Economy
Economy - overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes, and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as by the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. The formal sector is largely oriented toward services, but a large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy has grown an average of 3% to 4% over the past five years. However, population has increased at 3% a year over the same period, leaving per capita income nearly stagnant. The WASMOSY government has continued to pursue its economic reform agenda - with mixed success - in close coordination with its partners in Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market). Paraguay's ongoing integration into Mercosur offers potential for investment and growth. Although GDP grew by only about 1.5% in 1996, it is expected to grow at a higher rate in 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $17.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,200 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26.3% industry: 20.7% services: 53% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.2% (December 1996)
Labor force: total: 1.8 million (1995 est.) by occupation: agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate: 5.3% (urban) (1995)
Budget: revenues : $1.25 billion (1995 est.) expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 6,927,500 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 41.625 billion kWh (1995) note: exported about 37.9 million kW of electricity
Electricity - consumption per capita: 616 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Exports: total value: $819.5 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung oil partners: EU 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports: total value: $2.871 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials, fuels partners : Brazil 30%, EU 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $38 million (1993)
Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 2,139.1 (January 1997), 2,063.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993), 1,500.3 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Paraguay:Communications
Telephones: 88,730 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion domestic: fair microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 775,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5
Televisions: 370,000 (1992 est.)
@Paraguay:Transportation
Railways: total: 971 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge : 60 km 1.000-m gauge other gauge: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)
Highways: total : 28,900 km paved: 2,717 km unpaved: 26,183 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 3,100 km
Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine: total : 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,379 GRT/32,510 DWT ships by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 725 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 436 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 427 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 289 1,524 to 2,437 m : 22 914 to 1,523 m: 267 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), AirForce
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,380,775 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 1,001,316 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 61,382 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $94 million (1994)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.6% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been precisely delimited
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for Europe and the US ______________________________________________________________________
@Peru:Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 1,285,220 sq km land : 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 6,940 kmborder countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,414 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf : 200 nm territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash
Land use: arable land : 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia
@Peru:People
Population: 25,573,924 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 4,693,504; female 4,532,607) 15-64 years : 59% (male 7,658,718; female 7,551,588) 65 years and over: 5% (male 519,294; female 618,213) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 27.26 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.17 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.55 years male : 67.38 years female: 71.82 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.7% male: 94.5% female: 83% (1995 est.)
@Peru:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Republic of Peru conventional short form: Peru local long form: Republica del Peru local short form: Peru
Data code: PE
Government type: republic
National capital: Lima
Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali note: the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 of the 24 departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the central government and organizational and political difficulties, the regions have yet to assume major responsibilities; the 1993 constitution retains the regions but limits their authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments
Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution: 31 December 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government note: Prime Minister Alberto PANDOLFI Arbulu (since 3 April 1996) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of vote - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
Legislative branch: unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, 11 other parties 33.9%; seats by party, when installed on 28 July 1995 - C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, (CODE)-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovacion 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, MIA 1, FRENATRACA 1, FREPAP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: Change 90-New Majority (C90/NM),Alberto FUJIMORI; Union for Peru (UPP), Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR;American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), Agustin MANTILLACampos; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Fernando OLIVERA Vega;Democratic Coordinator (CODE) - Pais Posible, Jose BARBA Caballero andAlejandro TOLEDO; Popular Action Party (AP), Juan DIAZ Leon; PopularChristian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Renovation Party, Rafael REYRey; Civic Works Movement (OBRAS), Ricardo BELMONT; United Left (IU),Agustin HAYA de la TORRE; Independent Agrarian Movement (MIA), RolandoSALVATERRIE; Peru 2000-National Front of Workers and Peasants(FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES; Popular Agricultural Front (FREPAP),Ezequiel ATAUCUSI
Political pressure groups and leaders: leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned); Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor CERPA and Victor POLAY (imprisoned)
International organization participation: AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA,RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ricardo V. LUNA Mendoza chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone : [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869 FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Dennis C. JETT embassy: Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17, Monterrico, Lima mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031 telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000 FAX: [51] (1) 434-3037
Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath
Economy
Economy - overview: The Peruvian economy has become increasingly market-oriented, with major privatizations completed since 1990 in the mining, electricity, and telecommunications industries. In the 1980s, the economy suffered from hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July 1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic activity, but the slide came to a halt late that year, and in 1991 output rose 2.4%. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from multilateral lenders in September 1991, although it faced $14 billion in arrears on its external debt. By working with the IMF and World Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by 2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in a 30% drop in the fish catch, but the economy rebounded as strong foreign investment helped push growth to 7% in 1993, about 13% in 1994, and 6.8% in 1995. Growth slowed to about 2.8% in 1996 as the government adopted tight fiscal and monetary policy to reduce the current account deficit and meet its IMF targets. Capital inflows surged to record levels in early 1997 despite the MRTA hostage crisis.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $92 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.8% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 42% services: 45% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 11.5% (1996)
Labor force: total: 7.6 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, transport, services
Unemployment rate: 8.2%; extensive underemployment (1996)
Budget: revenues: $8.5 billion expenditures: $9.3 billion including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication
Industrial production growth rate: 4.5% (1995)
Electricity - capacity: 4,520,200 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 16.04 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 519 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, plantains, coca; poultry, red meats, dairy products, wool; fish catch of 6.9 million metric tons (1990)
Exports: total value : $6 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined silver, coffee, cotton partners: US 19%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany (1995)
Imports: total value : $7.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals partners: US 21%, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil (1995)
Debt - external: $23.4 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $363 million (1993)
Currency: 1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.630 (January 1997), 2.453 (1996), 2.253 (1995), 2.195 (1994), 1.988 (1993), 1.246 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Peru:Communications
Telephones: 779,306 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: adequate for most requirements domestic : nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 273, FM 0, shortwave 144
Radios: 5.7 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 140
Televisions: 2 million (1993 est.)
