National capital: Port-au-Prince
Administrative divisions: 9 departments, (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est
Independence: 1 January 1804 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1804)
Constitution: approved March 1987, suspended June 1988, most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994
Legal system: based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Rene Garcia PREVAL (since 7 February 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Rosny SMARTH (since March 1996) cabinet : Cabinet; chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Rene Garcia PREVAL elected president; percent of vote - Rene Garcia PREVAL 88%, Leon JEUNE 2.5%, Victor BENOIT 2.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (election held for nine seats 6 April 1997; runoffs to be held 25 May 1997 were postponed); Chamber of Deputies - last held 25 June 1995 with reruns on 13 August and runoffs on 17 September (next to be held NA 1999; byelections for two vacant seats were held 6 April 1997; runoffs to be held 25 May 1997 were postponed) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lavalas Platform 17, FNDC 6, National Alliance for Democracy and Progress 2, RDNP 1, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lavalas Platform 67, FNCD 2, CONACOM 1, PANPRA 1, MRN 2, MKN 1, PROP 1, UPD 2, independents 4, vacant 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: National Front for Change and Democracy(FNCD), Evans PAUL and Turneb DELPE; National Cooperative ActionMovement (MKN), Volvick Remy JOSEPH; National Congress of DemocraticMovements (CONACOM), Victor BENOIT; Movement for the Installation ofDemocracy in Haiti (MIDH), Marc BAZIN; National ProgressiveRevolutionary Party (PANPRA), Serge GILLES; National PatrioticMovement of November 28 (MNP-28), Dejean BELIZAIRE; NationalAgricultural and Industrial Party (PAIN), Louis DEJOIE; Movement forNational Reconstruction (MRN), Rene THEODORE; Haitian ChristianDemocratic Party (PDCH), Fritz PIERRE; Assembly of ProgressiveNational Democrats (RDNP), Leslie MANIGAT; National Labor Party (PNT),Remy ZAMOR; Mobilization for National Development (MDN), Hubert DERONCERAY; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti (MODELH),Francois LATORTUE; Popular Organizations Gathering Power (PROP), SimonJEAN-POIX; Movement for the Organization of the Country (MOP), GesnerCOMEAU and Jean MOLIERE; Democratic Unity Confederation (KID), EvansPAUL; National Lavalas Political Organization (OPL), GerardPIERRE-CHARLES; Open the Gate Party (PLB), Renaud BERNARDIN; HaitianNational Democratic Progressive Party (PNDPH), Turneb DELPE; Union ofPatriotic Democrats (UPD), Rockefeller GUERRE; Cooperative Action forEconomic Liberation (KLE), Leon JEUNE; Generation 2004, ClaudeROUMAIN; Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti (ALAH),Reynold GEORGES; Lavalas Political Platform or PPL (an alliance of OPLand MOP) [Renaud BERNARDIN]; Haitian Democratic Party (PADEMH), ClarkPARENT; National Rally of Democratic Forces (RANFO), Jean NazaireTHIDE, Marino ETIENNE; National Alliance for Democracy and Progress
Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church;Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH); Federation of Workers TradeUnions (FOS); Autonomous Haitian Workers (CATH); National PopularAssembly (APN); Papaye Peasants Movement (MPP)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, Caricom(observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,LAES, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Jean CASIMIR chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090 through 4092 FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William Lacy SWING embassy : 5 Harry Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince telephone: [509] 22-0354, 22-0368, 22-0200, 22-0612 FAX: [509] 23-1641
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)
Economy
Economy - overview: About 75% of the population lives in abject poverty. Nearly 70% of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming and employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force. The country has experienced little or no job creation since President PREVAL took office in February 1996. Failure to reach agreements with international sponsors have denied Haiti badly needed budget and development assistance. Meeting aid conditions in 1997 will be especially challenging in the face of mounting popular criticism of reforms.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.8% industry: 23% services: 42.2% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 18% (1996)
Labor force: total: 2.3 million by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 25%, industry 9% note : shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1982)
Unemployment rate: 60% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues : $240 million (est.) expenditures: $250 million including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, tourism, light assembly industries based on imported parts
Industrial production growth rate: 2.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 216,500 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 379 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 33 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood
Exports: total value: $123 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: light manufactures 65%, coffee 19%, other agriculture 8%, other 8% partners: US 73.5%, EU 19.4% (1995)
Imports: total value : $666 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machines and manufactures 34%, food and beverages 22%, petroleum products 14%, chemicals 10%, fats and oils 9% partners: US 65.0%, EU 13.9% (1995)
Debt - external: $827 million (September 1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 gourde (G) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: gourdes (G) per US$1 (end of period) - 16.260 (January 1997), 15.093 (1996), 16.160 (1995), 12.947 (1994), 12.805 (1993), 10.953 (1992)
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Haiti:Communications
Telephones: 50,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: domestic facilities barely adequate, international facilities slightly better domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 33, FM 0, shortwave 2
Radios: 320,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 32,000 (1992 est.)
