Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,109,139 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 900,105 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 44,447 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: 151 million soms (1995); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia ______________________________________________________________________
@Laos:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 236,800 sq km land : 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:total: 5,083 kmborder countries : Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season(December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use: arable land : 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other : 40% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked
@Laos:People
Population: 5,116,959 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 1,174,029; female 1,144,634) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,277,175; female 1,354,220) 65 years and over: 3% (male 76,544; female 90,357) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.78% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 41.25 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 13.4 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 94.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 53.19 years male: 51.63 years female: 54.83 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.6% male: 69.4% female : 44.4% (1995 est.)
@Laos:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form : Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none
Data code: LA
Government type: Communist state
National capital: Vientiane
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of theLao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : President NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN (appointed 25 November 1992 by the Supreme People's Assembly to succeed KAYSONE PHOMVIHAN who died in office; elected by the new National Assembly 22 February 1993); Vice President SISAVAT KEOBOUNPHAN (since 20 April 1996 when the position of vice president was first created) head of government : Prime Minister Gen. KHAMTAI SIPHANDON (since 15 August 1991); Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI KEOBOUALAPHA (since 15 August 1991) and BOUNGNANG VOLACHIT (since 20 April 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly elections : president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 22 February 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term election results: NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (85 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 December 1992 (next to be held NA 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 85; note - the distribution of seats as of January 1997 is as follows - LPRP 78, independents 5, vacant 2
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court, the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee
Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party(LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders: noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN(observer), CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU,Mekong Group, NAM, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador HIEM PHOMMACHANH chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX : [1] (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: [856] (21) 212584
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
Economy
Economy - overview: The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official communist states - has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth has averaged 7.5% annually since 1988. Even so, Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to maintain the high rate of GDP growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 7.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,150 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 56% industry: 19% services: 25% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 15% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% in urban areas (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues : $218 million expenditures: $379 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1992 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 261,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 890 million kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 48 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports: total value: $240 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: electricity, wood products, coffee, tin, garments partners : Thailand, Japan, France, Germany, Netherlands
Imports: total value: $570 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: food, fuel oil, consumer goods, manufactures partners: Thailand, China, Japan, France, US
Debt - external: $2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1 - 961.00 (January 1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995), 717.67 (1994), 716.25 (1993), 716.08 (1992) note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was adopted
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Laos:Communications
Telephones: 6,600 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public very poor; radiotelephone communications network provides generally erratic service to government users domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 560,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)
@Laos:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 18,153 km paved: 2,505 km unpaved: 15,648 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports and harbors: none
Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 39 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m : 3 under 914 m: 16 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 14 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 13 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes riverine naval and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,123,934 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 606,542 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 54,712 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $105 million (FY92/93)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 8.1% (FY92/93)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: boundary dispute with Thailand
Illicit drugs: world's third largest opium producer (200 metric tons from some 25,250 hectares in 1996); heroin producer; increasingly used as transshipment point for heroin produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis ______________________________________________________________________
@Latvia:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 64,100 sq km land: 64,100 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,150 kmborder countries : Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea : 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point : Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops : 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 46% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to : Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Latvia:People
Population: 2,421,163 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 238,793; female 229,160) 15-64 years : 66% (male 762,635; female 836,839) 65 years and over: 15% (male 112,989; female 240,747) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.56% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 8.21 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 15.72 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.13 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 : 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.91 years male: 60.8 years female: 73.33 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.21 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 51.8%, Russian 33.8%, Byelorussian 4.5%,Ukrainian 3.4%, Polish 2.3%, other 4.2%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 100% male: 100% female: 99% (1989 est.)
