Maritime claims:territorial sea: 50 nm
Climate: varies with terrain, from tropical along coast tosemiarid and hot in north
Terrain: diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissectedplateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Fako 4,095 m
Natural resources: petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 13%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 4%forests and woodland: 78%other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 210 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recent volcanic activity with release ofpoisonous gases
Environment—current issues: water-borne diseases are prevalent;deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography—note: sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa
People
Population: 15,456,092 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 3,562,553; female 3,528,778)15-64 years: 51% (male 3,907,946; female 3,943,035)65 years and over: 3% (male 231,521; female 282,259) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.79% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.84 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.95 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population; note—theremay be some migration but figures are not available
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 75.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.32 years male: 49.75 years female: 52.94 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Cameroonian(s)adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic groups: Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%,Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%,other African 13%, non-African less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 33%, Muslim 16%
Languages: 24 major African language groups, English (official),French (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 63.4%male: 75%female: 52.1% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cameroonconventional short form: Cameroonformer: French Cameroon
Data code: CM
Government type: unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)
Capital: Yaounde
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est,Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence: 1 January 1960 (from UN trusteeship under Frenchadministration)
National holiday: National Day, 20 May (1972)
Constitution: 20 May 1972
Legal system: based on French civil law system, with common law influence; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19September 1996)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October2004); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent ofvote—Paul BIYA 93%; note—supporters of the opposition candidatesboycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote sharesrelatively meaningless
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote toserve five-year terms; note—the president can either lengthen orshorten the term of the legislature)elections: last held 11 May 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—CDPM109, SDF 43, UNDP 13, UDC 5, UPC-K 1, MDR 1, MLJC 1; note—7contested seats will be filled in an election at a time to be set bythe Supreme Courtnote: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for thelegislature, to be called Senate, which the government proposed toestablish in 1998
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by thepresident
Political parties and leaders: Cameroon People's DemocraticMovement or CPDM (government-controlled and the only party untilmajor opposition parties: Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDCFrederick KODOG]; Union of Cameroonian Democratic Forces or UFOC
Political pressure groups and leaders: Alliance for Change orgeneral]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,C, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UDEAC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde mailing address: B. P. 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy
Economy—overview: Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. The government, however, has failed to press forward vigorously with these programs. The latest enhanced structural adjustment agreement was signed in October 1997; the parties hope this will prove more successful, yet government mismanagement and corruption remain problems. Inflation has been brought back under control. Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry may support economic growth in 1999-2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$29.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 22% services: 36% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 40% (1984 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 30% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.23 billionexpenditures: $2.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY96/97 est.)
Industries: petroleum production and refining, food processing,light consumer goods, textiles, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 2.93% hydro: 97.07% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Exports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, lumber,cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton
Exports—partners: Italy 25%, Spain 20%, France 16%, Netherlands7% (1997 est.)
Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machines and electrical equipment, transportequipment, fuel, food
Imports—partners: France 25%, Nigeria 8%, US 8%, Germany 6% (1997est.)
Debt—external: $8.7 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $606.1 million (1995); note?France signed two loan agreements totaling $55 million in September 1997, and the Paris Club agreed in October 1997 to reduce the official debt by 50% and to reschedule it on favorable terms with a consolidation of payments due through 2000
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1—575 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 36,737 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: available only to business and government domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 6 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1998)
Televisions: 15,000 (1998)
Transportation
Railways: total: 1,104 km narrow gauge: 1,104 km 1.000-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways: total: 34,300 km paved: 4,288 km unpaved: 30,012 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 2,090 km; of decreasing importance
Ports and harbors: Bonaberi, Douala, Garoua, Kribi, Tiko
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 21 under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), AirForce, National Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 3,388,643 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,716,285 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 165,670 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $155 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Nigeria over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula and Lake Chad is currently before the International Court of Justice
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@Canada ———
Introduction
Background: A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, from 1867 on Canada has enjoyed de facto independence while retaining, even to the present day, certain formal ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Its paramount political problem continues to be the relationship of the province of Quebec, with its French-speaking residents and unique culture, to the remainder of the country.
