Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops : NA% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: NA% other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified : NA
@Norfolk Island:People
Population: 2,194 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.68% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population : NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, NewZealander, Polynesians
Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown 16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th centuryEnglish and ancient Tahitian
@Norfolk Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island conventional short form: Norfolk Island
Data code: NF
Dependency status: territory of Australia
Government type: NA
National capital: Kingston (administrative center); Burnt Pine (commercial center)
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979
Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and Australia are represented by Administrator Alan Gardner KERR (since NA April 1992) head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister David Earnest BUFFETT (since NA 1995) cabinet: Executive Council is made up of executive members of the Legislative Assembly elections : the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results : David Earnest BUFFETT elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of Australia)
Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band
Economy
Economy - overview: The primary economic activity is tourism, which has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The number of visitors has increased steadily over the years and reached 29,000 in FY88/89. Revenues from tourism have given the island a favorable balance of trade and helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry : NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total : 1,395 (1991 est.) by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agriculture NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues : $4.6 million expenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92/93)
Industries: tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Exports: total value : $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92) commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Imports: total value : $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92) commodities: NA partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1 - 1.2835 (January 1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993), 1.3600 (1992)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@Norfolk Island:Communications
Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,000 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 900 (1991 est.)
@Norfolk Island:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km
Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
(commonwealth in political union with the US)
@Northern Mariana Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 477 sq km land: 477 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October
Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use: arable land : 21% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 19% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment - current issues: contamination of groundwater on Saipan by raw sewage contributes to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
@Northern Mariana Islands:People
Population: 53,552 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over : NA male(s)/female total population: NA male(s)/female
Life expectancy at birth: total population : NA male: NA female: NA
Nationality: noun: NA adjective : NA
Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians,Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages: English, Chamorro, Carolinian note: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female : 96% (1980 est.)
@Northern Mariana Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands conventional short form : Northern Mariana Islands
Data code: CQ
Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Territorial and International Affairs
Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
National capital: Saipan
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 3 November 1986 and theConstitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal system: based on US system except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Froilan C. TENORIO (since NA January 1994) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus C. BORJA (since NA January 1994) cabinet: NA elections : governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held in NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Froilan C. TENORIO elected governor of Northern Mariana Islands; percent of vote - Froilan C. TENORIO (Democrat) 56%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections : Senate - last held NA November 1993 (next to be held NA November 1997); House of Representatives - last held NA November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats); House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA (Republicans retained a majority of the seats) note : the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; FederalDistrict Court
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party, Benigno R. FITIAL, leader; Democratic Party, Benigno SABLAN, chairman
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), SPC
Flag description: blue with a white five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing major source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Industry is small scale, mostly handicrafts, light manufacturing, and garment production.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $524 million (1994 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,500 (1994 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: total: 7,476 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 22,560 foreign workers (1995) by occupation: NA
Unemployment rate: 15% (residents)
Budget: revenues: $190.4 million expenditures : $190.4 million, including capital expenditures of $19.1 million (FY94/95)
Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Exports: NA commodities: garments partners : NA
Imports: NA commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products partners : US, Japan
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
@Northern Mariana Islands:Communications
Telephones: 13,618 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic : NA international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3
Radios: 15,350 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations: none note: there are 2 cable TV stations
Televisions: 10,650 (1993 est.)
