Map references: Europe
Area: total: 312,683 sq km land: 304,510 sq km water: 8,173 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 2,888 km border countries: Belarus 605 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 428 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers
Terrain: mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Raczki Elblaskie -2 m highest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources: coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt
Land use: arable land: 47% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 29% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by postcommunist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Law of the Sea
Geography-note: historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
@Poland:People
Population: 38,606,922 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21% (male 4,075,959; female 3,883,778) 15-64 years: 68% (male 12,956,689; female 13,129,495) 65 years and over: 11% (male 1,732,788; female 2,828,213) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.04% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 9.79 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.76 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.18 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.77 years male: 68.6 years female: 77.16 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Pole(s) adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups: Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Byelorussian 0.5% (1990 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), EasternOrthodox, Protestant, and other 5%
Languages: Polish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 98% (1978 est.)
@Poland:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Poland conventional short form: Poland local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska local short form: Polska
Data code: PL
Government type: democratic state
National capital: Warsaw
Administrative divisions: 49 provinces (wojewodztwa,singular-wojewodztwo); Biala Podlaska, Bialystok, Bielsko Biala,Bydgoszcz, Chelm, Ciechanow, Czestochowa, Elblag, Gdansk, Gorzow,Jelenia Gora, Kalisz, Katowice, Kielce, Konin, Koszalin, Krakow,Krosno, Legnica, Leszno, Lodz, Lomza, Lublin, Nowy Sacz, Olsztyn,Opole, Ostroleka, Pila, Piotrkow, Plock, Poznan, Przemysl, Radom,Rzeszow, Siedlce, Sieradz, Skierniewice, Slupsk, Suwalki, Szczecin,Tarnobrzeg, Tarnow, Torun, Walbrzych, Warszawa, Wloclawek, Wroclaw,Zamosc, Zielona Gora
Independence: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 3 May (1791); Independence Day,November 11 (1918)
Constitution: 16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly on 2April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 May 1997
Legal system: mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts although under the new constitution, the Constitutional Tribunal ruling will become final as of October 1999; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Jerzy BUZEK (since NA October 1997), Deputy Prime Ministers Leszek BALCEROWICZ (since 31 October 1997), Janusz TOMASZEWSKI (since 31 October 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election first round held 5 November 1995, second round held 19 November 1995 (next to be held NA November 2000); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI elected president; percent of legislative vote, second round-Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 51.7%, Lech WALESA 48.3%; Jerzy BUZEK selected prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists of the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms) elections: Sejm elections last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001); Senate-last held 21 September 1997 (next to be held by NA September 2001) election results: Sejm-percent of vote by party-AWS 33.8%, SLD 27.1%, UW 13.4%, PSL 7.3%, ROP 5.6%, German Minority 0.4%, other 12.4%; seats by party-AWS 201, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 27, ROP 6, German Minority 2; Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-AWS 51, SLD 28, UW 8, ROP 5, PSL 3, independents 5; note-seats by party in the Sejm as of December 1997: AWS 200, SLD 164, UW 60, PSL 26, ROP 4, German Minority 2, other 4 note: four seats are constitutionally assigned to ethnic German parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period; Constitutional Tribunal, judges are chosen by the Sejm for a 9-year term
Political parties and leaders: post-Communist: Democratic Left Alliance or SLD (Social Democracy of Poland) [Leszek MILLER]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Jaroslaw KALINOWSKI] post-Solidarity parties: Freedom Union or UW; note-Democratic Union and Liberal Democratic Congress merged to form Freedom Union [Leszek BALCEROWICZ]; Christian-National Union or ZCHN [Marian PILKA]; Center Alliance Party or PC [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; Peasant Alliance or PL [Gabriel JANOWSKI]; Solidarity Electoral Action or AWS [Marian KRZAKLEWSKI]; Union of Labor or UP [Aleksander MALACHOWSKI]; Conservative Party or PK [Aleksander HALL]; Nonparty Reform Bloc or BBWR [Jacek LIPINSKI]; Nonparty Reform Block United for Elections or BBWR-SW [Jerzy GWIZDZ] non-Communist, non-Solidarity: Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; Confederation for an Independent Poland or KPN [Leszek MOCZULSKI]; German Minority or MN [Gerhardt BARTODZIEJ]; Union of Real Politics or UPR [Mariusz DZIERZAWSKY]
Political pressure groups and leaders: powerful Roman Catholic Church; Solidarity (trade union); All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union)
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC(observer), CBSS, CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant),FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM(guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP,UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO,ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerzy KOZMINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel FRIED embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-054, Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 628-30-41 FAX: [48] (22) 628-82-98 consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
@Poland:Economy
Economy-overview: Poland today stands out as one of the most successful and open transition economies. The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms marked the rapid development of a private sector now responsible for at least two-thirds of economic activity. In contrast to the vibrant expansion of private non-farm activity, the large agriculture component remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. The government's determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affects all aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's worsening current account deficit also is a priority. To date, the government has resisted pressure for protectionist solutions and continues to support regional free trade initiatives. The government export strategy emphasizes a more aggressive export assistance program. Warsaw continues to hold the budget deficit to less than 2% of GDP. Further progress on public finance depends mainly on comprehensive reform of the social welfare system and privatization of Poland's remaining state sector. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel) has been delayed. Long-awaited privatizations in aviation, energy, and telecommunications are scheduled for 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$280.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 6.9% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$7,250 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 6.6% industry: 34.9% services: 58.5% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 17.7 million (1997 est.) by occupation: industry and construction 29.9%, agriculture 26%, services 44.1% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 12% (1997)
Budget: revenues: $33.8 billion expenditures: $35.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 11.2% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 33.5 million kW (1997 est.)
