sand
Land use: arable land: 60% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 5% forests and woodland: 10% other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
Environment - current issues: air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in Copenhagen
@Denmark:People
Population: 5,305,048 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 18% (male 487,731; female 463,444) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,801,904; female 1,754,435) 65 years and over: 15% (male 330,143; female 467,391) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.59% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 12.78 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.22 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.1 years male: 73.44 years female: 78.9 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dane(s) adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian, Eskimo, Faroese, German
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 91%, other Protestant and RomanCatholic 2%, other 7% (1988)
Languages: Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Eskimo dialect), German (small minority)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male : NA% female: NA%
@Denmark:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Kingdom of Denmark conventional short form: Denmark local long form: Kongeriget Danmark local short form: Danmark
Data code: DA
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Copenhagen
Administrative divisions: metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 1 city* (stad); Arhus, Bornholms, Frederiksborg, Fyns, Kobenhavns, Nordjyllands, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjyllands, Staden Kobenhavn*, Storstroms, Vejle, Vestsjaellands, Viborg note : there is one other city, Fredericksberg, mentioned by some sources, but the US government has not recognized it as a first-order administrative division; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Danish realm and self-governing administrative divisions
Independence: 10th century first organized as a unified state; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the queen (born 26 May 1968) head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25 January 1993) cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the queen elections: none; the queen is a constitutional monarch; prime minister appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 21 September 1994 (next to be held not later than September 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 34.6%, Liberals 23.3%, Conservatives 15.0%, Socialist People's Party 7.3%, Progress Party 6.4%, Social Liberals 4.6%, Unity List 3.1%, Center Democrats 2.8%, Christian People's Party 1.8%; seats by party - Social Democrats 63, Liberals 44, Conservatives 28, Socialist People's Party 13, Progress Party 11, Social Liberals 8, Unity List 6, Center Democrats 5, independent 1; note - Progress Party split up in spring of 1995: Progress Party retained 7 seats, Danish People's Party 4 seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the monarch for life
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Poul NyrupRASMUSSEN]; Conservative Party [Hans ENGELL]; Liberal Party [UffeELLEMANN-JENSEN]; Socialist People's Party [Holger K. NIELSEN];Progress Party [Kirsten JAKOBSEN]; Center Democratic Party [MimiJAKOBSEN]; Social Liberal Party [Marianne JELVED]; Unity Party [none];Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU,FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP,UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Knud-Erik TYGESEN chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Edward E. ELSON embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716 telephone: [45] (31) 42 31 44 FAX : [45] (35) 43 02 23
Flag description: red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Economy
Economy - overview: This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food. The center-left coalition government will concentrate on reducing the persistently high unemployment rate and the budget deficit as well as following the previous government's policies of maintaining low inflation and a current account surplus. The coalition also vows to maintain a stable currency. The coalition has lowered marginal income taxes while maintaining overall tax revenues; boosted industrial competitiveness through labor market and tax reforms and increased research and development funds; and improved welfare services for the neediest while cutting paperwork and delays. Prime Minister RASMUSSEN's reforms focus on adapting Denmark to the criteria for European integration by 1999; Copenhagen has won from the European Union (EU) the right to opt out of the European Monetary Union (EMU). Denmark is, in fact, one of the few EU countries likely to fit into the EMU on time.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $118.2 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $22,700 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 27% services: 69% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 2.1% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 2,895,950 by occupation: private services 40%, government services 30%, manufacturing and mining 19%, construction 6%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 8.2% (November 1996)
Budget: revenues: $62.1 billion expenditures: $66.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing, chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture, and other wood products, shipbuilding
Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (1996)
Electricity - capacity: 9.458 million kW 000 kW
Electricity - production: 34.6 billion kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: 6,411 kWh (1995)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, rape, sugar beets; meat, dairy products; fish
Exports: total value: $47.6 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and instruments 25%, meat and meat products, fuels, dairy products, ships, fish, chemicals partners : Germany 22.5%, Sweden 9.7%, UK 7.9%, Norway 5.9%, France 5.4%, Netherlands 4.4%, US 4.0% (1995)
Imports: total value: $42.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum 25%, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, textiles, paper partners : Germany 21.7%, Sweden 11.7%, Netherlands 7.0%, UK 6.6%, France 5.2%, Norway 4.9%, US 4.7%, Japan 3.5%, FSU 1.7% (1995)
Debt - external: $44 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.34 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.117 (January 1997), 5.799 (1996), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Denmark:Communications
Telephones: 4.025 million (1995 est.), of which 822,000 are mobile telephones
Telephone system: excellent telephone and telegraph services domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, four cellular radio communications systems international: 18 submarine optical fiber cables linking Denmark with Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, UK, Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Canada; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat; 10 Eutelsat; 1 Orion; 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for world-wide Inmarsat access
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 50 (1996 est.)
