Geography-note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
@Dominican Republic:People
Population: 7,998,766 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 1,435,698; female 1,382,377) 15-64 years: 60% (male 2,452,310; female 2,379,991) 65 years and over: 5% (male 165,602; female 182,788) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.63% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 26.42 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 44.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.73 years male: 67.53 years female: 72.04 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 82.1% male: 82% female: 82.2% (1995 est.)
@Dominican Republic:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: none local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: none
Data code: DR
Government type: republic
National capital: Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias,singular-provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco,Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo,Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, LaVega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, MontePlata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, SanchezRamirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago,Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution: 28 November 1966
Legal system: based on French civil codes
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch: chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August 1996); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996; runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000) election results: President FERNANDEZ elected to his first term; percent of vote-Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENA Gomez (PRD) 48.75%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 30 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 16 May 1994 (next to be held NA May 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PRSC 15, PLD 1, PRD 14; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - PLD 13, PRSC 50, PRD 57
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding
Political parties and leaders: major parties: Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Joaquin BALAGUER Ricardo]; Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Lidio CADET]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Jose Franciso PENA Gomez]; Independent Revolutionary Party or PRI minor parties: National Veterans and Civilian Party or PNVC [Juan Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or PLRD [Andres Van Der HORST]; Democratic Quisqueyan Party or PQD [Elias WESSIN Chavez]; National Progressive Force or FNP [Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Popular Christian Party or PPC [Rogelio DELGADO Bogaert]; Dominican Communist Party or PCD [Narciso ISA Conde]; Dominican Workers' Party or PTD [Ivan RODRIGUEZ]; Anti-Imperialist Patriotic Union or UPA [Ignacio RODRIGUEZ Chiappini]; Alliance for Democracy Party or APD [Maximilano Rabelais PUIG Miller, Nelsida MARMOLEJOS, Vicente BENGOA]; Democratic Union or UD [Fernando ALVAREZ Bogaert] note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures
Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of PopularOrganizations or COP
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom (observer),ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest), OAS,OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280, 6281 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171, 221-8100 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437
Flag description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges, divides the flag into four rectangles-the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
@Dominican Republic:Economy
Economy-overview: Economic reforms launched in late 1994 contributed to exchange rate stabilization, reduced inflation, and strong GDP growth in 1995-96. In 1996, there was increased mineral and petroleum exploration, and a new investment law that allows for repatriation of capital dividends has drawn more investment to the island. Upon coming to power in August 1996, President FERNANDEZ nevertheless inherited a trouble-ridden economy hampered by a pressured peso, a large external debt, nearly bankrupt state-owned enterprises, and a manufacturing sector hindered by daily power outages. In December, FERNANDEZ presented a bold economic reform package-including such reforms as the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices-in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though reforms are moving ahead at a slow pace, the economy grew vigorously in 1997, with tourism and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$38.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 7% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 22% services: 63% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 10.9% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 30% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2 billion expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $994 million (1996 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 1.447 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 6.5 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, meat, eggs
Exports: total value: $815 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa partners: US 45%, EU 34%, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico (1995)
Imports: total value: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals partners: US 44%, EU 16%, Venezuela 11%, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico, Japan (1995)
Debt-external: $3.6 billion (1997)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $21 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1-14.332 (December 1997), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995), 13.160 (1994), 12.676 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 190,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwave radio relay network international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 18 (1987 est.)
Televisions: 728,000 (1993 est.)
@Dominican Republic:Transportation
Railways: total: 757 km standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad) narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway); 240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m, 0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)
Highways: total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedro deMacoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT (1997 est.)
Airports: 36 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)
@Dominican Republic:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 2,119,278 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,332,971 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 80,784 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $116 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.4% (1994)
@Dominican Republic:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US through Puerto Rico
______________________________________________________________________
@Ecuador:Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at theEquator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 283,560 sq km land: 276,840 sq km water: 6,720 sq km note: includes Galapagos Islands
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 56% other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,560 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
@Ecuador:People
Population: 12,336,572 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 2,253,920; female 2,175,402) 15-64 years: 60% (male 3,636,637; female 3,725,766) 65 years and over: 4% (male 254,432; female 290,415) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.86% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 23.16 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.8 years male: 69.19 years female: 74.54 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.75 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 55%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especiallyQuechua)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.1% male: 92% female: 88.2% (1995 est.)