Geography
Location: Northern North America, bordering the North AtlanticOcean and North Pacific Ocean, north of the conterminous US
Geographic coordinates: 60 00 N, 95 00 W
Map references: North America
Area:total: 9,976,140 sq kmland: 9,220,970 sq kmwater: 755,170 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than the US
Land boundaries: total: 8,893 km border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)
Coastline: 243,791 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arcticin north
Terrain: mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands insoutheast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Logan 5,950 m
Natural resources: nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum,potash, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 5%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 3%forests and woodland: 54%other: 38% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 7,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow
Environment—current issues: air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities
Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography—note: second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border
People
Population: 31,006,347 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20% (male 3,105,944; female 2,960,171)15-64 years: 68% (male 10,587,553; female 10,461,455)65 years and over: 12% (male 1,652,044; female 2,239,180) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.06% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 5.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.47 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.37 years male: 76.12 years female: 82.79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups: British Isles origin 40%, French origin 27%, otherEuropean 20%, Amerindian 1.5%, other, mostly Asian 11.5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 45%, United Church 12%, Anglican 8%,other 35% (1991)
Languages: English (official), French (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97% (1986 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Canada
Data code: CA
Government type: federation with parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ottawa
Administrative divisions: 10 provinces and 3 territories*;Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland,Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, PrinceEdward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*
Independence: 1 July 1867 (from UK)
National holiday: Canada Day, 1 July (1867)
Constitution: 17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, themachinery of the government was set up in the British North AmericaAct of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs
Legal system: based on English common law, except in Quebec,where civil law system based on French law prevails; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Romeo Le BLANC (since 8 February1995)head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November1993)cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from amongthe members of his own party sitting in Parliamentelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for afive-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party in the House of Commons is automatically designatedby the governor general to become prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists ofthe Senate or Senat (a body whose members are appointed to serveuntil reaching 75 years of age by the governor general and selectedon the advice of the prime minister; its normal limit is 104senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (301seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: House of Commons—last held 2 June 1997 (next to be heldby NA June 2002)election results: percent of vote by party—Liberal Party 38%, ReformParty 19%, Tories 19%, Bloc Quebecois 11%, New Democratic Party 11%,other 2%; seats by party—Liberal Party 155, Reform Party 60, BlocQuebecois 44, New Democratic Party 21, Progressive ConservativeParty 20, independents 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the primeminister through the governor general
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party [Jean CHRETIEN];
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, APEC, AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE (observer), CP,EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G- 7, G-10,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MINURCA, MIPONUH, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS,OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond A. J. CHRETIENchancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and Seattleconsulate(s): Miami, Princeton, San Francisco, and San Jose
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon D. GIFFINembassy: 100 Wellington Street, K1P 5T1, Ottawamailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0430consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto,and Vancouver
Flag description: three vertical bands of red (hoist side), white (double width, square), and red with a red maple leaf centered in the white band
Economy
Economy—overview: As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. Real rates of growth have averaged nearly 3.0% since 1993. Unemployment is falling and government budget surpluses are being partially devoted to reducing the large public sector debt. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which included Mexico) have touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. With its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada can anticipate solid economic prospects in the future. The continuing constitutional impasse between English- and French-speaking areas is raising the possibility of a split in the federation, making foreign investors somewhat edgy.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$688.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 31% services: 66% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998)
Labor force: 15.8 million (1998)
Labor force—by occupation: services 75%, manufacturing 16%, construction 5%, agriculture 3%, other 1% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 7.8% (December 1998)
Budget:revenues: $121.3 billionexpenditures: $112.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7billion (1998)
Industries: processed and unprocessed minerals, food products, wood and paper products, transportation equipment, chemicals, fish products, petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 549.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 20.34% hydro: 63.59% nuclear: 16.05% other: 0.02% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 511.586 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 45.28 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 7.705 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports: $210.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: motor vehicles and parts, newsprint, wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, machinery, natural gas, aluminum, telecommunications equipment
