Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 15 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 34% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides; periodic droughts
Environment-current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography-note: on major sea and air routes linking North and SouthAmerica
@Venezuela:People
Population: 22,803,409 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 34% (male 3,979,045; female 3,733,364) 15-64 years: 62% (male 7,054,525; female 7,011,814) 65 years and over: 4% (male 469,799; female 554,862) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.77% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 22.96 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.27 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 27.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.66 years male: 69.68 years female: 75.87 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.7 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups: mestizo 67%, white 21%, black 10%, Amerindian 2%
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
Languages: Spanish (official), native dialects spoken by about 200,000Amerindians in the remote interior
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.1% male: 91.8% female: 90.3% (1995 est.)
@Venezuela:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Venezuela conventional short form: Venezuela local long form: Republica de Venezuela local short form: Venezuela
Data code: VE
Government type: republic
National capital: Caracas
Administrative divisions: 22 states (estados, singular-estado),1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution: 23 January 1961
Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2 February 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (since 2 February 1994); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held 6 December 1998) election results: Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez elected president; percent of vote-Rafael CALDERA Rodriguez (National Convergence) 30.45%, Claudio FERMIN (AD) 23.59%, Oswaldo ALVAREZ PAZ (COPEI) 22.72%, Andres VELASQUEZ (Causa R) 21.94%, other 1.3%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats, two from each state and the Federal District (50), and retired presidents (2); members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate-last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held 6 December 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 5 December 1993 (next to be held 6 December 1998) election results: Senate-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3, independents 5; note-two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI) hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%, Causa R 19.3%; seats by party-AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22, National Convergence 18, other 23
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint session for a nine-year term, a third are re-elected every three years
Political parties and leaders: National Convergence (Convergencia), Jose Miguel UZCATEGUI, president, Juan Jose CALDERA, national coordinator; Social Christian Party (COPEI), Luis HERRERA Campins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general; Democratic Action (AD), David MORALES Bello, president, and Luis ALFARO Ucero, secretary general; Movement Toward Socialism (MAS), Felipe MUJICA, president, and Leopoldo PUCHI, secretary general; Radical Cause (La Causa R), Lucas MATHEUS, secretary general; Homeland for All (PPT), Alexis ROSAS, director
Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers (CTV, labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOS groups
International organization participation: AG, Caricom (observer), CCC,CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, MINUGUA, MINURSO,NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Luis ECHEVERRIA chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214 FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Francis MAISTO embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1060 mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037 telephone: [58] (2) 977-2011 FAX: [58] (2) 977-0843
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
@Venezuela:Economy
Economy-overview: The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for 27% of GDP, 78% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. It is likely to become even more important as the state petroleum company plans to double its production over the next 10 years. Realizing the failure of interventionist policies, the CALDERA administration embarked on a comprehensive economic reform program, which included negotiation of a stand-by agreement with the IMF in 1996, elimination of price and exchange controls, and revitalization of Venezuela's stalled privatization program. The influx of foreign capital, and the currency depreciation that followed exchange liberalization, led to 103% inflation in 1996, the highest in Venezuelan history. The government stepped in toward the end of 1996, propping up the Bolivar by using a stable nominal exchange rate as a restraint on inflation-which fell in 1997 to 38%. The macroeconomic adjustments, bolstered by strong oil prices, resulted in strong growth in 1997. However, the East Asian financial crisis and the decline of international oil prices toward the end of 1997 brought pressure on the currency, which Caracas was able to stave off. Caracas readjusted its exchange rate bands and began to allow quicker depreciation of the Bolivar; the government also tightened monetary policy. Concerned over potential revenue shortfalls from soft oil prices for the 1998 budget, Caracas has implemented budget cuts to compensate for previously optimistic oil revenue estimates. The government also has pushed ahead with sale of the state-owned steel company and the strategic aluminum sector, thereby reassuring domestic and international investors of Venezuela's commitment to reform. The monetary and fiscal measures have been well received by the international financial community. As a result, financial analysts believe the economy will still grow at a healthy pace in 1998, though they have lowered their initial projections for GDP growth due to the soft oil market.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$185 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 5% (1997)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$8,300 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 63% services: 33% (1997 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 38% (1997)
Labor force: total: 9.2 million by occupation: services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $11.99 billion expenditures: $11.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $3 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 18.975 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 74 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 3,508 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: total value: $20.8 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: petroleum 78%, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures partners: US and Puerto Rico 55%, Japan, Netherlands, Italy
Imports: total value: $10.5 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials partners: US 40%, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Canada
Debt-external: $26.5 billion (1996)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $46 million (1993)
Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1-507.447 (January 1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995), 148.503 (1994), 90.826 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.44 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 181, FM 0, shortwave 26
Radios: 9.04 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 59
Televisions: 3.3 million (1992 est.)