@Ecuador:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador conventional short form: Ecuador local long form: Republica del Ecuador local short form: Ecuador
Data code: EC
Government type: republic
National capital: Quito
Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (provincias,singular-provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo,Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, LosRios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios,Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence ofQuito)
Constitution: 10 August 1979
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch: chief of state: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Pedro AGUAYO (since 1 April 1998); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Fabian ALARCON Rivera (since 11 February 1997); Vice President Pedro AGUAYO (since 1 April 1998); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government note: in an unusual, out of cycle change in executive power, Congress on 11 February 1997 elected then Congress President ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998 after ousting former President BUCARAM because of "mental incapacity"; ARTEAGA remained vice president until March 1998 cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 19 May 1996; runoff election held 7 July 1996; note-because of the February 1997 unusual change in executive power, the next presidential elections will take place 31 May 1998 election results: runoff election; percent of vote-Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz 54%, Jaime NEBOT 46%; note-in February 1997, Congress elected ALARCON to be Interim President until August 1998, with 57 of 82 Congressmen voting in favor of him
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (82 seats; 12 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 70 members are popularly elected by province for two-year terms) elections: last held 19 May 1996 (next to be held 31 May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PSC 27, PRE 19, DP 12, P-NP 8, ID 4, FRA 3, MPD 2, PCE 2, CFP 1, independents and other 4; note - defections by members of congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are elected byCongress
Political parties and leaders: Center-Right parties: Social Christian Party or PSC [Jaime NEBOT Saadi, president]; Ecuadorian Conservative Party or PCE [Freddy BRAVO] Center-Left parties: Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos, leader]; Popular Democracy or DP [Jamil MAHUAD, leader]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosista Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM, leader] Leftist parties: Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [leader NA] Populist parties: Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM, leader]; Popular Revolutionary Action or APRE [Frank VARGAS Passos, leader]; Pachakutik-New Country or P-NP [Freddy EHLERS] Far-Left parties: Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Juan Jose CASTELLO, leader]
International organization participation: AG, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,MINUGUA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto Federico MASPONS GUZMAN chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco consulate(s): Newark
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie ALEXANDER embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre and Avenida Patria, Quito mailing address: APO AA 34039 telephone: [593] (2) 562-890 FAX: [593] (2) 502-052 consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
@Ecuador:Economy
Economy-overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. As an exporter of primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Growth has been uneven in recent years as the government has repeatedly initiated ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with new austerity measures and rampant official corruption undermined his government's position. Congress replaced BUCARAM with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON has adopted a minimalist economic program that puts off major decisions until the next elected government takes office in August 1998. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. Growth slowed to 2.0% in 1996, due to a lack of investment caused by political uncertainty and high domestic interest rates, but economic activity picked up in 1997. Exports and economic growth in 1998 may be adversely affected by lower world oil prices and, to a smaller extent, by El Nino.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$53.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,400 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 37% services: 51% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 31% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 4.2 million by occupation: agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%, commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.9% with widespread underemployment (August 1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3.6 billion (1997) expenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 2.754 million kW (1996)
Electricity-production: 9.27 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 600 kWh (1996)
Agriculture-products: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc, plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports: total value: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: petroleum 30%, bananas 26%, shrimp 16%, cut flowers 2%, fish 1.9% partners: US 39%, Latin America 25%, EU countries 22%, Asia 12%
Imports: total value: $2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997) commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals partners: US 32%, EU 19%, Latin America 35%, Asia 11%
Debt-external: $12.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $153 million (1993) note: received $12.7 million from the US and $160 million from other countries in 1995
Currency: 1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1-4,498.0 (January 1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994), 1,919.1 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 586,300 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 33
Televisions: 940,000 (1992 est.)
