Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.5% male: 89.6% female: 68.1% (1995 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial former: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
Government type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
National capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular-provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; emended January 1995
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979) head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel OYONO (since January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003) election results: President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected without opposition; percent of popular vote-98%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Peoples Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PDGE 68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Brig.Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]opposition parties: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS[Santiago OBAMA, president; Placido Miko ABOGO, secretary-general];Democratic Social Union or UDS [Camelo MODU, general secretary];Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD [Alfonso Nsue MIFUMU, president];Liberal Party or PL [Santos PASCUAL]; National Democratic Union orUDENA [Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president]; National Movement of theLiberation of Equatorial Guinea or MONALIGE [Dr. Aldolfo Obrang BIKO,president]; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD[Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinator]; Party of Progressor PP [Mocache MEINGA, interim chairman]; Popular Action of EquatorialGuinea or APGE [Casiano Masi Edu]; Popular Union or UP [Juan BITUI,president]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [BasilioAva Eworo and Domingo ABUY]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP[Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president]; Social Democratic and PopularConvergence or CSDP [Secundino Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary];Social Democratic Party or PSD [Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha BalingaAlene, general secretary]; Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea orPSGE [Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE chancery: Suite 405, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 393-0525 FAX: [1] (202) 393-0348
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
@Equatorial Guinea:Economy
Economy-overview: The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Farming, forestry, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$660 million (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 33% services: 21% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $47 million expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7 million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 5,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 20 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 48 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc; livestock; timber
Exports: total value: $197 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum, timber, cocoa partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, Spain 13%, China 13%, Nigeria
Imports: total value: $248 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery partners: Cameroon 40%, Spain 18%, France 14%, US 8%
Debt-external: $254 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 2,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: poor system with adequate government servicesdomestic: NAinternational: international communications from Bata and Malabo toAfrican and European countries; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Transportation
Railways: total: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,820 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 2,820 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine: total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,766 GRT/84,780 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Equatorial Guinea:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force,National Police
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 98,960 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 50,308 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $2.5 million (FY93/94)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Equatorial Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Historical perspective: On 29 May 1991, ISAIAS Afworki, secretary general of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea; the referendum resulted in a landslide vote for independence, which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993.
@Eritrea:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti andSudan
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 121,320 sq km land: 121,320 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 1,630 km border countries: Djibouti 113 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline: 2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands inRed Sea 1,083 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except on coastal desert
Terrain: dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kobar Sink -75 m highest point: Soira 3,013 m
Natural resources: gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, probably oil and natural gas (petroleum geologists are prospecting for it), fish
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 48% forests and woodland: 20% other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 280 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent droughts
Environment-current issues: deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993
@Eritrea:People
Population: 3,842,436 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 826,686; female 818,323) 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,026,922; female 1,042,156) 65 years and over: 3% (male 66,222; female 62,127) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.39% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 42.52 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.57 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) note: it is estimated that between 200,000 and 350,000 Eritrean refugees were still living in Sudan in mid-1997
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 55.31 years male: 53.19 years female: 57.51 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.99 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Eritrean(s) adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups: ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%,Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%
Religions: Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages: Afar, Amharic, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, minor ethnic group languages
Literacy: NA
@Eritrea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Eritrea conventional short form: Eritrea local long form: Hagere Ertra local short form: Ertra former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Data code: ER
Government type: transitional government note: following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the Peoples' Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature
National capital: Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (singular-awraja); Akele Guzay, Barka, Denkel, Hamasen, Sahil, Semhar, Senhit, Seraye note: in May 1995 the National Assembly adopted a resolution stating that the administrative structure of Eritrea, which had been established by former colonial powers, would consist of only six provinces when the new constitution, then being drafted, would go into effect some time in 1998; the new provinces, the names of which had not been recommended by the US Board on Geographic Names for recognition by the US government, pending acceptable definition of the boundaries, were: Anseba, Debub, Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Gash-Barka, Maakel, and Semanawi Keyih Bahri; more recently, it has been reported that these provinces have been redesignated regions and renamed Southern Red Sea, Northern Red Sea, Anseba, Gash-Barka, Southern, and Central
