Net migration rate: -9.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 74.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.77 years male: 59.45 years female: 68.3 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.68 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kyrgyzstani(s) adjective: Kyrgyzstani
Ethnic groups: Kirghiz 52.4%, Russian 18%, Uzbek 12.9%, Ukrainian 2.5%, German 2.4%, other 11.8%
Religions: Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
Languages: Kirghiz (Kyrgyz)-official language, Russian-official language note: in March 1996, the Kyrgyzstani legislature amended the constitution to make Russian an official language, along with Kirghiz, in territories and work places where Russian-speaking citizens predominate
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 99% female: 96% (1989 est.)
@Kyrgyzstan:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kyrgyz Republic conventional short form: Kyrgyzstan local long form: Kyrgyz Respublikasy local short form: none former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KG
Government type: republic
National capital: Bishkek
Administrative divisions: 6 oblasttar (singular-oblast) and 1 city* (singular-shaar); Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December; Independence Day, 31August (1991)
Constitution: adopted 5 May 1993 note: amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Askar AKAYEV (since 28 October 1990) head of government: Prime Minister Kubanychbek JUMALIYEV (since 25 March 1998) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; elections last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Askar AKAYEV elected president; percent of vote-Askar AKAYEV 75%; note-elections were held early which gave the two opposition candidates little time to campaign; AKAYEV may have orchestrated the "deregistration" of two other candidates, one of whom was a major rival
Legislative branch: bicameral Supreme Council or Zhogorku Kenesh consists of the Assembly of People's Representatives (70 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Legislative Assembly (35 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Assembly of People's Representatives-last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000); Legislative Assembly-last held 5 February 1995 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: Assembly of People's Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA; note-not all of the 70 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held at later dates; the assembly meets twice yearly; Legislative Assembly-percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party-NA; note-not all of the 35 seats were filled at the 5 February 1995 elections; as a result, run-off elections were held note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed for a 10-year term by the Supreme Council on recommendation of the president; Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD [Zh. IBRAMOV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV, chairman]; National Unity Democratic Movement or DDNE [Yury RAZGULYAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan or PKK [Absamat MASALIYEV, chairman]; Kyrgyzstan Erkin Party (Democratic Movement of Free Kyrgyzstan) or ErK [Tursunbay Bakir UULU]; Republican Popular Party of Kyrgyzstan [Zh. SHARSHENALIYEV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [A. ALIYEV]; Fatherland or Alta Mekel Party [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Banner National Rivival Party or ASABA [Chaprashty BAZARBAY]; Movement for the People's Salvation [Djumgalbek AMAMBAYEV]; Mutual Help Movement or Ashar [Zhumagazy USUPOV]; Peasant Party; Agrarian Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Unity DemocraticMovement; Council of Free Trade Unions; Union of Entrepreneurs; KyrgyzCommittee on Human Rights [Ramazan DYRYIDAYEV]
International organization participation: AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, Intelsat,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OSCE, PCA, PFP,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bakyt ABDRISAYEV chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141 FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne SIGMUND embassy: Erkindik Prospekt #66, Bishkek 720002 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [7] (3312) 22-29-21, 22-27-77, 22-26-31, 22-24-73 FAX: [7] (3312) 22-35-51
Flag description: red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kirghiz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kirghiz yurt
@Kyrgyzstan:Economy
Economy-overview: Kyrgyzstan is a small, poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products and exports. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and hydropower. Kyrgyzstan has been one of the most progressive countries of the former Soviet Union in carrying out market reforms. Following a successful stabilization program, which lowered inflation from 88% in 1994 to 15% for 1997, attention is turning toward stimulating growth. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production have been severe since the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase. Pensioners, unemployed workers, and government workers with salary arrears continue to suffer. Foreign assistance played a substantial role in the country's economic turnaround in 1996-97.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$9.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,100 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 47% industry: 12% services: 41% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 1.7 million by occupation: agriculture and forestry 40%, industry and construction 19%, other 41% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (December 1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $225 million expenditures: $308 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)
Industries: small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals
Industrial production growth rate: 10.8% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 3.632 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 13.7 billion kWh (1996 est.)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,090 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wool, tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle
Exports: total value: $506 million (1996) commodities: cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, hydropower; machinery; shoes partners: China, UK, FSU
Imports: total value: $890 million (1996) commodities: grain, lumber, industrial products, ferrous metals, fuel, machinery, textiles, footwear partners: Turkey, Cuba, US, Germany
Debt-external: $746 million (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $56 million (1993) note: commitments, 1992-95, $1,695 million ($390 million disbursements)
Currency: 1 Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) = 100 tyiyn
Exchange rates: soms (KGS) per US$1-14.6 (January 1997), 11.2 (yearend 1995), 10.6 (yearend 1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 342,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones domestic: principally microwave radio relay international: connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations-1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-run radio broadcast station
Radios: 825,000 (radio receiver systems with multiple speakers for program diffusion 748,000)
Television broadcast stations: 1 note: receives Turkish broadcasts
Televisions: 875,000
@Kyrgyzstan:Transportation
Railways: total: 370 km in common carrier service; does not include industrial lines broad gauge: 370 km 1.520-m gauge (1990)
Highways: total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 1,646 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 600 km (1990)
Pipelines: natural gas 200 km
Ports and harbors: Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)
Airports: 54 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 32 (1994 est.)