@Ecuador:Transportation
Railways: total: 965 km (single track) narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 43,249 km paved: 5,752 km unpaved: 37,497 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,500 km
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, PuertoBolivar, San Lorenzo
Merchant marine: total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 84,423 GRT/137,272 DWT ships by type: liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 14, passenger 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 183 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 52 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 18 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 131 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 38 under 914 m: 90 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Ecuador:Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (ArmadaEcuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana),National Police
Military manpower-military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 3,168,489 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,139,516 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 127,810 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $411 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.1% (1997)
@Ecuador:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: three sections of the boundary with Peru are in dispute
Illicit drugs: significant transit country for derivatives of coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; minor illicit producer of coca; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub
______________________________________________________________________
@Egypt:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenLibya and the Gaza Strip
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly more than three times the size of NewMexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,689 kmborder countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km,Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline: 2,450 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 32,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment-current issues: agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salinization below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining natural resources
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics
@Egypt:People
Population: 66,050,004 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 12,173,882; female 11,637,239) 15-64 years: 60% (male 20,108,426; female 19,718,302) 65 years and over: 4% (male 1,074,271; female 1,337,884) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.86% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 27.31 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.41 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 69.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.07 years male: 60.09 years female: 64.14 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.41 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Egyptian(s) adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups: Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, andBerbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarilyItalian and French) 1%
Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94% (official estimate), CopticChristian and other 6% (official estimate)
Languages: Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.4% male: 63.6% female: 38.8% (1995 est.)
@Egypt:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt conventional short form: Egypt local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah local short form: Misr former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Data code: EG
Government type: republic
National capital: Cairo
Administrative divisions: 26 governorates (muhafazat,singular-muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, AlFayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, AlMinufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, AshSharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat,Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence: 28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Revolution, 23 July (1952)
Constitution: 11 September 1971
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981) head of government: Prime Minister Kamal Ahmed El-GANZOURI (since 4 January 1996) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum; national referendum last held 4 October 1993 (next to be held NA October 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a third term
Legislative branch: bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura-which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve NA-year terms) elections: People's Assembly-last held 29 November 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Advisory Council-last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA) election results: People's Assembly-percent of vote by party-NDP 72%, independents 25%, opposition 3%; seats by party-NDP 317, independents 114, NWP 6, NPUG 5, Nasserist Arab Democratic Party 1, Liberals 1; Advisory Council-percent of vote by party-NDP 99%, independents 1%; seats by party-NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party (NDP),President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK, leader, is the dominant party; legalopposition parties are as follows: New Wafd Party (NWP), Fu'ad SIRAJAL-DIN; Socialist Labor Party (SLP), Ibrahim SHUKRI; NationalProgressive Unionist Grouping (NPUG), Khalid MUHI AL-DIN; SocialistLiberal Party, Mustafa Kamal MURAD; Democratic Unionist Party,Mohammed 'Abd-al-Mun'im TURK; Umma Party, Ahmad al-SABAHI; Misral-Fatah Party (Young Egypt Party), leader NA; Nasserist ArabDemocratic Party, Dia' al-din DAWUD; Democratic Peoples' Party, AnwarAFIFI; The Greens Party, Kamal KIRAH; Social Justice Party, Muhammad'ABDAL-'ALnote: formation of political parties must be approved by government
Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but has moved more aggressively in the past two years to block its influence; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, ACCT(associate), AfDB, AFESD, AG (observer), AL, AMF, BSEC (observer),CAEU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM,OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNOMIL, UNPREDEP, UNRWA,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ahmed MAHER al-Sayed chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400 FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319, 5131 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel KURTZER embassy: (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo mailing address: Unit 64900, APO AE 09839-4900 telephone: [20] (2) 3557371 FAX: [20] (2) 3573200 branch office: Alexandria
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with the national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facing the hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria that has two green stars and to the flag of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band
@Egypt:Economy
Economy-overview: At the end of the 1980s, Egypt faced problems of low productivity and poor economic management, compounded by the adverse social effects of excessive population growth, high inflation, and massive urban overcrowding. In the face of these pressures, in 1991 Egypt undertook wide-ranging macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform measures. This reform effort has been supported by three successive IMF arrangements, the last of which was concluded in October 1996. Egypt's reform efforts-and its participation in the Gulf war coalition-also led to massive debt relief under the Paris Club arrangements. Although the pace of reform has been uneven and slower than envisaged under the IMF programs, substantial progress has been made in improving macroeconomic performance. Budget deficits have been slashed while foreign reserves in 1997 were at an all-time high. And Egypt has been moving toward a more decentralized, market-oriented economy. These economic reforms and growing investment opportunities have prompted increasing foreign investment, but incoming capital has largely been concentrated in stock market portfolio flows. Egypt's economy also has been hit by a sharp downturn in tourism-a key foreign exchange and job producing sector-following the 17 November 1997 massacre of foreign tourists at Luxor. Although Egypt will probably regain these revenues over time, the slump in tourism is likely to slow the GDP growth rate in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$267.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5.2% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,400 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 32% services: 51% (1996)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 4.9% (1997)
Labor force: total: 17.4 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 40%, services, including government 38%, industry 22% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.4% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $19.2 billion expenditures: $19.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $4 billion (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate: 8.5% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 13.04 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 48.5 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 778 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats; annual fish catch about 140,000 metric tons
Exports: total value: $5.1 billion (f.o.b., FY96/97 est.) commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals partners: EU, US, Japan
Imports: total value: $15.5 billion (c.i.f., FY96/97 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods partners: US, EU, Japan
Debt-external: $30.5 billion (1996/97 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $1.713 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 Egyptian pound (£E) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Egyptian pounds (£E) per US$1-3.4 (November 1994), 3.369 (November 1993), 3.345 (November 1992); market rate-3.3880 (January 1998), 3.3880 (1997), 3.3880 (1996), 3.3900 (1995), 3.3910 (1994), 3.3718 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 2.2 million (1993)
Telephone system: large system by Third World standards but inadequate for present requirements and undergoing extensive upgrading domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay to Israel; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 39, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 41
Televisions: 5 million (1993 est.)