@Haiti:Transportation
Railways: total: 40 km (single track; privately owned industrial line) - closed in early 1990's narrow gauge : 40 km 0.760-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,080 km paved: 987 km unpaved: 3,093 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: negligible; less than 100 km navigable
Ports and harbors: Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Cayes,Miragoane, Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 11 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Haitian National Police (PNH) note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have been demobilized but still exist on paper until/unless constitutionally abolished
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,430,855 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 774,835 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 71,003 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA; note - mainly for police and security activities
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims US-administered Navassa Island
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana en route to the US and Europe ______________________________________________________________________
HEARD ISLAND AND MCDONALD ISLANDSMcDonald Islands]
(territory of Australia)
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates: 53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references: Antarctic Region
Area: total : 412 sq km land: 412 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 2 times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101.9 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: antarctic
Terrain: Heard Island - bleak and mountainous, with a quiescent volcano; McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: Heard Island is dominated by a dormant volcano calledBig Ben
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: primarily used for research stations
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:People
Population: uninhabited
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Data code: HM
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered by theMinistry for Sport, Territories, and Local Government
National capital: none; administered from Canberra, Australia
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Heard Island and McDonald Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Holy See (Vatican City):Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 0.44 sq km land : 0.44 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
Elevation extremes: lowest point : unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified : Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
@Holy See (Vatican City):People
Population: 850 (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
@Holy See (Vatican City):Government
Country name: conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City) conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City) local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano) local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Data code: VT
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
National capital: Vatican City
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope, 22 October (1978) (John Paul II) note: Pope John Paul II was elected on 16 October 1978
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch: chief of state : Pope JOHN PAUL II (Karol WOJTYLA; since 16 October 1978) head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo Cardinal SODANO (since NA 1991) cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by Pope elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope election results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Apostolic Pro-Nuncio Archbishop Agostino CACCIAVILLAN chancery : 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond L. FLYNN embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, Rome 00153 mailing address: PSC 59, APO AE 09624 telephone : [39] (6) 46741 FAX: [39] (6) 5758346, 57300682
Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
Economy
Economy - overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Labor force: NA by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Budget: revenues : $175.5 million expenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994)
Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity - capacity: 5,000 kW standby note : electricity supplied by Italy
Electricity - production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by Italy
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1 - 1568.1 (January 1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994), 1,573.7 (1993), 1,232.4 (1992); note - the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Holy See (Vatican City):Communications
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
@Holy See (Vatican City):Transportation
Railways: total: 862 meters; note - connects to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station narrow gauge: 862 meters 1.435-m gauge
Highways: none; all city streets
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss PapalGuards are posted at entrances to Vatican City
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Honduras:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, betweenGuatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenEl Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 112,090 sq km land : 111,890 sq km water: 200 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,520 km border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km
Coastline: 820 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish
Land use: arable land : 15% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 14% forests and woodland: 54% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
Environment - current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of freshwater) with heavy metals as well as several rivers and streams
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Desertification
@Honduras:People
Population: 5,751,384 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 42% (male 1,237,549; female 1,194,598) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,549,400; female 1,574,075) 65 years and over: 4% (male 93,695; female 102,067) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.55% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 32.63 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.5 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: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population : 1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 68.81 years male: 66.38 years female: 71.37 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.26 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.7% male : 72.6% female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
@Honduras:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Republic of Honduras conventional short form: Honduras local long form: Republica de Honduras local short form: Honduras
Data code: HO
Government type: republic
National capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular -departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa); Atlantida,Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, FranciscoMorazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira,Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence ofEnglish common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez (since 27 January 1994); First Vice President General (Ret.) Walter LOPEZ; Second Vice President Juan DE LA CRUZ Avelar; Third Vice President Guadeloupe JEREZANO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez (since 27 January 1994) First Vice President General (Ret.) Walter LOPEZ; Second Vice President Juan DE LA CRUZ Avelar; Third Vice President Guadeloupe JEREZANO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 28 November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez elected president; percent of vote - Carlos Roberto REINA Idiaquez (PLH) 53%, Oswaldo RAMOS Soto (PNH) 41%, other 6%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections : last held on 27 November 1993 (next to be held November 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - PNH 53%, PLH 41%, PDCH 1.0%, PINU-SD 2.5%, other 2.5%; seats by party - PLH 71, PNH 55, PINU-SD 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party (PLH), Carlos FLORESFacusse, president; National Party of Honduras (PNH), Oswaldo RAMOSSoto, president; National Innovation and Unity Party (PINU), OlbanVALLADARES, president; Christian Democratic Party (PDCH), Efrain DIAZArrivillaga, president
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association ofHonduran Campesinos (ANACH); Honduran Council of Private Enterprise(COHEP); Confederation of Honduran Workers (CTH); National Union ofCampesinos (UNC); General Workers Confederation (CGT); UnitedFederation of Honduran Workers (FUTH); Committee for the Defense ofHuman Rights in Honduras (CODEH); Coordinating Committee of PopularOrganizations (CCOP)
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto FLORES Bermudez chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702, 2604, 5008, 4596 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general : Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN (29 July 1996) embassy : Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 36-9320, 38-5114 FAX: [504] 36-9037
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy
Economy - overview: Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Agriculture employs nearly two-thirds of the labor force and produces two-thirds of exports. Productivity remains low. Manufacturing, mining, and construction account for 30 % of GDP and generate 20% of exports. Basic problems include rapid population growth, high underemployment, inflation, a lack of basic services, a large and inefficient public sector, and the dependence of the export sector mostly on coffee and bananas, which are subject to sharp price fluctuations.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.5 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 28% industry: 30% services: 42% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 25.4% (1996)
Labor force: total: 1.3 million by occupation: agriculture 62%, services 20%, manufacturing 9%, construction 3%, other 6% (1985)
Unemployment rate: 15%; underemployed about 40% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $655 million expenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150 million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1992 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 605,900 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 2.742 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 361 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp;
Exports: total value: $2.401 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals, meat, lumber partners : US 65%, Germany 7%, Japan 7%, Spain 3%, Belgium 2%
Imports: total value: $3.133 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs partners : US 50%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3%
Debt - external: $4.6 billion (1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period) - 13.0330 (January 1997), 12.8694 (1996), 10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994), 7.2600 (1993), 5.8300 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Honduras:Communications
Telephones: 105,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: inadequate system domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 2.115 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
@Honduras:Transportation
Railways: total: 595 km narrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km 0.914-m gauge note: in 1993, there was a total of 988 km of track (1995)
Highways: total: 15,100 km paved: 3,050 km unpaved: 12,050 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, SanLorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine: total: 251 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 714,755 GRT/1,066,043 DWT ships by type: bulk 28, cargo 153, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 3, oil tanker 21, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 1 note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 8 ships, Vietnam 3, North Korea 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, Singapore 1, Iran 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 107 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 88 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 5 under 914 m: 78 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 19 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, PublicSecurity Forces (FUSEP)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,370,116 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 816,054 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 66,304 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $42.5 million (1997)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: about 1.5% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: land boundary dispute with El Salvador mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption ______________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Hong Kong:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 1,092 sq km land: 1,042 sq km water: 50 sq km
Area - comparative: six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 30 km border countries: China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland : 22% other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: more than 200 islands
@Hong Kong:People
Population: 6,547,189 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 629,981; female 584,807) 15-64 years: 71% (male 2,319,009; female 2,348,794) 65 years and over: 10% (male 299,503; female 365,095) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.59% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 12.72 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.79 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 18.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.71 years male: 75.98 years female: 81.62 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.33 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population : 92.2% male: 96% female: 88.2% (1996 est.)
