Political pressure groups and leaders: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other smaller Tamil separatist groups; other radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups; Buddhist clergy; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups; labor unions
International organization participation: AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP,FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, NAM, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Geetha DE SILVA chancery : 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 through 4028 FAX : [1] (202) 232-7181 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador A. Peter BURLEIGH embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3 mailing address : P. O. Box 106, Colombo telephone: [94] (1) 448007 FAX: [94] (1) 437345, 446013
Flag description: yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border that goes around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
Economy
Economy - overview: Industry - dominated by the fast-growing apparel industry - has surpassed agriculture as the main source of export earnings. The economy has been plagued by high rates of unemployment since the late 1970s. Economic growth accelerated in 1991-95 as domestic conditions began to improve and conditions for foreign investment brightened. In 1996, however, a drought, slow economic reform, and civil war exacted a heavy economic toll. Insufficient monsoon rains caused power cuts that hurt industrial and agricultural production, and the stepped-up Tamil insurgency reduced foreign investment and tourism - two key sources of foreign exchange. Meanwhile, Colombo's counterinsurgency efforts caused defense expenditures to overshoot budget targets by 42%. In 1997, agricultural production should recover from the effects of last year's drought, but industry will still be hampered by high real interest rates, slow improvement in foreign investment inflows, and stalled progress on privatization. The government's main challenge this year will be to curb defense and social welfare spending to cut the budget deficit as a percentage of GDP in half by 1998, as stipulated in its deficit reduction program.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $69.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,760 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.8% industry: 24.7% services : 51.5% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 15.9% (1996)
Labor force: total: 6.2 million (1994) by occupation: agriculture 42%, services 40%, industry 18% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (1994)
Budget: revenues : $3 billion expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1 billion (1997)
Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 1.56 million kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 4.33 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 236 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat
Exports: total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles and apparel, tea, petroleum products, diamonds, other gems, rubber products (1994) partners : US 34.8%, UK 8.9%, Germany 6.9%, Belgium-Luxembourg 5.9% (1994)
Imports: total value: $5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: textiles, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, petroleum, building materials, sugar (1994) partners: Japan 11.0%, India 8.5%, South Korea 6.8%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Taiwan 5.2%, Singapore 4.9% (1994)
Debt - external: $9.6 billion (1995)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $602 million (1995 est.)
Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1 - 56.921 (January 1997), 55.271 (1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994), 48.322 (1993), 43.830 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Sri Lanka:Communications
Telephones: 175,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, good international service domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.525 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5
Televisions: 865,000 (1992 est.)
@Sri Lanka:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,484 km broad gauge: 1,459 km 1.676-m gauge narrow gauge: 25 km 0.762-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 98,642 km paved: 37,484 km unpaved: 61,158 km (1993 est.)
Waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine: total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 220,660 GRT/329,365 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 1, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 8 (1996 est.)
Airports: 13 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 5,066,744 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males : 3,946,315 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 184,619 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $736 million (1997)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.7% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none ______________________________________________________________________
@Sudan:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt andEritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 2,505,810 sq km land: 2.376 million sq km water : 129,810 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries: total : 7,687 km border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone : 18 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season (April to October)
Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east and west
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Red Sea 0 m highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
Land use: arable land : 5% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 19% other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 19,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
@Sudan:People
Population: 32,594,128 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 7,584,401; female 7,271,175) 15-64 years: 52% (male 8,536,476; female 8,492,043) 65 years and over : 2% (male 398,591; female 311,442) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.06% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 40.54 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 11.16 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 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.28 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 74.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.54 years male: 54.6 years female: 56.53 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sudanese (singular and plural) adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%,Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English note: program of Arabization in process
Literacy: definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 46.1% male: 57.7% female: 34.6% (1995 est.)