@Egypt:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,751 km standard gauge: 4,751 km 1,435-m gauge (42 km electrified; 951 km double track)
Highways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta); Suez Canal, 193.5 km long (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Pipelines: crude oil 1,171 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km
Ports and harbors: Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, BurSafajah, Damietta, Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine: total: 161 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,225,989 GRT/1,899,818 DWT ships by type: bulk 24, cargo 60, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 15, passenger 42, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 15, short-sea passenger 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 89 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 39 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1997 est.)
@Egypt:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower-military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 17,350,925 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 11,247,896 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 683,868 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $3.28 billion (FY95/96)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 8.2% (FY95/96)
@Egypt:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary creating the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe and the US; popular transit stop for Nigerian couriers; large domestic consumption of hashish from Lebanon and Syria
______________________________________________________________________
@El Salvador:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenGuatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 21,040 sq km land: 20,720 sq km water: 320 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline: 307 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April)
Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources: hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 8% permanent pastures: 29% forests and woodland: 5% other: 31% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,200 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography-note: smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea
@El Salvador:People
Population: 5,752,067 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 37% (male 1,088,579; female 1,042,087) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,575,806; female 1,748,250) 65 years and over: 5% (male 135,556; female 161,789) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 26.71 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.32 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.66 years male: 66.31 years female: 73.17 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.06 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups: mestizo 94%, Amerindian 5%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 75% note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages: Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.5% male: 73.5% female: 69.8% (1995 est.)
@El Salvador:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador conventional short form: El Salvador local long form: Republica de El Salvador local short form: El Salvador
Data code: ES
Government type: republic
National capital: San Salvador
Administrative divisions: 14 departments (departamentos,singular-departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan,La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador,Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 20 December 1983
Legal system: based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations note: Legislative Assembly passed landmark judicial reforms in 1996
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Armando CALDERON Sol (since 1 June 1994); Vice President Enrique BORGO Bustamante (since 1 June 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 20 March 1994, with a run-off election held 24 April 1994 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: Armando CALDERON Sol elected president; percent of vote-Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 49.03%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 24.09%, Fidel CHAVEZ Mena (PDC) 16.39%, other 10.49%; because no candidate received a majority, a run-off election was held and the results were as follows-Armando CALDERON Sol (ARENA) 68.35%, Ruben ZAMORA Rivas (CD/FMLN/MNR) 31.65%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-ARENA 35.4%, FMLN 34.3%, PCN 8.1%, PDC 7.9%, CD 3.8%, PRSC 3.4%, PLD 3.2%, MU 2.1%, PD 1.0%, other 0.8%; seats by party - ARENA 28, FMLN 27, PCN 9, PDC 8, PRSC 3, CD 2, PLD 2, MU 1, PD 1, independent 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Alliance or ARENA[Alfredo CRISTIANI]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN[Facundo GUARDADO, general coordinator]; Christian Democratic Party orPDC [Ronal UMANA, secretary general; title in dispute]; NationalConciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, secretary general];Democratic Convergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general];Popular Labor Party or PPL [Jose VILANOVA, secretary general]; LiberalDemocratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; SocialChristian Union or USC (formed by union of the PRSC, MU, and MSN)[Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Democratic Party or PD [Ana GuadeloupeMARTINEZ, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations: National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers (CNTS)National Union of Salvadoran Workers (UNTS); Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar, Transport and other activities (FESINCONTRANS); Salvadoran Workers Central (CTS); Port Industry Union of El Salvador (SIPES); Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador (SIES); Workers Union of Electrical Corporation (STCEL) business organizations: Salvadoran Industrial Association (ASI)Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association (ASIC); National Association of Small Enterprise (ANEP)
