Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is non-resident
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of theUK, also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Economy
Economy-overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. The economy has diversified since 1987, when the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone; overfishing is a growing problem. These license fees total more than $40 million per year and support the island's health, education, and welfare system. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total: 1,100 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)
Unemployment rate: full employment; labor shortage
Budget: revenues: $53.4 million expenditures: $53.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994-95 est.)
Industries: wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 9,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 10 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,316 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: fodder and vegetable crops; sheep farming, small dairy herds
Exports: total value: $7.6 million (1995) commodities: wool, hides, meat partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)
Imports: total value: $24.7 million (1995) commodities: fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (1992)
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: UK, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments totaled $18 million (1993-94)
Currency: 1 Falkland pound (£F) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Falkland pound (£F) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); note-the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 1,180 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries
Radio broadcast stations: 1 (government operated)
Radios: 1,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government operated)
Televisions: NA
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 348 km paved: 83 km unpaved: 265 km
Ports and harbors: Stanley
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Military
Military branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army,Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Argentina
______________________________________________________________________
(part of the Kingdom of Denmark)
@Faroe Islands:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area-comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,117 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain: rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources: fish, whales
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
@Faroe Islands:People
Population: 41,834 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 4,971; female 4,777) 15-64 years: 62% (male 13,896; female 12,034) 65 years and over: 15% (male 2,759; female 3,397) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.72% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 13.08 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.84 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -21.42 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: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years male: 75.53 years female: 81.45 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.36 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups: Scandinavian
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: NA note: similar to Denmark proper
@Faroe Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar
Data code: FO
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type: NA
National capital: Torshavn
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system: Danish
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since NA May 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held NA 1994 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: Edmund JOENSEN elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 23.4%
Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-Republicans 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democrats 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 15%; seats by party-Republicans 8, People's Party 8, Social Democrats 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998); results-percent of vote by party - Unionist Party 22.5%, People's Party 21.7%; seats by party-Unionist Party 1, People's Party 1
Judicial branch: none
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [JoannesEIDESGAARD]; Workers' Party [Alis JACOBSEN]; Home Rule Party [HelenaDam A NEYSTABO]; Unionist Party [Edmund JOENSEN]; Republican Party[Heini O. HEINESEN]; Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; ChristianPeople's Party [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN]; People's Party [ArnfinnKALLSBERG]
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Faroe Islands:Economy
Economy-overview: The Faroese economy in 1995 and 1996 saw a noticeable upturn after several years of decline brought on by a drop in fish catches and declining prices and by over-spending by the Faroese Home Rule Government (FHRG). In the early 1990s, property values plummeted, and the FHRG had to bail out and merge the two largest Faroese banks. Fishing is now improving; wage costs are increasing; the FHRG's budget is almost in balance; and the large foreign debt has come down significantly. Nevertheless, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the reduction in the foreign debt is at the cost of low investment. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may lay the basis for an eventual economic rebound. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$800 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$16,300 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 20,345 (1995 est.) by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce
Unemployment rate: 11% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $467 million expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 91,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 200 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,092 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon farming; fish
Exports: total value: $362 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: fish and fish products 92%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships) partners: Denmark 22.2%, UK 25.8%, Germany 9.7%, France 8.3%, Norway 6.2%, US 2.0%
Imports: total value: $315.6 (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7% partners: Denmark 34.5%, Norway 15.9%, UK 8.4% Germany 7.8%, Sweden 5.8%, US 1.5%
Debt-external: $767 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid: receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $150 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1-6.916 (January 1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 26,000 of which about 3,500 are mobile telephones (1996)
Telephone system: good international communications; good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization to be completed in 1998 international: satellite earth stations-1 Orion; 1 optical fiber submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 13), shortwave 0
Radios: 11,800 (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (repeaters 45)
Televisions: 11,600 (1996 est.)
@Faroe Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 458 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Faroe Islands:Military
Military branches: no organized native military forces; only a smallPolice Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
@Faroe Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Fiji:Geography
Location: Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 18,270 sq km land: 18,270 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,129 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 10% forests and woodland: 65% other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
@Fiji:People
Population: 802,611 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 139,713; female 134,220) 15-64 years: 63% (male 251,646; female 251,425) 65 years and over: 3% (male 12,051; female 13,556) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.28% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.25 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.92 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 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.65 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.29 years male: 63.92 years female: 68.78 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.74 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Fijian(s) adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups: Fijian 49%, Indian 46%, European, other PacificIslanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5%
Religions: Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is aMuslim minority (1986)
Languages: English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.6% male: 93.8% female: 89.3% (1995 est.)