@Venezuela:Transportation
Railways: total: 584 km (336 km single track; 248 km privately owned) standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 84,300 km paved: 33,214 km unpaved: 51,086 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; natural gas 4,010 km
Ports and harbors: Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, LaSalina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz,Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine: total: 28 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 526,832 GRT/933,135 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, combination bulk 1, container 1, liquefied gas tanker 2, oil tanker 9, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 4, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 377 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 126 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 15 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 251 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 96 under 914 m: 147 (1997 est.)
@Venezuela:Military
Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionalesor FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres orEjercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada), Air Force(Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or NationalGuard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military manpower-military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 6,134,691 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 4,429,265 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 240,506 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $902 million (1996)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 1.4% (1996)
@Venezuela:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claims all of Guyana west of the EssequiboRiver; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf ofVenezuela
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia; important money-laundering hub; active eradication program primarily targeting opium
______________________________________________________________________
@Vietnam:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf ofTonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 329,560 sq km land: 325,360 sq km water: 4,200 sq km
Area-comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests
Land use: arable land: 17% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 30% other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 18,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
Environment-current issues: logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Environment-international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
@Vietnam:People
Population: 76,236,259 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 13,570,312; female 12,796,687) 15-64 years: 60% (male 22,222,286; female 23,621,122) 65 years and over: 5% (male 1,613,103; female 2,412,749) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.43% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 21.55 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 6.69 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.54 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: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.74 years male: 65.37 years female: 70.25 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural) adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo, Khmer,Man, Cham
Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French, Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.7% male: 96.5% female: 91.2% (1995 est.)
@Vietnam:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam conventional short form: Vietnam local long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Nam local short form: Viet Nam abbreviation: SRV
Data code: VM
Government type: Communist state
National capital: Hanoi
Administrative divisions: 50 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Bac Thai, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lac, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Bac, Ha Giang, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Hung, Hai Phong*, Ho Chi Minh*, Hoa Binh, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Song Be, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phu, Yen Bai note: eight existing provinces (Bac Thai, Ha Bac, Hai Hung, Minh Hai, Nam Ha, Quang Nam-Da Nang, Song Be, and Vinh Phu) may have been abolished and from their territory 15 new provinces and one new municipality* (Bac Can, Bac Giang, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Da Nang City*, Ha Nam, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Nam Dinh, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Thai Nguyen, and Vinh Phuc) may have been created
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution: 15 April 1992
Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997) and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992) head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29 September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29 September 1997), Ngo Xuan LOC (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen Manh CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a five-year term; election last held 25 September 1997 (next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for election); seats by party-CPV or CPV-approved 450
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders: only party-Communist Party of Vietnam(CPV), Le Kha PHIEU, general secretary
International organization participation: will become a member at the next APEC meeting in the fall of 1998, ACCT, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 501 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas "Pete" Peterson embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 8431500 FAX: [84] (4) 8350484 or 8431510
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
@Vietnam:Economy
Economy-overview: Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress has been achieved over the past 10 years in moving forward from an extremely low starting point. Economic growth continued at a strong pace during 1997 with industrial output rising by 12% and real GDP expanding by 8.5%. These positive numbers, however, masked some major difficulties that are emerging in economic performance. Many domestic industries, including coal, cement, steel, and paper, reported large stockpiles of inventory and tough competition from more efficient foreign producers, giving Vietnam a trade deficit of $3.3 billion in 1997. While disbursements of aid and foreign direct investment have risen, they are not large enough to finance the rapid increase in imports; and it is widely believed that Vietnam may be using short-term trade credits to bridge the gap-a risky strategy that could result in a foreign exchange crunch. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities continue to move slowly toward implementing the structural reforms needed to revitalize the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Privatization of state enterprises remains bogged down in political controversy, while the country's dynamic private sector is denied both financing and access to markets. Reform of the banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to maintain current high levels of growth. Administrative and legal barriers are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and are raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital. Ideological bias in favor of state intervention and control of the economy is slowing progress toward a more liberalized investment environment.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$128 billion (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 8.5% (1997 est.)
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$1,700 (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 30% services: 42% (1996 est.)
Inflation rate-consumer price index: 5% (1997)
Labor force: total: 32.7 million by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry and services 35% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.6 billion expenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7 billion (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil
Industrial production growth rate: 12% (1997 est.)