@Kyrgyzstan:Military
Military branches: Army, National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops), Civil Defense note: border troops controlled by Russia
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,124,900 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 912,596 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 45,066 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: 151 million soms (1995); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the current exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Kyrgyzstan:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: territorial dispute with Tajikistan on southwestern boundary in Isfara Valley area
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia and Western Europe from Southwest Asia
______________________________________________________________________
@Laos:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Utah
Land boundaries:total: 5,083 kmborder countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km,Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season(December to April)
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 3% forests and woodland: 54% other: 40% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: floods, droughts, and blight
Environment-current issues: unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography-note: landlocked
@Laos:People
Population: 5,260,842 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 1,205,210; female 1,174,323) 15-64 years: 52% (male 1,318,061; female 1,393,386) 65 years and over: 3% (male 77,388; female 92,474) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.76% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 40.58 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.97 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: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 91.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.7 years male: 52.13 years female: 55.34 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.66 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lao(s) or Laotian(s) adjective: Lao or Laotian
Ethnic groups: Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong ("Meo") and the Yao (Mien) 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%
Religions: Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40%
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 56.6% male: 69.4% female: 44.4% (1995 est.)
@Laos:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Lao People's Democratic Republic conventional short form: Laos local long form: Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao local short form: none
Data code: LA
Government type: Communist state
National capital: Vientiane
Administrative divisions: 16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural), 1 municipality* (kampheng nakhon, singular and plural), and 1 special zone** (khetphiset, singular and plural); Attapu, Bokeo, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Houaphan, Khammouan, Louangnamtha, Louangphabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang
Independence: 19 July 1949 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 2 December (1975) (proclamation of theLao People's Democratic Republic)
Constitution: promulgated 14 August 1991
Legal system: based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and Socialist practice
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President KHAMTAI Siphandon (elected 26 February 1998 by the National People's Assembly to succeed NOUHAK PHOUMSAVAN who retired); Vice President OUDOM Khattiya (since 26 February 1998) head of government: Prime Minister SISAVAT Keobounphan (since 26 February 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers KHAMPHOUI Keoboualapha (since 15 August 1991), BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 20 April 1996), CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 26 February 1998), SOMSAVAT Lengsavad (since 26 February 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term election results: KHAMTAI Siphandon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (99 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note-by presidential decree, on 27 October 1997, the number of seats increased from 85 to 99) elections: last held 21 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 99; note-the distribution of seats as of January 1998 is as follows-LPRP 98, independents 1
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court, the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee
Political parties and leaders: Lao People's Revolutionary Party(LPRP), KHAMTAI Siphandon, party president; other parties proscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders: noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975
International organization participation: ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CP,ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate VANG Lattanavong chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416 FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wendy Jean CHAMBERLIN embassy: Rue Bartholonie, B.P. 114, Vientiane mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546 telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585 FAX: [856] (21) 212584
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band
@Laos:Economy
Economy-overview: The government of Laos-one of the few remaining official communist states-has been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise since 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, have been striking - growth averaged 7% in 1988-96. Because Laos depends heavily on its trade with Thailand, it fell victim to the financial crisis in the region in 1997, when growth was a mere 1.5%. Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The predominant crop is glutinous rice. In non-drought years, Laos is self-sufficient overall in food, but each year flood, pests, and localized drought cause shortages in various parts of the country. For the foreseeable future the economy will continue to depend on aid from the IMF and other international sources; Japan is currently the largest bilateral aid donor; aid from the former USSR/Eastern Europe has been cut sharply. As in many developing countries, deforestation and soil erosion will hamper efforts to regain a high rate of GDP growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$5.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,150 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 56% industry: 19% services: 25% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 16% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 1.7% overall; 4.5% in urban areas (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $230.2 million expenditures: $365.9 million, including capital expenditures of $317 million (1996)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 217,000 kW (1997)
Electricity-production: 1.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 60 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry; tobacco
Exports: total value: $313.1 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France
Imports: total value: $678 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore
Debt-external: $1.2 billion (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $212.2 million
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1-2,500 (January 1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995), 717.67 (1994), 716.25 (1993) note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy was adopted
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Telephones: 19,333 (1996)
Telephone system: service to general public is poor but improving, with over 19,000 telephones currently in service and 86,000 expected to be installed by 2000; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station-1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 560,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2
Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)
@Laos:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 22,321 km paved: 3,502 km unpaved: 18,819 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports and harbors: none
Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT (1997 est.)