@Hong Kong:Government
Country name: conventional long form : none conventional short form: Hong Kong abbreviation : HK
Data code: HK
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK; note - scheduled to revert to China on 1 July 1997
Government type: NA
National capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK; the UK signed an agreement with China on 19 December 1984 to return Hong Kong to China on 1 July 1997; in the joint declaration, China promises to respect Hong Kong's existing social and economic systems and lifestyle)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 August (1945)
Constitution: the Letters Patent together with the Royal Instructions form the written constitution of Hong Kong; new Basic Law approved in March 1990 in preparation for scheduled reversion to China on 1 July 1997
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 professionals of electoral college and functional constituencies
Executive branch: chief of state : Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor and President of the Executive Council Christopher Francis PATTEN (since 9 July 1992); Chief Secretary Anson CHAN Fang On-Sang (since 29 November 1993) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (60 seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20 elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by election committee; members serve four-year terms); note - the Legislative Council will be replaced by a provisional legislature on 1 July 1997 elections: indirect and direct elections last held 17 September 1995; note - elections for the first post-reversion Legislative Council are scheduled to be held in 1998 election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 21, Liberal Party 10, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 6, other parties and independents 23; note - subsequent to the election, there has been a change in the distribution of seats; the new distribution is as follows - Democratic Party 19, Liberal Party 10, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong 6, other parties and independents 25
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Martin LEE, chairman;Liberal Party, Allen LEE, chairman; Democratic Alliance for theBetterment of Hong Kong, TSANG Yuk-shing, chairman; Hong KongDemocratic Foundation, Dr. Patrick SHIU Kin-ying, chairman
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood (ADPL), Frederick FUNG Kin Kee, chairman; Liberal Democratic Federation, HU Fa-kuang, chairman; Federation of Trade Unions (pro-China), LEE Chark-tim, president; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Unions (pro-democracy), LEE Cheuk-yan, chairman; Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union, CHEUNG Man-kwong, president; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China, Szeto WAH, chairman
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of theUK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX : [852] 2845-1598
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with the Hong Kong coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a shield (bearing two junks below a crown) held by a lion (representing the UK) and a dragon (representing China) with another lion above the shield and a banner bearing the words HONG KONG below the shield note: to be replaced on 1 July 1997 by a red flag with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
Economy
Economy - overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy with few tariffs or nontariff barriers. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Manufacturing and construction account for about 18% of GDP. Goods and services exports account for about 50% of GDP. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88, slowed to 3.0% in 1989-90, and picked up to 4.2% in 1991, 5.0% in 1992, 5.2% in 1993, 5.5% in 1994, 4.8% in 1995, and 4.7% in 1996. A shortage of labor continues to put upward pressure on prices and the cost of living. Prospects for 1997 remain bright so long as major trading partners continue to be reasonably prosperous and so long as investors feel China will support free market practices after the takeover on 1 July 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $163.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.7% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $26,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 0.2% industry: 18.4% services: 81.4% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6.5% (1996)
Labor force: total: 3.251 million (1996) by occupation: wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 34.4%, services 19.8%, manufacturing 14.2%, financing, insurance, and real estate 12.4%, transport and communications 5.1%, construction 2.1%, other 12% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 3.1% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $19 billion expenditures: $14.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $289 million (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: -2.6% (1996)
Electricity - capacity: 10.32 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 25.14 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,716 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: total value : $197.2 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric, footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys partners: China 33%, US 22%, Japan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 3%, Singapore 3% (1995)
Imports: total value: $217.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported partners: China 36%, Japan 15%, Taiwan 9%, US 8%, Singapore 5%, South Korea 5% (1995)
Debt - external: none (1996)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$ - 7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994), 7.800 (1993), 7.741 (1992); note - linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Hong Kong:Communications
Telephones: 3.31 million (1996)
Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (British Broadcasting Corporation repeater 1; British Forces Broadcasting Service repeater 1)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)
@Hong Kong:Transportation
Railways: total : 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (1996 est.) note: also has 43 km of metro with 38 stations
