International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
@New Caledonia:Economy
Economy-overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and tourism are key to the health of the economy. The outlook for 1998 is clouded by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower expected prices for nickel.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.5 billion (1995 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$8,000 (1995 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 35% services: 60% (1992 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 1.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 70,044 (1988) by occupation: agriculture 32%, industry 20%, services 40%, mining 8% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)
Budget: revenues: $755.6 million expenditures: $755.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 253,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 1.145 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 6,204 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: vegetables; beef, other livestock products
Exports: total value: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore partners: Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%, Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)
Imports: total value: $930 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: foods, transport equipment, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels, minerals partners: France 45%, Australia 18%, Singapore 7%, New Zealand 6%, Japan 4% (1996 est.)
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: important support from France
Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) perUS$1-110.60 (January 1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995),100.93 (1994), 102.96 (1993); note-linked at the rate of 18.18 to theFrench franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 38,748 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 97,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7
Televisions: 47,000 (1992 est.)
@New Caledonia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 5,562 km paved: 975 km unpaved: 4,587 km (1993)
Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 30 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 12 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1997 est.)
@New Caledonia:Military
Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@New Caledonia:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by France and Vanuatu
______________________________________________________________________
@New Zealand:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast ofAustralia
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area-comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 50% forests and woodland: 28% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside
Environment-international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography-note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
@New Zealand:People
Population: 3,625,388 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 427,776; female 407,074) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,188,468; female 1,181,002) 65 years and over: 12% (male 182,253; female 238,815) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.04% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 14.89 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 7.6 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.06 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.37 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.55 years male: 74.35 years female: 80.91 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@New Zealand:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ
Data code: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 towndistricts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller,Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont,Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay,Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay,Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt,Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough,Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua,Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako,Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga,Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford,Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea,Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa,Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland,Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodvillenote: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that aresubdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, CentralOtago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne,Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*,Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie,Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*,Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, PalmerstonNorth*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney,Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato,South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, ThamesCoromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa,Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, WesternBay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of variousdocuments, including certain acts of the UK and New ZealandParliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Jenny SHIPLEY (since 8 December 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Winston PETERS (since 16 December 1996); note-SHIPLEY wrested control of the National Party in November from Prime Minister BOLGER, replacing BOLGER as prime minister in December cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor general appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general note: the government is a coalition of the National Party and the New Zealand First Party
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives-commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 12 October 1996 (next must be called by October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NP 34.1%, NZLP 28.3%, NZFP 13.1%, Alliance 10.1%, ACT 6.17%, UNZ 0.91%; seats by party-NP 44, NZLP 37, NZFP 17, Alliance 13, ACT 8, UNZ 1
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: National Party (NP), Jenny SHIPLEY; NewZealand First Party (NZFP), Winston PETERS; New Zealand Labor Party(NZLP, opposition), Helen CLARK; Alliance (a coalition of five smallparties-NewLabor Party, Jim ANDERTON; Democratic Party, John WRIGHT;New Zealand Liberal Party, Frank GROVER; Green Party, JeanetteFITZSIMONS; and Mana Motuhake, Sandra LEE), codeputy leaders areSandra LEE and Jeanette FITZSIMONS; United New Zealand (UNZ), CliveMATTHEWSON; Conservative Party (formerly Right of Centre Party),Trevor ROGERS; Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, New Zealand(ACT), Richard PREBBLE; Christian Coalition (a coalition of theChristian Democrats and Christian Heritage Party), coleaders GraemeLEE and Rev. Graham CAPILL
International organization participation: ANZUS (US suspended securityobligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, Australia Group, C,CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), OECD, PCA, Sparteca,SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate James BOLGER chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Josiah Horton BEEMAN embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068 FAX: [64] (4) 472-3537 consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
@New Zealand:Economy
Economy-overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on a concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Business confidence strengthened in 1994, and export demand picked up in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in 6.2% growth. Growth continued strong in 1995, but tailed off in 1996-97. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up to the levels of the big West European economies. However, the Asian economic crisis may slow GDP growth in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$63.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 2.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$17,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 7.3% industry: 25.9% services: 66.8% (1990)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 1,634,500 (September 1995) by occupation: services 64.6%, industry 25.0%, agriculture 10.4% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 5.9% (December 1996)
Budget: revenues: $24.1 billion expenditures: $21.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 7.747 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 33.696 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 9,889 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, meat, dairy products; fish catch reached a record 503,000 metric tons in 1988
Exports: total value: $18.5 billion (1997 est.) commodities: wool, lamb, mutton, beef, fish, cheese, chemicals, forestry products, fruits and vegetables, manufactures, dairy products, wood partners: Australia 19%, Japan 15%, UK 15%, US 12%
Imports: total value: $19.2 billion (1997 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics partners: Australia 21%, US 18%, Japan 16%, UK 6%
Debt-external: $28.5 billion (FY95/96 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $98 million (1993)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1-1.7283 (January 1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994), 1.8495 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 1.7 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 64, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.215 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 14 (1986 est.)