Airports: 52 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 25 (1997 est.)
@Laos:Military
Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia element),Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air Force,National Police Department
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,161,497 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 626,880 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 55,903 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $105 million (FY92/93)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 8.1% (FY92/93)
@Laos:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite
Illicit drugs: world's third largest opium producer (cultivation in 1997-28,150 hectares, an 11% increase over 1996; potential production-210 metric tons, a 5% increase over 1996); heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and amphetamines produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis
______________________________________________________________________
@Latvia:Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 64,100 sq km land: 64,100 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,150 kmborder countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 46% other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Latvia:People
Population: 2,385,396 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 227,634; female 218,321) 15-64 years: 66% (male 754,416; female 829,801) 65 years and over: 15% (male 113,925; female 241,299) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.41% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 8.14 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 15.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.11 years male: 61.02 years female: 73.5 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.2 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%,Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 99% (1989 est.)
@Latvia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia conventional short form: Latvia local long form: Latvijas Republika local short form: Latvija former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LG
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Riga
Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular-rajons) and 7municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, DobelesRajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons,Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*, LiepajasRajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons,Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, SaldusRajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons,Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch: chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Guntars KRASTS (since 7 August 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term; election last held 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the first round of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote-Guntis ULMANIS 53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 30 September-1 October 1995 (next to be held 3 October 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-Saimnieks 18%, LC 17%, For Latvia 16%, TB 14%, LNNK 8%, Unity 8%, LSZ/LKDS 7%, Harmony 6%, Socialist 6%; seats by party - Saimnieks 18, LC 17, For Latvia 16, TB 14, LNNK 8, Unity 8, LSZ/LKDS 7, Harmony 6, Socialist 6
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments are confirmed by the Parliament
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party "Saimnieks" or DPS[Ziedonis CEVERS, chairman]; Latvia's Way or LC [Andrei PANTELEJEVS];Popular Movement For Latvia or TKL [Joachim SIEGERIST]; For Fatherlandand Freedom or TVB [Maris GRINBLATS], merged with LNNK; Latvian UnityParty or LVP [Alberis KAULS]; Latvian National Conservative Party orLNNK [Andrejs KRASTINS]; Green Party or LZP [Olegs BATAREVSK]; LatvianFarmers Union or LZS [Andris ROZENTALS]; Christian Democrat Union orLKDS [Talavs JUNDZIS]; National Harmony Party or TSP [Janis JURKANS];Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Sergejs DIAMANIS]; Latvian LiberalParty or LLP [J. DANOSS]; Political Association of the Underprivilegedor MPA [B. PELSE, V. DIMANTS, J. KALNINS]; Latvian Democratic LaborParty or LDDP [J. BOJARS]; Party of Russian Citizens or LKPP [V.SOROCHIN, V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerlyPeoples Front of Latvia or LTF) [Uldis AUGSTKALNS]; Political Union ofEconomists or TPA [Edvins KIDE]; Latvian National Democratic Party orLNDP [A. MALINS]; "Our Land" or MZ [M. DAMBEKALNE]; AnticommunistUnion or PA [P. MUCENIEKS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party orLSDSP [Janis DINEVICS]; Party for the Defense of Latvia's DefraudedPeople; Latvian Independence Party or LNP [Valdis KONOVALOVS]note: former Prime Minister Andris SKELE announced 18 December 1997that he is forming a new, as yet unnamed, party
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC,EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214 FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Larry C. NAPPER embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: American Embassy, Riga, PSC 78, Box R, APO AE 09723 telephone: [371] (2) 210-0005, 782-0046 FAX: [371] (2) 722-6530, 782-0047
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
@Latvia:Economy