@Peru:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,041 km standard gauge: 1,726 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 315 km 0.914-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 71,400 km paved: 7,783 km unpaved : 63,617 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km
Ports and harbors: Callao, Chimbote, Ilo, Matarani, Paita, Puerto Maldonado, Salaverry, San Martin, Talara, Iquitos, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are all on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its tributaries
Merchant marine: total : 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,767 GRT/91,395 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7 (1996 est.)
Airports: 212 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 128 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m : 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 88 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 84 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 59 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra delPeru; includes Naval Air, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (FuerzaAerea del Peru), National Police
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 6,591,276 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 4,446,428 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 259,868 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $998 million (1996); note - may not include off-budget purchases related to military modernization program
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.9% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute
Illicit drugs: still world's largest coca leaf producer with some 94,400 hectares under cultivation in 1996, even though down 18% from 1995; source of supply for most of the world's coca paste and cocaine base; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market, but exports of finished cocaine are increasing ______________________________________________________________________
@Philippines:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 300,000 sq km land: 298,170 sq km water: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 36,289 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
Climate: tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point : Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use: arable land : 19% permanent crops: 12% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 15,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: uncontrolled deforestation in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in Manila; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps which are important fish breeding grounds
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Desertification
@Philippines:People
Population: 76,103,564 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years : 38% (male 14,677,291; female 14,203,376) 15-64 years: 59% (male 21,994,106; female 22,553,425) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,198,079; female 1,477,287) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.13% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 28.97 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.59 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population : 0.99 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 35.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 66.13 years male: 63.35 years female: 69.05 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.62 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Filipino(s) adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups: Christian Malay 91.5%, Muslim Malay 4%, Chinese 1.5%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 83%, Protestant 9%, Muslim 5%, Buddhist and other 3%
Languages: Pilipino (official, based on Tagalog), English (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.6% male : 95% female: 94.3% (1995 est.)
@Philippines:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Republic of the Philippines conventional short form: Philippines local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas local short form: Pilipinas
Data code: RP
Government type: republic
National capital: Manila
Administrative divisions: 72 provinces and 61 chartered cities*; Abra,Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Angeles*, Antique,Aurora, Bacolod*, Bago*, Baguio*, Bais*, Basilan, Basilan City*,Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Batangas City*, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon,Bulacan, Butuan*, Cabanatuan*, Cadiz*, Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro*,Calbayog*, Caloocan*, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin,Canlaon*, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cavite City*, Cebu, Cebu City*,Cotabato*, Dagupan*, Danao*, Dapitan*, Davao City* Davao, Davao delSur, Davao Oriental, Dipolog*, Dumaguete*, Eastern Samar, GeneralSantos*, Gingoog*, Ifugao, Iligan*, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo,Iloilo City*, Iriga*, Isabela, Kalinga-Apayao, La Carlota*, Laguna,Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Laoag*, Lapu-Lapu*, La Union,Legaspi*, Leyte, Lipa*, Lucena*, Maguindanao, Mandaue*, Manila*,Marawi*, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental,Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain, Naga*, NegrosOccidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, NuevaEcija, Nueva Vizcaya, Olongapo*, Ormoc*, Oroquieta*, Ozamis*,Pagadian*, Palawan, Palayan*, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Pasay*, PuertoPrincesa*, Quezon, Quezon City*, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Roxas*,Samar, San Carlos* (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos* (inPangasinan), San Jose*, San Pablo*, Silay*, Siquijor, Sorsogon, SouthCotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao*, Surigao delNorte, Surigao del Sur, Tacloban*, Tagaytay*, Tagbilaran*, Tangub*,Tarlac, Tawitawi, Toledo*, Trece Martires*, Zambales, Zamboanga*,Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur
Independence: 4 July 1946 (from US)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 June (1898) (from Spain)