Televisions: 1.53 million (1992 est.)
@New Zealand:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,973 km narrow gauge: 3,973 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)
Highways: total: 92,200 km paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,632 km (1994 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km
Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga,Wellington
Merchant marine: total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 155,478 GRT/195,836 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 3, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6 (1997 est.)
Airports: 111 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 43 (1997 est.)
@New Zealand:Military
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal NewZealand Air Force
Military manpower-military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 938,194 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 789,542 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 25,612 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $1.12 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.05% (FY97/98)
@New Zealand:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: territorial claim in Antarctica (RossDependency)
______________________________________________________________________
@Nicaragua:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New York State
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone continental shelf: natural prolongation territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 27% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes
Environment-current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
@Nicaragua:People
Population: 4,583,379 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1,017,190; female 1,000,436) 15-64 years: 53% (male 1,191,323; female 1,251,828) 65 years and over: 3% (male 52,836; female 69,766) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.92% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 36.04 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.8 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 42.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 66.62 years male: 64.26 years female: 69.08 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.28 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant 5%
Languages: Spanish (official) note: English- and Amerindian-speaking minorities on Atlantic coast
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 65.7% male: 64.6% female: 66.6% (1995 est.)
@Nicaragua:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua
Data code: NU
Government type: republic
National capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular-departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular-region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 January 1987
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997) head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997) cabinet: Cabinet elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); note-in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years election results: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, others (18 other candidates) remaining 4.33%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-Liberal Alliance (ruling party-includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party-Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), 12 judges elected for a seven-year term by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders:right: Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Road (PCCN), GuillermoOSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ; Liberal Constitutionalist Party (PLC), JoseRIZO Castellon; Independent Liberal Party for National Unity (PLIUN),Carlos GUERRA Gallardo; National Conservative Party (PCN), AdolfoCALERO, Noel VIDAURRE; Nationalist Liberal Party (PLN), EnriqueSANCHEZ Herdociacenter right: Neoliberal Party (PALI), Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel;Nicaraguan Resistance Party (PRN), Fabio GADEA; Independent LiberalParty (PLI), Virgilio GODOY; National Project (PRONAL), Antonio LACAYOOyanguren; Conservative Action Movement (MAC), Hernaldo ZUNIGAcenter left: Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS), Sergio RAMIREZ;Social Democratic Party (PSD), Adolfo JARQUIN; Social Christian Party(PSC), Erick RAMIREZ; Movement for Revolutionary Unity (MUR), NA;Central American Integrationist Party (PIAC), NA; Unity Alliance (AU),Alejandro SERRANO; Conservative Party of Nicaragua (PCN), Dr. FernandoAGUERO Rocha; National Democratic Party (PND), Alfredo CESAR Aguirre;Central American Unionist Party (PUCA), Blanca ROJAS Echaverry; UNO-96Alliance, Alfredo CESAR Aguirre; Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN),Alfredo GUZMANleft: Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), Daniel ORTEGASaavedra
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front (FNT) is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers' Central (CST); Farm Workers Association (ATC); Health Workers Federation (FETASALUD); National Union of Employees (UNE); National Association of Educators of Nicaragua (ANDEN); Union of Journalists of Nicaragua (UPN); Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations (CONAPRO); and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers (UNAG); Permanent Congress of Workers (CPT) is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions: Confederation of Labor Unification (CUS); Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN-A); Independent General Confederation of Labor (CGT-I); and Labor Action and Unity Central (CAUS); Nicaraguan Workers' Central (CTN) is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) is a confederation of business groups