Economy-overview: In 1997 Latvia scored the most impressive economic achievements since independence in 1991, with GDP growing by 6% and inflation at 7.4%. GDP is expected to grow 5% in 1998 and inflation to range between 6% and 7%. In 1997 Latvia continued its strict fiscal policy and apparently ended the year with a small fiscal surplus, reflecting higher-than-expected income from customs revenues, excise and business taxes, and restraints on government spending. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in 1997 was a record $880 million by yearend. Prospects for increasing FDI in 1998 are good if Latvia privatizes at least some of its large companies, including Venspils Nafta (the state oil company). Although Latvia was disappointed that it was not included among the five Central and East European states invited to start EU accession talks in spring 1998, it is likely to join the WTrO in 1998. Latvia's growing current account and trade deficits remain a cause for concern, reaching nearly 10% by yearend. Latvia's trade deficit may even reach 22% of GDP in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$10.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,260 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 34% services: 57% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 7.4% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 1.4 million (1997) by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 2.035 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 4.095 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 2,300 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; meat, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: total value: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: wood and wood products, textiles, foodstuffs partners: Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK
Imports: total value: $2.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals partners: Russia, other CIS, Germany, Sweden, UK, Finland
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $122 million (1993) note: commitments from the West and international institutions, $525 million (1992-95)
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims; introduced NA March 1993
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1-0.595 (January 1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994), 0.675 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 660,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: service is better than in most of the other former Soviet republics domestic: an NMT-450 analog cellular telephone network covers 75% of Latvia's population international: international traffic carried by leased connection to the Moscow international gateway switch, through the new Ericsson digital telephone exchange in Riga, and through the Finnish cellular net; Sprint data network carries electronic mail
Radio broadcast stations: 25 (unknown type)
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 30
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
@Latvia:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,412 km broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways: total: 60,046 km paved: 22,998 km unpaved: 37,048 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine: total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 293,799 GRT/440,575 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4 (1997 est.)
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
@Latvia:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 569,745 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 446,562 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 16,594 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: 176 million rubles (1994); note-conversion of defense expenditures into US dollars using the prevailing exchange rate could produce misleading results
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3% to 5% (1994)
@Latvia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: based on the 1920 Treaty of Riga, Latvia had claimed the Abrene/Pytalovo section of border ceded by the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic to Russia in 1944; draft treaty delimiting the boundary with Russia has not been signed; ongoing talks over boundary dispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis fromSouthwest Asia and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe andScandinavia; produces illicit amphetamines for export
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Current issues: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which began in 1975. Under the Ta'if Accord-the blueprint for national reconciliation-the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed five cabinets and conducted two legislative elections. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains most of its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000 troops in Lebanon. These troops are based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
@Lebanon:Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 10,400 sq km land: 10,230 sq km water: 170 sq km
Area-comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separatesLebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region
Land use: arable land: 21% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 8% other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography-note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
@Lebanon:People
Population: 3,505,794 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 532,688; female 512,979) 15-64 years: 64% (male 1,060,903; female 1,174,236) 65 years and over: 6% (male 102,946; female 122,042) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.62% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.66 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.51 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: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.64 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.64 years male: 68.08 years female: 73.33 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lebanese (singular and plural) adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups-Alawite orNusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legallyrecognized Christian groups-4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian widely understood
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.4% male: 90.8% female: 82.2% (1997 est.)
