Geography - note: extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
@Saudi Arabia:People
Population: 20,087,965 (July 1997 est.) note : includes 5,164,790 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 4,389,113; female 4,252,034) 15-64 years: 55% (male 6,561,725; female 4,410,589) 65 years and over: 2% (male 246,894; female 227,610) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.42% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 37.94 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.18 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.49 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: 1.49 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.51 years male: 67.72 years female: 71.4 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.41 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Saudi(s) adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions: Muslim 100%
Languages: Arabic
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 62.8% male: 71.5% female: 50.2% (1995 est.)
@Saudi Arabia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia conventional short form: Saudi Arabia local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Data code: SA
Government type: monarchy
National capital: Riyadh
Administrative divisions: 13 provinces (mintaqah, singular -mintaqat); Al Bahah, Al Hudud Ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, AlQasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Hail, Jizan,Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence: 23 September 1932 (unification)
National holiday: Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution: none; governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law)
Legal system: based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 13 June 1982); Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (half-brother to the king, heir to the throne since 13 June 1982, regent from 1 January to 22 February 1996); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the king and includes many royal family members elections: none; the king is an absolute monarch
Legislative branch: a consultative council (60 members and a chairman appointed by the king for four-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders: none allowed
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,BIS (pending member), CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-19, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC,OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BANDAR bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 consulate(s) general : Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wyche FOWLER, Jr. embassy : Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy-Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX : [966] (1) 488-7360 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description: green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated as There is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy
Economy - overview: This is a well-to-do oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Economic (as well as political) ties with the US are especially strong. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 35% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves of petroleum in the world (26% of the proved total), ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. For the 1990s the government intends to bring its budget, which has been in deficit since 1983, back into balance, and to encourage private economic activity. Roughly four million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. For over a decade, Saudi Arabia's domestic and international outlays have outstripped its income, and the government has cut its foreign assistance and is beginning to rein in domestic programs. A substantial rise in oil prices was the key to a successful 1996. For 1997, the country looks to its policies of maintaining moderate fiscal reforms, restraining public spending, and encouraging non-oil exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $205.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,600 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 9% industry: 50% services: 41% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 1% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 6 million-7 million by occupation: government 40%, industry, construction, and oil 25%, services 30%, agriculture 5% note: 35.87% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues : $43.7 billion expenditures: $48.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, cement, two small steel-rolling mills, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate: 17% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 20.9 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 62.75 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 3,228 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports: total value: $53.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 90% partners: Japan 18%, US 15%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 7%, France 4% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value : $25.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles partners: US 21%, UK 9%, Germany 8%, Japan 8%, Switzerland 5%, France 5% (1995 est.)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid: donor: pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon
Currency: 1 Saudi riyal (SR) = 100 halalah
Exchange rates: Saudi riyals (SR) per US$1 - 3.7450 (fixed rate sinceJune 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Saudi Arabia:Communications
Telephones: 1.46 million (1993)
Telephone system: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay and coaxial and fiber-optic cable systems international: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 43, FM 13, shortwave 0
Radios: 5 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 80
Televisions: 4.5 million (1993 est.)
@Saudi Arabia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,390 km standard gauge: 1,390 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (1992)
Highways: total: 159,000 km paved: 67,893 km unpaved: 91,107 km (1995 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 6,400 km; petroleum products 150 km; natural gas 2,200 km (includes natural gas liquids 1,600 km)
Ports and harbors: Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh,Ra's al Khafji, Al Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Yanbu' alSinaiyah
Merchant marine: total : 79 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 998,503 GRT/1,417,265 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 12, chemical tanker 7, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 1, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 24, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 4, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 9 (1996 est.)
Airports: 174 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 79 over 3,047 m: 30 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m : 3 under 914 m: 13 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 95 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66 914 to 1,523 m : 24 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 4 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air DefenseForce, National Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Forces, Public SecurityForce, Ministry of Interior Forces
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49 : 5,498,492 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 3,057,533 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males : 176,060 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $13.3 billion (1996 budget)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 10% (1996); note - based on 1996 budget figure
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: large section of boundary with Yemen not defined; location and status of boundary with UAE is not final, de facto boundary reflects 1974 agreement; Kuwaiti ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands is disputed by Saudi Arabia; in 1996, agreed with Qatar to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing
Illicit drugs: death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin and cocaine ______________________________________________________________________
@Senegal:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries: total: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline: 531 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: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point : unnamed location in the Futa Jaldon foothills 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land : 12% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 16% forests and woodland: 54% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: The Gambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
@Senegal:People
Population: 9,403,546 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,259,765; female 2,270,363) 15-64 years: 49% (male 2,190,263; female 2,418,385) 65 years and over: 3% (male 130,742; female 134,028) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.35% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 44.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.4 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 62.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.93 years male: 54.15 years female: 59.79 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.24 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups: Wolof 36%, Fulani 17%, Serer 17%, Toucouleur 9%, Diola 9%, Mandingo 9%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 2%
Religions: Muslim 92%, indigenous beliefs 6%, Christian 2% (mostlyRoman Catholic)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandingo
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 33.1% male: 43% female: 23.2% (1995 est.)
