GDP: purchasing power parity-$525 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: -0.4% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$8,800 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 28.7% services: 61.3% (1997)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 32.6 million (1997 est.) by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services (including government) 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.5%
Budget: revenues: $24 billion expenditures: $25 billion, including capital expenditures of $8 billion (FY96/97)
Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate: -15% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 15.838 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 77.5 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 1,295 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports: total value: $51.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997) commodities: manufactures 82%, agricultural products and fisheries 14% (1997) partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong 5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7% (1997)
Imports: total value: $73.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: capital goods 50%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7% (1997) partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1% (1997)
Debt-external: $90 billion (1997)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $624 million (1993)
Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1-53.812 (January 1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995), 25.150 (1994), 25.319 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Telephones: 1,553,200 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public adequate, but investments in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network),FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0
Radios: 10.75 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (in government-controlled network)
Televisions: 3.3 million (1993 est.)
@Thailand:Transportation
Railways: total: 4,623 km narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
Highways: total: 64,600 km paved: 62,985 km unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km
Ports and harbors: Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Pattani, Phuket, Sattahip,Si Racha, Songkhla
Merchant marine: total: 304 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,997,060 GRT/3,270,988 DWT ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 145, chemical tanker 7, container 9, liquefied gas tanker 13, multi-function large load carrier 3, oil tanker 62, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 2 (1997 est.)
Airports: 106 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 55 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 4 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 51 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 34 (1997 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1997 est.)
@Thailand:Military
Military branches: Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes RoyalThai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force, Paramilitary Forces
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 17,296,871 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 10,435,956 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 558,579 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $4 billion (FY95/96)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY94/95)
@Thailand:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: parts of the border with Laos are indefinite; maritime boundary with Vietnam resolved, August 1997; parts of border with Cambodia are indefinite; maritime boundary with Cambodia not clearly defined
Illicit drugs: a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; major illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamines and heroin
______________________________________________________________________
@Togo:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 56,790 sq km land: 54,390 sq km water: 2,400 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline: 56 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 30 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain: gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pic Agou 986 m
Natural resources: phosphates, limestone, marble
Land use: arable land: 38% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 17% other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 70 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; recent droughts affecting agriculture
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Togo:People
Population: 4,905,827 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 48% (male 1,190,812; female 1,180,739) 15-64 years: 49% (male 1,175,570; female 1,252,274) 65 years and over: 3% (male 48,483; female 57,949) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.52% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 45.23 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 10 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.78 years male: 56.52 years female: 61.12 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.6 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Togolese (singular and plural) adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups: native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 70%, Christian 20%, Muslim 10%
Languages: French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.7% male: 67% female: 37% (1995 est.)
@Togo:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Togolese Republic conventional short form: Togo local long form: Republique Togolaise local short form: none former: French Togo
Data code: TO
Government type: republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
National capital: Lome
Administrative divisions: 21 circumscriptions (circonscriptions, singular-circonscription); Amlame, Aneho, Atakpame, Badou, Bafilo, Bassar, Dapaong, Kande, Kara, Kpalime, Lome, Niamtougou, Notse, Pagouda, Sansanne-Mango, Sokode, Sotouboua, Tabligbo, Tchamba, Tsevie, Vogan note: the 21 units may have become second-order administrative divisions with the imposition of a new first-order level of five prefectures (singular - prefecture) named De La Kara, Des Plateaux, Des Savanes, Du Centre, and Maritime