Independence: 27 May 1993 (from Ethiopia; formerly the EritreaAutonomous Region)
National holiday: National Day (independence from Ethiopia), 24 May (1993)
Constitution: the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution that was promulgated in May 1997
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA; note-the transitional constitution of 19 May 1993 did not provide rules for suffrage, but it seems likely that the final version of the constitution, which may be promulgated some time in 1998, will follow the example set in the referendum of 1993 and extend suffrage to all persons 18 years of age or older
Executive branch: chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority note: the president is head of the State Council and National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next to be held NA) election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established) elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly which had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until country-wide elections to a National Assembly are held in 1998; only 75 members will be elected to the National Assembly-the other 75 will be members of the Central Committee of the PFDJ
Judicial branch: Judiciary the Supreme Court; 10 provincial courts; 29 district courts
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy andJustice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIASAfworki, PETROS Solomon]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ;Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; EritreanLiberation Front-United Organization or ELF-UO [Mohammed Said NAWUD];Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council or ELF-RC [AhmedNASSER]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat(nonsignatory user), ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Semere RUSSOM chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991 FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate William CLARK embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara mailing address: P.O. Box 211, Asmara telephone: [291] (1) 120004 FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag description: red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle
@Eritrea:Economy
Economy-overview: With independence from Ethiopia on 27 April 1993, Eritrea faced the bitter economic problems of a small, desperately poor African country. The economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with over 70% of the population involved in farming and herding. The small industrial sector consists mainly of light industries with outmoded technologies. Domestic output (GDP) is substantially augmented by worker remittances from abroad. Government revenues come from custom duties and taxes on income and sales. Road construction is a top domestic priority. Eritrea has inherited the entire coastline of Ethiopia and has long-term prospects for revenues from the development of offshore oil fields, offshore fishing, and tourism. Eritrea's economic future depends on its ability to master fundamental social and economic problems, e.g., overcoming illiteracy, promoting job creation, expanding technical training, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining the bureaucracy.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$2.2 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6.8% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$600 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 20% services: 62% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 4% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $226 million expenditures: $453 million, including capital expenditures of $88 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 73,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: NA kWh
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture-products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, maize, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal (for making rope); livestock (including goats); fish
Exports: total value: $71 million (1996 est.) commodities: livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures partners: Ethiopia 67%, Sudan 10%, Saudi Arabia 4%, US 3%, Italy, Yemen (1996)
Imports: total value: $499 million (1996 est.) commodities: processed goods, machinery, petroleum products partners: Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Italy, United Arab Emirates
Debt-external: $162 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 nafka = 100 cents
Exchange rates: nakfa per US$1 = 7.2 (March 1998 est.) note: following independence from Ethiopia, Eritrea continued to use Ethiopian currency until late in 1997 when Eritrea issued its own currency, the nakfa, at approximately the same rate as the birr, i.e., 7.2 nakfa per US$1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: very inadequate; about 4 telephones per 100 families, most of which are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government controlled)
Televisions: NA
@Eritrea:Transportation
Railways: total: 307 km narrow gauge: 307 km 0.950-m gauge (1995 est.) note: nonoperational since 1978 except for about a 5 km stretch that was reopened in Massawa in 1994; rehabilitation of the remainder and of the rolling stock is under way; links Ak'ordat and Asmara (formerly Asmera) with the port of Massawa (formerly Mits'iwa)
Highways: total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,516 GRT/5,747 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 20 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
@Eritrea:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $40 million (1995)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Eritrea:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: a dispute with Yemen over sovereignty of the Hanish Islands in the southern Red Sea has been submitted to arbitration under the auspices of the ICJ; a decision on the Islands is expected in mid-1998
______________________________________________________________________
@Estonia:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf ofFinland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 45,226 sq km land: 43,211 sq km water: 2,015 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Land boundaries: total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: limits to be fixed in coordination with neighboring states territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, cambrian blue clay
Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 11% forests and woodland: 31% other: 36% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring
Environment-current issues: air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in many locations
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Estonia:People
Population: 1,421,335 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 136,278; female 131,480) 15-64 years: 67% (male 456,796; female 492,946) 65 years and over: 14% (male 66,261; female 137,574) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.99% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 9.04 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 14.15 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.98 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.52 years male: 62.5 years female: 74.83 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.29 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 64.2%, Russian 28.7%, Ukrainian 2.7%,Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.9% (1995)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, 7th Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, 7th Day Baptist, Judaism
Languages: Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, other
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (1989 est.)