@Senegal:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form : Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal
Data code: SG
Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
National capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region);Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis,Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence: 4 April 1960 from France; complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 (The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution: 3 March 1963, revised 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; Senegal has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdou DIOUF (since 1 January 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Habib THIAM (since 7 April 1991) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections : president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 21 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdou DIOUF reelected president; percent of vote - Abdou DIOUF (PS) 58.4%, Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 32.03%, other 9.57%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 70%, PDS 23%, other 7%; seats by party - PS 84, PDS 27, LD-MPT 3, AND/JEF-PADS 3, PIT 2, UDS-R 1
Judicial branch: under the terms of a reform of the judicial system implemented in 1992, the principal organs of the judiciary are as follows; Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cessation; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Democracy andSocialism or AND/JEF-PADS [Landing SAVANE, secretary-general];Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. AbdoulayeBATHILY]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP Garab-Gi [Dr. IbaDer THIAM]; Independent Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Let UsUnite Senegal (coalition of African Party for Democracy and Socialismand National Democratic Rally); National Democratic Rally or RND[Madier DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];Senegalese Democratic Union-Renewal or UDS-R [Mamadou Puritain FALL];Socialist Party or PS [President Abdou DIOUF]; other smalluninfluential parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: students; teachers; labor;Muslim Brotherhoods
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UPU, WADB, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou Mansour SECK chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone : [1] (202) 234-0540, 0541
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dane Farnsworth SMITH, Jr. (5 August 1996) embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Avenue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 23 42 96, 23 34 24 FAX: [221] 22 29 91
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy - overview: In 1994 Senegal embarked on its most concerted structural adjustment effort yet to exploit the 50% devaluation of the currencies of the 14 Francophone African nations which took place on 12 January of that year. After years of foot-dragging, the government passed a liberalized labor code which should lower the cost of labor and improve the manufacturing sector's competitiveness. Inroads also have been made in closing tax loopholes, eliminating monopoly power in several sectors, and privatizing state-owned firms. At the same time, the government is holding the line on current fiscal expenditure under the watchful eyes of international organizations on which it depends for substantial support. The IMF, in mid-1995, announced that the government met most economic targets as called for in its Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility agreement and released the second $50 million tranche. The country's narrow tax and resource base, environmental degradation, and untamed growth of the population will continue to hold back improvement in living standards over the medium term. According to the draft budget, GDP will again rise by 5% in 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $15.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,700 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 21% industry: 19% services: 60% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 7.8% (1995)
Labor force: total: 2.509 million (77% are engaged in subsistence farming; 175,000 wage earners) by occupation: private sector 40%, government and parapublic 60%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $876 million expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1994)
Electricity - capacity: 303,440 kW
Electricity - production: 1.027 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 109 kWh (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: total value: $968 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: fish, ground nuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton partners : France, other EU countries, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali
Imports: total value: $1.22 billion (f.o.b., 1995.) commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum products partners: France 30%, other EU countries, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Algeria, China, Japan
Debt - external: $4.1 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $439 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 541.69 (January 1997), 511.55 (1966), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Senegal:Communications
Telephones: 81,988 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber optic cable in trunk system international : 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 6, shortwave 1
Radios: 850,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 61,000 (1993 est.)
@Senegal:Transportation
Railways: total: 904 km narrow gauge: 904 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double track) (1995)
Highways: total: 14,580 km paved: 4,214 km unpaved: 10,366 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 897 km total; 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river
Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard-Toll,Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Merchant marine: total: 1 bulk ship, 1,995 GRT/3,775 DWT (1996 est.)
Airports: 17 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 10 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie,National Police (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,938,693 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 1,012,181 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 94,397 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $81 million (1996 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.1% (1996 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: short section of boundary with The Gambia is indefinite
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis ______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Current issues: Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US; the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation.