Independence: 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution: multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system: French-based court system
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch: chief of state: President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA (since 14 April 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Kwassi KLUTSE (since August 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1998 (next to be held NA 2003); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Gnassingbe EYADEMA elected president; percent of vote-Gnassingbe EYADEMA 52.13%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 and 20 February 1994 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-CAR 36, RPT 35, UTD 7, UJD 2, CFN 1 note: as a result of a byelection in August 1996, ordered by the Supreme Court for three seats of the Action Committee for Renewal and the Togolese Union for Democracy, representation in the National Assembly changed to RPT 38, CAR 34, UTD 6, UJD 2, and CFN 1; as a result of subsequent defections from the CAR to the RPT and the merging of the UJD with the RPT, representation in the National Assembly in August 1997 was RPT 42, CAR 32, UTD 5, CFN 1, independent 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court orCour Supreme
Political parties and leaders: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [President Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA]; Coordination des Forces Nouvelles or CFN [Joseph KOFFIGOH]; Togolese Union for Democracy or UTD [Edem KODJO]; Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yao AGBOYIBOR]; Union for Democracy and Solidarity or UDS [Antoine FOLLY]; Pan-African Sociodemocrats Group or GSP, an alliance of three radical parties: CDPA, PDR, and PSP; Democratic Convention of African Peoples or CDPA [Leopold GNININVI]; Party for Democracy and Renewal or PDR [Zarifou AYEVA]; Pan-African Social Party or PSP [Francis AGBAGLI]; Union of Forces for Change or UFC [Gilchrist OLYMPIO (in exile); Jeane-Pierre FABRE, general secretary in Togo]; Union of Justice and Democracy or UJD [Lal TAXPANDJAN] note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President EYADEMA, was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pascal BODJONA chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda Brown SCHOONOVER embassy: Rue Pelletier Caventou and Rue Vauban, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: [228] 21 77 17, 21 29 91 through 21 29 94 FAX: [228] 21 79 52
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
@Togo:Economy
Economy-overview: This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for more than 60% of the labor force. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton together generate about 30% of export earnings. Togo is self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs when harvests are normal, with occasional regional supply difficulties. In the industrial sector, phosphate mining is by far the most important activity, although it has suffered from the collapse of world phosphate prices and increased foreign competition. Togo serves as a regional commercial and trade center. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has stalled. Political unrest, including private and public sector strikes throughout 1992 and 1993, has jeopardized the reform program, shrunk the tax base, and disrupted vital economic activity. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of the currency by 50% provided an important impetus to renewed structural adjustment; these efforts were facilitated by the end of strife in 1994 and a return to overt political calm. The 1998 presidential elections provide an important opportunity for Togo's evolving political system to demonstrate that the country can participate in a peaceful and effective manner with World Bank and IMF programs. Progress depends on continuing privatization, increased transparency in government accounting to accommodate increased social service outlays, and possible downsizing of the military, on which the regime has depended to stay in place.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$6.2 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 4.8% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,300 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 23% services: 45% (1995)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 15.7% (1995)
Labor force: total: 1.538 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $232 million expenditures: $252 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts, textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 13.6% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 34,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 90 million kWh (1995) note: imports electricity from Ghana
Electricity-consumption per capita: 92 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; meat; annual fish catch of 10,000-14,000 tons
Exports: total value: $196 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa partners: Canada 9.2%, US 8.1%, Taiwan 7.5%, Nigeria 6.7% (1995 est.)
Imports: total value: $404 million (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery and equipment, consumer goods, petroleum products partners: Ghana 17.1%, China 13.3%, France 12.5%, Cameroon 6.0% (1995 est.)
Debt-external: $1.4 billion (1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
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: 47,000, not including those in the 10,000 telephone capacity cellular system (1998 est.)
Telephone system: fair system based on network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and cellular system domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones international: satellite earth stations-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 795,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (relays 2)
Televisions: 24,000 (1992 est.)