@Sudan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan conventional short form: Sudan local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan local short form: As-Sudan former : Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Data code: SU
Government type: transitional - previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution to be drafted by the National Assembly
National capital: Khartoum
Administrative divisions: 26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayat orwilayah*); A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, AlKhartum, Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, AshShamaliyah*, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr alGhazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan,Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur,Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution to be drafted following national elections held in March 1996
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
Executive branch: chief of state : President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government : President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Major General al-Zubayr Muhammad SALIH (since 19 October 1993), Second Vice President (Police) Maj. General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the president; note - President al-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's National Islamic Front, a fundamentalist political organization formed from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; front leader Hasan al-TURABI dominates much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies; President al-BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 which includes members of the National Islamic Front, serving and retired military offficers, and civilian technocrats elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president; percent of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note - about forty other candidates ran for president note : al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October 1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved to the president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan's appointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by the National Assembly which was elected in March 1996
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275 elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supraassembly of interest groups known as the National Congress; members serve four-year terms) elections : last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: NA; the March 1996 elections were held on a nonparty basis; parties are banned in the new National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders: none; banned following 30 June 1989 coup
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Islamic Front, Hasan al-TURABI
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL,AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim MOHAMED chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565 through 8570 FAX : [1] (202) 667-2406 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: operations in Khartoum were suspended in February 1996; Ambassador to Sudan Timothy M. CARNEY and several members of the mission have relocated to Nairobi, Kenya and operate out of the US Embassy there; the embassy is located at the corner of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue; mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (2) 334141; FAX: [254] (2) 340838
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy
Economy - overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has kept per capita income at low levels. A large foreign debt and huge arrearages continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrearages to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the civil war and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1996. Hyperinflation has raised consumer prices above the reach of most. Popular unrest erupted several times in 1996 in reaction to unpopular government economic decisions.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $26.6 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $860 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry : 17% services: 50% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 133% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 11 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6% note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
Budget: revenues: $382 million expenditures: $1.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $91 million (1995 est.)
Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.8% (FY92/93 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 500,000 kW (1994)
Electricity - production: 1.3 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 37 kWh (1994 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, groundnuts, sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame; sheep
Exports: total value: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: cotton 44%, livestock/meat 13%, gum arabic 11%, sesame 10% partners : Egypt 33.3%, Saudi Arabia 16.6%, Japan 13.4%, Italy 12% (1995)
Imports: total value: $1 billion (1996 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles partners : EU 29.4%, US 17.6%, Saudi Arabia 8.7%, Egypt 6.3% (1995)
Debt - external: $18.5 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient : ODA, $387 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (£Sd) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (£Sd) per US$1 - official rate: 1,454.0 (December 1996), 750.0 (November 1995), 277.8 (1994), 153.8 (1993), 69.4 (1992); market rate: 1,4600.00 (January 1997), 1,250.79 (1996), 571.02 (August 1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993), 97.43 (1992) note : the market rate is a unified exchange rate determined by a committee of local bankers, without official intervention, and is quoted uniformly by all commercial banks
Fiscal year: calendar year note: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1 July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year, a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July - 31 December 1995; the new calendar year (1 January - 31 December) fiscal year became effective 1 January 1996
@Sudan:Communications
Telephones: 77,215 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by African standards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modern standards domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 6.67 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: 2.06 million (1992 est.)
@Sudan:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,516 km narrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gauge plantation line
Highways: total : 11,610 km paved: 4,203 km unpaved: 7,407 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products 815 km
Ports and harbors: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan,Sawakin
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 37,359 GRT/49,422 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1996 est.)
Airports: 56 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 under 914 m: 8 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m : 24 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense ForceMilitia
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 7,437,363 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 4,576,117 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 341,516 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; administrative boundary with Egypt does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km ______________________________________________________________________
@Suriname:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 163,270 sq km land: 161,470 sq km water: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes: lowest point : unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 96% other : 4% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast
@Suriname:People
Population: 424,569 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 73,017; female 69,538) 15-64 years: 61% (male 132,188; female 128,260) 65 years and over: 5% (male 10,033; female 11,533) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.83% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 23.2 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 5.83 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -9.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years : 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.32 years male: 67.78 years female: 72.99 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.64 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creolesand much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others),Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 95% female: 91% (1995 est.)
