@Gaza Strip:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Data code: GZ
@Gaza Strip:Economy
Economy-overview: Economic progress in the Gaza Strip has been hampered by tight Israeli security restrictions. In 1991 roughly 40% of Gaza Strip workers were employed across the border by Israeli industrial, construction, and agricultural enterprises, with worker remittances supplementing GDP by roughly 50%. Gaza has depended upon Israel for nearly 90% of its external trade. The Persian Gulf crisis and its aftershocks have dealt blows to Gaza since August 1990. Worker remittances from the Gulf states have dropped, unemployment and popular unrest have increased, and living standards have fallen. The redeployment of Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip in May 1994 has added to the set of adjustment problems. This series of disruptions has meant a sharp decline in employment in Israel since 1991 and a drop in GDP as a whole. An estimated 378,000 persons were in refugee camps in 1996.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -6.9% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,100 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (1995 est., includes West Bank)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 8.4% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA by occupation: services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996) note: excluding Israeli settlers
Unemployment rate: 28% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $684 million expenditures: $779 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996) note: includes West Bank
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: NA kW note: electricity supplied by Israel
Electricity-production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by Israel
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture-products: olives, citrus, other fruits, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports: total value: $630 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank) commodities: citrus partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports: total value: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) (includes West Bank) commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials partners: Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1-3.5340 (December 1997), 3.4494 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994), 2.8301 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications
Telephones: NA note: 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note-95% of Palestinian households have radios (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 station operated by the PalestinianAuthority
Televisions: NA; note-59% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)
@Gaza Strip:Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; note-one line, abandoned and in disrepair, little trackage remains
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network
Ports and harbors: Gaza
Airports: 2 (1997 est.) note: includes new international airport that was scheduled to open in June 1997, but has been delayed due to political and security disagreements between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Gaza Strip:Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Gaza Strip:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement-permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Current issues: Beset by ethnic and civil strife since independence in 1991, Georgia began to stabilize in 1994. Separatist conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been dormant since spring 1994, although political settlements remain elusive. Russian peacekeepers are deployed in both regions and a UN Observer Mission is operating in Abkhazia. As a result of these conflicts, Georgia still has about 250,000 internally displaced people. In 1995, Georgia adopted a new constitution and conducted generally free and fair nationwide presidential and parliamentary elections. In 1996, the government focused its attention to implementing an ambitious economic reform program and professionalizing its parliament. Violence and organized crime were sharply curtailed in 1995 and 1996, but corruption remains rife. In 1997, SHEVARDNADZE succeeded in bringing international attention to the Abkhazia conflict. The UN sponsored two meetings on the subject, but a resolution is still far off. Georgia also took some steps in 1997 to reduce its dependence on Russia, acquiring coastal patrol boats it hopes to use to replace the current Russian border units on the Black Sea coast. The year 1997 also saw a sharpening of rhetoric-especially from parliament-against Russia's continued military presence on Georgian territory.
@Georgia:Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 69,700 sq km land: 69,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 1,461 kmborder countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,Turkey 252 km
Coastline: 310 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain: largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhida Lowland opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Mt'a Mqinvartsveri (Gora Kazbek) 5,048 m
Natural resources: forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 34% other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Desertification
@Georgia:People
Population: 5,108,527 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 562,623; female 540,378) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,631,296; female 1,756,087) 65 years and over: 12% (male 235,042; female 383,101) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.92% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.72 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 14.1 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 51.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.79 years male: 61.36 years female: 68.4 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Georgian(s) adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religions: Christian Orthodox 75% (Georgian Orthodox 65%, RussianOrthodox 10%), Muslim 11%, Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Languages: Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, other 7%
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 100% female: 98% (1989 est.)
