@Kenya:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary General ServiceUnit of the Police
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 6,870,889 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,257,985 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $134 million (FY94/95)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.9% (FY94/95)
@Kenya:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary
Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@Kingman Reef:Geography
Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 1 sq km land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain: low and nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1996)
Natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment-current issues: none
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
@Kingman Reef:People
Population: uninhabited
@Kingman Reef:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Data code: KQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the US Navy; however, it is awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and is uninhabited
National capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Kingman Reef:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
@Kingman Reef:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
@Kingman Reef:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Kingman Reef:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Kiribati:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note-on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands and make it the same day throughout the country
Geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 717 sq km land: 717 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes three island groups-Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands
Area-comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: 51% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 3% other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usually November toMarch; occasional tornadoes
Environment-current issues: heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (OceanIsland) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islandsin the Pacific Ocean-the others are Makatea in French Polynesia andNauru
@Kiribati:People
Population: 83,976 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.82% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 26.46 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.62 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 49.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.61 years male: 60.79 years female: 64.68 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.13 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural) adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%,Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)
Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy: NA
@Kiribati:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati conventional short form: Kiribati note: pronounced kir-ih-bahss former: Gilbert Islands
Data code: KR
Government type: republic
National capital: Tarawa
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,Phoenix Islandsnote: in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21island councils-one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang,Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton,Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa,Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution: 12 July 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1 October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) Tewareka TENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president, attorney general, and up to eight other ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note-the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates from among their members and then those candidates compete in a general election; election last held 30 September 1994 (next to be held by NA September 1998); vice president appointed by the president election results: Teburoro TITO elected president; percent of vote-Teburoro TITO 51.2%, Tewareka TENTOA 18.3%, Roniti TEIWAKI 16.0%, Peter Taberannang TIMEON 14.5%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 22 July 1994 (next to be held by NA July 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Maneaban Te Mauri Party 13, National Progressive Party 7, independents 19
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates' courts judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party, Teatao TEANNAKI; New Movement Party, leader NA; Liberal Party, Tewareka TENTOA; Maneaban Te Mauri Party, Teburoro TITO note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFC, IMF, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands is accredited to Kiribati
Flag description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
@Kiribati:Economy
Economy-overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Real GDP growth has declined from about 10% in 1988 to about 2.6% in 1995 and 1.9% in 1996. Growth in 1997 was expected to parallel the 1996 performance. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal in amount to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$62 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$800 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 7% services: 79% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: -0.6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $33.3 million expenditures: $47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1992 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 2,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 7 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 88 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Exports: total value: $6.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: copra 62%, seaweed, fish partners: US, Australia, NZ (1996)
Imports: total value: $37.4 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel partners: Australia 46%, Fiji, Japan, NZ, US (1996)
Debt-external: $7.2 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $4.725 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.); $2.175 million from NZ (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1-1.5281 (January 1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994), 1.4704 (1993)
Fiscal year: NA
Communications
Telephones: 1,400 (1984 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 0 (1988 est.)
@Kiribati:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 670 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands
Ports and harbors: Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,248 GRT/4,496 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 21 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)
@Kiribati:Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Kiribati:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Korea, North:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 120,540 sq km land: 120,410 sq km water: 130 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries: total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline: 2,495 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm military boundary line: 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 14% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 61% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
Environment-current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography-note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated
@Korea, North:People
Population: 21,234,387 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26% (male 2,800,857; female 2,669,250) 15-64 years: 68% (male 7,089,039; female 7,406,901) 65 years and over: 6% (male 387,011; female 881,329) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.03% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 15.3 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 15.57 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.44 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 87.83 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.32 years male: 48.88 years female: 53.88 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese
Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity and syncretic Chondogyo note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Languages: Korean
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write Korean total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1990 est.)