@Northern Mariana Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : 362 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Norway:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 324,220 sq km land: 307,860 sq km water: 16,360 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,515 km border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km
Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Glittertinden 2,472 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures : 0% forests and woodland: 27% other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 970 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-VolatileOrganic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia
@Norway:People
Population: 4,399,993 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 440,621; female 417,331) 15-64 years : 65% (male 1,446,739; female 1,399,291) 65 years and over: 16% (male 289,426; female 406,585) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.47% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 13.25 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.22 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.09 years male: 75.29 years female: 81.07 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami) 20,000
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
Languages: Norwegian (official) note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1976 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Norway:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge
Data code: NO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Oslo
Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular - fylke);Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More ogRomsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland,Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884
Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Thorbjoern JAGLAND (since 25 October 1996) cabinet: State Council appointed by the king with the approval of the Parliament elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the king with the approval of the Parliament
Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament or Storting which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers (165 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 13 September 1993 (next to be held NA September 1997) election results : percent of vote by party - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%, Conservatives 15.6%, Christian People's 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%, Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats by party - Labor 67, Center Party 32, Conservatives 18, Christian People's 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10 note : for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or Lagting
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: Labor Party [Thorbjorn JAGLAND];Conservative Party [Jan PETERSEN]; Center Party [Anne ENGERLAHNSTEIN]; Christian People's Party [Valgerd HAUGLAND]; SocialistLeft [Erik SOLHEIM]; Norwegian Communist [Kare Andre NILSEN]; ProgressParty [Carl I. HAGEN]; Liberal [Odd Einar DORUM]; Left Party; RedElectoral Alliance [Erling FOLKVORD]
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR,NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN,UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,UNTAES, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tom-Erik VRAALSON chancery : 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870 consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: [47] 22 44 85 50 FAX : [47] 22 44 33 63
Flag description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy - overview: Norway is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism. The economy consists of a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. Norway maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50% of GDP and results in one of the highest average tax levels in the world (46%). A small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil sector. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Economic growth, only 1.6% in 1993, has improved steadily over the past few years, resulting in a budget surplus in 1996. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Despite their high per capita income - outstripped among major nations only by the US - and their generous welfare benefits, the Norwegians worry about that time in the 21st century when the oil and gas run out.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $114.1 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.8% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $26,200 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.9% industry: 34.7% services : 62.4% (1991)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 2.13 million by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $48.6 billion expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 26.43 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 123.2 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 24,586 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: oats, other grains; beef, milk; livestock output exceeds value of crops; among world's top 10 fishing nations; fish catch of 2.33 million metric tons in 1994
Exports: total value: $41.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 43%, metals and products 11%, foodstuffs (mostly fish) 9%, chemicals and raw materials 25%, natural gas 6.0%, ships 5.4% partners: EU 77.2% (UK 19.8%, Germany 12.7%, Netherlands 9.1%, France 7.8%, Sweden 9.8%), US 6.0% (1995)
Imports: total value : $32.7 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and equipment and manufactured consumer goods 54%, chemicals and other industrial inputs 39%, foodstuffs 6% partners: EU 71.0% (Sweden 15.4%, Germany 13.8%, UK 9.7%, Denmark 7.5%, Netherlands 4.4%), US 6.6% (1995)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $1.014 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4475 (January 1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Norway:Communications
Telephones: 2.39 million (1994 est.); 470,000 mobile phones in use in 1994
Telephone system: high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services domestic: NA domestic satellite earth stations international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143 government), shortwave 0
Radios: 3.3 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 54 (repeaters 2,100)
Televisions: 1.5 million (1993 est.)
@Norway:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,027 km standard gauge: 4,027 km 1.435-m gauge (2422 km electrified; 96 km double track) (1995)
Highways: total: 90,261 km paved : 66,342 km (including 105 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,919 km (1995)
Waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum
Pipelines: refined products 53 km
Ports and harbors: Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad,Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger,Tromso, Trondheim
Merchant marine: total : 718 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,401,580 GRT/31,740,273 DWT ships by type: bulk 102, cargo 106, chemical tanker 83, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 33, container 16, liquefied gas tanker 87, multi-function large load carrier 1, oil tanker 148, passenger 14, passenger-cargo 1, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 10, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea passenger 24, vehicle carrier 34 note: the government has created an internal register, the Norwegian International Ship register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1996 est.)