Highways: total: 1,717 km paved : 1,717 km unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine: total: 221 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,908,237 GRT/13,580,012 DWT ships by type: bulk 124, cargo 31, combination bulk 4, combination ore/oil 2, container 38, liquefied gas tanker 2, multifunction large load carrier 2, oil tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15 countries among which are UK 50, South Africa 12, Belgium 10, China 9, Japan 8, Bermuda 5, US 5, Israel 4, Germany 3, and Switzerland 3; Hong Kong owns an additional 498 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,810,794 DWT that operate under the registries of The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Panama, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Vanuatu
Airports: 2 (1996 est.) note: new international airport under construction and will open in 1998
Airports - with paved runways: total : 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Headquarters of British Forces, Army, Royal Navy,Royal Air Force, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Royal Hong KongPolice Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,884,488 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 1,427,567 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 46,601 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $207 million (FY92/93); note - this represents 65% of the total cost of defending the colony, the remainder being paid by the UK
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.2% (FY92/93)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK until 1 July 1997, when China will assume command
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse ______________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@Howland Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1.6 sq km land : 1.6 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 5% other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements: party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife; feral cats
@Howland Island:People
Population: uninhabited note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit only and generally restricted to scientists and educators
@Howland Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form : none conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System
National capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Howland Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Transportation - note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Hungary:Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 93,030 sq km land: 92,340 sq km water: 690 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 2,009 kmborder countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on theSlovakian border
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use: arable land: 51% permanent crops : 2% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 19% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment - current issues: an early-1996 government study identified 179 areas that suffer from air pollution, 54 areas with polluted soil, and 32 areas with polluted underground water; the study estimated clean-up costs at $350 million, but the 1996 government budget allocated only about $7 million for this purpose
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
@Hungary:People
Population: 10,232,404 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 924,864; female 881,728) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,419,485; female 3,541,823) 65 years and over: 14% (male 549,091; female 915,413) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.25% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 10.73 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 13.67 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.47 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: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.48 years male : 66.06 years female: 75.13 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other 7.5%
Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female : 98% (1980 est.)
@Hungary:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Hungary conventional short form: Hungary local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag local short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
Government type: republic
National capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20urban counties* (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city**(fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*,Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*,Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*,Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*,Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*,Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas,Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: St. Stephen's Day (National Day), 20 August (commemorates the coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)
Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight
Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990; previously interim president since 2 May 1990) head of government : Prime Minister Gyula HORN (since 15 July 1994) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president election results: Arpad GONCZ elected president; a total of 335 votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259; Gyula HORN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms) elections : last held on 8 and 29 May 1994 (next to be held May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - MSzP 209, SzDSz 70, MDF 37, FKgP 26, KDNP 22, FiDeSz 20, other 2
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by theNational Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Sandor LEZSAK, chairman]; Independent Smallholders or FKgP [Jozsef TORGYAN, president]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP [Gyula HORN, president]; Christian Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Gyorgy GICZY, president]; Federation of Young Democrats or FiDeSz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Ivan SZABO, chairman] note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSzMP renounced Communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP in October 1989; there is still a small MMP (Communist Party); the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, CCC,CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU, UPU, WEU (associate partner),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gyorgy BANLAKI chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX : [1] (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald M. BLINKEN embassy: V. Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest mailing address: American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone : [36] (1) 267-4400, 269-9331 FAX: [36] (1) 269-9326