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur., Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] (2) 666010 through 666013, 666015 through 18, 666026, 666027, 666032 through 33 FAX: [505] (2) 669074
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
@Nicaragua:Economy
Economy-overview: The Nicaraguan economy, devastated during the 1980s by economic mismanagement and civil war, is beginning to rebound. In 1991 President CHAMORRO launched an ambitious economic stabilization program that reduced inflation and obtained substantial economic aid from abroad. Economic growth rose sharply in 1995-97, due to surges in exports and efforts to enhance trade liberalization. The program, however, hit some snags, and a 1994-97 IMF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) signed by the CHAMORRO administration with the Fund lapsed in September 1996 due to non-compliance. In 1997, however, the IMF resumed negotiations for an ESAF with the ALEMAN administration, and agreed to an ESAF in 1998. IMF approval of the ESAF cleared the way for debt relief by the Paris Club later that year and has opened the way for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. Implementation of a 1997 property accord-designed to resolve conflict over properties confiscated by the Sandinistas in the 1980s-should also help inspire international investor confidence. Strong growth is forecast for 1998, with implementation of a 1997 free trade agreement with Mexico expected to boost agricultural exports, although the industrial sector may come under pressure from increased Mexican competition.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$9.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,100 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 21% services: 45% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 11.6% (1996)
Labor force: total: 1.5 million by occupation: services 54%, agriculture 31%, industry 15% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16%; underemployment 36% (1996 est.)
Budget: revenues: $389 million expenditures: $551 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear
Industrial production growth rate: 1.4% (1994 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 457,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 1.76 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 416 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), citrus, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Exports: total value: $635 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: coffee, seafood, meat, sugar, gold, bananas partners: US, Central America, Germany, Canada
Imports: total value: $1.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: consumer goods, machinery and equipment, petroleum products partners: Central America, US, Venezuela, Japan
Debt-external: $6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1-9.76 (October 1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995), 6.72 (1994), 5.62 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 66,810 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System domestic: wire and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations-1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 45, FM 0, shortwave 3
Radios: 1.037 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (1994 est.)
Televisions: 260,000 (1992 est.)
@Nicaragua:Transportation
Railways: total: 0 km narrow gauge: 0 km 1.067-m gauge; note-part of the previous 376 km system was closed and dismantled in 1993 and, in 1994, the remainder was closed, the track and rolling stock being sold for scrap
Highways: total: 18,000 km paved: 1,818 km unpaved: 16,182 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 185 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 172 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 144 (1997 est.)
@Nicaragua:Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,067,336 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 656,672 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 51,576 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $27.48 million (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.35% (1996)
@Nicaragua:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) referred the disputants to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US
______________________________________________________________________
@Niger:Geography
Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1.267 million sq km land: 1,266,700 sq km water: 300 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,697 kmborder countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Niger River 200 m highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 7% forests and woodland: 2% other: 88% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment-current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography-note: landlocked
@Niger:People
Population: 9,671,848 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 2,374,482; female 2,277,176) 15-64 years: 50% (male 2,345,773; female 2,447,951) 65 years and over: 2% (male 119,644; female 106,822) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.96% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 53.01 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 23.38 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: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 114.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.52 years male: 41.83 years female: 41.21 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.3 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates
Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 13.6% male: 20.9% female: 6.6% (1995 est.)