Airports: 102 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 97 over 3,047 m : 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 59 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includesCoast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, HomeGuard
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,112,390 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 925,780 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 27,382 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $3.7 billion (1995)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.9% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen MaudLand); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in theBarents Sea between Norway and Russia
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for drugs shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market; increasing domestic consumption of cannabis and amphetamines ______________________________________________________________________
@Oman:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, andPersian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 212,460 sq km land: 212,460 sq km water : 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries: total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone : 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal ash Sham 2,980 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use: arable land : 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: NA% other: 95% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 580 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location with small foothold on Musandam Peninsula controlling Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
@Oman:People
Population: 2,264,590 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 527,091; female 507,849) 15-64 years: 51% (male 632,647; female 535,149) 65 years and over: 3% (male 27,974; female 33,880) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.49% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 37.85 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.39 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.42 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: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.8 years male : 68.84 years female: 72.85 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Omani(s) adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, SriLankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy: definition: NA total population: approaching 80% male : NA% female: NA%
@Oman:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman conventional short form : Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman local short form: Uman
Data code: MU
Government type: monarchy
National capital: Muscat
Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat)and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah,Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*,Zufar*
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940)
Constitution: none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral Omani council, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the sultan elections: none; the sultan is a hereditary monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis ash-Shura (80 members; two appointed from each wilayat with a population over 30,000, one appointed from each of the other wilayats; members serve four-year terms; has advisory powers only) note: new basic law to be implemented in 1997, provides for an upper chamber - the Majlis ad-Dawla or State Council; also the Majlis ash-Shura will be expanded to 110 members; the resulting bicameral legislature will be known as the Omani Council
Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system, administered by region
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1982 FAX : [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Frances D. COOK embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat mailing address: domestic - Unit 73000, Box 1, APO AE 09890-3000; international - P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115, Medinat Qaboos, Muscat telephone: [968] 698989 (Medinat Qaboos, switchboard) FAX: [968] 699779
Flag description: three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered at the top of the vertical band
Economy
Economy - overview: Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry. Petroleum accounts for 75% of export earnings and government revenues and for roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of 4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate of extraction. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the general population depends on imported food. The year 1996 was marked by higher oil production and prices. The government is encouraging private investment, both domestic and foreign, as a prime force for further economic development.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $20.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,500 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 3% industry: 55% services : 42% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 0.5% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 454,000 by occupation: agriculture 37% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues : $5.3 billion expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 1.74 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 7.39 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,412 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons
Exports: total value: $7.2 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum 75%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles partners: Japan 32%, South Korea 16%, Thailand 12%, China 8%, US 6%, Taiwan 6% (1995)
Imports: total value: $5.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants partners : UAE 25% (largely reexports), UK 16%, Japan 16%, France 11%, US 5% (1995)
Debt - external: $2.7 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $82 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
Exchange rates: Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Oman:Communications
Telephones: 150,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system consisting of open wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable domestic: open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations international : satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1
Radios: 1.043 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 9
Televisions: 1.195 million (1992 est.)
@Oman:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 5,000 km paved: 3,500 km (including 426 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,500 km (1983 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Ports and harbors: Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,306 GRT/8,210 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 126 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 38 over 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 32 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 88 over 3,047 m : 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m : 57 914 to 1,523 m: 25 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary (includes RoyalOman Police)
Military manpower - military age: 14 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 550,421 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 312,205 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.82 billion (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 13.7% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: no defined boundary with most of UAE, but Administrative Line in far north ______________________________________________________________________
PACIFIC OCEAN[Map of Pacific Ocean]
@Pacific Ocean:Geography
Location: body of water between Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and theWestern Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 160 00 W
Map references: World
Area: total: 165.384 million sq km note: includes Bali Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Flores Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Java Sea, Philippine Sea, Ross Sea, Savu Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative: about 18 times the size of the US; the largest ocean (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean); covers about one-third of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world
Coastline: 135,663 km
Climate: planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian land mass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and East Asia from May to December
Terrain: surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Marianas Trench, which is the world's deepest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Marianas Trench -10,924 m highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish
Natural hazards: surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); southern shipping lanes subject to icebergs from Antarctica; occasional El Nino phenomenon occurs off the coast of Peru, when the trade winds slacken and the warm Equatorial Countercurrent moves south, killing the plankton that is the primary food source for anchovies; consequently, the anchovies move to better feeding grounds, causing resident marine birds to starve by the thousands because of the loss of their food source; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May and in extreme south from May to October; persistent fog in the northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December
Environment - current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea
Environment - international agreements: party to : none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: the major choke points are the Bering Strait, PanamaCanal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides thePacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South PacificOcean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands inthe southwestern Pacific Ocean
@Pacific Ocean:Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes - see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Codes appendix
Economy
Economy - overview: The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1985 over half (54%) of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean, which is the only ocean where the fish catch has increased every year since 1978. Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of Australia, NZ, China, US, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has slowed but not stopped new drillings.