@Togo:Transportation
Railways: total: 525 km (1995) narrow gauge: 525 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 50 km Mono river
Ports and harbors: Kpeme, Lome
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 9 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Togo:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 1,058,480 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 555,263 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $48 million (1993)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.9% (1993)
@Togo:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of New Zealand)
@Tokelau:Geography
Location: Oceania, group of three islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 10 sq km land: 10 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 101 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain: low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile) permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment-current issues: very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
@Tokelau:People
Population: 1,443 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -1.35% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Tokelauan(s) adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian
Religions: Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%,other 2%note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; onNukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with theCongregational Christian Church predominant
Languages: Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
@Tokelau:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Data code: TL
Dependency status: territory of New Zealand; note-Tokelauans are drafting a constitution, developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward fee association with Wellington
Government type: NA
National capital: none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Administrative divisions: none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence: none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand)
Constitution: administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970
Legal system: British and local statutes
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952); the queen and New Zealand are represented by Administrator Lindsay WATT (since NA March 1993) head of government: Aliki Faipule FALIMATEAO (since NA 1997) cabinet: the Council of Faipule, consisting of three elected leaders, one from each atoll; functions as a cabinet elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term
Legislative branch: unicameral General Fono (45 seats-15 from each of the three atolls; members chosen by each atoll's Council of Elders or Taupulega to serve three-year terms); note-the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers legislative power on the General Fono
Judicial branch: Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: SPC, WHO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description: the flag of New Zealand is used
@Tokelau:Economy
Economy-overview: Tokelau's small size, isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people must rely on aid from New Zealand to maintain public services, annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.5 million (1993 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $430,830 expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)
Industries: small-scale enterprises for copra production, wood work, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: NA kW
Electricity-production: NA kWh
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture-products: coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papaya, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
Exports: total value: $98,000 (f.o.b., 1983) commodities: stamps, copra, handicrafts partners: NZ
Imports: total value: $323,400 (c.i.f., 1983) commodities: foodstuffs, building materials, fuel partners: NZ
Debt-external: $0
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $3.7 million from NZ (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 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 April-31 March
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: domestic: radiotelephone service between islands international: radiotelephone service to Western Samoa; government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with three satellite earth stations, established in 1997
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: each atoll has a radio broadcast station of NA type that broadcasts shipping and weather reports
Radios: 1,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
@Tokelau:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: none; lagoon landings by amphibious aircraft from WesternSamoa
@Tokelau:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
@Tokelau:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Tonga:Geography
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 748 sq km land: 718 sq km water: 30 sq km
Area-comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 419 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December toMay), cool season (May to December)
Terrain: most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources: fish, fertile soil
Land use: arable land: 24% permanent crops: 43% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 11% other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou
Environment-current issues: deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations
Environment-international agreements: party to: Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: archipelago of 170 islands (36 inhabited)
@Tonga:People
Population: 108,207 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.81% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 26.43 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.07 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 38.57 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.54 years male: 67.51 years female: 71.96 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.63 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tongan(s) adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups: Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions: Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages: Tongan, English
Literacy: definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English total population: 98.5% male: 98.4% female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
@Tonga:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga conventional short form: Tonga former: Friendly Islands
Data code: TN
Government type: hereditary constitutional monarchy
National capital: Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions: three island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu,Vava'u
Independence: 4 June 1970 (emancipation from UK protectorate)
National holiday: Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution: 4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967
Legal system: based on English law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965) head of government: Prime Minister Baron VAEA (since 22 August 1991) and Deputy Prime Minister S. Langi KAVALIKU (since 22 August 1991) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the king note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the king and the Cabinet elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the king
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats-12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held 24-25 January 1996 (next to be held NA February 1999) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-7 proreform, 2 traditionalist
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the king;Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the SupremeCourt sits as the Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: Tonga People's Party, Viliami FUKOFUKA
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO,G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tonga does not have an embassy in the US; Ambassador Akosita FINEANGANOFO, resides in London consulate(s) general : San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga
Flag description: red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner
@Tonga:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy's base is agriculture, which contributes 32% to GDP. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The industrial sector accounts for only 10% of GDP. Tourism is the primary source of hard currency earnings; the country also remains dependent on sizable external aid and remittances to offset its trade deficit. The economy grew at a declining rate in 1993-96. The government has been turning its attention to further development of the private sector and the reduction of the budget deficit.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$239 million (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 1% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,250 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 32% industry: 10% services: 58% (1996)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: total: 36,665 (1994) by occupation: agriculture 65% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.8% (FY93/94)
Budget: revenues: $49 million expenditures: $120 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 1.9% (FY95/96)
Electricity-capacity: 7,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 30 million kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 284 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Exports: total value: $15.3 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: squash, fish, vanilla, root crops, coconut oil partners: Japan 43%, US 19%, Canada 14%, NZ 5%, Australia 5% (1996 est.)