Electricity-production: 142 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,360 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: potatoes, milk, cheese, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry and eggs; pork, beef
Exports: total value: $26.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: intermediate goods 38%, machinery and transport equipment 23%, consumer goods 21%, foodstuffs 10%, fuels 7% (1996 est.) partners: Germany 34.5%, Russia 6.8%, France 5.9%, Italy 5.6%, US 4.8%, Netherlands 4.1% (1996)
Imports: total value: $44.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 32%, intermediate goods 20%, chemicals 15%, consumer goods 9%, food 9%, fuels 8% (1996 est.) partners: Germany 26.5%, Italy 10.4%, Russia 7.3%, UK 6.3%, Netherlands 4.8%, France 4.4% (1996)
Debt-external: $43 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: US, $210 million (1995-97)
Currency: 1 zloty (Zl) = 100 groszy
Exchange rates: zlotych (Zl) per US$1-3.54 (January 1998), 3.2793 (1997), 2.6961 (1996), 2.4250 (1995); note-a currency reform on 1 January 1995 replaced 10,000 old zlotys with 1 new zloty; 22,723 (1994), 18,115 (1993), 13,626 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 8.2 million (1996)
Telephone system: underdeveloped and outmoded system; government aims to have 10 million phones in service by the year 2000; the process of partial privatization of the state-owned telephone monopoly has begun domestic: cable, open wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular networks international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 75, shortwave 1 (1994 est.)
Radios: 9.9 million registered (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 143 (1996)
Televisions: 9.4 million registered (1996)
@Poland:Transportation
Railways: total: 24,313 km broad gauge: 652 km 1.520-m gauge standard gauge: 22,243 km 1.435-m gauge (11,648 km electrified; 8,978 km double track) narrow gauge: 1,418 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m, 0.750-m, and 0.600-m (1996)
Highways: total: 374,990 km paved: 245,243 km (including 258 km of expressways) unpaved: 129,747 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,812 km navigable rivers and canals (1996)
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 2,280 km; natural gas 17,000 km (1996)
Ports and harbors: Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin,Swinoujscie, Ustka, Warsaw, Wrocaw
Merchant marine: total: 90 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,574,637 GRT/2,446,849 DWT ships by type: bulk 67, cargo 10, chemical tanker 3, container 2, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 4 note: Poland owns an additional 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 459,793 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Cyprus, Liberia, Malta, and Vanuatu (1997 est.)
Airports: 83 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 68 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 5 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1997 est.)
@Poland:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, TerritorialDefense Forces
Military manpower-military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 10,374,242 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 8,069,611 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 333,074 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $3.46 billion (1997)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.3% (1997)
@Poland:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: major illicit producer of amphetamines for the international market; transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe
______________________________________________________________________
@Portugal:Geography
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 92,391 sq km land: 91,951 sq km water: 440 sq km note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Ponta do Pico in Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble
Land use: arable land: 26% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 9% forests and woodland: 36% other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment-current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment-international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 94
Geography-note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
@Portugal:People
Population: 9,927,556 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17% (male 881,091; female 834,775) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,283,273; female 3,429,233) 65 years and over: 15% (male 612,221; female 886,963) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.07% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 10.63 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10.26 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.66 years male: 72.27 years female: 79.25 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.35 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups: homogeneous Mediterranean stock in mainland, Azores, Madeira Islands; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant denominations 1%, other 2%
Languages: Portuguese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85% male: 89% female: 82% (1990 est.)