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rene A. LEON chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671, 9672 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne W. PATTERSON embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena, Station Antiguo Cuscatlan, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 telephone: [503] 278-4444 FAX: [503] 278-6011
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band-it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
@El Salvador:Economy
Economy-overview: In 1997 the government emphasized a fixed exchange rate, along with conservative monetary and fiscal policies to promote foreign investment. Inflation fell to an unprecedented low of 2%. Exports reached a record level and were the main engine of growth. Productivity in other sectors remained weaker, however. For the last few years, El Salvador has experienced sizable deficits in both its trade and its fiscal accounts. The trade deficit has been offset by remittances from the large number of Salvadorans living abroad and from external aid. The deficit is expected to increase in 1998 as imports continue to rise. San Salvador is stepping up its privatization efforts in 1998 to increase revenues. Late in 1997 the legislative assembly approved a privatization law that will facilitate the sale of the state-owned telephone company sometime in 1998. The government also plans to privatize pension funds later in the year.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$17.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$3,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 24% services: 61% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1997)
Labor force: total: 2.26 million (1997 est.) by occupation: agriculture 40%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 15%, government 13%, financial services 9%, transportation 6%, other 1%
Unemployment rate: 7.7% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.75 billion expenditures: $1.82 billion, including capital expenditures of $317 million (1997 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 900,000 kW (1996)
Electricity-production: 3.5 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 603 kWh (1997 est.)
Agriculture-products: coffee, sugarcane, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp
Exports: total value: $1.96 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: coffee, sugar; shrimp; textiles partners: US, Guatemala, Germany, Costa Rica, Honduras
Imports: total value: $3.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels partners: US, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Japan
Debt-external: $2.6 billion (yearend 1997)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $763 million (1996) note: US has committed $280 million in economic assistance to El Salvador for 1995-97 (excludes military aid)
Currency: 1 Salvadoran colon (C) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Salvadoran colones (C) per US$1 (end of period)-8.755 (January 1998-1995), 8.750 (1994), 8.670 (1993) note: as of 1 June 1990, the rate is based on the average of the buying and selling rates, set on a weekly basis, for official receipts and payments, imports of petroleum, and coffee exports; prior to that date, a system of floating was in effect
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 350,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 80, shortwave 2
Radios: 1.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (1996 est.)
Televisions: 700,000 (1997 est.)
@El Salvador:Transportation
Railways: total: 602 km (single track; note-some sections abandoned, unusable, or operating at reduced capacity) narrow gauge: 602 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways: total: 9,977 km paved: 1,985 km (including 266 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,992 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports and harbors: Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union,Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 88 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 84 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 66 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@El Salvador:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,362,504 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 864,419 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 65,130 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $104 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.9% (1997)
@El Salvador:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: land boundary dispute with Honduras mostly resolved by 11 September 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision; the presidents of Honduras and El Salvador signed in January 1998 an agreement allowing citizens in the 1992 demarcated areas to choose Honduran or Salvadoran citizenship; the two countries also agreed to a final demarcation of the border within one year; the agreement awaits ratification by the legislative assemblies of both countries; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua likely would be required
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine; marijuana produced for local consumption
______________________________________________________________________
@Equatorial Guinea:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, betweenCameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 28,050 sq km land: 28,050 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Malabo 3,008 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: violent windstorms
Environment-current issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: insular and continental regions rather widely separated
@Equatorial Guinea:People
Population: 454,001 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 97,993; female 97,470) 15-64 years: 53% (male 114,960; female 126,453) 65 years and over: 4% (male 7,597; female 9,528) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.56% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 38.9 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 13.32 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 93.45 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.93 years male: 51.61 years female: 56.31 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.06 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages: Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English,Fang, Bubi, Ibo