@Estonia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: EN
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Tallinn
Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular-maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch: chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Mart SIIMANN (since 12 March 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held August-September 1996 (next to be held fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote-Lennert MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-KMU 32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party-KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
Judicial branch: National Court, chairman appointed by the Parliament for life
Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Mart SIIMAN, chairman] made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party or EK, Country People's Party [Arnold RUUTEL, chairman]/Farmer's Assembly or EME, Rural Union or EM [Arvo SIRENDI, chairman] , and Pensioners' and Families' League or EPPL [Mai TREIAL, chairperson]; Reform Party or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman]; Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Toivo JURGENSON, chairman]; National Independence Party or ERSP [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; Our Home is Estonia [Viktor ANDREJEV] made up of two parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party of Estonia; note-Our Home is Estonia split when two Russian Party of Estonia members withdrew; United Peoples Party [Viktor ANDREJEV, chairman]; Russian Party of Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV, chairman]; Moderates or M [Andres TARAND] made up of two parties: Social Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or EMK; Social Democratic Party [Eiki NESTOR, chairman]; Rural Center Party [Vambo KAAL, chairman]; Right-Wingers [Ulo NUGIS, chairman]; Republican Conservative [Vootele HANSEN]; Development/Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN, chairwoman], note-party was created by defectors from Center Party in late spring 1996, Development Party faction split and now holds five independent seats
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO,UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kalev STOICESCU chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Walter ANDRUSYSZYU embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001 mailing address: American Embassy Tallinn; PSC 78, Box T; APO AE 09723 telephone: [372] (6) 312-021 FAX: [372] (6) 312-025
Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990-three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
@Estonia:Economy
Economy-overview: In 1997 Estonia's continued implementation of market economic reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal free trade regime resulted in GDP growth of 10% and a drop in inflation to 11.2%. Estonia can point to its inclusion among the first group of Central and East European countries to begin EU accession talks in 1998 as its most significant economic achievement in 1997. Other economic strengths include solid investment grade rating from both Standard and Poors and Moody's, government revenue collection in excess of projections by more than 6%, growth in exports at a faster rate than imports, and record levels of foreign direct investment, among the highest per capita in Central and East Europe. Estonia privatized its shipping company in 1997, but failed to make as much progress privatizing other large infrastructure/utility companies, such as Eesti Energia and the Oil Shale company, which it plans to privatize in the next two years. The growing current account deficit, which stood at nearly 10% of GDP at yearend 1997, remains a serious concern. In 1998, GDP is expected to grow by 5.5% and inflation to fall 10%.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$9.34 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$6,450 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 7.1% industry: 24.9% services: 68% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 11.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 785,000 (1996 est.) by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $214 million (1996 est.)
Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 3.287 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 8.083 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,355 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Exports: total value: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: textiles 16%, food products 16%, machinery and equipment 16%, metals 9% (1995) partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1995)
Imports: total value: $3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment 29%, foodstuffs 14%, minerals 13%, textiles 13%, metals 12% (1995) partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany (1995)
Debt-external: $270 million (January 1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $147 million (1993) note: Western commitments $285 million (including international financial institutions)
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August 1992)
Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1-14.527 (January 1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994), 13.223 (1993); note-krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 400,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: system is antiquated; improvements are being made piecemeal, with emphasis on business needs and international connections; there are still about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for subscriber service domestic: substantial investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational throughout Estonia international: international traffic is carried to the other former Soviet republics by landline or microwave radio relay and to other countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch and partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber-optic, submarine cable which gives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; access to the international packet-switched digital network via Helsinki
Radio broadcast stations: 3 commercial broadcast stations, 1 government broadcast station (1994)
Radios: 710,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1993) note: provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs
Televisions: 600,000 (1993 est.)
@Estonia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 15,304 km paved: 8,142 km (including 65 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,162 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 500 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Narva, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine: total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 368,340 GRT/455,696 DWT ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 27, combination bulk 1, container 5, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger 5 (1997 est.)
Airports: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m : 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
@Estonia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and AirDefense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard,Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal andborder troops)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 351,148 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 275,610 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 10,424 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $35 million (1995)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.5% (1995)
@Estonia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been ratified; Estonia claimed over 2,000 sq km territory in the Narva and Pechory regions of Russia-based on boundary established under the 1920 Peace Treaty of Tartu
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis fromSouthwest Asia and the Caucasus, and cocaine from Latin America toWestern Europe and Scandinavia
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Historical perspective: On 28 May 1991 the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) toppled the authoritarian government of MENGISTU Haile-Mariam and took control in Addis Ababa; a new constitution was promulgated in December 1994 and national and regional popular elections were held in May and June 1995.
@Ethiopia:Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,127,127 sq km land: 1,119,683 sq km water: 7,444 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,311 kmborder countries: Djibouti 337 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 830 km,Somalia 1,626 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain: high plateau with central mountain range divided by GreatRift Valley
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Denakil -125 m highest point: Ras Dashen Terara 4,620 m
Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 40% forests and woodland: 25% other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment-current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography-note: landlocked-entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 27 April 1993
@Ethiopia:People
Population: 58,390,351 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 46% (male 13,468,783; female 13,398,500) 15-64 years: 51% (male 15,095,357; female 14,812,537) 65 years and over: 3% (male 734,471; female 880,703) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.21% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 44.69 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 21.25 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia for refuge from war and famine in earlier years, is expected to continue slowly in 1998; small numbers of Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting in their own countries, began returning to their homes in 1998
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 125.65 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 40.85 years male: 39.76 years female: 41.97 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.88 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ethiopian(s) adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups: Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigrean 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions: Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
Languages: Amharic (official), Tigrinya, Orominga, Guaraginga, Somali,Arabic, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.5% male: 45.5% female: 25.3% (1995 est.)