Exports—partners: US 81%, Japan 4%, UK, Germany, South Korea,Netherlands, China (1997)
Imports: $202.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, crude oil,chemicals, motor vehicles and parts, durable consumer goods
Imports—partners: US 76%, Japan 3%, UK, Germany, France, Mexico,Taiwan, South Korea (1997)
Debt—external: $253 billion (1996)
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $2.1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Canadian dollar (Can$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Canadian dollars (Can$) per US$1—1.5192 (January 1999), 1.4835 (1998), 1.3846 (1997), 1.3635 (1996), 1.3724 (1995), 1.3656 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 15.3 million (1990)
Telephone system: excellent service provided by modern technology domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations international: 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 334, FM 35, shortwave 7 (one of the shortwave stations, Radio Canada International, has six transmitters, 48 frequencies, and broadcasts in seven languages; the transmissions are relayed by repeaters in Europe and Asia) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 80 (in addition, there are many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 11.53 million (1983 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 67,773 km; note—there are two major transcontinental freightrailway systems: Canadian National (privatized November 1995) andCanadian Pacific Railway; passenger service provided bygovernment-operated firm VIA, which has no trackage of its ownstandard gauge: 67,773 km 1.435-m gauge (183 km electrified) (1996)
Highways:total: 912,200 kmpaved: 246,400 km (including 16,600 km of expressways)unpaved: 665,800 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,000 km, including Saint Lawrence Seaway
Pipelines: crude and refined oil 23,564 km; natural gas 74,980 km
Ports and harbors: Becancour (Quebec), Churchill, Halifax,Hamilton, Montreal, New Westminster, Prince Rupert, Quebec, SaintJohn (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Sydney,Trois-Rivieres, Thunder Bay, Toronto, Vancouver, Windsor
Merchant marine:total: 109 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,489,110GRT/2,205,274 DWTships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 56, cargo 11, chemical tanker5, combination bulk 2, oil tanker 16, passenger 3, passenger-cargo1, railcar carrier 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea passenger4, specialized tanker 1note: does not include ships used exclusively in the Great Lakes(1998 est.)
Airports: 1,395 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 515 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 154 914 to 1,523 m: 238 under 914 m: 91 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 880 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 353 under 914 m: 454 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 16 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Canadian Armed Forces (includes Land ForcesCommand or LC, Maritime Command or MC, Air Command or AC,Communications Command or CC, Training Command or TC), RoyalCanadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Military manpower—military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 8,243,859 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 7,061,937 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 210,884 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $7.1 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: maritime boundary disputes with the US(Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, Machias SealIsland)
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; growing role as a transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market
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@Cape Verde —————
Geography
Location: Western Africa, group of islands in the North AtlanticOcean, west of Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references: World
Area:total: 4,030 sq kmland: 4,030 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain: steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, pozzuolana (a siliceousvolcanic ash used to produce hydraulic cement), limestone, kaolin,fish
Land use:arable land: 11%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 6%forests and woodland: 0%other: 83% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts; harmattan wind can obscure visibility; volcanically and seismically active
Environment—current issues: overgrazing of livestock and improperland use such as the cultivation of crops on steep slopes has led tosoil erosion; demand for wood used as fuel has resulted indeforestation; desertification; environmental damage has threatenedseveral species of birds and reptiles; overfishing
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, NuclearTest Bansigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: strategic location 500 km from west coast ofAfrica near major north-south sea routes; important communicationsstation; important sea and air refueling site
People
Population: 405,748 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 92,721; female 91,083)15-64 years: 49% (male 92,658; female 104,264)65 years and over: 6% (male 9,936; female 15,086) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.44% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 33.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.78 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -12.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.89 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 45.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.96 years male: 67.66 years female: 74.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.95 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cape Verdean(s) adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups: Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs);Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of creole Portuguese andWest African words)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 71.6%male: 81.4%female: 63.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verdeconventional short form: Cape Verdelocal long form: Republica de Cabo Verdelocal short form: Cabo Verde
Data code: CV
Government type: republic
Capital: Praia
Administrative divisions: 14 districts (concelhos,singular—concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Fogo, Maio, Paul, Praia, PortoNovo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Nicolau,Sao Vicente, Tarrafalnote: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 districts(Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, RibeiraGrande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Nicolau,Sao Filipe, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal)
Independence: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution: new constitution came into force 25 September 1992