@Niger:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Niger conventional short form: Niger local long form: Republique du Niger local short form: Niger
Data code: NG
Government type: republic
National capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular-departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence: 3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January 1996); note-the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Ibrahim BARE Mainassara (since 28 January 1996); Prime Minister Ibrahim MAYAKI (since 27 November 1997) was appointed by the president; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by President BARE elections: the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last election 7-8 July 1996 (next election NA 2001); note-Ibrahim BARE Mainassara initially became president when he ousted President Mahamane OUSMANE in a coup on 27 January 1996 and subsequently defeated him in the flawed election of July 1996 election results: percent of total vote-Ibrahim BARE Mainassara 52.22%, Mahamane OUSMANE 19.75%, Tandja MAMADOU 15.65%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 7.60%, Moumouni AMADOU Djermakoye 4.77%
Legislative branch: two chamber National Assembly; one chamber with 83 seats directly elected by proportional representation for five-year terms; selection process for second chamber not established elections: last held 23 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-UNIRD 59, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 8, UDPS-Amana 3, coalition of independents 3, MDP-Alkwali 1, UPDP-Shamuwa 4, DARAJA 3, PMT-Albarka 2
Judicial branch: State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy and Progress orADP-AUMUNCI [Issoufou BACHARD, chairman]; DARAJA [Ali TALBA,chairman]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama[Mahamane OUSMANE]; Movement for Development and Pan-Africanism orMDP-Alkwali [Mai Manga BOUCAR, chairman]; National Movement of theDevelopment Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Tandja MAMADOU,chairman]; National Union of Independents for Democratic Revival orUNIRD [leader NA]; Niger Progressive Party-African Democratic Rally orPPN-RDA [Dori ABDOULAI]; Niger Social Democrat Party or PADN [MalamAdji WAZIRI]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya orPNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy andSocial Progress-Zaman Lahia or ANDPS-Zaman Lahia [Moumouni AdamouDJERMAKOYE]; PMT-Albarka; Union for Democracy and SocialProgress-Amana or UDPS-Amana [Akoli DAOUEL]; Union of Patriots,Democrats, and Progressives-Shamuwa or UPDP-Shamuwa [Professor Andre'SALIFOU, chairman]; Union of Popular Forces for Democracy andProgress-Sawaba or UFPDP-Sawaba [Djibo BAKARY, chairman]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles O. CECIL embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64 FAX: [227] 73 31 67
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
@Niger:Economy
Economy-overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, its major export since the 1970s. Terms of trade with Nigeria, Niger's largest regional trade partner, have improved dramatically since the 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994; this devaluation boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid for operating expenses and public investment and is strongly induced to adhere to structural adjustment programs designed by the IMF and the World Bank. The US terminated bilateral assistance to Niger after the coup of 1996. Other donors have reduced their aid.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$6.3 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$670 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 18% services: 41% (1996)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5.3% (1996)
Labor force: total: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $370 million (including $160 million from foreign sources) expenditures: $370 million, including capital expenditures of $186 million (1998 est.)
Industries: cement, brick, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses, and a few other small light industries; uranium mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 63,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 170 million kWh (1995) note: imports about 200 million kWh of electricity from Nigeria
Electricity-consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Exports: total value: $188 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: uranium ore 67%, livestock products 20%, cowpeas, onions partners: France 41%, Nigeria 22%, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Japan 18%
Imports: total value: $374 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: consumer goods, primary materials, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals partners: France 24%, Nigeria 19%, Cote d'Ivoire, China, Belgium-Luxembourg
Debt-external: $1.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA; bilateral donors: France, Germany, EU, Japan
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 14,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: small system of wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in southwestern area domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 500,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 18 stations in a single network (1995)
Televisions: 38,000 (1992 est.)
@Niger:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 10,100 km paved: 798 km unpaved: 9,302 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Niger river is navigable 300 km from Niamey to Gaya on theBenin frontier from mid-December through March
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 27 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
@Niger:Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, RepublicanGuard, National Police
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 2,049,296 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,105,821 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 98,946 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $23 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.3% (FY92/93)
@Niger:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: Libya claims about 19,400 sq km in northernNiger; demarcation of international boundaries in the vicinity of LakeChad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, iscompleted and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, andNigeria
______________________________________________________________________
@Nigeria:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 923,770 sq km land: 910,770 sq km water: 13,000 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,047 km border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 12% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,570 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Nigeria:People
Population: 110,532,242 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 24,871,855; female 24,661,134) 15-64 years: 52% (male 29,420,428; female 28,343,567) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,627,452; female 1,607,806) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.96% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 42.24 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 12.95 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.32 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: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.74 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.55 years male: 52.68 years female: 54.45 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.09 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups: Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Ibo, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Ijaw
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Ibo, Fulani
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3% (1995 est.)