@Serbia and Montenegro:Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, betweenAlbania and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates: 44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 102,350 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,938 sq km) land: 102,136 sq km (Serbia 88,412 sq km; Montenegro 13,724 sq km) water: 214 sq km (Serbia 0 sq km; Montenegro 214 sq km)
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Kentucky (Serbia is slightly larger than Maine; Montenegro is slightly smaller than Connecticut)
Land boundaries: total: 2,246 km border countries : Albania 287 km (114 km with Serbia, 173 km with Montenegro), Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km (312 km with Serbia, 215 km with Montenegro), Bulgaria 318 km (with Serbia), Croatia (north) 241 km (with Serbia), Croatia (south) 25 km (with Montenegro), Hungary 151 km (with Serbia), The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km (with Serbia), Romania 476 km (with Serbia) note: the internal boundary between Montenegro and Serbia is 211 km
Coastline: 199 km (Montenegro 199 km, Serbia 0 km)
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: in the north, continental climate (cold winter and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland
Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountain and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures : NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment - international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: controls one of the major land routes from WesternEurope to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location along theAdriatic coast
@Serbia and Montenegro:People
Population: 11,223,853 (July 1997 est.) (Montenegro - 680,212; Serbia - 10,543,641)
Age structure: 0-14 years : Montenegro - 22% (male 78,101; female 73,067); Serbia - 21% (male 1,146,238; female 1,066,842) 15-64 years: Montenegro - 68% (male 231,641; female 227,245); Serbia - 67% (male 3,544,055; female 3,495,673) 65 years and over: Montenegro - 10% (male 28,880; female 41,278); Serbia - 12% (male 555,592; female 735,241) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: Montenegro - 0.00%; Serbia - -0.13% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: Montenegro - 13.93 births/1,000 population; Serbia - 12.68 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: Montenegro - 7.33 deaths/1,000 population; Serbia - 9.64 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: Montenegro: -6.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population;Serbia: -4.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth : Montenegro - 1.09 male(s)/female; Serbia - 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: Montenegro - 1.07 male(s)/female; Serbia - 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: Montenegro - 1.02 male(s)/female; Serbia - 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: Montenegro - 0.70 male(s)/female; Serbia - 0.76 male(s)/female all ages : Montenegro - 0.99 male(s)/female Serbia - 0.99 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: Montenegro - 11.50 deaths/1,000 live births;Serbia - 17.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : Montenegro - 75.96 years; Serbia - 72.9 years male: Montenegro - 72.48 years; Serbia - 70.51 years female: Montenegro - 79.76 Serbia - 75.47 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: Montenegro - 1.80 children born/woman; Serbia - 1.76 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Serb(s) and Montenegrin(s) adjective: Serbian and Montenegrin
Ethnic groups: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%, Hungarians 4%, other 13%
Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy: NA
@Serbia and Montenegro:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Serbia and Montenegro local long form: none local short form: Srbija-Crna Gora note : Serbia and Montenegro has self-proclaimed itself the "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia," but the US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation
Data code: Serbia - SR; Montenegro - MW
Government type: republic
National capital: Belgrade
Administrative divisions: 2 republics (pokajine, singular - pokajina); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces*; Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence: 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia - SFRY)
National holiday: St. Vitus Day, 28 June
Constitution: 27 April 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Zoran LILIC (since 25 June 1993); note - Slobodan MILOSEVIC is president of Serbia (since 9 December 1990); Momir BULATOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 23 December 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Radoje KONTIC (since 29 December 1992); Deputy Prime Ministers Jovan ZEBIC (since NA March 1993), Uros KLIKOVAC (since 15 September 1994), and Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September 1995) cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1997); prime minister nominated by the president election results : Zoran LILIC elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Savezna Skupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40 seats, 20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed on the basis of party representation in the republican assemblies to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138 seats, 108 Serbian with half elected by constituency majorities and half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with six elected by constituency and 24 proportionally; members serve four-year terms) elections: Chamber of Republics - last held 24 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens - last held 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results : Chamber of Republics - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - seats are filled on a proportional basis to reflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics of Montenegro and Serbia; Chamber of Citizens - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno 22, DPSCG 20, SRS 16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note - Zajedno coalition includes SPO, DS, GSS
Judicial branch: Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly; Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Serbian Socialist Party or SPS (former Communist Party) [Slobodan MILOSEVIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC, president]; Democratic Party or DS [Zoran DJINDJIC]; Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro or DPSCG [Momir BULATOVIC, president]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Milan PAROSKI]; Liberal Alliance of Montenegro [Slavko PEROVIC]; Democratic Community of Vojvodina Hungarians or DZVM [Sandor PALL]; League of Communists-Movement for Yugoslavia or SK-PJ [Dragan ATANASOVSKI]; Democratic Alliance of Kosovo or LDK [Dr. Ibrahim RUGOVA, president]; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Civic Alliance of Serbia or GSS [Vesna PESIC, chairman]; Socialist Party of Montenegro or SP [leader NA]; Yugoslav United Left or JUL [Mirjana MARKOVIC (MILOSEVIC's wife)]; New Democracy or ND [Dusan MIHAJLOVIC]; Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians or SVM