@Korea, North:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea conventional short form: North Korea local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk local short form: none note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country abbreviation: DPRK
Data code: KN
Government type: Communist state; one-man dictatorship
National capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 3special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (ChagangProvince), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo(South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province),Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City),Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (SouthP'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do(Yanggang Province)
Independence: 9 September 1948 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: KIM Chong-il [de facto]; note-President KIM Il-song was reelected without opposition 24 May 1990 and died 8 July 1994, leaving his son KIM Chong-il as designated successor; KIM Chong-il became General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party on 8 October 1997, but has not assumed the presidency head of government: KANG Song-san is premier, but is in ill health; Vice Premier HONG Song-nam has been acting premier since NA February 1997 cabinet: State Administration Council appointed by the Supreme People's Assembly elections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly election results: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 7-9 April 1990 (next to be held NA); note-the term of the Assembly expired in April 1995 without a new election and it has not been convened since the death of KIM Il-song in July 1994 election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-the KWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected without opposition; minor parties hold a few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the SupremePeople's Assembly
Political parties and leaders: major party-Korean Workers' Party(KWP), KIM Chong-il, General Secretary; Korean Social DemocraticParty, KIM Pyong-sik, chairman; Chondoist Chongu Party, YU Mi-yong,chairwoman
International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO,ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO,ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note-North Korea has aPermanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
@Korea, North:Economy
Economy-overview: More than 90% of this command economy is socialized; agricultural land is collectivized; and state-owned industry produces 95% of manufactured goods. State control of economic affairs is unusually tight even for a communist country because of the small size and homogeneity of the society and the strict rule of KIM Il-song in the past and now his son, KIM Chong-il. Economic growth during the period 1984-88 averaged 2%-3%, but output declined by an average of 4%-5% or more annually during 1989-97 because of systemic problems and disruptions in economic and technological links with the former USSR and China. The leadership has insisted on maintaining its high level of military outlays from a shrinking economic pie. Moreover, a serious drawdown in inventories and critical shortages in the energy sector have led to increasing interruptions in industrial production. Abundant mineral resources and hydropower have formed the basis of industrial development since World War II. Manufacturing is centered on heavy industry, including military industry, with light industry lagging far behind. Despite the use of improved seed varieties, expansion of irrigation, and the heavy use of fertilizers, North Korea is not yet self-sufficient in food production. Indeed, a shortage of arable lands, several years of poor harvests, systemic inefficiencies, a cumbersome distribution system, and extensive floods in 1995-96 followed by a severe drought in 1997 have resulted in increasingly serious food shortages. Substantial grain shipments from Japan and South Korea are offsetting a portion of the losses. North Korea remains far behind South Korea in economic development and living standards.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$21.8 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -3.7% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$900 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 60% services: 15% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total: 9.615 million by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $19.3 billion expenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)
Industries: military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: -7% to -9% (1992 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 9.5 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 35.2 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,499 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports: total value: $912 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: minerals, metallurgical products, agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments) partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Hong Kong, Russia
Imports: total value: $1.95 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery and equipment, consumer goods partners: China, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia, Singapore
Debt-external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: an estimated $200 million to $300 million in aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 1997
Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1-2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990), 2.3 (December 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 30,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: system is believed to be available principally for government business domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations: AM 18, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.5 million
Television broadcast stations: 11
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
@Korea, North:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,000 km standard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 km double track) narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge dual gauge: 240 km (standard and broad gauge) (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines: crude oil 37 km
Ports and harbors: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek,Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi),Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine: total: 105 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 663,527 GRT/930,587 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 87, combination bulk 1, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 3, passenger 3, passenger-cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2 note: North Korea owns an additional 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,143 DWT operating under the registry of Honduras (1997 est.)
Airports: 49 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
@Korea, North:Military
Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, AirForce), Civil Security Forces
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 5,704,690 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 3,449,880 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 175,181 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $5 billion to $7 billion (1995 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 25% (1995 est.)
@Korea, North:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: 33-km section of boundary with China in thePaektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with SouthKorea
______________________________________________________________________
@Korea, South:Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates: 37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 98,480 sq km land: 98,190 sq km water: 290 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline: 2,413 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm; 3 nm in the Korea Strait
Climate: temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 65% other: 13% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,350 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest
Environment-current issues: air pollution in large cities; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Desertification
@Korea, South:People
Population: 46,416,796 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22% (male 5,505,564; female 4,894,780) 15-64 years: 71% (male 16,772,319; female 16,272,145) 65 years and over: 7% (male 1,126,963; female 1,845,025) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.01% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.08 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.67 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.79 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.95 years male: 70.37 years female: 78 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.79 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions: Christianity 49%, Buddhism 47%, Confucianism 3%, pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%
Languages: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99.3% female: 96.7% (1995 est.)