@Portugal:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form: Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal
Data code: PO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Lisbon
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos, singular-distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular-regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Dependent areas: Macau (scheduled to become a Special AdministrativeRegion of China on 20 December 1999)
Independence: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday: Day of Portugal, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5November 1992, and 3 September 1997
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Antonio Manuel de Oliviera GUTERRES (since 28 October 1995) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 January 1996 (next to be held NA January 2001); following assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Jorge SAMPAIO elected president; percent of vote-Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 53.8%, Anibal CAVACO SILVA (Social Democrat) 46.2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 1 October 1995 (next to be held by NA October 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-PSD 34.0%, PS 43.8%, CDU 8.6%, CDS/PP 9.1%; seats by party-PSD 88, PS 112, CDU 15, CDS/PP 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica, judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party or PSD [MarceloRebelo DE SOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Antonio GUTERRES];Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Carlos CARVALHAS]; Popular Party orPP (formerly known as Center Democratic Party or CDS) [Rebelo DESOUSA]; National Solidarity Party or PSN [Manuel SERGIO]; UnitedDemocratic Coalition or CDU (communists; includes the PCP and a numberof small leftist groups)
International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group, BIS,CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA(observer), MINURSO, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio de Lacerda ANDRESEN GUIMARAES chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610 FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726 consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco consulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gerald S. MCGOWAN embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726 telephone: [351] (1) 727-3300 FAX: [351] (1) 726-9109 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
@Portugal:Economy
Economy-overview: Portugal's short-term economic fundamentals remain strong: 1997 was marked by a reduction in inflation, a rise in the GDP growth rate, a reduction in the fiscal deficit, and a lowering of interest rates. The Socialist government's primary economic goal is to place Portugal in the initial group of countries adopting the single European currency; Lisbon looks well positioned to be in the first tranche of EMU countries. As for the long run, Portugal is increasing its infrastructure spending, in anticipation of hosting the world's International Exposition, which began in May 1998. Lisbon also is working to modernize its capital plant and increase competitiveness in hope of moving up closer to the EU average.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$149.5 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.3% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$15,200 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 36% services: 58% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.3% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 4.53 million (1996 est.) by occupation: services 56%, manufacturing 23%, agriculture, forestry, fisheries 11%, construction 8%, utilities 1%, mining 1% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 7% (January 1998)
Budget: revenues: $48 billion expenditures: $52 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.4 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 8.831 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 31.446 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,072 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, meat, dairy products
Exports: total value: $23.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, cork and paper products, hides partners: EU 76%, other developed countries 9% (US 5%)
Imports: total value: $33.9 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, agricultural products, chemicals, petroleum, textiles partners: EU 72%, other developed countries 8% (US 3%), less developed countries 17% (1995)
Debt-external: $13.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: donor: ODA, $220 million (1996) recipient: ODA, $70 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Portuguese escudo (Esc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Portuguese escudos (Esc) per US$1-185.81 (January 1998), 175.31 (1997), 154.24 (1996), 151.11 (1995), 165.99 (1994), 160.80 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 358.61 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: generally adequate integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations international: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations-3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations: AM 57, FM 66 (repeaters 22), shortwave 0
Radios: 2.2 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 66 (repeaters 23)
Televisions: 2,970,892 (1993 est.)
@Portugal:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,072 km broad gauge: 2,769 km 1.668-m gauge (528 km electrified; 426 km double track) narrow gauge: 303 km 1.000-m gauge (1996)
Highways: total: 68,732 km paved: 59,110 km (including 687 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,622 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 820 km navigable; relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton cargo capacity
Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km; natural gas 700 km note: the secondary lines for the natural gas pipeline that will be 300 km long have not yet been built
Ports and harbors: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores),Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria(Azores), Setubal, Viana do Castelo
Merchant marine: total: 107 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 736,478 GRT/1,139,180 DWT ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 60, chemical tanker 10, container 6, liquefied gas tanker 9, oil tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 3 note: Portugal has created a captive register on Madeira for Portuguese-owned ships; ships on the Madeira Register (MAR) will have taxation and crewing benefits of a flag of convenience (1997 est.)
Airports: 69 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 41 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 6 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1997 est.)