Constitution: 2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system: based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fidel Valdes RAMOS (since 30 June 1992) and Vice President Joseph Ejercito ESTRADA (since 30 June 1992); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president with the consent of the Commission of Appointments elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 11 May 1992 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: Fidel Valdes RAMOS elected president; percent of vote - Fidel Valdes RAMOS 23.6% (a narrow plurality)
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (204 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - an additional 50 members may be appointed by the president) elections : Senate - last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998); House of Representatives - elections last held 8 May 1995 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 14, Lakas/NUCD 5, NPC 2, LP 1, PRP 1, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Lakas/NUCD 129, LDP 29, NPC (opposition) 25, LP 6, PDP 3, KBL/NPC 1, results pending 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Filipino Struggle (Laban ngDemokratikong Pilipino, LDP), Edgardo ANGARA; People Power-NationalUnion of Christian Democrats (Lakas ng EDSA-NUCD or Lakas-NUCD), RaulMANGLAPUS, president, and Jose DE VENECIA, secretary general; LiberalParty (LP), Raul DAZA; National People's Coalition (NPC), EduardoCOJUANGCO; People's Reform Party (PRP), Miriam DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO; NewSociety Movement (Kilusan Bagong Lipunan, KBL), Imelda MARCOS;Nacionalista Party (NP), Salvador H. LAUREL, president; FilipinoDemocratic Party (Partido Demokratikong Philipinas or PDP), JoseCOJUANGCO, is part of the ruling coalition with the LDP
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, CP,ESCAP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Raul Chaves RABE chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300 FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle consulate(s): San Jose (Saipan)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita Manila 1000 mailing address: APO AP 96440 telephone: [63] (2) 521-71-16 FAX: [63] (2) 522-43-61
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side; in the center of the triangle is a yellow sun with eight primary rays (each containing three individual rays) and in each corner of the triangle is a small yellow five-pointed star
Economy
Economy - overview: The Philippine economy, primarily a mixture of agriculture and light industry, continued its fourth year of recovery in 1996, led by growth in exports and investments. Officials have targeted 7.1%-7.8% growth for 1997 after achieving an estimated 5.5% growth in 1996. The government is continuing its economic reforms to enable the Philippines to move closer to the development of the newly industrialized countries of East Asia. The strategy includes improving infrastructure, overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues, and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $194.2 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,600 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22% industry: 32% services: 46% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.4% (1996)
Labor force: total: 29.13 million (1996 est.) by occupation : agriculture 43.4%, services 22.6%, government services 17.9%, industry and commerce 16.1% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 8.6% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $18.4 billion expenditures : $16.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: textiles, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, electronics assembly, petroleum refining, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1996)
Electricity - capacity: 7.64 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 25.22 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 326 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, coconuts, corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish catch of 2 million metric tons annually
Exports: total value : $20.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: electronics, textiles, coconut products, telecommunications equipment, fruit, fish partners: US 36%, Japan 16%, Singapore 5%, Hong Kong 5%, UK 5% (1995)
Imports: total value : $33.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: crude petroleum, telecommunications equipment, electronics, plastics, cars, textiles partners: Japan 22%, US 18%, Saudi Arabia 6%, Taiwan 5%, South Korea 5% Singapore 4% (1995)
Debt - external: $42.7 billion (June 1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $934 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Philippine peso (P) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Philippine pesos (P) per US$1 - 26.36 (May 1997), 26.216 (1996), 25.714 (1995), 26.417 (1994), 27.120 (1993), 25.512 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Philippines:Communications
Telephones: 1.8 million (1996)
Telephone system: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and interisland service adequate domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations international: submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 261, FM 55, shortwave 0
Radios: 9.03 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 29
Televisions: 7.6 million (1996)
@Philippines:Transportation
Railways: total : 499 km narrow gauge: 499 km 1.067-m gauge (1993)
Highways: total: 182,000 km (1994 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note : probably less than 30,000 km are designated arterial roads and not all of these are all-weather roads
Waterways: 3,219 km; limited to shallow-draft (less than 1.5 m) vessels
Pipelines: petroleum products 357 km
Ports and harbors: Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, GuimarasIsland, Iligan, Iloilo, Jolo, Legaspi, Manila, Masao, Puerto Princesa,San Fernando, Subic Bay, Zamboanga