Televisions: 3 million (1996 est.)
@Denmark:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,848 km (499 km privately owned and operated) standard gauge: 2,848 km 1.435-m gauge (326 km electrified; 760 km double track) (1995)
Highways: total : 71,420 km paved: 71,420 km (including 830 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 417 km
Pipelines: crude oil 110 km; petroleum products 578 km; natural gas 700 km
Ports and harbors: Alborg, Arhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia,Grenaa, Koge, Odense, Struer
Merchant marine: total: 328 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,180,729 GRT/7,400,870 DWT ships by type: bulk 15, cargo 114, chemical tanker 20, container 68, liquefied gas tanker 25, livestock carrier 6, oil tanker 29, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 16, roll-on/roll-off cargo 24, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker 1 note: Denmark has created its own internal register, called the Danish International Ship register (DIS); DIS ships do not have to meet Danish manning regulations, and they amount to a flag of convenience within the Danish register (1996 est.)
Airports: 109 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 102 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m : 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 77 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal DanishAir Force, Home Guard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,333,279 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 1,146,099 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 33,532 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $2.9 billion (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Iceland, Ireland, and the UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in the Rockall area) ______________________________________________________________________
@Djibouti:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 22,000 sq km land: 21,980 sq km water : 20 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 508 km border countries : Eritrea 113 km, Ethiopia 337 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone : 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; torrid, dry
Terrain: coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Asal -155 m highest point : Mousa Alli 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use: arable land : NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Desertification
Geography - note: strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland
@Djibouti:People
Population: 434,116 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 92,920; female 92,584) 15-64 years: 55% (male 125,547; female 112,140) 65 years and over: 2% (male 5,624; female 5,301) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.51% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 42.16 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 14.98 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 104.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.61 years male: 48.65 years female: 52.63 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, andItalian 5%
Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46.2% male : 60.3% female: 32.7% (1995 est.)
@Djibouti:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti conventional short form: Djibouti former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Data code: DJ
Government type: republic
National capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle);'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4September 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June 1977) head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30 September 1978) cabinet : Council of Ministers responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote to a six-year term; election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: President HASSAN GOULED reelected; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members are elected to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 18 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - RPP 65; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: ruling party : People's Progress Assembly or RPP [Hassan GOULED Aptidon] other parties: Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Mohamed Jama ELABE]; Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Restoration ofUnity and Democracy or FRUD, and affiliates; Movement for Unity andDemocracy or MUD
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC,ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270 FAX : [1] (202) 331-0302
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Terri ROBL embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone : [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance (an important supplement to GDP) to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last six years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $500 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -3.1% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (1993 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 4.9% (1995 est.)
Labor force: total: 282,000 by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $150 million expenditures: $181 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1995 est.)
Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such as dairy products and mineral-water bottling
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 115,000 kW (1991)
Electricity - production: 200 million kWh (1991)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 577 kWh (1991)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports: total value: $184 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) (1995) partners: Somalia 42%, Ethiopia 35%, Yemen 7% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value: $384 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products (1995) partners : Thailand 15%, France 13%, Ethiopia 8%, Saudi Arabia 6% (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $267 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1 - 177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Djibouti:Communications
Telephones: 7,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country domestic: microwave radio relay network international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; MEDARABTEL regional microwave radio relay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 17,000 (1993 est.)