@Lebanon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Lebanese Republic conventional short form: Lebanon local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah local short form: Lubnan
Data code: LE
Government type: republic
National capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular-muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate underFrench administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ilyas HARAWI (since 24 November 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI (since 22 October 1992) cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the members of the National Assembly; the current Cabinet was formed in 1996 elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term; election last held 24 November 1989 (next to be held NA 1998); note-in 1995, the National Assembly amended the constitution to extend the president's term by three years; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslim election results: Ilyas HARAWI elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in the summer of 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA (one-half Christian and one-half Muslim)
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord-rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL, AMF,CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamad Baha CHATAH chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate David SATTERFIELD embassy: Antelias, Beirut mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002 telephone: [961] (1) 402200, 403300, 426183, 417774, 889926 FAX: [961] (1) 407112
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
@Lebanon:Economy
Economy-overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy has made impressive gains since Prime Minister HARIRI launched his $18 billion "Horizon 2000" reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 before Israel's Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996 stunted economic activity. During 1992-97, annual inflation fell from more than 170% to 9%, and foreign exchange reserves jumped to more than $4 billion from $1.4 billion. Burgeoning capital inflows have generated foreign payments surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained relatively stable. Progress also has been made in rebuilding Lebanon's war-torn physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere, a $2-billion firm, is managing the reconstruction of Beirut's central business district; the stock market reopened in January 1996; and international banks and insurance companies are returning. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has had to fund reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange reserves and boosting borrowing. The stalled peace process and ongoing violence in southern Lebanon could lead to wider hostilities that would disrupt vital capital inflows. Furthermore, the gap between rich and poor has widened since HARIRI took office, resulting in grassroots dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of the reconstruction's benefits and leading the government to shift its focus from rebuilding infrastructure to improving living conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$15.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$4,400 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 23% services: 73% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 9% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 1 million plus as many as 1 million foreign workers (1996 est.) by occupation: services 62%, industry 31%, agriculture 7% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 18% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.4 billion expenditures: $5.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate: 25% (1993 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 1.35 million kW (1997)
Electricity-production: 5 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,380 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: citrus, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats
Exports: total value: $1.018 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: paper and paper products 26%, food stuffs 16%, textiles and textile products 10%, jewelry 8%, metals and metal products 8%, electrical equipment and products 8%, chemical products 6%, transport vehicles 4% (1995) partners: UAE 23%, Saudi Arabia 14%, Kuwait 8%, Syria 7%, Jordan 5%, France 5%, Italy 4%, US 3% (1996)
Imports: total value: $7.559 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 28%, foodstuffs 20%, consumer goods 19%, chemicals 9%, textiles 5%, metals 5%, fuels 3% (1995) partners: Italy 12%, US 11%, Germany 9%, France 8%, Syria 4%, UK 4%, Japan 4% (1996)
Debt-external: $2.3 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: aid pledges of $3.5 billion for 1997-2001
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (£L) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (£L) per US$1-1,526.1 (January 1998), 1,539.5 (1997), 1,571.4 (1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994), 1,741.4 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding well underway domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1 note: government is licensing a limited number of the more than 100 AM and FM stations operated sporadically by various factions that sprang up during the civil war
Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 13 note: government is licensing a limited number of TV stations operated by various factions
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
@Lebanon:Transportation
Railways: total: 222 km standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)
Highways: total: 6,350 km paved: 6,032 km unpaved: 318 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports and harbors: Al Batrun, Al Mina', An Naqurah, Antilyas, AzZahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine: total: 62 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 258,383 GRT/392,087 DWT ships by type: bulk 5, cargo 40, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 2, livestock carrier 5, oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 3 (1997 est.)
Airports: 9 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Lebanon:Military
Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 901,603 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 558,774 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $445 million (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 5% (1997)
@Lebanon:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Illicit drugs: small illicit producer of hashish and heroin; hashish production is shipped to Western Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America; some cocaine processing and trafficking; a Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign started in the early 1990s has practically eliminated the opium and cannabis crops
______________________________________________________________________
@Lesotho:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 30,350 sq km land: 30,350 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m highest point: Mount Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, some diamonds and other minerals
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 66% forests and woodland: NA% other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography-note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
@Lesotho:People
Population: 2,089,829 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 420,526; female 419,059) 15-64 years: 55% (male 558,068; female 596,598) 65 years and over: 5% (male 39,782; female 55,796) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 31.84 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.76 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 78.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.97 years male: 52.18 years female: 55.81 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.13 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural) adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.3% male: 81.1% female: 62.3% (1995 est.)
@Lesotho:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho conventional short form: Lesotho former: Basutoland
Data code: LT
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
National capital: Maseru
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe,Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing,Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (constitutional amendment, July 1997)
Executive branch: chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded to the throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on 16 January 1996); note-King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne (November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exile head of government: Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE (since 2 April 1993) cabinet: Cabinet elections: none; the king is a hereditary monarch, but, under the terms of the constitution which came into effect after the March 1993 election, he has no executive or legislative powers; moreover, under traditional law the king can be elected or deposed by a majority vote of the College of Chiefs; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members-22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (65 seats; members elected for a five-year term by popular vote) elections: last held 27 March 1993 (next to be held in May 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-BCP 65 note: due to a schism in the BCP, Prime Minister Ntsu MOKHEHLE formed the new Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD in June 1997, taking 42 seats away from the BCP, reducing it to 23 seats and the role of an opposition party