@Fiji:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands conventional short form: Fiji
Data code: FJ
Government type: republic note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
National capital: Suva
Administrative divisions: 4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central,Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western
Independence: 10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 October (1970)
Constitution: 10 October 1970 (suspended 1 October 1987); a new constitution was proposed on 23 September 1988 and promulgated on 25 July 1990; another new constitution, which opens the way for a non-ethnic Fijian to become prime minister, was signed by the president on 25 July 1997 and will come into force no later than 28 July 1998
Legal system: based on British system
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA (acting president since 15 December 1993, president since 12 January 1994); First Vice President Ratu Sir Josaia TAIVAI'IA (since 12 January 1994); Second Vice President Ratu Inoke TAKIVEIKATA (since 12 January 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Sitiveni RABUKA (since 2 June 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Taufa VAKATALE (since 7 August 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament note: there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president election results: Ratu Sir Kamisese MARA elected president; percent of Great Council of Chiefs vote-NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 9 for Indians and others, and 1 for the island of Rotuma; members appointed by the president to serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (70 seats; 37 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 27 for ethnic Indians, and 6 for independents and others; members elected by popular vote on a communal basis to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives-last held 18-25 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - SVT 31, NFP 20, FLP 7, FAP 5, GVP 4, independents 2, ANC 1 note: when the new constitution comes into force, the composition of the legislative branch will change to the following: Senate-32 seats (14 appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the prime minister, eight appointed by the leader of the opposition, and one appointed by the Council of Rotuma); House of Representatives-71 seats (23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, and there will be 25 open seats)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Fijian Political Party (SVT-primarilyFijian), leader Maj. Gen. Sitivini RABUKA; National Federation Party(NFP; primarily Indian), Jai Ram REDDY; Fijian Nationalist Party(FNP), Sakeasi BUTADROKA; Fiji Labor Party (FLP), Mahendra CHAUDHRY;General Voters Party (GVP), Leo SMITH; Fiji Conservative Party (FCP),leader NA; Conservative Party of Fiji (CPF), leader NA; Fiji IndianLiberal Party, leader NA; Fiji Indian Congress Party, leader NA; FijiIndependent Labor (Muslim), leader NA; Four Corners Party, leader NA;Fijian Association Party (FAP), Ratu Finau MARA; General Electors'Association, David PICKERINGnote: in early 1995, ethnic Fijian members of the All NationalCongress (ANC) merged with the Fijian Association (FA); the remainingmembers of the ANC have renamed their party the General Electors'Association
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, PCA,Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ratu Napolioni MASIREWA chancery: Suite 240, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320 FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Larry M. DINGER embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva telephone: [679] 314466 FAX: [679] 300081
Flag description: light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove
@Fiji:Economy
Economy-overview: Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity. Roughly 250,000 tourists visit each year. Political uncertainty and drought, however, contribute to substantial fluctuations in earnings from tourism and sugar and to the emigration of skilled workers. Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 because the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent disputes between farmers and landowners.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$5.1 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3% (1996)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$6,500 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 21% industry: 18% services: 61% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 235,000 by occupation: subsistence agriculture 67%, wage earners 18%, salary earners 15% (1987)
Unemployment rate: 6% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $540.65 million expenditures: $742.65 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar, tourism, copra, gold, silver, clothing, lumber, small cottage industries
Industrial production growth rate: 2.9% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 200,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 545 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 705 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish catch 13,796 tons (1991)
Exports: total value: $639 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: sugar 32%, clothing, gold, processed fish, lumber partners: EU 26%, Australia 15%, other Pacific island countries 11%, Japan 6%
Imports: total value: $947 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, consumer goods, chemicals partners: Australia 30%, NZ 17%, Japan 13%, EU 6%, US 6%
Debt-external: $333.8 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $14.35 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $3.5 million from New Zealand (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 Fijian dollar (F$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (F$) per US$1-1.9064 (January 1998), 1.4437 (1997), 1.4033 (1996), 1.4063 (1995), 1.4641 (1994), 1.5418 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 60,017 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center domestic: NA international: access to important cable link between US and Canada and NZ and Australia; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: 12,000 (1992 est.)
@Fiji:Transportation
Railways: total: 597 km; note-belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation narrow gauge: 597 km 0.610-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 203 km; 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
Ports and harbors: Labasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Savusavu, Suva
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,800 GRT/18,034 DWT ships by type: chemical tanker 2, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1997 est.)