@Georgia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Georgia local long form: none local short form: Sak'art'velo former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: GG
Government type: republic
National capital: T'bilisi
Administrative divisions: 53 rayons (raionebi, singular-raioni), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abashis, Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Adigenis, Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika** (Bat'umi), Akhalgoris, Akhalk'alak'is, Akhalts'ikhis, Akhmetis, Ambrolauris, Aspindzis, Baghdat'is, Bolnisis, Borjomis, Chiat'ura*, Ch'khorotsqus, Ch'okhatauris, Dedop'listsqaros, Dmanisis, Dushet'is, Gardabanis, Gori*, Goris, Gurjaanis, Javis, K'arelis, Kaspis, Kharagaulis, Khashuris, Khobis, Khonis, K'ut'aisi*, Lagodekhis, Lanch'khut'is, Lentekhis, Marneulis, Martvilis, Mestiis, Mts'khet'is, Ninotsmindis, Onis, Ozurget'is, P'ot'i*, Qazbegis, Qvarlis, Rust'avi*, Sach'kheris, Sagarejos, Samtrediis, Senakis, Sighnaghis, T'bilisi*, T'elavis, T'erjolis, T'et'ritsqaros, T'ianet'is, Tqibuli*, Ts'ageris, Tsalenjikhis, Tsalkis, Tsqaltubo*, Vanis, Zestap'onis, Zugdidi*, Zugdidis note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)
Constitution: adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; elected president 5 November 1995; inaugurated 26 November 1995); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992, Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; elected president 5 November 1995); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000) election results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE elected president; percent of vote-Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 74%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Council or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 5 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-CUG 24%, NDP 8%, AGUR 7%, all other parties received less than 5% each; seats by party-CUG 107, NDP 34, AGUR 32, Progress Bloc (DUG, Political Association "Georgian Proprietors," Political Union of Young Democrats, Solidarity) 4, SPG 4, others 9, Abkazian deputies 12, independents 29, not filled 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG[Eduard SHEVARDNADZE]; National Democratic People's Party [MamukaGIORGADZE]; National Democratic Party or NDP [IrinaSARISHVILI-CHANTARIA]; Union for "Revival" Party or AGUR [AlsanABASHIDZE]; Union of Traditionalists or UGT [Akaki ASTANTIANI];Socialist Party or SPG [Vakhtang RCHEULISHVILI]; Georgian UnitedCommunist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE, chairman]; GreensParty [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; United Republican Party or URP [NodarNATADZE, chairman]; National Independent Party or NIP [IrakliTSERETELI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or GSDP [GuramMUCHAIDZE, secretary general]; Conservative-Monarchist Party or GCMP[Temur ZHORZHOLIANI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: supporters of ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA (deceased 1 January 1994) remain a source of opposition; separatist elements in the breakaway region of Abkhazia
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CIS,EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tedo JAPARIDZE chancery: (temporary) Suite 424, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 393-5959 FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: #25 Antonelli Street, T'bilisi 380026 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 995-32-989-967 or 995-32-933-803 (operator assisted) FAX: tie-line FAX 997-0200; 933-759 or 938-951
Flag description: maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner; rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
@Georgia:Economy
Economy-overview: Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around Black Sea tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains in 1995-97, increasing GDP growth and slashing inflation. Georgia still suffers from energy shortages, although energy deliveries are steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term recovery on the development of an international transportation corridor through the key Black Sea ports of P'ot'i and Bat'umi. The construction of a Caspian oil pipeline through Georgia-scheduled to open in early 1999-should spur greater western investment in the economy. A growing trade deficit, continuing problems with corruption, and political uncertainties cloud the short-term economic picture.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$8.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 11.8% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,570 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 16% services: 55% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 7.1% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 2.2 million (1996) by occupation: industry and construction 31%, agriculture and forestry 25%, other 44% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $441 million expenditures: $606 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1996 est.)