@Pacific Ocean:Communications
Telephone system: international : several submarine cables with network nodal points on Guam and Hawaii
@Pacific Ocean:Transportation
Ports and harbors: Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Kao-hsiung (Taiwan),Los Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), SanFrancisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney(Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states) ______________________________________________________________________
@Pakistan:Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total : 803,940 sq km land: 778,720 sq km water: 25,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 6,774 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km,Iran 909 km
Coastline: 1,046 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain: flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;Balochistan plateau in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural resources: land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 5% other : 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 171,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Environment - current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
@Pakistan:People
Population: 132,185,299 (July 1997 est.) note: no national census has been conducted since 1981
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% (male 28,702,496; female 27,048,787) 15-64 years: 54% (male 36,387,329; female 34,708,803) 65 years and over : 4% (male 2,667,936; female 2,669,948) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.22% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 35.26 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.95 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 95.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.77 years male: 57.97 years female : 59.61 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.08 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Pakistani(s) adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendants)
Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%
Languages: Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%,Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%,English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and mostgovernment ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 37.8% male: 50% female: 24.4% (1995 est.)
@Pakistan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan conventional short form: Pakistan former: West Pakistan
Data code: PK
Government type: federal republic
National capital: Islamabad
Administrative divisions: 4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier, Punjab, Sindh note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas
Independence: 14 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Pakistan Day, 23 March (1956) (proclamation of the republic)
Constitution: 10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985
Legal system: based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's stature as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; separate electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for non-Muslims
Executive branch: chief of state: President Sardar Farooq LEGHARI (since 13 November 1993) head of government : Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF (since 17 February 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 13 November 1993 (next to be held no later than 14 October 1998); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the National Assembly; election last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002) election results: Sardar Farooq LEGHARI elected president; percent of Parliament vote - NA; Mohammad Nawaz SHARIF elected prime minister; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (87 seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve six-year terms; one-third of the members up for election every two years; has advisory powers only) and the National Assembly (217 seats; 207 represent Muslims and 10 represent non-Muslims; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 12 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 1999); National Assembly - last held 3 February 1997 (next to be held NA February 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 30, PPP 17, ANP 7, MQM/A 6, JWP 5, BNP 4, JUI/F 2, PML/J 2, BNM/M 1, PKMAP 1, TJP 1, independents 6, vacant 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PML/N 137, PPP 18, MQM/A 12, ANP 10, BNP 3, JWP 2, JUI/F 2, PPP/SB 1, NPP 1, independents 21, minorities 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judicial chiefs are appointed by the president; Federal Islamic (Shari'at) Court
Political parties and leaders:government: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction (PML/N),Nawaz SHARIF; Awami National Party (ANP), Ajmal Khan KHATTAK;Balochistan National Movement/Mengal Group (BNM/M), Sardar AkhtarMENGAL; Mohajir Quami Movement, Altaf faction (MQM/A), Altaf HUSSAIN;Jamiat-al-Hadith (JAH); Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Akbar Khan BUGTI;Pakistan People's Party/Shaheed Bhutto (PPP/SB), Ghinva BHUTTO; BaluchNational Party (BNP), leader NAopposition: Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Benazir BHUTTO; PakistanMuslim League, Junejo faction (PML/J), Hamid Nasir CHATTHA; NationalPeople's Party (NPP), Ghulam Mustapha JATOI; Pakhtun Khwa Milli AwamiParty (PKMAP), Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI; Balochistan NationalMovement/Hayee Group (BNM/H), Dr. HAYEE Baluch; Pakhtun Quami Party(PKQP), Mohammed AFZAL Khanfrequently shifting: Mutaheda Deeni Mahaz (MDM), Maulana Sami-ul-HAQ,the MDM includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Niazi faction (JUP/NI) andSepah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP); Islami-Jamhoori-Mahaz (IJM-IslamicDemocratic Front) includes Jamiat Ulema-i-Islami, Fazlur Rehman group(JUI/F); Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group (PML/F), Pir PAGARO;Pakistan National Party (PNP); Milli Yakjheti Council (MYC) is anumbrella organization which includes Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), QaziHussain AHMED, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami-ul-Haq faction (JUI/S),Tehrik-I-Jafria Pakistan (TJP), Allama Sajid NAQVI, and JamiatUlema-i-Pakistan, Noorani faction (JUP/NO)note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political pressure groups and leaders: military remains important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ECO,ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA,SAARC, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR,UNMIBH, UNMIH, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Riaz KHOKAR chancery: 2315 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6200 FAX: [1] (202) 387-0484 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas W. SIMONS, Jr. embassy : Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200 telephone: [92] (51) 826161 through 826179 FAX: [92] (51) 214222 consulate(s) general : Karachi, Lahore consulate(s): Peshawar