Airports: 24 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 17 (1997 est.)
@Fiji:Military
Military branches: Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF; includes army, navy, and a small air wing)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 214,475 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 118,181 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 9,180 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $32 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 5% (1997)
@Fiji:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Finland:Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 337,030 sq km land: 305,470 sq km water: 31,560 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 2,628 km border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 6 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland-3 nm)
Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land use: arable land: 8% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 76% other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 640 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment-international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
Geography-note: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
@Finland:People
Population: 5,149,242 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 488,974; female 469,343) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,736,883; female 1,700,466) 65 years and over: 14% (male 284,929; female 468,647) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.2% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.24 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.65 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.15 years male: 73.61 years female: 80.83 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Gypsy 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%
Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), smallLapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Finland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen Tasavalta local short form: Suomi
Data code: FI
Government type: republic
National capital: Helsinki
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular-laani); Aland,Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, OulunLaani
Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution: 17 July 1919
Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote-Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 19 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats by party-Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22, Swedish People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, Finnish Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:government coalition: Social Democratic Party [Paavo LIPPONEN];National Coalition (conservative) Party [Sauli NIINISTO]; LeftistAlliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League andDemocratic Alternative [Claes ANDERSSON]; Swedish People's Party[(Johan) Ole NORRBACK]; Green League [Pekka HAAVISTO]other: Center Party [Esko AHO]; Finnish Christian League [C. P. BjarneKALLIS]; Rural Party [Raimo VISTBACKA]; Liberal People's Party [PekkaRYTILA]; Greens Ecological Party or EPV [Eugen PARKATTI]; Young Finns[Risto PENTTILA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Finnish Communist Party-Unity[Yrjo HAKANEN]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish PensionersParty; Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA,EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU,WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: [358] (9) 171931 FAX: [358] (9) 174681
Flag description: white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
@Finland:Economy
Economy-overview: Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing-principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and Finland officially joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Attempts to cut the unacceptably high rate of unemployment and increasing integration with Western Europe will dominate the economic picture over the next few years. Despite high unemployment and moderate GDP growth of 3.9% anticipated for 1998, inflation is forecast to rise to 2.5%
GDP: purchasing power parity-$102.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$20,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 37% services: 56% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 1.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 2.533 million by occupation: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%
Unemployment rate: 14.6% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $33 billion expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 14.143 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 58.626 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 13,181 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons
Exports: total value: $38.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber partners: EU 46.5% (Germany 13.4%, UK 10.4%), Sweden 10.1%, US 6.7%, Japan 2.6%, Russia 4.8% (1995)
Imports: total value: $29.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains partners: EU 44% (Germany 16.6%, UK 8.0%), Sweden 11.7%, US 7.1%, Russia 7.1%, Japan 6.3% (1995)
Debt-external: $30 billion (December 1993)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $355 million (1993)
Currency: 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia
Exchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1-5.4948 (January 19987), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994), 5.7123 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.5 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: good service from cable and microwave radio relaynetworkdomestic: cable and microwave radio relayinternational: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations-access toIntelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note-Finland shares theInmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0
Radios: 4.98 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 235
Televisions: 1.92 million (1995 est.)
@Finland:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,859 km broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1996)
Highways: total: 77,782 km paved: 49,780 km (including 431 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,002 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers
Pipelines: natural gas 580 km
Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu,Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
Merchant marine: total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,069,794 GRT/1,127,087 DWT ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 22, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 34, short-sea passenger 11 (1997 est.)
Airports: 158 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 89 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 84 (1997 est.)
@Finland:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes SeaGuard)
Military manpower-military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,286,563 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,059,657 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 33,492 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $1.9 billion (1995)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.6% (1995)
@Finland:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the West European market
______________________________________________________________________
@France:Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and EnglishChannel, between Belgium and Spain southeast of the UK; bordering theMediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 547,030 sq km land: 545,630 sq km water: 1,400 sq km note: includes only metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions
Area-comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: total: 2,892.4 km border countries: Andorra 60 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km
Coastline: 3,427 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean) territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 27% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,300 sq km (1995 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding
Environment-current issues: some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: largest West European nation; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
@France:People
Population: 58,804,944 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 5,674,417; female 5,411,685) 15-64 years: 65% (male 19,243,919; female 19,182,933) 65 years and over: 16% (male 3,759,565; female 5,532,425) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.31% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.68 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.12 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.58 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 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.51 years male: 74.6 years female: 82.62 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.63 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African,Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (NorthAfrican workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1980 est.)