Imports: total value: $82.9 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: food products, live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, fuels, chemicals partners: NZ 34%, Australia 16%, US 10%, UK 8%, Japan 6% (1996 est.)
Debt-external: $70 million (1995)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $37 million (1994)
Currency: 1 pa'anga (T$) = 100 seniti
Exchange rates: pa'anga (T$) per US$1-1.3112 (November 1997), 1.2323 (1996), 1.2709 (1995), 1.3202 (1994), 1.3841 (1993)
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Telephones: 6,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 66,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1995)
Televisions: 2,000 (1994 est.)
@Tonga:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 680 km paved: 184 km unpaved: 496 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Neiafu, Nuku'alofa, Pangai
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 11,278 GRT/16,441 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 6 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Tonga:Military
Military branches: Tonga Defense Services (includes, Royal TonganMarines, Tongan Royal Guards, Maritime Force, Police); note-a new AirWing which will be subordinate to the Defense Ministry is beingdeveloped
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Tonga:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Trinidad and Tobago:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 5,130 sq km land: 5,130 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 362 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain: mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 9% permanent pastures: 2% forests and woodland: 46% other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 220 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment-current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Trinidad and Tobago:People
Population: 1,116,595 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 28% (male 159,353; female 152,898) 15-64 years: 65% (male 375,889; female 347,115) 65 years and over: 7% (male 36,627; female 44,713) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.27% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 14.89 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -19.55 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: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 18.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.51 years male: 68.06 years female: 73.03 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s) adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups: black 40%, East Indian (a local term-primarily immigrants from northern India) 40.3%, mixed 14%, white 1%, Chinese 1%, other 3.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 32.2%, Hindu 24.3%, Anglican 14.4%, otherProtestant 14%, Muslim 6%, none or unknown 9.1%
Languages: English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 98.8% female: 97% (1995 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Data code: TD
Government type: parliamentary democracy
National capital: Port-of-Spain
Administrative divisions: 8 counties, 3 municipalities*, and 1 ward**;Arima*, Caroni, Mayaro, Nariva, Port-of-Spain*, Saint Andrew, SaintDavid, Saint George, Saint Patrick, San Fernando*, Tobago**, Victoria
Independence: 31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution: 1 August 1976
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON (since 19 March 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Basdeo PANDAY (since 9 November 1995) cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament elections: president elected by an electoral college that consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA February 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed from among the members of Parliament; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives is usually appointed prime minister election results: Arthur Napoleon Raymond ROBINSON elected president; percent of electoral college vote-69%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate (31 seats; members appointed by the president for a maximum term of five years) and a House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives-last held 6 November 1995 (next to be held by December 2000) election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote-PNM 52%, UNC 42.2%, NAR 5.2%; seats by party-PNM 15, UNC 19, NAR 1, independent 1; note-the UNC formed a coalition with the NAR note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 15 members serving four-year terms
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Political parties and leaders: People's National Movement (PNM),Patrick MANNING; United National Congress (UNC), Basdeo PANDAY;National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR), Nizam MOHAMMED; Movementfor Social Transformation (MOTION), David ABDULLAH; National JointAction Committee (NJAC), Makandal DAAGA; National Development Party(NDP), Carson CHARLES; Movement for Unity and Progress (MUP), HulsieBHAGGAN
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES,NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Michael A. ARNEAUD chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490 FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edward E. SHUMAKER, III embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain telephone: [1] (809) 622-6372 through 6376, 6176 FAX: [1] (809) 628-5462
Flag description: red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side
@Trinidad and Tobago:Economy
Economy-overview: Trinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Successful economic reforms were implemented in 1995, and foreign investment and trade are flourishing. Unemployment - a main cause of the country's socio-economic problems-is high, but has decreased to its lowest point in five years. The country enjoys a healthy trade surplus, yet its heavy dependence on oil and petrochemical prices makes its trade balance vulnerable to sudden shifts. Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner, with 260,000 arrivals in 1995, 80% from Europe.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$13.2 billion (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 3.1% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$10,400 (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 45% services: 53% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 3.4% (1996)