Merchant marine: total: 523 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,614,831 GRT/12,246,321 DWT ships by type : bulk 223, cargo 124, chemical tanker 3, combination bulk 9, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 9, livestock carrier 11, oil tanker 45, passenger 3, passenger-cargo 13, refrigerated cargo 18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 14, short-sea passenger 23, vehicle carrier 20 note: a flag of convenience registry; Japan owns 24 ships, Hong Kong 4, UK 2, Denmark 1, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Singapore 1, and Taiwan 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 234 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 168 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m : 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 103 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 63 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard and Marine Corps),Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 19,231,427 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 13,574,133 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 782,064 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.3 billion (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.7% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: involved in a complex dispute over theSpratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possiblyBrunei; claims Malaysian state of Sabah
Illicit drugs: exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamines ______________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Pitcairn Islands:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Peru to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 47 sq km land: 47 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 51 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone : 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical, hot, humid, modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain: rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Natural resources: miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
Land use: arable land : NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially November to March)
Environment - current issues: deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Environment - international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
@Pitcairn Islands:People
Population: 54 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years : NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.6% (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: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Religions: Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages: English (official), Tahitian/English dialect
@Pitcairn Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Data code: PC
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Adamstown
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Celebration of the Birthday of the Queen (secondSaturday in June)
Constitution: Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system: local island by-laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (non-resident) of the Pitcairn Islands Robert John ALSTON (since NA August 1994); Commissioner (non-resident) G. D. HARRAWAY (since NA; is the liaison person between the governor and the Island Council) head of government: Island Magistrate and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since NA) cabinet: NA elections : the queen is a hereditary monarch; island magistrate elected by popular vote for a three-year term; last known election held NA December 1993 (next to be held NA December 1996) election results: Jay WARREN re-elected island magistrate; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Island Council (10 seats, 6 popularly elected, 1 appointed by the 6 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor, and the Island Secretary; members serve one-year terms) elections: take place each December; last held NA December 1996 (next to be held NA December 1997) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch: Island Court, island magistrate presides over the court and is elected every three years
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of theUK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor
Economy
Economy - overview: The inhabitants exist on fishing and subsistence farming. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.
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: 14 able-bodied men (1993) by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $729,884 expenditures: $878,119, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994/95 est.)
Industries: postage stamps, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture - products: wide variety of fruits and vegetables
Exports: $NA commodities: fruits, vegetables, curios partners: NA
Imports: $NA commodities: fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs partners: NA
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $84,000
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.4247 (January 1997),1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993), 1.8584 (1992)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Pitcairn Islands:Communications
Telephones: 24
Telephone system: party line telephone service on the island domestic: NA international: radiotelephone
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
@Pitcairn Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 6.4 km paved : 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km
Ports and harbors: Bounty Bay
Merchant marine: none
Airports: none
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Poland:Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 312,683 sq km land: 304,510 sq km water: 8,173 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,888 km border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone : defined by international treaties territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt
Land use: arable land: 47% permanent crops : 1% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 29% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland:People
Population: 38,615,239 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 4,235,659; female 4,038,016) 15-64 years : 67% (male 12,842,909; female 13,020,736) 65 years and over: 12% (male 1,698,505; female 2,779,414) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 10.18 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 9.82 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.47 years male : 68.27 years female: 76.91 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), EasternOrthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
Languages: Polish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1978 est.)