@France:Government
Country name: conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique Francaise local short form: France
Data code: FR
Government type: republic
National capital: Paris
Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular-region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, GloriosoIslands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallisand Futunanote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 23 April and 7 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote, second ballot-Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats-296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 24 September 1995 (next to be held September 1998); National Assembly-last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 94, UDF 127, PS 75, PCF 15, other 10; National Assembly-percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party-PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, Ecologists 8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate; Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [PhilippeSEGUIN]; Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of PR, FD, RAD,PPDF) [Francois LEOTARD]; Democratie Liberale or DL [Alain MADELIN];Democratic Force or FD [Francois BAYROU]; Socialist Party or PS[Francois HOLLANDE]; Communist Party or PCF [Robert HUE]; NationalFront or FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; The Greens [Jean-Luc BENNAHMIAS];Generation Ecology or GE [Brice LALONDE]; Citizens Movement or MDC[Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; National Center of Independents andPeasants or CNIP [Oliver d'ORMESSON]; Radical Socialist Party or PRS(previously the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET];Movement for France or LDI-MPF [Philippe DEVILLIERS]; Mouvement desReformateurs [Jean-Pierre SOISSON]; Mouvement Ecologiste Independant[Jenevieve ANDUEZA]; Parti Populaire Pour la Democratie Francaise orPPDF [Herve de CHARETTE]; Parti Radical [Thierry CORNILLET]; AdherentsDirects [Pierre-Andre WILTZER]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, about 800,000 members (est.); independent labor union or Force Ouvriere, 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union or Confederation Generale des Cadres, 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais) or CNPF or Patronat
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AG (observer),AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN,EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ,G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MTCR, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNRWA,UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Felix G. ROHATYN embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777 telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22 FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83 consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
@France:Economy
Economy-overview: One of the four West European trillion-dollar economies, France matches a growing services sector with a diversified industrial base and substantial agricultural resources. Services now account for more than 70% of GDP, while industry generates about one-quarter of GDP and more than 80% of export earnings. The government retains considerable influence over key segments of each sector, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It nevertheless has been slowly relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s, most recently selling 23% of France Telecom. The government also plans to sell its stakes in Air France and in the insurance, banking, and defense industries. Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. A major exporter of wheat and dairy products, France is virtually self-sufficient in agriculture. The economy expanded by 2.3% last year, following a 1.3% gain in 1996. Persistently high unemployment still poses a major problem for the government, however, as does the need to control government spending to keep the economy internationally competitive and meet membership qualifications for the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) which is slated to introduce a common European currency in January 1999. Succeeding governments have shied away from cutting exceptionally generous social welfare benefits or the enormous state bureaucracy, preferring to pare defense spending and raise taxes to keep the deficit down. The JOSPIN administration has pledged both to lower unemployment and bring France into EMU, pinning its hopes for new jobs on economic growth and on legislation to gradually reduce the workweek from 39 to 35 hours by 2002.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.32 trillion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.3% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$22,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 2.4% industry: 26.5% services: 71.1% (1994)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1996)
Labor force: total: 25.5 million by occupation: services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 12.4% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $222 billion expenditures: $265 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining, textiles, food processing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 102.94 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 467.541 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 6,841 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish catch of 850,000 metric tons ranks among world's top 20 countries and is all used domestically
Exports: total value: $275 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, agricultural products, iron and steel products, textiles and clothing partners: Germany 17%, Italy 9%, UK 9%, Spain 8%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, US 6%, Netherlands 4.5%, Japan 2%, Russia 0.7% (1996)
Imports: total value: $256 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, iron and steel products partners: Germany 17%, Italy 10%, US 9%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, Spain 7%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 3%, China 2% (1997 est.)
Debt-external: $117.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $7.915 billion (1993)
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: French francs (F) per US$1-6.0836 (January 1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995), 5.5520 (1994), 5.6632 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 35 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas-2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 800 (mostly repeaters), shortwave 0
Radios: 49 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 846 (mostly repeaters) note: Eutelsat receive-only TV service
Televisions: 29.3 million (1993 est.)
@France:Transportation
Railways: total: 32,027 km standard gauge: 31,928 km 1.435-m gauge; 31,940 km are operated by French National Railways (SNCF); 13,805 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge note: does not include 33 tourist railroads, totaling 469 km, many being of very narrow gauge (1996)