Labor force: total: 404,500 by occupation: construction and utilities 13%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, agriculture 11%, services 62% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16.1% (December 1996)
Budget: revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $243 million (1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate: 7.5% (1995)
Electricity-capacity: 1.15 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 3.9 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,068 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: cocoa, sugarcane, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Exports: total value: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers partners: US 48%, Caricom countries 15%, Latin America 9%, EU 5% (1994)
Imports: total value: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1996) commodities: machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals partners: US 48%, Venezuela 10%, UK 8%, Germany, Canada (1995)
Debt-external: $1.9 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $10 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TT$) per US$1-6.2840 (January 1998), 6.2503 (1997), 6.0051 (1996), 5.9478 (1995), 5.9249 (1994), 5.3511 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 170,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: excellent international service; good local service domestic: NA international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 note: there were a total of 10 radio stations in 1995
Radios: 700,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1995 est.)
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Transportation
Railways: note: minimal agricultural railroad system near San Fernando; railway service was discontinued in 1968
Highways: total: 8,320 km paved: 4,252 km unpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 1,032 km; petroleum products 19 km; natural gas 904 km
Ports and harbors: Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Fortin, Point Lisas,Port-of-Spain, Scarborough, Tembladora
Merchant marine: total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,336 GRT/2,567 DWT (1997 est.)
Airports: 6 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Trinidad and Tobago:Military
Military branches: Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force (includes GroundForces, Coast Guard, and Air Wing), Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 313,018 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 223,511 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $83 million (1994)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: NA%
@Trinidad and Tobago:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe and producer of cannabis
______________________________________________________________________
(possession of France)
@Tromelin Island:Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east ofMadagascar
Geographic coordinates: 15 52 S, 54 25 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1 sq km land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3.7 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: sandy
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (scattered bushes)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary
@Tromelin Island:People
Population: uninhabited
@Tromelin Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin
Data code: TE
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@Tromelin Island:Economy
Economy-overview: no economic activity
Communications
Communications-note: important meteorological station
@Tromelin Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Tromelin Island:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Tromelin Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Madagascar and Mauritius
______________________________________________________________________
@Tunisia:Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenAlgeria and Libya
Geographic coordinates: 34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 163,610 sq km land: 155,360 sq km water: 8,250 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south
Terrain: mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use: arable land: 19% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 4% other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography-note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
@Tunisia:People
Population: 9,380,404 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (male 1,526,743; female 1,433,503) 15-64 years: 63% (male 2,933,487; female 2,947,189) 65 years and over: 5% (male 275,411; female 264,071) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.43% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 20.07 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.64 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.1 years male: 71.72 years female: 74.58 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce),French (commerce)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.7% male: 78.6% female: 54.6% (1995 est.)
@Tunisia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Tunisia conventional short form: Tunisia local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah local short form: Tunis
Data code: TS
Government type: republic
National capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Beja, Ben Arous, Bizerte,Gabes, Gafsa, Jendouba, Kairouan, Kasserine, Kebili, L'Ariana, Le Kef,Mahdia, Medenine, Monastir, Nabeul, Sfax, Sidi Bou Zid, Siliana,Sousse, Tataouine, Tozeur, Tunis, Zaghouan
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987) head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September 1989) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected without opposition; percent of vote-Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999) election results: percent of vote by party-RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%, others 1.3%; seats by party-RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note-the government changed the electoral code to guarantee that the opposition won seats
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rally Party(RCD), President BEN ALI (official ruling party); Movement ofDemocratic Socialists (MDS); five other political parties are legal,including the Communist Party