@Portugal:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force, NationalRepublican Guard, Fiscal Guard, Public Security Police
Military manpower-military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 2,545,464 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 2,048,310 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 76,870 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $2.07 billion (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.9% (1996)
@Portugal:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: sovereignty over Timor Timur (East Timor province) disputed with Indonesia and not recognized by the UN
Illicit drugs: important gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
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(commonwealth associated with the US)
@Puerto Rico:Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 9,104 sq km land: 8,959 sq km water: 145 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly less than three times the size of RhodeIsland
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 501 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 16% other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: occasional drought has caused water levels in reservoirs to drop and has prompted water rationing
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: important location along the Mona Passage-a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
@Puerto Rico:People
Population: 3,857,070 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 24% (male 483,268; female 461,632) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,206,385; female 1,310,406) 65 years and over: 11% (male 171,889; female 223,490) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.68% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.7 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8.08 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.2 years male: 69.58 years female: 79.11 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.03 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens) adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups: Hispanic
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant denominations and other 15%
Languages: Spanish, English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89% male: 90% female: 88% (1980 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Data code: RQ
Dependency status: commonwealth associated with the US
Government type: commonwealth
National capital: San Juan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities
Independence: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday: US Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution: ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system: based on Spanish civil code
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President of the US William Jefferson CLINTON (since 20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January 1993) head of government: Governor Pedro ROSSELLO (since 2 January 1993) cabinet: NA elections: governor of Puerto Rico elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Pedro ROSSELLO reelected governor of Puerto Rico; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (54 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); House of Representatives-last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PNP 19, PPD 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PNP 37, PPD 16, PIP 1 note: Puerto Rico elects one representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 7 November 2000); results - percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PNP 1 (Carlos Romero BARCELO)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Superior Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate; Municipal Courts, justices appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate
Political parties and leaders: National Republican Party of PuertoRico, Luis FERRE; Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hector ACEVEDO; NewProgressive Party (PNP), Pedro ROSSELLO; Puerto Rican IndependenceParty (PIP), Ruben BERRIOS Martinez; Puerto Rican Communist Party(PCP), leader(s) unknown
Political pressure groups and leaders: Armed Forces for NationalLiberation (FALN); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution; BoricuaPopular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Armed Forces of PopularResistance
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large white five-pointed star in the center; design based on the US flag
@Puerto Rico:Economy
Economy-overview: Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income for the island, with estimated arrivals of nearly 4 million tourists in 1993. The construction sector has been a key factor in recent economic growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$32.9 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$8,600 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5.5% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 1.3 million (1996) by occupation: government 19%, manufacturing 13%, trade 17%, construction 5%, other 32%, unemployed 14% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 13% (FY96/97 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.1 billion expenditures: $5.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95)
Industries: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1994 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 4.465 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 17.34 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 4,548 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: livestock products, chickens; sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas
Exports: total value: $22.9 billion (f.o.b. 1996) commodities: pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment partners: US 88% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value: $19.1 billion (c.i.f. 1996) commodities: chemicals, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products partners: US 62% (1995 est.)
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: none
Currency: 1 US dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 1.315 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system, integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability domestic: digital telephone system with about 1 million lines (1990 est.); cellular telephone service international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US
Radio broadcast stations: AM 50, FM 63, shortwave 0 note: there were 118 radio stations in 1995
Radios: 2.6 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 15 (1995) note: cable television available with US programs (1990 est.)
Televisions: 973,000 (1994 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Transportation
Railways: total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge, rural, narrow-gauge system for hauling sugarcane; no passenger service
Highways: total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama, Playa de Ponce, SanJuan
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 30 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 6 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (1997 est.)
@Puerto Rico:Military
Military branches: paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Puerto Rico:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Qatar:Geography
Location: Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and SaudiArabia
Geographic coordinates: 25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 11,437 sq km land: 11,437 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry; humid and sultry in summer
Terrain: mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Aba al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: NA% other: 94% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 80 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment-current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography-note: strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
@Qatar:People
Population: 697,126 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 516,508 non-nationals (July 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27% (male 97,317; female 93,532) 15-64 years: 71% (male 353,700; female 138,564) 65 years and over: 2% (male 9,731; female 4,282) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.82% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.97 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 3.53 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 24.76 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: 2.55 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 2.27 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.89 years male: 71.38 years female: 76.54 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Qatari(s) adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups: Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions: Muslim 95%
Languages: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male: 79.2% female: 79.9% (1995 est.)