Industries: steel, aircraft, machine tools, foundry equipment, electric locomotives, tower cranes, electric welding equipment, machinery for food preparation and meat packing, electric motors, process control equipment, trucks, tractors, textiles, shoes, chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate: 8.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 4.558 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 7.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,175 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: citrus, grapes, tea, vegetables, potatoes; small livestock sector
Exports: total value: $400 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: citrus fruits, tea, wine, other agricultural products; diverse types of machinery; ferrous and nonferrous metals; textiles; chemicals; fuel re-exports partners: Russia, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria (1996)
Imports: total value: $733 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: fuel, grain and other foods, machinery and parts, transport equipment partners: Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan (1996); note-EU and US send humanitarian food shipments
Debt-external: $1.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $28 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,200 million ($675 million disbursements)
Currency: lari introduced September 1995 replacing the coupon
Exchange rates: lari per US$1 (end of period)-1.32 (December 1997), 1.28 (December 1996), 1.24 (December 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 672,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: poor service; 339,000 unsatisfied applications for telephones (December 1990 est.) domestic: NA international: landline to CIS members and Turkey; satellite earth station-1 Eutelsat; leased connections with other countries via the Moscow international gateway switch; international electronic mail and telex service available
Radio broadcast stations: 2 national broadcast stations, 3 regional broadcast stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3
Televisions: NA
@Georgia:Transportation
Railways: total: 1,583 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 1,583 km 1.520-m gauge (1993)
Highways: total: 20,700 km paved: 19,354 km unpaved: 1,346 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 370 km; refined products 300 km; natural gas 440 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 87,730 GRT/122,769 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 5, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 28 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
Transportation-note: transportation network is in poor condition and disrupted by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair
@Georgia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Forces,National Guard, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,286,126 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,017,954 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 40,946 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: 79 million lari (1997); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 8.8% (1998 approved budget)
@Georgia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
@Germany:Geography
Location: Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates: 51 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 356,910 sq km land: 349,520 sq km water: 7,390 sq km note: includes the formerly separate Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, and Berlin, following formal unification on 3 October 1990
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 3,621 km border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline: 2,389 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm, tropical foehn wind; high relative humidity
Terrain: lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Freepsum Lake -2 m highest point: Zugspitze 2,962 m
Natural resources: iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt, nickel
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 31% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 4,750 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries and lead emissions from vehicle exhausts (the result of continued use of leaded fuels) contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; heavy pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal
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,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
Geography-note: strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea
@Germany:People
Population: 82,079,454 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16% (male 6,570,582; female 6,240,671) 15-64 years: 68% (male 28,688,052; female 27,532,099) 65 years and over: 16% (male 4,866,122; female 8,181,928) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.02% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 8.84 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.77 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.99 years male: 73.83 years female: 80.33 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: German(s) adjective: German
Ethnic groups: German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, Italians 0.7%, Greeks 0.4%, Poles 0.4%, other 4.6% (made up largely of people fleeing the war in the former Yugoslavia)
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 1.7%, unaffiliated or other 26.3%
Languages: German
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1977 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@Germany:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany conventional short form: Germany local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland local short form: Deutschland
Data code: GM
Government type: federal republic
National capital: Berlin note: the shift from Bonn to Berlin will take place over a period of years, with Bonn retaining many administrative functions and several ministries even after parliament moves in 1999
Administrative divisions: 16 states (laender, singular-land);Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg,Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen
Independence: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four power rights formally relinquished 15 March 1991
National holiday: German Unity Day (Day of Unity), 3 October (1990)