@Poland:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska
Data code: PL
Government type: democratic state
National capital: Warsaw
Administrative divisions: 49 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular -wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko Biala, Bydgoszcz,Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow, Jelenia Gora,Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow, Krosno, Legnica,Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn, Opole, Ostroleka,Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom, Rzeszow, Siedlce,Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin, Tarnobrzeg, Tarnow,Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw, Zamosc, Zielona Gora
Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution: interim "small constitution" came into effect inDecember 1992 supplementing the heavily amended constitution of 22July 1952; referendum for a new constitution to be held 25 May 1997
Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ (since 7 February 1996), Deputy Prime Ministers Roman JAGIELINSKI (since 7 March 1995), Marek BELKA (since NA February 1997), and Miroslaw PIETRIEWICZ (since 7 February 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister appoints and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and deputy prime ministers elected by the Sejm; election last held NA 1996 (next to be held September 1997) election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president; percent of legislative vote, second round - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%; Wlodimierz CIMOSZEWICZ selected prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms) and the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held 14 September 1997); Sejm elections last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held 14 September 1997) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - post-communist parties (PSL 34, SLD 37), post-Solidarity parties (UW 6, NSZZ 12, BBWR 2), non-communist, non-Solidarity (independents 7, unaffiliated 1, vacant 1); Sejm - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - post-communist parties (SLD 171, PSL 132), post-Solidarity parties (UW 74, UP 41, BBWR 16), non-communist, non-Solidarity (KPN 22) note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of Judiciary
Political parties and leaders: post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of Poland) [Jozef OLEKSY]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK] post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union or UW (Democratic Union and Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union) [Leszek BALCEROWICZ]; Christian-National Union or ZCHN [Marian PILKA]; Center Alliance Party or PC [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; Peasant Alliance or PL [Gabriel JANOWSKI]; Solidarity Electoral Action or AWS [Marian KRZAKLEWSKI]; Union of Labor or UP [Ryszard BUGAJ]; Conservative Party or PK [Aleksander HALL]; Nonparty Reform Bloc or BBWR [Jacek LIPINSKI]; Nonparty Reform Block United for Elections or BBWR-SW [Jerzy GWIZDZ] non-Communist, non-Solidarity : Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; Confederation for an Independent Poland or KPN [Leszek MOCZULSKI]; German Minority or MN [Gerhardt BARTODZIEJ]; Union of Real Politics or UPR [Janusz KORWIN-MIKKE]
Political pressure groups and leaders: powerful Roman Catholic Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NACC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTAES, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission : Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general : Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas Andrew REY embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31, Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 telephone: [48] (2) 628-30-41 FAX: [48] (2) 628-82-98 consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Economy
Economy - overview: In 1996, Poland continued to make good progress in the difficult transition to a market economy. The transition began on 1 January 1990, when the new democratic government instituted shock therapy by decontrolling prices, slashing subsidies, and drastically reducing import barriers. Although real GDP fell sharply in 1990 and 1991, in 1992 Poland became the first country in the region to resume economic growth with a 2.6% increase. Growth advanced to 3.8% in 1993, 5.2% in 1994, 6.5% in 1995, and 6.0% in 1996. Most of the growth since 1991 has come from the booming private sector, which now accounts for more than 60% of GDP, attributable mostly to the creation of new private firms. Large-scale industry still remains largely in state hands. The trade and current account balances officially are in deficit but in fact both have comfortable surpluses because of large, unrecorded sales to cross-border visitors. The government has promised to extend privatization and social welfare reform and to maintain fiscal and monetary discipline. As for external debt, the burden was sharply reduced by reschedulings and write-offs of both private and official debt during 1991-95.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $246.3 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,400 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 6% industry: 40% services: 54% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 18.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 17.662 million (1996 est.) by occupation: industry and construction 32.0%, agriculture 27.6%, trade, transport, and communications 14.7%, government and other 25.7% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 13.3% (yearend 1996)
Budget: revenues: $37.1 billion expenditures: $40.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 8.5% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 29.64 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 127.42 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,124 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, milk, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry and eggs; pork, beef
Exports: total value: $30.9 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: intermediate goods 38%, machinery and transport equipment 23%, consumer goods 21%, foodstuffs 10%, fuels 7% (1996 est.) partners : Germany 35.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, Russia 5.4%, Italy 4.9% (1994)
Imports: total value: $34.6 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 32%, intermediate goods 20%, chemicals 15%, consumer goods 9%, food 9%, fuels 8% (1996 est.) partners: Germany 27.5%, Italy 8.4%, Russia 6.8%, UK 5.3% (1994)
Debt - external: $45.8 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: Western governments and institutions pledged $22 billion in grants and loans during 1990-94, but much of the money has not been disbursed
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1 - 2.8158 (January 1997), 2.4250 (1995); note - a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Poland:Communications
Telephones: 5 million (1994)
Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million phones in service by the year 2000 domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - NA Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 27, shortwave 0
Radios: 10.9 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 40 (Russian repeaters 5)
Televisions: 9.6 million
@Poland:Transportation
Railways: total: 24,313 km broad gauge : 652 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 22,243 km 1.435-m gauge (11,648 km electrified; 8,978 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,418 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m, 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1995)
Highways: total: 372,479 km paved : 243,229 km (including 257 km of expressways) unpaved: 129,250 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 3,997 km navigable rivers and canals (1991)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,986 km; petroleum products 360 km; natural gas 4,600 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin,Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw
Merchant marine: total: 125 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,952,937 GRT/2,933,887 DWT ships by type: bulk 72, cargo 30, chemical tanker 4, container 7, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 5 note: Poland owns an additional 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 233,906 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Cyprus, Liberia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu (1996 est.)
Airports: 134 (1994 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m : 3 under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)