@Korea, South:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Korea conventional short form: South Korea local long form: Taehan-min'guk local short form: none note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Hanguk" to refer to their country abbreviation: ROK
Data code: KS
Government type: republic
National capital: Seoul
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 6special cities* (gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do,Cholla-bukto, Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo,Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do,Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*, Soul-t'ukpyolsi*,Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*
Independence: 15 August 1945; note-date of liberation from Japanese colonial rule
National holiday: Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution: 25 February 1988
Legal system: combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Kim Dae-jung (since 25 February 1998) head of government: Acting Prime Minister KIM Chong-p'il (since 3 March 1998) cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 18 December 1997 (next to be held 18 December 2002); prime minister appointed by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation election results: Kim Dae-jung elected president; percent of vote-Kim Dae-jung (NCNP) 40.3%, YI Hoe-chang (GNP) 38.7%, YI In-che (NPP) 19.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 April 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NKP 139, NCNP 79, ULD 50, DP 15, independents 16; note-the distribution of seats as of February 1998 was GNP 165, NCNP 78, ULD 43, NPP 8, independents 4, vacant 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices are appointed by the president subject to the consent of the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Grand National Party (GNP), CHO Sun, president; National Congress for New Politics (NCNP), Kim Dae-jung, president; United Liberal Democrats (ULD), PAK Tae-chun, president; New People's Party (NPP), YI In-che, president note: subsequent to the legislative election of April 1996 the following parties disbanded-New Korea Party (NKP) and Democratic Party (DP)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Korean National Council ofChurches; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federationof Student Associations; National Federation of Farmers' Associations;National Council of Labor Unions; Federation of Korean Trade Unions;Korean Veterans' Association; Federation of Korean Industries; KoreanTraders Association; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS(pending member), CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNU,UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador YI Hong-ku chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600 consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen W. BOSWORTH embassy: 82 Sejong-Ro, Chongro-ku, Seoul mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-0001 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845 consulate(s): Pusan
Flag description: white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field
@Korea, South:Economy
Economy-overview: As one of the Four Dragons of East Asia, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth. Three decades ago its GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. Today its GDP per capita is eight times India's, 15 times North Korea's, and already up with the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997/98 exposed certain longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. Also, a number of private sector conglomerates are near bankruptcy. At yearend 1997, an international effort, spearheaded by the IMF, was underway to shore up reserves and stabilize the economy. Growth in 1998 will be sharply cut. Long-term growth will depend on how successfully South Korea implements planned economic reforms that would bolster the financial sector, improve corporate management, and open the economy further to foreign participation.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$631.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$13,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 45% services: 47% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5% (1996)
Labor force: total: 20 million by occupation: services and other 52%, mining and manufacturing 27%, agriculture, fishing, forestry 21% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 2% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $101 billion expenditures: $101 billion, including capital expenditures of $20 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel, textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: 8.2% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 31.665 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 174.52 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,831 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish catch of 2.9 million metric tons, seventh largest in world
Exports: total value: $129.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: electronic and electrical equipment, machinery, steel, automobiles, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish partners: US 17%, EU 13%, Japan 12% (1995)
Imports: total value: $150.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains partners: US 22%, Japan 21%, EU 13% (1995)
Debt-external: $154 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 South Korean won (W) = 100 chun (theoretical)
Exchange rates: South Korean won (W) per US$1-1,706.80 (January 1998), 951.29 (1997), 804.45 (1996), 771.27 (1995), 803.45 (1994), 802.67 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16.6 million (1993)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services domestic: NA international: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 79, FM 46, shortwave 0
Radios: 42 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 256 (57 of which are 1 kW or greater) (1987 est.)
Televisions: 9.3 million (1992 est.)
@Korea, South:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,081 km standard gauge: 3,081 km 1.435-m gauge (560 km electrified) (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 83,400 km paved: 63,467 km (including 1,920 km of expressways) unpaved: 19,933 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; use restricted to small native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 455 km; note-additionally, there is a parallel petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) pipeline being completed
Ports and harbors: Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang,Pusan, Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine: total: 474 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,749,052 GRT/10,447,597 DWT ships by type: bulk 118, cargo 131, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 3, combination ore/oil 1, container 70, liquefied gas tanker 12, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 72, refrigerated cargo 22, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 2, vehicle carrier 13 note: South Korea owns an additional 273 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,985,267 DWT operating under the registries of Cambodia, Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, Panama, and Singapore (1997 est.)
Airports: 103 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 36 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 32 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 202 (1997 est.)
@Korea, South:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, NationalMaritime Police (Coast Guard)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 13,849,615 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 8,837,541 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 399,034 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $17.4 billion (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.3% (1996)
@Korea, South:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Demarcation Line with North Korea; LiancourtRocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) claimed by Japan
______________________________________________________________________
@Kuwait:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq andSaudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 17,820 sq km land: 17,820 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 464 km border countries: Iraq 242 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline: 499 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain: flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 8% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April, they bring inordinate amounts of rain which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August
Environment-current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment-international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping
Geography-note: strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
@Kuwait:People
Population: 1,913,285 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 1,168,185 non-nationals (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 338,933; female 279,087) 15-64 years: 66% (male 811,713; female 444,679) 65 years and over: 2% (male 23,642; female 15,231) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.1% (1998 est.) note: this rate reflects the continued post-Gulf crisis return of expatriates
Birth rate: 20.97 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 2.29 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 22.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.21 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.82 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.55 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.78 years male: 74.76 years female: 78.91 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.44 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kuwaiti(s) adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 45%, Shi'a 40%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.6% male: 82.2% female: 74.9% (1995 est.)