@Suriname:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form : Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Government type: republic
National capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet : Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001) election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of legislative vote NA; National Assembly failed to elect president; results reflect the People's Assembly votes - Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 438, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 407
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections : last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, DA'91 4, Pendawa Lima 4, Alliance 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices nominated for life
Political parties and leaders: The New Front (NF), a coalition ofthree parties (NPS, VHP, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; ProgressiveReform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname(NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity(KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY;Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF,and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum(AF), Rick VAN RAVENSWAY; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics(BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Paul SOMOHARDJO; NationalDemocratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and FarmLaborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Progressive DevelopmentAlliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), FrankPLAYFAIR; Democratic Party (DP), Frank PLAYFAIR; Reformed ProgressiveParty (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of LandWorkers PVF), Jwan SITAL; Party for Renewal and Democracy (BVD), AttaMUNGRA; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative (OPDA),Joginder RAMKHILAWAN
Political pressure groups and leaders: Union for Liberation andDemocracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement,Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO;General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), George TIRINI
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC,OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cicyl G. ALWART chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492 FAX : [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address : P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459 FAX: [597] 420800
Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65% of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995-96. The government unified the exchange rate and maintained a fairly tight monetary policy. Inflation apparently has been eliminated, and tax revenues have increased sufficiently to erase the budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure to initiate economic reforms - also has helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued implementation of economic restructuring. The new government elected in the fall of 1996 has sent mixed signals about commitment to these reforms.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,150 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry : 33% services: 53% (1994)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 0% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture, industry, services
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $205 million expenditures: $174 million, including capital expenditures of $12 million (1995 est.)
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 389,000 kW 000 kW
Electricity - production: 1.402 billion kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: 2,929 kWh (1995)
Agriculture - products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of increasing importance
Exports: total value: $432 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK 3% (1994)
Imports: total value: $418 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities : capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods partners: US 40%, Netherlands 24%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3% (1994)
Debt - external: $198 million (1994)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, the Netherlands provided a 1996 aid package of $224 million to Suriname, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (January 1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994), 109 (January 1994) note : beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Suriname:Communications
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good domestic: microwave radio relay network international : satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
@Suriname:Transportation
Railways: total: 166 km (single track) standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 4,470 km paved : 1,162 km unpaved: 3,308 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways
Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam,Wageningen
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 38 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 31 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total : 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 121,618 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 71,811 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: claims area in French Guiana between LitaniRivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier);claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) andCourantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined mostly for Europe ______________________________________________________________________
(territory of Norway)
@Svalbard:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, BarentsSea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 62,049 sq km land: 62,049 sq km water : 0 sq km note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography - note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
@Svalbard:People
Population: 2,624 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.81% (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
Ethnic groups: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other NEGL% (1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
@Svalbard:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
Data code: SV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
Government type: NA
National capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch: chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991) head of government: Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993) elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy - overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
Labor force: NA
Budget: revenues : $11.6 million expenditures: $11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: NA kW
Electricity - production: NA kWh
Electricity - consumption per capita: NA kWh
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4475 (January 1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992)
@Svalbard:Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: local telephone service international: satellite earth station - 1 of NA type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0 note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: NA
@Svalbard:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total : NA km paved: NA km unpaved : NA km
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia ______________________________________________________________________
@Swaziland:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 17,360 sq km land: 17,200 sq km water: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total : 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point : Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 62% forests and woodland : 7% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by SouthAfrica
@Swaziland:People
Population: 1,031,600 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 234,628; female 236,056) 15-64 years: 52% (male 255,775; female 280,416) 65 years and over: 2% (male 10,291; female 14,434) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.24% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 42.71 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.31 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: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population : 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 86.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 57.7 years male: 53.67 years female: 61.84 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.01 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted inEnglish), siSwati (official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 76.7% male : 78% female: 75.6% (1995 est.)