@Ethiopia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia conventional short form: Ethiopia local long form: YeItyop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik local short form: YeItyop'iya abbreviation: FDRE
Data code: ET
Government type: federal republic
National capital: Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akababi) and 1 federal capital*: Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara; Benishangul/Gumaz; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples; Tigray
Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years
National holiday: National Day, 28 May (1991) (defeat of Mengistu regime)
Constitution: promulgated December 1994
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August 1995) head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the Council of People's Representatives elections: president elected by the Council of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held June 1995 (next to be held NA 2001); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote by the Council of People's Representatives-NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Council of the Federation or upper chamber (117 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the Council of People's Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms); note-the upper chamber represents the ethnic interests of the regional governments elections: regional and national popular elections were held in May and June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) and the Federal Parliamentary Assembly assumed legislative power on 21 August 1995 election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-NA; note-EPRDF won nearly all seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are elected by the national legislature
Political parties and leaders: Ethiopian People's RevolutionaryDemocratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Oromo Liberation Front or OLF;All Amhara People's Organization; Southern Ethiopia People'sDemocratic Coalition; numerous small, ethnic-based groups have formedsince MENGISTU'S defeat, including several Islamic militant groups
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO,G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador BERHANE Gebre-Christos chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-2281, 2282 FAX: [1] (202) 328-7950
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David H. SHINN embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] (1) 550666 FAX: [251] (1) 552191
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors
@Ethiopia:Economy
Economy-overview: Ethiopia remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Its economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for more than half of GDP, 90% of exports, and 80% of total employment; coffee generates 60% of export earnings. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent periods of drought, poor cultivation practices, and deterioration of internal security conditions. The manufacturing sector is heavily dependent on inputs from the agricultural sector. Over 90% of large-scale industry, but less than 10% of agriculture, is state-run. The government is considering selling off a portion of state-owned plants and is implementing reform measures that are gradually liberalizing the economy. A major medium-term problem is the improvement of roads, water supply, and other parts of an infrastructure badly neglected during years of civil strife.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$29 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$530 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 55% industry: 12% services: 33% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 0% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: NA by occupation: agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%, industry and construction 8% (1985)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $1.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $415 million (FY96/97)
Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 464,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 1.143 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 20 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, other vegetables; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: total value: $418 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: coffee, leather products, gold (1995) partners: Germany 32%, Japan 14%, Djibouti 7%, Saudi Arabia 8%, Italy 8% (1994)
Imports: total value: $1.23 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles and aircraft (1994) partners: Saudi Arabia 15%, Italy 11%, US 12.3%, Germany 8% (1994)
Debt-external: $5.2 billion (1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $367 million (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 birr (Br) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: birr (Br) per US$1 (end of period)-6.9530 (February 1998), 6.8080 (September 1997), 6.4260 (1996), 6.3200 (1995), 5.9500 (1994), 5.0000 (fixed rate 1992-93) note: since May 1993, the birr market rate has been determined in an interbank market supported by weekly wholesale auction; prior to that date, the official rate was pegged to US$1 = 5.000 birr
Fiscal year: 8 July-7 July
Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: open wire and microwave radio relay system adequate for government use domestic: open wire and microwave radio relay international: open wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 9.9 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 100,000 (1993 est.)
@Ethiopia:Transportation
Railways: total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad) narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge note: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans to revitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals
Highways: total: 28,500 km paved: 4,275 km unpaved: 24,225 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none; Ethiopia is landlocked but by agreement withEritrea may use the ports of Assab and Massawa
Merchant marine: total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 73,775 GRT/98,279 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 86 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 76 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 20 (1997 est.)
@Ethiopia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Police note: following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopia's naval facilities remained in Eritrea's possession; current reorganization plans do not include a navy
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 13,240,029 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 6,900,452 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 630,087 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $126 million (budget for FY97/98)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Ethiopia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: most of the southern half of the boundary withSomalia is a Provisional Administrative Line; territorial dispute withSomalia over the Ogaden
Illicit drugs: transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (chat) for local use and regional export
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(possession of France)
@Europa Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 28 sq km land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 22.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources: negligible
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: wildlife sanctuary
@Europa Island:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a small French military garrison
@Europa Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa
Data code: EU
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Independence: none (possession of France)
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Europa Island:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
Communications
Communications-note: 1 meteorological station
@Europa Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Europa Island:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Europa Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Madagascar
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Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)(dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Geography
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 12,173 sq km land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 99% forests and woodland: 0% other: 1% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):People
Population: 2,805 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.13% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups: British
Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church,Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-DayAdventist
Languages: English
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Government
Country name: conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Data code: FA
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK, also claimed byArgentina
Government type: NA
National capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed byArgentina)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996); Chief Executive A. GURR (since NA); First Secretary R. T. JARVIS (since NA) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats, 8 elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 8