@Latvia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former : Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LG
Government type: republic
National capital: Riga
Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, DobelesRajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons,Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, LiepajasRajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons,Preiju Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, SaldusRajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons,Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Andris SKELE (since 21 December 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 7 July 1993 (next to be held by 20 June 1997); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote - 53%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections : last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held NA October 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%, For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%, Socialist 6%; seats by party - Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia 16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS[Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; Latvia's Way or LC [Valdis BIRKAVS]; ForLatvia [Joachim SIEGERIST]; Fatherland and Freedom or TB [MarisGRINBLATS]; Latvian Unity Party or LVP [A. KAULS]; Latvian NationalConservative Party or LNNK [Anna SEILE]; Green Party or LSZ [O.BATAREVSK]; Latvian Farmers Union or LZS [A. ROZENTALS]; ChristianDemocrat Union or LKDS [Maris VITOLDS]; National Harmony Party or TSP[Janis JURKANS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [F. STROGANOVS];Latvian Liberal Party or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Political Association of theUnderprivileged or MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; LatvianDemocratic Labor Party or LDDP [J. BOJARS]; Party of Russian Citizensor LKPP [V. SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Peoples Front of Latvia or LTF[Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Political Union of Economists or TPA [E. KIDE];Latvian National Democratic Party or LNDP [A. MALINS]; "Our Land" orMZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; Anticommunist Union or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; LatvianSocial-Democratic Workers Party or LSDSP; Party for the Defense ofLatvia's Defrauded People; Latvian Independence Party or LNP [ValdisKONOVALOVS]
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD,ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associatepartner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214 FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] (2) 210-005 FAX : [371] (2) 226-530
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
Economy
Economy - overview: In the five years following the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, the Latvian economy has made substantial progress toward establishing a modern market economy and widening economic ties with the West. Two major long-term concerns are the growing trade deficit and the impact of organized crime. The economy in 1996 has largely recovered from the mid-1995 collapse of several commercial banks - including Latvia's large bank, Bank Baltija - and a severe government budget crisis. Prime Minister SKELE has stated that he expects the country's GDP to grow 5% in 1997 through the implementation of the government's new economic reform program. In December 1996, the government passed a balanced 1997 budget - its first - that SKELE predicts will reduce inflation to 10% to 12% in 1997. Unemployment, which has held steady at about 6% over the past two years, reached roughly 7.5% in 1996. One of SKELE's key objectives for 1997 is to speed up the privatization program, which has lagged behind other areas of reform.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $9.4 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry : 34% services: 57% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 13.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 1.268 million (1995) by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 7.5% (1996 official est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures : $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 2.018 million kW (1993)
Electricity - production: 4.27 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,197 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: total value: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, timber, textiles, foodstuffs partners : Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK
Imports: total value: $2.4 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities : fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals partners: Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK, Finland
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993) note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525 million (1992-95)
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims; introduced NA March 1993
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1 - 0.563 (January 1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993), 0.736 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Latvia:Communications
Telephones: 660,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: service is better than in most of the other former Soviet republics domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population international: international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail
Radio broadcast stations: 25 (unknown type)
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 30
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
@Latvia:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,412 km broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 60,046 km paved: 22,998 km unpaved: 37,048 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine: total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 491,582 GRT/639,414 DWT ships by type: cargo 7, oil tanker 19, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7 (1996 est.)
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 575,121 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 450,640 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 16,323 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: 176 million rubles (1994); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3% to 5% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: based on the 1920 Treaty of Riga, Latvia had claimed the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; disputes maritime border with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis fromSouthwest Asia and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe andScandinavia; produces illicit amphetamines for export______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Current issues: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed five cabinets and conducted two legislative elections. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 30,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
@Lebanon:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 10,400 sq km land: 10,230 sq km water : 170 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total : 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea : 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separatesLebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region
Land use: arable land : 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 8% other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
@Lebanon:People
Population: 3,449,578 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 531,171; female 511,522) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,036,728; female 1,150,847) 65 years and over: 6% (male 100,682; female 118,628) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.62% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 22.74 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 70.35 years male: 67.82 years female : 73 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups - Alawite orNusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legallyrecognized Christian groups - 4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French (official), Armenian, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.4% male: 94.7% female: 90.3% (1995 est.)