Constitution: 23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Roman HERZOG (since 1 July 1994) head of government: Chancellor Dr. Helmut KOHL (since 4 October 1982) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president upon the proposal of the chancellor elections: president elected by the Federal Convention including members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of members elected by the Land Parliaments for a five-year term; election last held 23 May 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held 27 September 1998) election results: Roman HERZOG elected president; percent of Federal Convention vote - NA; Dr. Helmut KOHL reelected chancellor; percent of Federal Assembly-NA
Legislative branch: bicameral chamber (no official name for the two chambers as a whole) consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (656 seats usually, but 672 for the 1994 term; elected by direct popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (68 votes; state governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block; term is not fixed) elections: Federal Assembly-last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held by 27 September 1998); Federal Council-last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: Federal Assembly-percent of vote by party-CDU 34.2%, SPD 36.4%, Alliance 90/Greens 7.3%, CSU 7.3%, FDP 6.9%, PDS 4.4%, Republicans 1.9%; seats by party-CDU 244, SPD 252, Alliance 90/Greens 49, CSU 50, FDP 47, PDS 30; note-one Greens member defected to the CDU making the seat count CDU 245, Alliance 90/Greens 48; Federal Council-current composition-votes by party - SPD-led states 41, CDU-led states 27
Judicial branch: Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht, half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Helmut KOHL, chairman]; Christian Social Union or CSU [Theodor WAIGEL, chairman]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Wolfgang GERHARDT, chairman]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Oskar LAFONTAINE, chairman]; Alliance '90/Greens [Christa NICKELS]; Party of Democratic Socialism or PDS [Lothar BISKY, chairman]; Republikaner [Rolf SCHLIERER, chairman]; National Democratic Party or NPD [Gunter DECKERT]; Communist Party or DKP [Rolf PRIEMER and Heinz STEHR, cochairpersons]
Political pressure groups and leaders: employers' organizations, expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB,Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN,EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, 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, MINUGUA,MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UPU,WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juergen CHROBOG chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000 FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John C. KORNBLUM embassy: Deichmanns Aue 29, 53170 Bonn mailing address: APO AE 09080, PSC 117, Bonn telephone: [49] (228) 3391 FAX: [49] (228) 339-2663 branch office: Berlin consulate(s) general: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
@Germany:Economy
Economy-overview: In 1997 the German economy, the world's third most powerful, benefited from robust exports, particularly to other members of the EU and the US, as well as strengthening equipment investment. But anemic private consumption and a contraction in the construction industry limited the expansion. Unemployment continued to set post-war monthly records through the end of 1997 and averaged 4.3 million for the year. In preparation for the 1 January 1999 start of the European Monetary Union, the government has made major efforts in 1996-97 to reduce the fiscal deficit. This effort has been complicated by growing unemployment, an erosion of the tax base, and the continuing transfer of roughly $100 billion a year to eastern Germany to refurbish this ex-communist area. In recent years business and political leaders have become increasingly concerned about Germany's decline in attractiveness as an investment target. They cite increasing preference by German companies to locate new manufacturing facilities in foreign countries, including the US, rather than in Germany, to be closer to the markets and to avoid Germany's high tax rates, high wage costs, rigid labor structures, and extensive regulations. For similar reasons foreign investment in Germany has been lagging in recent years.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.74 trillion (western: purchasing power parity-$1.60 trillion; eastern: purchasing power parity-$144 billion) (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.4% (western 2.5%, eastern 1.7%) (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$20,800 (western: purchasing power parity - $23,600; eastern: purchasing power parity-$9,100) (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 34.5% services: 64.4% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 1.8% (1997)
Labor force: total: 38.7 million by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture 3%, services 56% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $755 billion expenditures: $832.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995)
Industries: western: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages; eastern: metal fabrication, chemicals, brown coal, shipbuilding, machine building, food and beverages, textiles, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1997)
Electricity-capacity: 109.727 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 495.875 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 6,154 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture-products: western: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbage; cattle, pigs, poultry; eastern: wheat, rye, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, fruit; pork, beef, chicken, milk, hides
Exports: total value: $521.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: manufactures 88.2% (including machines and machine tools, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel products), agricultural products 5.0%, raw materials 2.3%, fuels 1.0%, other 3.5% (1995) partners: EU 57.7% (France 11.7%, UK 8.1%, Italy 7.6%, Netherlands 7.5%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.5%, Austria 5.5%), Eastern Europe 8.0%, other West European countries 7.5%, US 7.3%, NICs 5.6%, Japan 2.5%, OPEC 2.2%, China 1.4% (1996 est.)