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: the US and Serbia and Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations; the Embassy of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues to function in the US chief of mission : Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Nebojsa VUJOVIC chancery: 2410 California St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-6566
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Serbia and Montenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Richard M. MILES embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade mailing address : American Embassy, Belgrade, United States Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 645655 FAX: [381] (11) 645332
Economy
Economy - overview: The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991 has been followed by highly destructive warfare, the destabilization of republic boundaries, and the breakup of important interrepublic trade flows. Output in Serbia and Montenegro dropped by half in 1992-93. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it had depended on its sister republics for large amounts of energy and manufactures. Wide differences in climate, mineral resources, and levels of technology among the republics accentuated this interdependence, as did the communist practice of concentrating much industrial output in a small number of giant plants. The breakup of many of the trade links, the sharp drop in output as industrial plants lost suppliers and markets, and the destruction of physical assets in the fighting all have contributed to the economic difficulties of the republics. One singular factor in the economic situation of Serbia and Montenegro is the continuation in office of a communist government that is primarily interested in political and military mastery, not economic reform. Hyperinflation ended with the establishment of a new currency unit in June 1993; prices were relatively stable in 1995. Reliable statistics are hard to come by; the GDP estimate is extremely rough. The economic boom anticipated by the government after the suspension of UN sanctions in December 1995 failed to materialize in 1996 and early 1997, exacerbating the regime's financial problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry : 50% services: 25% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 79% (1995 est.)
Labor force: total : 2.178 million by occupation: industry 41%, services 35%, trade and tourism 12%, transportation and communication 7%, agriculture 5% (1994)
Unemployment rate: more than 35% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore, limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs, appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - capacity: 11.78 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 33.77 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,798 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: total value : $1.4 billion (1995 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials partners: Russia, Italy, Germany
Imports: total value: $2.4 billion (1995 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials partners : Germany, Italy, Russia
Debt - external: $11.2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras
Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1 - official rate: 4.9 (September 1996) 1.5 (early 1995); black market rate: 2 to 3 (early 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Serbia and Montenegro:Communications
Telephones: 700,000
Telephone system: domestic: NA international : satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: 27 (public or state-owned 1, private 26)
Radios: 2.015 million
Television broadcast stations: 8 (state owned 1, privately owned 7) plus 1 Satellite TV down link and 48 cable distribution systems
Televisions: 1 million
@Serbia and Montenegro:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,960 km standard gauge: 3,960 km 1.435-m gauge (1,341 km electrified) (1994)
Highways: total: 47,000 km paved : 28,059 km unpaved: 18,941 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: NA km
Pipelines: crude oil 415 km; petroleum products 130 km; natural gas 2,110 km
Ports and harbors: Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Tivat
Merchant marine: total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 353,202 GRT/594,745 DWT (Montenegro owns 21 ships totaling 326,133 GRT/544,600 DWT - controlled by Montenegrin beneficial owners; Serbia owns 1 bulk carrier totaling 17,069 GRT/50,145 DWT - controlled by Serbian beneficial owners) ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 8, container 3, short-sea passenger ferry 1 note: Montenegrin ships operate under the flags of Malta, Panama, and Cyprus; the Serbian ship operates under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; no ships remain under Yugoslav flag (1996 est.)
Airports: 44 (Serbia 39, Montenegro 5) (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (Serbia 3, Montenegro 2) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 1) 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) under 914 m : 14 (Serbia 14, Montenegro 0)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0) 914 to 1,523 m: 14 (Serbia 12, Montenegro 2) (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: People's Army (includes Ground Forces with internal and border troops, Naval Forces, and Air and Air Defense Forces), Civil Defense
Military manpower - military age: Montenegro - 19; Serbia - NA
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: Montenegro - 187,041; Serbia - 2,734,293 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: Montenegro - 150,933 (1997 est.); Serbia - 2,191,041 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: Montenegro - 5,518; Serbia - NA (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: 6.5 billion dinars (1995 est.); note - conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 24% (1995 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina over Serbian populated areas; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian republic; Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, is currently being overseen by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia; reintegration of Eastern Slavonia into Croatia will occur in 1997; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Kotor Bay in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP)
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route ______________________________________________________________________
@Seychelles:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 455 sq km land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point : Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 11% other: 74% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible
Environment - current issues: water supply depends on catchments to collect rain water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Desertification
Geography - note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
@Seychelles:People
Population: 78,107 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 11,885; female 11,708) 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 24,336; female 25,293) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 1,698; female 3,187) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.7% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 20.53 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population : 69.57 years male: 64.81 years female: 74.47 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles
Ethnic groups: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% (1971 est.)