@Qatar:Government
Country name: conventional long form: State of Qatar conventional short form: Qatar local long form: Dawlat Qatar local short form: Qatar note: closest approximation of the native pronunciation falls between cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Data code: QA
Government type: traditional monarchy
National capital: Doha
Administrative divisions: 9 municipalities (baladiyat, singular-baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batnah, Ash Shamal, Umm Salal
Independence: 3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution: provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972
Legal system: discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law is significant in personal matters
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASSIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, third son of the amir (selected crown prince by the amir 22 October 1996); note-Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armed forces head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the amir (since 20 January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir elections: none; the amir is an absolute monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed by the amir) note: the constitution calls for elections for part of this consultative body, but no elections have been held since 1970, when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC,ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO(pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Saad Muhammad al-KUBAYSI chancery: Suite 200, 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick N. THEROS embassy: 149 Ahmed Bin Ali St., Fariq Bin Omran (opposite the television station), Doha mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha; pouch address-AMEMB Doha, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-6130 telephone: [974] 864701 through 864703 FAX: [974] 861669 note: work week is Saturday-Wednesday
Flag description: maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side
@Qatar:Economy
Economy-overview: Oil is the backbone of the economy and accounts for more than 30% of GDP, roughly 70% of export earnings, and 66% of government revenues. Proved oil reserves of 3.7 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Oil has given Qatar a per capita GDP comparable to the leading West European industrial countries. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 7 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total, third largest in the world. Production and export of natural gas are becoming increasingly important. Long-term goals feature the development of off-shore petroleum and the diversification of the economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$11.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$16,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 49% services: 50% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2.5% (1996)
Labor force: total: 233,000 (1993 est.) note: 83% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $3.7 billion expenditures: $4.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 1.303 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 5.8 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 10,863 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish (all on small scale)
Exports: total value: $5.8 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: petroleum products 80%, fertilizers, steel partners: Japan 55%, Singapore 11%, South Korea 6%, Australia 3%, UAE 3% (1996)
Imports: total value: $5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, food, chemicals partners: Italy 14%, UK 12%, France 11%, Japan 10%, Germany 9% (1996)
Debt-external: $11 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Qatari riyal (QR) = 100 dirhams
Exchange rates: Qatari riyals (QR) per US$1-3.6400 riyals (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: 160,717 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: modern system centered in Doha domestic: NA international: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 201,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 205,000 (1992 est.)
@Qatar:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 235 km; natural gas 400 km
Ports and harbors: Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id
Merchant marine: total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 618,447 GRT/1,031,135 DWT ships by type: combination ore/oil 2, container 3, cargo 11, oil tanker 5 (1997 est.)
Airports: 4 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1997 est.)
@Qatar:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Public Security
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 294,205 (1998 est.) note: includes non-nationals
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 154,436 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 5,777 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $400 million (1996 est.)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 3.5% (1996 est.)
@Qatar:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: territorial dispute with Bahrain over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Bahrain currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ); in 1996, agreed with Saudi Arabia to demarcate border per 1992 accord; that process is ongoing
______________________________________________________________________
(overseas department of France)
@Reunion:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMadagascar
Geographic coordinates: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references: World
Area: total: 2,510 sq km land: 2,500 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 201 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 35% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 60 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April);Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
@Reunion:People
Population: 705,053 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 116,705; female 111,262) 15-64 years: 62% (male 214,914; female 221,502) 65 years and over: 6% (male 16,846; female 23,824) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.81% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.78 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 4.67 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: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.4 years male: 72.36 years female: 78.6 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.67 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Reunionese (singular and plural) adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups: French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, Hindu, Islam, Buddhist
Languages: French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79% male: 76% female: 80% (1982 est.)
@Reunion:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Reunion conventional short form: Reunion local long form: none local short form: Ile de la Reunion
Data code: RE
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US government, but there are four arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Robert POMMIES (since NA 1996) head of government: President of the General Council Christophe PAYET (since 4 April 1994) and President of the Regional Council Margarite SUDRE (since 25 June 1993) cabinet: NA elections: prefect appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils, who vote on party lines
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council (47 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) and unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council-last held NA March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council-last held 25 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: General Council-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PCR 12, PS 12, UDF 11, RPR 5, others 7; Regional Council-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-UPF 17, Free-Dom Movement 13, PCR 9, PS 6 note: Reunion elects 3 representatives to the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-RPR 1, FRA 1, independent 1; Reunion also elects 5 deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May and 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA); results-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PCR 3, PS 1, and RPR-UDF 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Ibrahim DINDAN]; Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; France-Reunion Future or FRA [Andre THIEN AH KOON]; Socialist Party or PS [Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Center of Social Democrats or CDS; Union for France or UPF (includes RPR and UDF); Free-DOM Movement [Marguerite SUDRE]; National Front or FN [Alix MOREL, leader]
International organization participation: FZ, InOC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Reunion:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which recently amounted to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas indigenous groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.