@Nigeria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria
Data code: NI
Government type: military government; Nigeria has been ruled by one military regime after another since 31 December 1983; on 1 October 1995, the present military government announced it will turn power over to democratically elected civilian authorities on 1 October 1998
National capital: Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja
Administrative divisions: 30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe note: the government has announced the creation of six additional states named Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Nassarawa, and Zamfara as part of the process of transition to a civilian government
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Constitution: 1979 constitution still partially in force; plan for 1989 constitution to take effect in 1993 was not implemented; draft 1995 constitution has not been published; the military government rules by decree
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalam ABUBAKAR (since 9 June 1998); note-the chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Abdulsalam ABUBAKAR (since 9 June 1998); note-the chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Federal Executive Council (chaired by the Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council) elections: none; on 9 June 1998, the Provisional Ruling Council appointed Gen. Abdulsalam ABUBAKAR as their new Chairman to replace Gen. Sani ABACHA who died in office; Gen. ABUBAKAR immediately pledged a program to return the government to civilian rule as promised by Gen. ABACHA
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly, comprising a 109-member Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives note: the National Assembly was suspended after the military takeover of 17 November 1993; in October 1995, the government announced a three-year program for transition to civilian rule; elections to the National Assembly took place 25 April 1998 for a term starting 1 October 1998; the election was substantially boycotted by the opposition and the legislature is unlikely to be representative of the electorate
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed by the Provisional Ruling Council; Federal Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee
Political parties and leaders: political party system, which was suspended after the military takeover of 17 November 1993, was reestablished by the Provisional Ruling Council on 30 September 1996 with the registration of five of 15 competing political parties; these were the United Nigeria Congress Party or UNCP [Isa MOHAMMED, chairman]; National Center Party of Nigeria or NCPN [Magaji ABDULLAHI, chairman]; Grassroots Democratic Movement or GDM [Alhaji Gambo LAWAN, chairman]; Committee for National Consensus or CNC [Barnabas GEMADE, chairman]; Democratic Party of Nigeria or DPN [Saleh HASSAN, chairman]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C (suspended),CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,UNTAES, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wakili Hassan ADAMU chancery: 1333 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William TWADDELL embassy: 2 Louis Farrakhan Crescent, Lagos mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos telephone: [234] (1) 261-0097 FAX: [234] (1) 261-0257
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
@Nigeria:Economy
Economy-overview: The oil-rich Nigerian economy continues to be hobbled by political instability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management. Nigeria's unpopular military rulers have failed to make significant progress in diversifying the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector which provides 30% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 80% of budgetary revenues. The government's resistance to initiating greater transparency and accountability in managing the country's multibillion dollar oil earnings continues to limit economic growth and prevent an agreement with the IMF and bilateral creditors on debt relief. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Agricultural production in 1996 suffered from severe shortages of fertilizer, and production of fertilizer fell even further in 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$132.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.3% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,300 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 39% industry: 31% services: 30% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 12% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 42.844 million by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 15%
Unemployment rate: 28% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $13.9 billion (1998 est.) expenditures: $13.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (1998 est.)
Industries: crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1996)
Electricity-capacity: 5.881 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 16.21 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 152 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; fishing and forest resources extensively exploited
Exports: total value: $15 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber partners: US 40%, EU 21% (1995)
Imports: total value: $8 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery, chemicals, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food and animals partners: EU 50%, US 12%, Japan 7%
Debt-external: $34 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates: naira (N) per US$1-21.886 (December 1997), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994), 22.065 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 492,204 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and 20 domestic satellite earth stations carry intercity traffic international: satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 35, FM 17, shortwave 0
Radios: 20 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28
Televisions: 3.8 million (1992 est.)
@Nigeria:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,557 km narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)
Highways: total: 32,105 km paved: 26,005 km (including 2,044 km of expressways) unpaved: 6,100 km (1994 est.) note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; because of poor maintenance, much of the road system is barely useable