@Seychelles:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles
Data code: SE
Government type: republic
National capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins,Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, BaieSainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand'Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, LaRiviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue,Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of new constitution)
Constitution: 18 June 1993
Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results : President France Albert RENE reelected; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 59.5%, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (33 seats, 22 popularly elected by direct vote, 11 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 9 percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats by party (elected) - SPPF 21, DP 1; seats by party (awarded) - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1 note: the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE]; Democratic Party or DP [Sir James MANCHAM]; United Opposition or UO [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] - a coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party or PS [Wavel RAMKALAWAN], Seychelles Democratic Movement or MSPD[Jacques HONDOUL], and Seychelles Liberal Party or SLP [Ogilvie BERLOUIS]; New Democratic Party [Christopher GILL (former member of DP)]
Political pressure groups and leaders: trade unions; Roman CatholicChurch
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Claude MOREL chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of Seychelles to the United Nations, 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX : [1] (212) 972-1786
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles
Flag description: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
Economy
Economy - overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has grown to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in the face of stiff international competition.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $450 million (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 3.6% industry: 15% services: 81.4% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: -0.3% (1995 est.)
Labor force: total: 26,000 (1996) by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $220 million expenditures: $241 million, including capital expenditures of $36 million (1994 est.)
Industries: tourism; fishing; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1992)
Electricity - capacity: 33,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 110 million kWh (1992)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 1,582 kWh (1992 est.)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fishing (expansion under way)
Exports: total value: $56.1 million ( f.o.b. 1995) commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports) partners : France, UK, China, Germany, Japan (1993)
Imports: total value: $238 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment partners: China, Singapore, South Africa, UK (1993)
Debt - external: $170 million (1994 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 4.9968 (January 1997), 4.9700 (1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Seychelles:Communications
Telephones: 13,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: domestic : radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 35,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in a government network)
Televisions: 6,000 (1993 est.)
@Seychelles:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 270 km paved: 170 km unpaved: 100 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Victoria
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 14 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total : 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard,Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 21,860 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 11,030 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $13.7 million (1995)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims Tromelin Island ______________________________________________________________________
@Sierra Leone:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water : 120 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf : 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 31% forests and woodland: 28% other : 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 290 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara(November to May); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues: rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Environmental Modification
@Sierra Leone:People
Population: 4,891,546 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 1,084,736; female 1,119,802) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,216,111; female 1,320,847) 65 years and over: 3% (male 76,371; female 73,679) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.54% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 46.67 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 17.75 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 6.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population : 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 132.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.02 years male: 45.06 years female: 51.07 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.29 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups: 13 native African tribes 99% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 39%), Creole, European, Lebanese, and Asian 1%
Religions: Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (the language of the re-settled ex-slave population of the Freetown area and is lingua franca)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write in English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 31.4% male: 45.4% female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
@Sierra Leone:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Republic of Sierra Leone conventional short form: Sierra Leone
Data code: SL
Government type: constitutional democracy
National capital: Freetown
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern,Southern, Western*
Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution: 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state : President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (inaugurated 29 March 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (inaugurated 29 March 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note - president's tenure of office is limited to 2 five-year terms election results : Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent of popular vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (80 seats, 68 elected, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve NA-year terms) elections : last held NA February 1996 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SLPP 27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note - first elections since the former House of Representatives was shut down by the military coup of 29 April 1992
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: 15 parties registered for the February1996 elections; National Peoples Party or NPP [Andrew TURAY];Democratic Center Party or DCP [Abu KOROMA]; Peoples Progressive Partyor PPP [Edward KAMARA, chairman]; Coalition for Progress Party or CPP[Geredine WILLIAMS-SARHO]; National Unity Movement or NUM; UnitedNational Peoples Party or UNPP; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP[Thaimu BANGURA, chairman]; All Peoples Congress or APC [S. A. T.KOROMA, chairman]; National Republican Party or NRP; Social DemocraticParty or SDP; Peoples National Convention or PNC [I. B. KARGBO,chairman]; National Unity Party or NUP [A. O. D. GEORGE, chairman];Sierra Leone Peoples Party or SLPP [Paul DUNBAR, chairman]; NationalDemocratic Alliance or NDA; National Alliance for Democracy Party orNADP