@Lebanon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form : Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan
Data code: LE
Government type: republic
National capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate underFrench administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) head of government : Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October 1992) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was formed in 1996 elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term; election last held 24 November 1989 (next to be held NA 1998); note - in 1995, the National Assembly amended the Constituition to extend the president's term by three years; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim election results: Ilyas HARAWI elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in the summer of 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (one-half Christian and one-half Muslim)
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF,CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Victor EL-ZMETER chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Richard Henry JONES embassy: Antelias, Beirut mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002 telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 406650, 406651, 426183, 417774, 889926 FAX : [961] (1) 407112
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy
Economy - overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy has made impressive gains since Prime Minister HARIRI launched his $18 billion "Horizon 2000" reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 before Israel's Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996 stunted economic activity. During 1992-96, annual inflation fell from more than 170% to 10%, and foreign exchange reserves jumped to more than $4 billion from $1.4 billion. Burgeoning capital inflows have fueled foreign payments surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained relatively stable. Progress also has been made in rebuilding Lebanon's war-torn physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere, a $2-billion firm, is managing the reconstruction of Beirut's central business district, the stock market reopened in January 1996, and international banks and insurance companies are returning. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. The government has had to fund reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange reserves and boosting borrowing. The stalled peace process and ongoing violence in southern Lebanon could spawn wider hostilities that would disrupt vital capital inflows. Furthermore, the gap between rich and poor has widened since HARIRI took office, sowing grassroots dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of reconstruction's benefits and leading the government to shift its focus from rebuilding infrastructure to improving social conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $13 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,400 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 28% services: 59% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 10% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 1 million plus as many as 1 million foreign workers by occupation: services 60%, industry 28%, agriculture 12% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.9 billion expenditures: $3.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $1 billion (1995 est.)
Industries: banking; food processing; textiles, jewelry; cement, oil refining, chemicals, metal fabricating, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 1.22 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 4.75 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,285 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: citrus, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats
Exports: total value : $1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: paper and paper products 26%, food stuffs 16%, textiles and textile products 10%, jewelry 8%, metals and metal products 8%, electrical equipment and products 8%, chemical products 6%, transport vehicles 4% (1995) partners: Saudi Arabia 13%, Switzerland 12%, UAE 11%, Syria 9%, US 5%, Jordan 5% (1995)
Imports: total value: $7 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities : machinery and transport equipment 28%, foodstuffs 20%, consumer goods 19%, chemicals 9%, textiles 5%, metals 5%, fuels 3% (1995) partners: Italy 19%, France 13%, US 12%, Germany 11%, UK 6%, Belgium 5%, Turkey 3% (1995)
Debt - external: $3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: aid pledges of $3.5 billion for 1997-2001
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (£L) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (£L) per US$1 - 1,550.8 (January 1997), 1,571.4 (1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993), 1,712.8 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Lebanon:Communications
Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding well underway domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1 note: government is licensing a limited number of the more than 100 AM and FM stations operated sporadically by various factions that sprang up during the civil war
Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 note: government is licensing a limited number of TV stations operated by various factions
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
@Lebanon:Transportation
Railways: total: 222 km standard gauge : 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)
Highways: total: 6,359 km paved: 6,041 km unpaved: 318 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports and harbors: Al Batrun, Al Mina, An Naqurah, Antilyas, AzZahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine: total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 241,583 GRT/366,093 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 43, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 3 (1996 est.)
Airports: 7 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m : 1 under 914 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 876,677 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 543,861 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $278 million (1994)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.5% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Illicit drugs: small illicit producer of hashish and heroin for the international drug trade; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; a key locus of cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign started in the early 1990s has practically eliminated the opium and cannabis crops ______________________________________________________________________
@Lesotho:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 30,350 sq km land: 30,350 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 909 km border countries : South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point : Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops : NA% permanent pastures: 66% forests and woodland : NA% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project will control, store, and redirect water to South Africa
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
@Lesotho:People
Population: 2,007,814 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41% (male 408,723; female 406,849) 15-64 years : 55% (male 533,327; female 566,684) 65 years and over: 4% (male 37,990; female 54,241) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.83% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 32.19 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 13.92 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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 : 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 80.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.66 years male: 49.48 years female: 53.91 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.22 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.3% male : 81.1% female: 62.3% (1995 est.)
@Lesotho:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland
Data code: LT
Government type: modified constitutional monarchy
National capital: Maseru
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing,Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on 16 January 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993) cabinet: Cabinet elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority vote of the College of Chiefs; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (65 seats; members elected for a five-year term by popular vote) elections: last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held by March 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - BCP 65
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court
Political parties and leaders: Basotho National Party or BNP[Evaristus SEKHONYANA]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [NtsuMOKHEHLE]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; UnitedDemocratic Party or UDP [Charles MOFELI]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFCTU, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, SACU,SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone : [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536 FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section) mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho telephone: [266] 312666 FAX : [266] 310116
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
Economy
Economy - overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no important natural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture, light manufacturing, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has declined steadily over the past five years; in 1996 their remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of roughly 67% in 1990. The great majority of households gain their livelihoods from subsistence farming and migrant labor; a large portion of the adult male work force is employed in South African mines. Manufacturing depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility will permit the sale of water to South Africa and will support the economy's continued expansion. The pace of the privatization of state-owned firms increased toward the end of 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 10% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,860 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 46% services : 40% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total : 689,000 economically active by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemployment effecting more than half of the labor force (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues : $445 million expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of $128 million (FY94/95 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 12.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 13,400 kW (1993) note: 98% of electricity supplied by South Africa
Electricity - production: NA kWh note: 98% of electricity supplied by South Africa
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Exports: total value: $218 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: clothing, furniture, footwear, machinery and equipment, wool (1993) partners: South African Customs Union 46%, North America 34%, EU 18% (1993)
Imports: total value: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: corn, clothing, building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1993) partners: South African Customs Union 83%, Asia 12%, EU 3% (1993)
Debt - external: $512 million (1993)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente note : maloti (M) is the plural form of loti
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992); note - the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Lesotho:Communications
Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: rudimentary system domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system international : satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 66,000
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
@Lesotho:Transportation
Railways: total: 2.6 km; note - owned by, operated by, and included in the statistics of South Africa narrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total : 4,955 km paved: 887 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 29 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 25 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 23 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 4 914 to 1,523 m : 4 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army and AirWing), Lesotho Mounted Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 468,658 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 253,025 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Current issues: Years of civil strife have destroyed much of Liberia's economic infrastructure, made civil administration nearly impossible, and brought economic activity virtually to a halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of most business people with their expertise and capital. Civil order ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kenyon DOE was killed by rebel forces. In April 1996, when forces loyal to faction leaders Charles Ghankay TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival ethnic Krahn factions, the fighting further damaged Monrovia's dilapidated infrastructure. Fighting waned in late May 1996, allowing West African peacekeepers to regain control of Monrovia. The Abuja II peace accord was signed in August 1996 replacing the Chairman of the ruling Council of State, Wilton SANKAWULO, with Ruth PERRY. National elections were scheduled for 30 May 1997, but long-term prospects for peace will remain poor unless the warring factions can overcome their greed, mutual suspicions and ethnic hatreds.
@Liberia:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenCote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 111,370 sq km land : 96,320 sq km water: 15,050 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,585 km border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 59% forests and woodland: 18% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara(December to March)
Environment - current issues: tropical rain forest subject to deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of rivers from the dumping of iron ore tailings and of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
@Liberia:People
Population: 2,602,068 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 584,918; female 579,728) 15-64 years: 52% (male 689,376; female 657,029) 65 years and over : 3% (male 43,868; female 47,149) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 6.92% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 42.3 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.53 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 38.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.) note: until domestic peace is restored, many Liberian refugees will not return from exile
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population : 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 105.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.02 years male : 56.43 years female: 61.69 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa,Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, andBella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)
Religions: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages: English 20% (official), about 20 tribal languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.3% male : 53.9% female: 22.4% (1995 est.)
@Liberia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Liberia