Electricity-capacity: 5.32 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 12.3 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 165 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: total value: $7.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes partners: Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, France, South Korea
Imports: total value: $11.1 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles partners: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Debt-external: $7.3 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts primarily to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion nonconvertible debt (former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA note: $2.4 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 1997
Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1-12,300 (January 1998), 11,100(December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800(November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 800,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lags far behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has made considerable progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnam has digitized all provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic and microwave transmission systems have been extended from Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces; the density of telephone receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but is still far behind other countries in the region; Vietnam's telecommunications strategy aims to increase telephone density to 30 per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and authorities estimate that approximately $2.7 billion will be spent on telecommunications upgrades through the end of the decade domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 228, shortwave 0
Radios: 7.215 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 36 (repeaters 77)
Televisions: 2.9 million (1992 est.)
@Vietnam:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,835 km (in addition, there are 224 km not restored to service after war damage) standard gauge: 151 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 2,454 km 1.000-m gauge other gauge: 230 km NA-m dual gauge (three rails)
Highways: total: 93,300 km paved: 23,418 km unpaved: 69,882 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft
Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km
Ports and harbors: Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, HongGai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang
Merchant marine: total: 121 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 487,427 GRT/750,000 DWT ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 97, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1, oil tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 note: Vietnam owns an additional 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 97,531 DWT operating under the registries of The Bahamas, Honduras, Liberia, Malta, and Panama (1997 est.)
Airports: 48 (1994 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
@Vietnam:Military
Military branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes GroundForces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard
Military manpower-military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower-availability: males age 15-49: 19,818,187 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 12,519,072 (1998 est.)
Military manpower-reaching military age annually: males: 811,382 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures-dollar figure: $544 million (1995)
Military expenditures-percent of GDP: 2.7% (1995)
@Vietnam:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary with Thailand resolved, August 1997; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of boundary with Cambodia are in dispute; sections of land border with China are indefinite
Illicit drugs: key growing areas in Vietnam cultivated 6,150 hectares of poppy in 1997 (an increase of 95% over 1996), with a potential production of 45 metric tons (an increase of 80% over 1996) of opium; opium producer and probably minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe; growing opium addiction; possible small-scale heroin production
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@Virgin Islands:Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 352 sq km land: 349 sq km water: 3 sq km
Area-comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use: arable land: 15% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 26% forests and woodland: 6% other: 47% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts, floods, and earthquakes
Environment-current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: important location along the Anegada Passage-a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
@Virgin Islands:People
Population: 118,211 (July 1998 est.) note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 17,310; female 16,502) 15-64 years: 64% (male 34,434; female 40,645) 65 years and over: 7% (male 4,065; female 5,255) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.16% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 16.45 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 5.01 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.13 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: 0.84 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.3 years male: 74.68 years female: 82.15 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy: NA
@Virgin Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United States conventional short form: Virgin Islands former: Danish West Indies
Data code: VQ
Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type: NA
National capital: Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US)
National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark to US)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system: based on US laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note-indigenous inhabitants areUS 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 Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER (since 5 January 1995) and Lieutenant Governor Kenneth E. MAPP (since 5 January 1995) cabinet: NA elections: governor and lieutenant governor of the Virgin Islands elected by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 22 November 1994 (next to be held NA November 1998) election results: Dr. Roy L. SCHNEIDER elected governor of the Virgin Islands; percent of vote-Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 54.7%, former Lieutenant Governor Derek HODGE 42.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: last held 5 November 1996 (next to be held 2 November 1998) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-independents 6, Democrats 5, Republicans 2, Independent Citizens Movement 2 note: the Virgin Islands elects one representative to the US House of Representatives; elections last held 19 November 1996 (next to be held NA November 1998); results - Dr. Donna GREEN (ICM) 51.5%, Victor O. FRAZER (independent) 48.5%
Judicial branch: US District Court, handles civil matters over $200,000, felonies (persons 15 years of age and over), and federal cases; judges are appointed by the president; Territorial Court, handles civil matters of unlimited cash amount; felonies, small claims, juvenile, domestic, misdemeanors, and traffic cases; judges appointed by the governor
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party, Marilyn STAPLETON;Independent Citizens' Movement (ICM), Virdin C. BROWN; RepublicanParty, Charlotte-Poole DAVIS
International organization participation: ECLAC (associate), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: white with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
@Virgin Islands:Economy
Economy-overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The number of US tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. A major economic problem at the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental arrears, in income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$1.2 billion (1987 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$12,500 (1987 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: total: 47,443 (1990 est.) by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 62%, other 17% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (March 1994)
Budget: revenues: $364.4 million expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: 316 million kW (1995)
Electricity-production: 1 billion kWh (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita: 10,285 kWh (1995)
Agriculture-products: truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Exports: total value: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: refined petroleum products partners: US, Puerto Rico
Imports: total value: $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials partners: US, Puerto Rico
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October-30 September
Communications
Telephones: 60,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
Radios: 105,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1988 est.)