@Swaziland:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Kingdom of Swaziland conventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
National capital: Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative)
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but has not been formally presented to the people
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note - no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch: chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since 9 August 1996) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the king elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch; prime minister appointed by the king
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the Senate (20 seats, 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 10 appointed by the king; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats, 10 appointed by the king and 55 elected by secret, popular vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: House of Assembly - last held 26 September and 11 October 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results : House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the king; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders:note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding largepublic gatheringsillegal parties: Peoples' United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [MarioMASUKU]; Swaziland Youth Congress or SWAYOCO (included in PUDEMO);Swaziland Communist Party or SWACOPA [Mphandlana SHONGWE]; SwazilandLiberation Front or FROLISA; Convention for Full Democracy inSwaziland or COFUDESWA [Sabelo DLAMINI]; Swaziland National Front orSWANAFRO; Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party or NGWASOREP; SwazilandDemocratic Alliance (represents key opposition parties) [JerryNXUMALO]; Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions or SFTU [Jan SITHOLE]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683, 6685 FAX: [1] (202) 244-8059
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Allen McKEE embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 46441 through 46445 FAX : [268] 45959
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Economy
Economy - overview: This small landlocked economy is based largely on subsistence agriculture, which occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives nearly 90% of its imports and to which it sends more than half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.8 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.9% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 43% services: 45% (1994 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 14.7% (1995)
Labor force: total: 160,355 (1986 est.) by occupation: private sector about 65%, public sector 35%
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $397 million expenditures: $413 million, including capital expenditures of $78 million (1995/96)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1993 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 50,000 kW (1993)
Electricity - production: 84 million kWh (1993) note: imports 90% of its electricity from South Africa
Electricity - consumption per capita: 612 kWh (1993)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports: total value : $700 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn partners : South Africa 58%, EU 20%, Mozambique 6% (1994)
Imports: total value: $831 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals partners : South Africa 88%, Japan, UK, US (FY94/95)
Debt - external: $175 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1 - 4.6410 (January 1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994), 3.2636 (1993), 2.8497 (1992); note - the Swazi emalangeni are at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
@Swaziland:Communications
Telephones: 30,364 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic : system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 129,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 10
Televisions: 12,500 (1992 est.)
@Swaziland:Transportation
Railways: total: 297 km; note - includes 71 km which are not in use narrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 2,885 km paved: 814 km unpaved: 2,071 km (1994 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 17 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m : 10 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), RoyalSwaziland Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 228,109 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 131,872 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $22 million (FY93/94)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom ______________________________________________________________________
@Sweden:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 449,964 sq km land : 410,928 sq km water: 39,036 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf : 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber, uranium, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land : 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 68% other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-VolatileOrganic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location along Danish Straits linkingBaltic and North Seas
@Sweden:People
Population: 8,865,051 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 849,093; female 805,087) 15-64 years: 64% (male 2,876,064; female 2,784,346) 65 years and over : 17% (male 655,490; female 894,971) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.23% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 11.37 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 10.78 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years : 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.08 years male: 76.42 years female : 81.89 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.7 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality: noun : Swede(s) adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born or first-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%, Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Languages: Swedish note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population : 99% (1979 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Sweden:Government
Country name: conventional long form : Kingdom of Sweden conventional short form: Sweden local long form: Konungariket Sverige local short form: Sverige
Data code: SW
Government type: constitutional monarchy
National capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (lan, singular and plural);Alvsborgs Lan, Blekinge Lan, Gavleborgs Lan, Goteborgs och Bohus Lan,Gotlands Lan, Hallands Lan, Jamtlands Lan, Jonkopings Lan, Kalmar Lan,Kopparbergs Lan, Kristianstads Lan, Kronobergs Lan, Malmohus Lan,Norrbottens Lan, Orebro Lan, Ostergotlands Lan, Skaraborgs Lan,Sodermanlands Lan, Stockholms Lan, Uppsala Lan, Varmlands Lan,Vasterbottens Lan, Vasternorrlands Lan, Vastmanlands Lan