@Djibouti:Transportation
Railways: total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 2,890 km paved: 364 km unpaved: 2,526 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Djibouti
Merchant marine: total : 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 11 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m : 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m : 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and AirForce), National Security Force (Force Nationale de Securite),National Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 103,569 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 60,751 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $26 million (1989)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Dominica:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 13 30 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 750 sq km land: 750 sq km water : 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than four times the size ofWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber
Land use: arable land : 9% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 67% other : 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Dominica:People
Population: 66,633 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 9,287; female 9,115) 15-64 years: 63% (male 21,364; female 20,617) 65 years and over : 9% (male 2,569; female 3,681) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.26% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 17.72 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.24 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -24.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.6 years male: 74.74 years female : 80.6 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.92 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: black, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, unknown 1%, other 5%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 94% male: 94% female: 94% (1970 est.)
@Dominica:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Commonwealth of Dominica conventional short form: Dominica
Data code: DO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Roseau
Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, SaintPatrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution: 3 November 1978
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO (since 25 October 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June 1995) cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1998); prime minister appointed by the president election results : Crispin Anselm SORHAINDO elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1995; byelections held 13 August 1996 (next to be held by October 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UWP 12, DLP 5, DFP 4
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Santa Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [CharlesSAVERIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Rosie DOUGLAS]; United WorkersParty or UWP [Edison JAMES]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Dominica Liberation Movement orDLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward I. WATTY (non-resident) chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781 FAX : [1] (202) 364-6791 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides in Bridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica
Flag description: green with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white - the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is dependent on agriculture and thus is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 26% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $208 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.7% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: NA% services : NA% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total : 25,000 by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28% (1984)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues : $80 million expenditures: $95.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 15,000 kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 52 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 479 kWh (1994 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; forestry and fisheries potential not exploited
Exports: total value : $40 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: bananas 70%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges partners: UK 55%, Caricom countries, Italy, US
Imports: total value: $122 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities : manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals partners: US 25%, Caricom, UK, Japan, Canada
Debt - external: $110 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 EC dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1 - 2.70 (February 1997; fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Dominica:Communications
Telephones: 14,613 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: fully automatic network international: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 45,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 cable
Televisions: 5,200 (1993 est.)
@Dominica:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 765 km paved: 385 km unpaved: 380 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includesSpecial Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: NA
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer ______________________________________________________________________
@Dominican Republic:Geography
Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 48,730 sq km land: 48,380 sq km water : 350 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total : 275 km border countries: Haiti 275 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone : 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 6 nm
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures : 43% forests and woodland: 12% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues: water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
@Dominican Republic:People
Population: 7,868,731 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 1,423,626; female 1,371,309) 15-64 years: 60% (male 2,404,042; female 2,334,119) 65 years and over : 4% (male 160,270; female 175,365) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.65% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 26.87 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.81 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 46 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.39 years male : 67.21 years female: 71.69 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.1% male: 82% female : 82.2% (1995 est.)
@Dominican Republic:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form : Republica Dominicana local short form: none
Data code: DR
Government type: republic
National capital: Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias, singular -provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona,Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat,Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, MariaTrinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata,Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez,San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, SantiagoRodriguez, Valverde
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution: 28 November 1966
Legal system: based on French civil codes
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note : members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch: chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996; runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000) election results: President FERNANDEZ elected to his first term; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 30 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding
Political parties and leaders: major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo]; Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Lidio CADET]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Jose Franciso PENA Gomez]; Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party or PNVC [Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD [Andres Van Der HORST]; Democratic Quisqueyan Party or PQD [Elias WESSIN Chavez]; National Progressive Force or FNP [Marino VINICIO Castillo]; Popular Christian Party or PPC [Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert]; Dominican Communist Party or PCD [Narciso ISA Conde]; Dominican Workers' Party or PTD [Ivan RODRIGUEZ]; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union or UPA [Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini]; Alliance for Democracy Party or APD [Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA]; Democratic Union or UD [Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert] note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures