Data code: LI
Government type: republic
National capital: Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, GrandCape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution: 6 January 1986
Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Chairman of the Council of State Ruth PERRY (since NA August 1996); note - chairman of the Council of State is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : Chairman of the Council of State Ruth PERRY (since NA August 1996); note - chairman of the Council of State is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet selected by the leaders of the major factions in the civil war elections: last presidential election held 15 October 1985 (next to be held 19 July 1997); results - Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7% note : constitutional government ended in September 1990 when President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; civil war ensued and in August 1996 the Abuja II peace accord was signed by the major warring factions; a transitional coalition government under Ruth PERRY was formed in August 1996; presidential elections are scheduled for 19 July 1997
Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly, the members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major factions in the civil war note : the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and is unlikely to be reconstituted soon
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: present conditions of civil strife and anarchy have rendered Liberia's political parties completely ineffectual; prior to the outbreak of warfare among armed factions the following political parties were prominent: National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL [Augustus CAINE, chairman]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman]; Unity Party or UP [Joseph KOFA, chairman]; United People's Party or UPP [Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS, chairman]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Charles Ghankay TAYLOR, chairman]; Liberian Peoples Party or LPP [Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: the following armed factions, in accordance with the peace accord of August 1995, form the transitional government of Liberia: Armed Forces of Liberia or AFL (formerly a part of the national armed forces) [Lt. Gen. Hezekiah BOWEN, leader]; National Patriotic Front of Liberia or NPFL (initiated hostilities against Samuel DOE's government from Cote d' Ivoire in December 1989) [Charles Ghankay TAYLOR, leader]; Central Revolutionary Committee or CRC (dissident members of the NPFL in conflict with forces loyal to Charles Ghankay TAYLOR) [Thomas J. WOEWIYU, LEADER]; Liberia Peace Council or LPC (has opposed NPLF forces in southeastern Liberia) [Dr. George F. SAIGBE BOLEY, chairman; Octavius WALKER, secretary-general]; United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy or ULIMO (former supporters of Samuel DOE that have split on ethnic lines into two groups in conflict with each other: ULIMO-K [Alhaji G. V. KROMAH, leader] and ULIMO-J [Maj. Gen. Roosevelt JOHNSON, leader]); Lofa Defence Force or LDF (has fought the ULIMO forces in Lofa county) [Francois MASSAQUOI, leader]; note - the ULIMO-J forces are of the Krahn ethnic group and the ULIMO-K forces are of the Mandingo ethnic group
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS,FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM,ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Konah K. BLACKETT chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone : [1] (202) 723-0437 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission William MILAM embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia mailing address: P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia telephone: [231] 226-370 FAX : [231] 226-148
Flag description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
Economy
Economy - overview: Civil war since 1990 has destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. Political and economic instability - including the stripping of resources by local warlords - threatens prospects for reconstruction as well as the repatriation of an estimated 750,000 Liberian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. The continued political turmoil has prevented restoration of normal economic life, including the re-establishment of a strong central government with effective economic development programs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 36% services: 34%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 50% (1994 est.)
Labor force: total: 510,000 including 220,000 in the monetary economy by occupation: agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and commerce 4.5%, other 14.2% note : non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and engineering jobs
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $225 million expenditures: $285 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Industries: rubber processing, food processing, construction materials, furniture, palm oil processing, iron ore, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 430,000 kW (1991)
Electricity - production: 1.05 billion kWh (1991)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 384 kWh (1991 est.)
Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Exports: total value: $667 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee partners: US, EU, Netherlands, Singapore
Imports: total value : $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: mineral fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs partners: US, EU, Japan, China, Netherlands, ECOWAS, South Korea
Debt - external: $2.1 billion (1994 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1 - 50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992); market rate floats against the US dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liberia:Communications
Telephones: less than 25,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia; most telecommunications services inoperable due to insurgency domestic: NA international : satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 622,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 51,000 (1992 est.)
@Liberia:Transportation
Railways: total: 490 km (single track); note - three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two have been shut down by the civil war standard gauge : 345 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 10,300 km paved: 628 km unpaved : 9,672 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
Merchant marine: total : 1,616 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 60,081,452 GRT/99,395,792 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 418, cargo 121, chemical tanker 117, combination bulk 29, combination ore/oil 58, container 151, liquefied gas tanker 83, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 450, passenger 36, refrigerated cargo 68, roll-on/roll-off cargo 29, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 40 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 56 countries among which are Germany 179, US 176, Norway 166, Japan 154, Greece 147, Hong Kong 120, China 45, UK 40, Monaco 39, and Cyprus 33 (1996 est.)
Airports: 36 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m : 1 under 914 m: 28 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA; the ultimate structure of the Liberian military force will depend on who is the victor in the ongoing civil war
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 592,730 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 316,906 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $14 million (1993)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.9% (1993)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast andSouthwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European andUS markets______________________________________________________________________
@Libya:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenEgypt and Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,759,540 sq km land: 1,759,540 sq km water : 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries: total: 4,383 km border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,150 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline: 1,770 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees 30 minutes north
Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain: mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 91% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,700 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues: desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Desertification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea
@Libya:People
Population: 5,648,359 (July 1997 est.) note: includes 305,959 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 48% (male 1,369,984; female 1,323,254) 15-64 years: 49% (male 1,422,043; female 1,358,013) 65 years and over: 3% (male 91,953; female 83,112) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.64% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 43.94 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.49 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: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 57.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.05 years male : 62.84 years female: 67.37 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.19 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Libyan(s) adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians,Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions: Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages: Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.2% male: 87.9% female: 63% (1995 est.)
@Libya:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya conventional short form: Libya local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah local short form: none
Data code: LY
Government type: Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
National capital: Tripoli
Administrative divisions: 25 municipalities (baladiyah, singular - baladiyat); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan note: the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 1,500 communes in 1992
Independence: 24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday: Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution: 11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state : Revolutionary Leader Gen. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Premier) Abd al-Majid al-QA'UD (since 29 January 1994) cabinet: General People's Committee established by the General People's Congress elections : national elections are indirect through a hierarchy of peoples' committees; head of government elected by the General People's Congress; election last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Abd al-Majid al-QA'UD elected head of government; percent of General People's Congress vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of peoples' committees)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,AMU, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Libya does not have an embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Flag description: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)
Economy
Economy - overview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-third of GDP. In 1990 per capita GDP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but subsequently GDP growth has slowed on average and has fluctuated sharply in response to changes in the world oil market. Import restrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led to periodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for only 5% of GDP, it employs 18% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farm output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food requirements. The UN sanctions imposed in April 1992 have not yet had a major impact on the economy because Libya's oil revenues generate sufficient foreign exchange to sustain imports of food, consumer goods, and equipment for the oil industry and ongoing development projects.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $34.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,570 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry : 55% services: 40% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 25% (1995 est.)
Labor force: total: 1 million (includes about 280,000 resident foreigners) by occupation: industry 31%, services 27%, government 24%, agriculture 18% note : 7.1% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $13 billion expenditures: $14.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 4.6 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 16.73 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,012 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts; meat, eggs
Exports: total value: $8.4 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas partners: Italy, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Turkey, Greece, Egypt
Imports: total value : $7.3 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods partners: Italy, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Turkey, Tunisia, Eastern Europe
Debt - external: $2.6 billion excluding military debt (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Libyan dinar (LD) = 1,000 dirhams
Exchange rates: Libyan dinars (LD) per US$1 - 0.3764 (January 1997), 0.3651 (1996), 0.3532 (1995), 0.3596 (1994), 0.3250 (1993), 0.3013 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Libya:Communications
Telephones: 370,000
Telephone system: modern telecommunications system domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); planned Arabsat and Intersputnik satellite earth stations; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 17, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 1 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 12 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 500,000 (1993 est.)
@Libya:Transportation
Railways: note : Libya has had no railroad in operation since 1965, all previous systems having been dismantled; current plans are to construct a 1.435-m standard gauge line from the Tunisian frontier to Tripoli and Misratah, then inland to Sabha, center of a mineral-rich area, but there has been no progress; other plans made jointly with Egypt would establish a rail line from As Sallum, Egypt, to Tobruk with completion set for mid-1994; no progress has been reported
Highways: total: 19,189 km paved: 10,738 km unpaved : 8,451 km (1987)
Waterways: none
Pipelines: crude oil 4,383 km; petroleum products 443 km (includes liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 256 km); natural gas 1,947 km
Ports and harbors: Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah,Misratah, Ra's Lanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine: total : 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 689,086 GRT/1,209,083 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 4 note: Libya owns an additional 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 33,050 DWT operating under the registries of Algeria and Turkey (1996 est.)
Airports: 131 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 71 over 3,047 m : 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 14 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 60 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m : 39 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 1,211,700 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 721,592 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 59,216 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.4 billion (1994 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 6.1% (1994 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: maritime boundary dispute with Tunisia;Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northern Niger and part ofsoutheastern Algeria______________________________________________________________________
@Liechtenstein:Geography
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total : 160 sq km land: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 78 km border countries: Austria 37 km, Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggleller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential
Land use: arable land : 25% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 38% forests and woodland: 19% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to : Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
@Liechtenstein:People
Population: 31,389 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 3,032; female 2,909) 15-64 years: 70% (male 10,952; female 11,059) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,410; female 2,027) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 13.03 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.52 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population : 0.96 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 77.82 years male: 75.38 years female: 80.36 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Liechtensteiner(s) adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups: Alemannic 87.5%, Italian, Turkish, and other 12.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 6.9%, unknown 5.6%, other 7.5% (1995)
Languages: German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy: definition: age 10 and over can read and write total population: 100% male : 100% female: 100% (1981 est.)
@Liechtenstein:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Principality of Liechtenstein conventional short form: Liechtenstein local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein local short form: Liechtenstein
Data code: LS
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
National capital: Vaduz
Administrative divisions: 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular -Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan,Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence: 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)
National holiday: Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution: 5 October 1921
Legal system: local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born 11 June 1968) head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Head of Government Michael RITTER (since 14 April 1997) cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince elections : none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the head of government by the prince and the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the prince
Legislative branch: unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party - VU 13, FBP 10, FL 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht
Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. OswaldKRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The FreeList or FL
International organization participation: CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA,ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU,WCL, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is represented by the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador at Bern (Switzerland) has been nominated to be the non-resident US Ambassador to Liechtenstein
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
Economy - overview: Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of its large European neighbors. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 18% - and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000 holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between EFTA and EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $713 million (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,000 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 0.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 22,187 of which 13,576 are foreigners; 7,781 commute from Austria and Switzerland to work each day by occupation : industry, trade, and building 45%, services 53%, agriculture, fishing, forestry, and horticulture 2% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.1% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $455 million expenditures: $435 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: electronics, metal manufacturing, textiles, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 23,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 150 million kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 8,000 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, maize, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports: total value: $2.14 billion (1994) commodities: small specialty machinery, dental products, stamps, hardware, pottery partners: EU and EFTA countries 60.57% (Switzerland 15.7%) (1995)
Imports: total value : $852.3 million (1994) commodities: machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles partners : EU countries, Switzerland (1996)
Debt - external: $0 (1996)
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SwF) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SwF) per US$1 - 1.3936 (January 1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994), 1.4776 (1993), 1.4062 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Liechtenstein:Communications
Telephones: 28,393 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: limited, but sufficient automatic telephone system domestic: NA international: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay
Radio broadcast stations: 1 broadcast station in Triesea note: linked to Swiss networks
Radios: 11,203 (1995)
Television broadcast stations: NA note : linked to Swiss networks
Televisions: 11,421 (1995)
@Liechtenstein:Transportation
Railways: total: 18.5 km; note - owned, operated, and included in statistics of Austrian Federal Railways standard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims 1,600 sq km of Czech territory confiscated from its royal family in 1918; the Czech Republic insists that restitution does not go back before February 1948, when the communists seized power ______________________________________________________________________
@Lithuania:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia andRussia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 65,200 sq km land: 65,200 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,273 kmborder countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia(Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 99 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapine Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat
Land use: arable land: 35% permanent crops : 12% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 31% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 430 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Lithuania:People
Population: 3,617,104 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 385,959; female 370,100) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,157,987; female 1,240,850) 65 years and over : 13% (male 157,328; female 304,880) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.49% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 10.64 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 12.96 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.7 years male: 62.61 years female : 75.11 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.1%, Russian 8.6%, Polish 7.7%,Byelorussian 1.5%, other 2.1%
Religions: primarily Roman Catholic, others include Lutheran, RussianOrthodox, Protestant, evangelical Christian Baptist, Islam, Judaism
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)
@Lithuania:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Lithuania local long form: Lietuvos Respublika local short form: Lietuva former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LH
Government type: independent, democratic republic
National capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 44 regions (rajonai, singular - rajonas) and11 municipalities*: Akmenes Rajonas, Alytaus Rajonas, Alytus*,Anyksciu Rajonas, Birsionas*, Birzu Rajonas, Druskininkai*, IgnalinosRajonas, Jonavos Rajonas, Joniskio Rajonas, Jurbarko Rajonas,Kaisiadoriu Rajonas, Marijampoles Rajonas, Kaunas*, Kauno Rajonas,Kedainiu Rajonas, Kelmes Rajonas, Klaipeda*, Klaipedos Rajonas,Kretingos Rajonas, Kupiskio Rajonas, Lazdiju Rajonas, Marijampole*,Mazeikiu Rajonas, Moletu Rajonas, Neringa* Pakruojo Rajonas, Palanga*,Panevezio Rajonas, Panevezys*, Pasvalio Rajonas, Plunges Rajonas,Prienu Rajonas, Radviliskio Rajonas, Raseiniu Rajonas, RokiskioRajonas, Sakiu Rajonas, Salcininky Rajonas, Siauliai*, SiauliuRajonas, Silales Rajonas, Siltues Rajonas, Sirvinty Rajonas, SkuodoRajonas, Svencioniu Rajonas, Taurages Rajonas, Telsiu Rajonas, TrakyRajonas, Ukmerges Rajonas, Utenos Rajonas, Varenos Rajonas,Vilkaviskio Rajonas, Vilniaus Rajonas, Vilnius*, Zarasu Rajonas
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (acting president since 25 November 1992, president since 15 February 1993) head of government : Premier Gediminas VAGNORIUS (since 28 November 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held spring 1997); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS elected president; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 October and 10 November 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Conservative Party 70, LKDP 16, Center Union 13, LDDP 12, LSDP 12, DP 2, independents 4, others 8, vacant 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Parliament;Court of Appeal, judges appointed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP[Algirdas SAUDARGAS, chairman]; Democratic Labor Party of Lithuania orLDDP [Mindaugas STANKEVICIUS, chairman]; Lithuanian Nationalist Unionor LTS [Rimantas SMETONA, chairman]; Lithuanian Social DemocraticParty or LSDP [Aloyzas SAKALAS, chairman]; Farmers' Union [JonasCIULEVICIUS, chairman]; Center Union [Romualdas OZOLAS, chairman];Homeland Union/Conservative Party [Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman];Lithuanian Polish Union or LLS [Rsztardas MACIEKIANIEC, chairman];Democratic Party or DP [Lydie WURTH-POLFER, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Lithuanian Future Forum
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD,ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonsas EIDINTAS chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 FAX : [1] (202) 328-0466 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James W. SWIHART, Jr. embassy: Akmenu 6, Vilnius 2600 mailing address: PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723 telephone : [370] 670-6083 FAX: [370] 670-6084
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy
Economy - overview: Since declaring independence in 1990, Lithuania has implemented reforms aimed at eliminating the vestiges of the former socialist system. With the help of the IMF and other international institutions, the government has adopted a disciplined program to restrain inflation, abolish most price controls, lower the budget deficit, and privatize the economy. More than two-thirds of its industrial facilities as well as most housing and agricultural enterprises have been privatized. Although some important "strategic" enterprises remain exempt from privatization, the new government has outlined plans to privatize large companies dealing with transport, pipelines, communications, and energy. While Lithuania has reduced its trade dependence on Russia and other republics of the FSU from 85% in 1991 to about 40% in 1995, Russia remains Lithuania's leading trading partner. Lithuania has made great strides in reducing its annual rate of inflation - from over 1,100% in 1992 to about 35% in 1995 and 13.1% in 1996. Although the government tried to stay the course on economic reform and fiscal discipline in 1996, the new government, which took office in 1996 inherited high debts for energy supplies. As for real resources, Lithuania's growth depends largely on its ability to exploit its strategic location - with its ice-free port at Klaipeda and its rail and highway hub in Vilnius connecting it with Eastern Europe, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. Lacking important natural resources, it will remain dependent on imports of fuels and raw materials.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.1 billion (1996 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank estimate for 1994)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,870 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 32% services: 55% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 13.1% (1996 official est.)
Labor force: total : 1.836 million by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 18%, other 40% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 8% (January 1997)
Budget: revenues: $1.4 billion expenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $168 million (1995)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1996)
Electricity - capacity: 5.46 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 9.57 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,151 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish; flax fiber
Exports: total value: $3.3 billion (1996 est.) commodities : textiles 15%, agriculture and food 14%, chemicals 12%, fuels 12%, machinery 11% (1995) partners: Russia, Germany, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine (1995)
Imports: total value: $4.56 billion (1996 est.) commodities: oil 25%, machinery 17%, textiles 10%, chemicals 9% (1995) partners: Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Poland, Belarus
Debt - external: $895 million
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $144 million (1993) note : commitments from the West and international financial institutions, $765 million (1992-95)
Currency: 1 Lithuanian litas = 100 centas
Exchange rates: litai per US$1 - 4.000 (January 1997), 4.000 (1996), 4.000 (1995), 3.978 (1994), 4.344 (1993), 1.773 (1992); note - fixed rate since 1 May 1994
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Lithuania:Communications
Telephones: 1.012 million (1995)
Telephone system: telecommunications system ranks among the most modern of the former Soviet republics domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network operates in Vilnius and other cities; landlines and microwave radio relay connect switching centers international: international connections no longer depend on the Moscow international gateway switch, but are established by satellite through Oslo from Vilnius and through Copenhagen from Kaunas; satellite earth stations - 1 Eutelsat and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); cellular network linked internationally through Copenhagen by Eutelsat; international electronic mail is available; landlines or microwave radio relay to former Soviet republics
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 26, shortwave 1, longwave 1
Radios: 1.42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 1.77 million (1993 est.)
@Lithuania:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,002 km broad gauge: 2,002 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) (1994)
Highways: total : 61,442 km paved: 53,086 km (including 394 km of expressways) unpaved: 8,356 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine: total : 45 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 275,871 GRT/305,943 DWT ships by type: cargo 24, combination bulk 11, oil tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 3 (1996 est.)
Airports: 96 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m : 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m : 2 under 914 m: 14 (1994 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 71 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 63 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force,Security Forces (internal and border troops), National Guard (Skat)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 904,096 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 712,366 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 26,204 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $31.7 million (1996 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1% (1996 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: dispute with Russia over the position of the riparian and maritime boundary with Kaliningrad Oblast; disputes maritime border with Latvia (primary concern is oil exploration rights); treaty with Belarus defining the border awaits demarcation
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia and Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia ______________________________________________________________________
@Luxembourg:Geography
Location: Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 2,586 sq km land: 2,586 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain: mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle floodplain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Burgplatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited)
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland : 21% other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air and water pollution in urban areas
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-VolatileOrganic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94signed, but not ratified : Desertification, EnvironmentalModification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked
@Luxembourg:People
Population: 420,416 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 18% (male 39,219; female 37,459) 15-64 years: 67% (male 143,754; female 138,493) 65 years and over: 15% (male 24,653; female 36,838) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 11.92 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 9.29 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.33 years male : 74.24 years female: 80.52 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Luxembourger(s) adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups: Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese,Italian, and European (guest and worker residents)
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant and Jewish 3%
Languages: Luxembourgish, German, French, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male : 100% female: 100% (1980 est.)
@Luxembourg:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg conventional short form : Luxembourg local long form: Grand-Duche de Luxembourg local short form: Luxembourg
Data code: LU
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Luxembourg
Administrative divisions: 3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher,Luxembourg
Independence: 1839
National holiday: National Day, 23 June (1921) (public celebration of the Grand Duke's birthday)
Constitution: 17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: Grand Duke JEAN (since 12 November 1964); Heir Apparent Prince HENRI (son of Grand Duke JEAN, born 16 April 1955) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jacques F. POOS (since 21 July 1984) cabinet : Council of Ministers appointed by the sovereign, responsible to the Chamber of Deputies elections : none; the grand duke is a hereditary monarch; prime minister and vice prime minister appointed by the sovereign but are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1994 (next to be held by June 1999) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CSV 21, LSAP 17, DP 12, Action Committee for Democracy and Pension Rights 5, Greens 5 note: the Conseil d'Etat or Council of State is an advisory body whose views are considered by the Chamber of Deputies
Judicial branch: Superior Court of Justice or Cour Superieure deJustice, judges are appointed for life by the Grand Duke;Administrative Court or Tribunale Administratin
Political parties and leaders: Christian Social People's Party or CSV[Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP[Ben FAYOT]; Democratic Party or DP [Lydie Wurth POLFER]; ActionCommittee for Democracy and Pension Rights [Roby MEHLEN]; the GreenAlternative [Abbes JACOBY]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: group of steel companies representing iron and steel industry; Centrale Paysanne representing agricultural producers; Christian and Socialist labor unions; Federation of Industrialists; Artisans and Shopkeepers Federation
International organization participation: ACCT, Australia Group,Benelux, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse BERNS chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171 FAX : [1] (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Clay CONSTANTINOU embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, 2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX : [352] 46 14 01
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy - overview: The stable, prosperous economy features moderate growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified. During the past decades, growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportion of the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union with Belgium on trade and most financial matters, is also closely connected economically to the Netherlands, and, as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $24,500 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 21% services: 74% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 2.3% (1995)
Labor force: total: 213,100 (one-third of labor force is foreign workers, mostly from Portugal, Italy, France, Belgium, and Germany) by occupation : trade, restaurants, hotels 20%, mining, quarrying, manufacturing 16%, other market services 18%, community, social, personal services 14%, construction 11%, finance, insurance, real estate, business services 9%, transport, storage, communications 8%, agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing 1%, electricity, gas, water 1% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3% (1995)
Budget: revenues: $5.46 billion expenditures: $5.44 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate: 3.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 1.2 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 1.2 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 13,443 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products
Exports: total value: $7.3 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: finished steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass, aluminum, other industrial products partners : Germany 28%, France 18%, Belgium 15%, UK 7%, Netherlands 5%
Imports: total value: $9.1 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods partners: Belgium 38%, Germany 25%, France 11%, Netherlands 4%
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $50 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Luxembourg franc (LuxF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Luxembourg francs (LuxF) per US$1 - 30.067 (January 1997), 30.962 (1996), 29.480 (1995), 33.456 (1994), 34.597 (1993), 32.150 (1992); note - the Luxembourg franc is at par with the Belgian franc, which circulates freely in Luxembourg
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Luxembourg:Communications
Telephones: 221,900 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable international: 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 230,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 plus 1 direct-broadcast satellite link
Televisions: 100,500 (1993 est.)
@Luxembourg:Transportation
Railways: total: 275 km standard gauge : 275 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified; 178 km double track) (1995)
Highways: total : 5,137 km paved: 5,086 km (including 123 km of expressways) unpaved: 51 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 37 km; Moselle
Pipelines: petroleum products 48 km
Ports and harbors: Mertert
Merchant marine: total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 858,861 GRT/1,188,457 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, chemical tanker 5, container 2, liquefied gas tanker 12, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6 (1996 est.)
Airports: 2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Military