Imports: total value: $455.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: manufactures 74.2%, agricultural products 9.9%, fuels 6.4%, raw materials 5.9%, other 3.6% (1995) partners: EU 55.5% (France 10.8%, Netherlands 8.6%, Italy 8.4%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6.6%, UK 6.4%, Austria 3.9%), Eastern Europe 8.7%, other West European countries 7.2%, US 6.8%, Japan 5.3%, NICs 5.3%, China 2.4%, OPEC 1.7%, other 7.1% (1995)
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $9 billion (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 deutsche mark (DM) = 100 pfennige
Exchange rates: deutsche marks (DM) per US$1-1.8167 (January 1998), 1.7341 (1997), 1.5048 (1996), 1.4331 (1995), 1.6228 (1994), 1.6533 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 44 million
Telephone system: Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country is being rapidly modernized and integrated with that of the western part domestic: the region which was formerly West Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available and includes roaming service to many foreign countries; since the reunification of Germany, the telephone system of the eastern region has been upgraded and enjoys many of the advantages of the national system international: satellite earth stations-14 Intelsat (12 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), 2 Intersputnik (1 Atlantic Ocean region and 1 Indian Ocean region); 6 submarine cable connections; 2 HF radiotelephone communication centers; tropospheric scatter links
Radio broadcast stations: western-AM 80, FM 470, shortwave 0; eastern-AM 23, FM 17, shortwave 0
Radios: 70 million (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 246 (repeaters 6,000); note-there are 15 Russian repeaters in eastern Germany
Televisions: 44.8 million (1992 est.)
@Germany:Transportation
Railways: total: 43,966 km standard gauge: 43,531 km 1.435-m; 40,355 km are owned by Deutsche Bahn AG (DB); 17,015 km of the DB system are electrified and 16,941 km are double- or more-tracked narrow gauge: 389 km 1.000-m gauge (DB operates 146 km of 1.000-m gauge); 7 km 0.900-m gauge; 39 km 0.750-m gauge note: in addition to the DB system there are 54 privately-owned industrial or excursion railways, ranging in route length from 2 km to 632 km, with a total length of 3,465 km (1995)
Highways: total: 633,000 km paved: 627,303 km (including 11,300 km of expressways) unpaved: 5,697 km all-weather (1996 est.)
Waterways: western-5,222 km, of which almost 70% are usable by craft of 1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger; major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is an important connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea; eastern-2,319 km (1988)
Pipelines: crude oil 3,644 km; petroleum products 3,946 km; natural gas 97,564 km (1988)
Ports and harbors: Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne,Dresden, Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Lubeck, Magdeburg,Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
Merchant marine: total: 515 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,448,105 GRT/7,940,824 DWT ships by type: cargo 202, chemical tanker 10, combination bulk 2, container 253, liquefied gas tanker 6, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oil tanker 9, passenger 4, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 7 note: includes ships from the former East Germany and West Germany; Germany owns 460 additional ships (1,000 GRT or over) that operate under the registries of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Cyprus, Hong Kong, Liberia, Malta, Norway, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Marshall Islands, Singapore, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1997 est.)
Airports: 620 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 321 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 70 914 to 1,523 m: 53 under 914 m: 123 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 299 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 228 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 63 (1997 est.)
@Germany:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm), Air Force,Medical Corps, Border Police, Coast Guard
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 20,915,978 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 17,888,396 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 465,179 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $42.8 billion (1995)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.5% (1995)
@Germany:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: individual Sudeten German claims for restitution of property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II
Illicit drugs: source of precursor chemicals for South Americancocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of SouthwestAsian heroin and hashish, Latin American cocaine, andEuropean-produced synthetic drugs
______________________________________________________________________
@Ghana:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 238,540 sq km land: 230,020 sq km water: 8,520 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 2,093 km border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km
Coastline: 539 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 35% other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January toMarch; droughts
Environment-current issues: recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography-note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)
@Ghana:People
Population: 18,497,206 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 3,985,219; female 3,947,640) 15-64 years: 54% (male 4,905,442; female 5,077,521) 65 years and over: 3% (male 275,192; female 306,192) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.13% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 32.81 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.63 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.82 years male: 54.77 years female: 58.92 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.27 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups: black African 99.8% (major tribes-Akan 44%,Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%
Languages: English (official), African languages (including Akan,Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 75.9% female: 53.5% (1995 est.)