@Kuwait:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Kuwait conventional short form: Kuwait local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt local short form: Al Kuwayt
Data code: KU
Government type: nominal constitutional monarchy
National capital: Kuwait
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular-muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence: 19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution: approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system: civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21 note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31 December 1977) head of government: Prime Minister and Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdallah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 8 February 1978); First Deputy Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 17 October 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister SALIM al-Sabah al-Salim Al Sabah (since 7 October 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the amir elections: none; the amir is a hereditary monarch of the MUBARAK line of the ruling Sabah family; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the amir
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 October 1996 (next to be held NA October 2000) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 50; note-all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly
Judicial branch: High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists
International organization participation: ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF,BDEAC, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim Al SABAH chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-0517
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James LAROCCO embassy: Bneid al-Gar (opposite the Kuwait International Hotel), Kuwait City mailing address: P.O. Box 77, SAFAT, 13001 SAFAT, Kuwait; Unit 69000, APO AE 09880-9000 telephone: [965] 539-5307 or 539-5308 FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side
@Kuwait:Economy
Economy-overview: Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels-10% of world reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its crude oil production averaged 2 million barrels per day in 1996. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 75% of government income. Kuwait lacks water and has practically no arable land, thus preventing development of agriculture. With the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Because of its high per capita income, Kuwait provides its citizens with extensive health, educational, and retirement benefits. The bulk of the work force is non-Kuwaiti, living at a considerably lower level. Per capita military expenditures are among the highest in the world. The economy improved moderately in 1994-97, with the growth in industry and finance. The World Bank has urged Kuwait to push ahead with privatization, including in the oil industry, but the government will move slowly on opening the petroleum sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$46.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$22,300 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 53% services: 47% (1996)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.2% (1996)
Labor force: total: 1.1 million (1996 est.) by occupation: government and social services 50%, services 40%, industry and agriculture 10% (1996 est.) note: 68% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.8% (official 1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $10.3 billion expenditures: $14.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing, construction materials, salt, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 6.988 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 25 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 13,756 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: practically no crops; extensive fishing in territorial waters
Exports: total value: $14.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: oil and refined products, fertilizers partners: Japan 29%, US 16%, Netherlands 13%, Singapore 12% (1996 est.)
Imports: total value: $7.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities : food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing partners: US 31%, UK 14%, Japan 13%, Germany 8%, Italy 7% (1996 est.)
Debt-external: $8 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Kuwaiti dinar (KD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Kuwaiti dinars (KD) per US$1-0.3055 (January 1998), 0.3033 (1997), 0.2994 (1996), 0.2984 (1995), 0.2976 (1994), 0.3017 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 548,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: the civil network suffered some damage as a result of the Gulf war, but most of the telephone exchanges were left intact and, by the end of 1994, domestic and international telecommunications had been restored to normal operation; the quality of service is excellent domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, open wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait and the country is well supplied with pay telephones international: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 720,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 800,000 (1993 est.)
@Kuwait:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 4,450 km paved: 3,587 km unpaved: 863 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 877 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 165 km
Ports and harbors: Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'AbdAllah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine: total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,965,633 GRT/3,109,720 DWT ships by type: cargo 10, container 3, liquefied gas tanker 7, livestock carrier 3, oil tanker 19 (1997 est.)
Airports: 8 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Kuwait:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Ministry ofInterior Forces, Coast Guard
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 690,989 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 409,563 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 19,553 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $3.5 billion (FY95/96)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 12.8% (FY95/96)
@Kuwait:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: in November 1994, Iraq formally accepted the UN-demarcated border with Kuwait which had been spelled out in Security Council Resolutions 687 (1991), 773 (1993), and 883 (1993); this formally ends earlier claims to Kuwait and to Bubiyan and Warbah islands; ownership of Qaruh and Umm al Maradim islands disputed by Saudi Arabia
______________________________________________________________________
@Kyrgyzstan:Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 75 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area: total: 198,500 sq km land: 191,300 sq km water: 7,200 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries: total: 3,878 km border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone
Terrain: peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kara-Darya 132 m highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m
Natural resources: abundant hydroelectric potential; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 4% other: 45% (1993 est.) note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest
Irrigated land: 9,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: landlocked
@Kyrgyzstan:People
Population: 4,522,281 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 36% (male 817,229; female 800,248) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,285,520; female 1,337,259) 65 years and over: 6% (male 104,105; female 177,920) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.37% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.03 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.65 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)