Televisions: 66,000 (1994 est.)
@Virgin Islands:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, PortAlucroix
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix; there is an airfield on St. John (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
@Virgin Islands:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Virgin Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
(territory of the US)
@Wake Island:Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment-current issues: NA
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
@Wake Island:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are no permanent US military personnel on the island; some civilian contract personnel remain (1998 est.)
@Wake Island:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Island
Data code: WQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Department of the Interior; occasional activities on the island are managed by the US Army under a US Air Force contract
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Wake Island:Economy
Economy-overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity-capacity: NA kW note: electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity-production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by the US military
Communications
Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off theOverseas Telephone System (OTS)domestic: NAinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite
Television broadcast stations: NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) television service provided by satellite
@Wake Island:Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Transportation-note: formerly an important commercial aviation base, now occasionally used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings
@Wake Island:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Wake Island:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: claimed by Marshall Islands
______________________________________________________________________
(overseas territory of France)
@Wallis and Futuna:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 274 sq km land: 274 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area-comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Singavi 765 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 5% permanent crops: 20% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources
Environment-international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography-note: both island groups have fringing reefs
@Wallis and Futuna:People
Population: 14,974 (July 1998 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.06% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 23.02 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 4.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.82 years male: 73.24 years female: 74.4 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.78 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 100%
Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50% male: 50% female: 50% (1969 est.)
@Wallis and Futuna:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna local short form: Wallis et Futuna
Data code: WF
Dependency status: overseas territory of France
Government type: NA
National capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Claude PIERRET (since NA) head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Victor BRIAL (since 1 June 1997) cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers elections: high administrator appointed by the president of France on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-NA note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate-elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held by NA September 1998); results-percent of vote by party-NA; seats-(1 total) RPR 1; French National Assembly-elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held by NA March 2002); results - percent of vote by party-NA; seats-(1 total) RPR 1
Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR; UnionPopulaire Locale or UPL; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF;Lua kae tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG;Taumu'a Lelei
International organization participation: FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Flag description: a large white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions
@Wallis and Futuna:Economy
Economy-overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food - particularly flour, sugar, rice, and beef-fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting mostly of breadfruit, yams, and taro root.
GDP: purchasing power parity-$28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: NA%
GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$2,000 (1995 est.)
GDP-composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Inflation rate-consumer price index: NA%
Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $22 million expenditures: $22 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity-capacity: NA kW
Electricity-production: NA kWh
Electricity-consumption per capita: NA kWh
Agriculture-products: breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports: total value: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: copra, handicrafts partners: NA
Imports: total value: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
Debt-external: $NA
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $NA
Currency: 1 CFP franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) perUS$1-110.60 (January 1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995),100.94 (1994), 102.96 (1993); note-linked at the rate of 18.18 to theFrench franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 340 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA
@Wallis and Futuna:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km) paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea) unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Leava, Mata-Utu
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,160 GRT/41,656 DWT ships by type: oil tanker 1, passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Airports: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
@Wallis and Futuna:Military
Military-note: defense is the responsibility of France
@Wallis and Futuna:Transnational Issues
Disputes-international: none
______________________________________________________________________
Introduction
Current issues: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement and the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations.
@West Bank:Geography
Location: Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area: total: 5,860 sq km land: 5,640 sq km water: 220 sq km note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Area-comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 404 km border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use: arable land: 27% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 32% forests and woodland: 1% other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment-current issues: adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Environment-international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography-note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area forIsrael's coastal aquifers; there are 207 Israeli settlements andcivilian land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem(August 1997 est.)
@West Bank:People
Population: 1,556,919 (July 1998 est.) note: in addition, there are 155,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and 164,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1997 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 45% (male 359,848; female 342,173) 15-64 years: 52% (male 405,929; female 396,928) 65 years and over: 3% (male 21,853; female 30,188) (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.71% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 36.65 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 4.35 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.47 years male: 70.7 years female: 74.33 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.92 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%