@Ghana:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast
Data code: GH
Government type: constitutional democracy
National capital: Accra
Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central,Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta,Western
Independence: 6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution: new constitution approved 28 April 1992
Legal system: based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by the Parliament elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS elected president; percent of vote-RAWLINGS 57%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Congress or NDC[Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP[Peter Ala ADJETY]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel AlexanderERSKINE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; EveryGhanian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; PeoplesConvention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; PeoplesNational Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward BRYNN embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 775348 FAX: [233] (21) 776008
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
@Ghana:Economy
Economy-overview: Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 41% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$36.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,000 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 14% services: 45% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 27.7% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: NA by occupation: agriculture and fishing 61%, industry 10%, services 29% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.39 billion expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370 million (1996 est.)
Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 1.3 million kW (1997)
Electricity-production: 600 million kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 373 kWh (1996)
Agriculture-products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Exports: total value: $1.57 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: gold 39%, cocoa 35%, timber 9.4%, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, and diamonds (1996 est.) partners: UK, Germany, US, Netherlands, Japan, Nigeria
Imports: total value: $1.84 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, consumer goods, foods, intermediate goods partners: UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Japan, Netherlands
Debt-external: $5.2 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $472 million (1993)
Currency: 1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas
Exchange rates: new cedis per US$1-2,271.70 (January 1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995), 956.71 (1994), 649.06 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 100,000 (1997 est.)
Telephone system: poor to fair system domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 0 (1997)
Radios: 12.5 million (1997 est.)
Television broadcast stations: broadcast stations 3 (8 repeaters); pay per view (cable/satellite) 1 (1997)
Televisions: 1.9 million (1997 est.)
@Ghana:Transportation
Railways: total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation) narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)
Highways: total: 39,409 km paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways
Pipelines: 0 km
Ports and harbors: Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,037 GRT/22,747 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2 (1997 est.)
Airports: 12 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Ghana:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force,Palace Guard, Civil Defense
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 4,386,728 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,434,732 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 181,169 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $30 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 0.8% (1994)
@Ghana:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US
______________________________________________________________________
(dependent territory of the UK)
@Gibraltar:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 36 11 N, 5 22 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline: 12 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
@Gibraltar:People
Population: 29,045 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 20% (male 3,131; female 2,731) 15-64 years: 66% (male 10,835; female 8,262) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,684; female 2,402) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.43% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 13.01 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.31 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.61 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.19 years male: 74.9 years female: 81.64 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Languages: English (used in schools and for official purposes),Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Literacy: definition: NA total population: above 95% male: NA% female: NA%
@Gibraltar:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code: GI
Dependency status: dependent territory of the UK
Government type: NA
National capital: Gibraltar
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Constitution: 30 May 1969
Legal system: English law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Admiral Sir Richard LUCE (24 February 1997) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats, 15 elected, the Speaker, and 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party-SD 8, SL 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL[Joe BOSSANO]; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancementof Civil Rights or GCL/AACR [Adolfo CANEPA]; Gibraltar SocialDemocrats or SD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar National Party or NP [JoeGARCIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
International organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of theUK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Flag description: two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
@Gibraltar:Economy
Economy-overview: Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism (more than 5 million visitors in 1995), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$17,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.1% (1996)
Labor force: total: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) by occupation: services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL
Unemployment rate: 13.5% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $111.6 million expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995/96)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and repairing; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 30,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 85 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,667 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: none
Exports: total value: $83.7 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8% partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Imports: total value: $778 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 Gibraltar pound (£G) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (£G) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 19,356 (1994)