Legal system: derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (since 22March 1991)head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Alberto Wahnon de CarvalhoVEIGA (since 13 January 1991)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime minister from among the members of theNational Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 18 February 1996 (next to be held NA February2001); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly andappointed by the presidentelection results: Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro elected president;percent of vote—Antonio MASCARENHAS Monteiro (independent) 80.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or AssembleiaNacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 17 December 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)election results: percent of vote by party—MPD 59%, PAICV 28%, PCD6%; seats by party—MPD 50, PAICV 21, PCD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunalde Justia
Political parties and leaders: Movement for Democracy or MPDEurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU,NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ferdinand Amilcar Spencer LOPESchancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Neal BENEDICTembassy: Rua Abilio Macedo 81, Praiamailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
Flag description: three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
Economy
Economy—overview: Cape Verde's low per capita GDP reflects a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, and public services accounting for almost 70% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 1995 was only 8%, of which fishing accounts for 1.5%. About 90% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances constitute a supplement to GDP of more than 20%. Economic reforms, launched by the new democratic government in 1991, are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Prospects for 1999 depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$581 million (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,450 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 18% services: 74% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1998)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA %
Budget:revenues: $188 millionexpenditures: $228 million, including capital expenditures of $116million (1996)
Industries: food and beverages, fish processing, shoes andgarments, salt mining, ship repair,
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish
Exports: $43 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: shoes, garments, fish, bananas, hides,
Exports—partners: Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, UK, Malaysia
Imports: $215 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports—partners: Portugal 25%, Netherlands, France, UK, Spain, US
Debt—external: $220 million (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $111.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Cape Verdean escudo (CVEsc) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cape Verdean escudos (CVEsc) per US$1—96.400 (November 1998), 99.41 (1998), 93.177 (1997), 82.591 (1996), 76.853 (1995), 81.891 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,900 (1995 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: interisland microwave radio relay system with both analogand digital exchanges; work is in progress on a submarinefiber-optic cable system which was scheduled for completion in 1998international: 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone toSenegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997 est.)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,100 km paved: 858 km unpaved: 242 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Merchant marine:total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 9,620 GRT/13,920 DWTships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (AF) (includes all armed forceelements, both ground and naval)
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 84,018 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 47,672 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $3.8 million (1996)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.8% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Africa destined for Western Europe
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@Cayman Islands ———————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 260 sq kmland: 260 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 160 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain: low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 8%forests and woodland: 23%other: 69% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hurricanes (July to November)
Environment—current issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchment
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: important location between Cuba and CentralAmerica
People
Population: 39,335 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 4.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.66 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 33.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.1 years male: 75.37 years female: 78.81 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.31 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Caymanian(s) adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups: mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%
Religions: United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of God, other Protestant denominations
Languages: English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Data code: CJ
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: George Town
Administrative divisions: 8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland,South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (first Monday in July)
Constitution: 1959, revised 1972 and 1992
Legal system: British common law and local statutes
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Governor and President of the Executive CouncilJohn Wynne OWEN (since 15 September 1995)cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor isappointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats,three official members and 15 elected by popular vote; members servefour-year terms)elections: last held 20 November 1996 (next to be held NA November2000)election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—National Team coalition9, independents 6
Judicial branch: Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: no formal political parties
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofthe UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territoryof the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms on a white disk centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy
Economy—overview: With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1997, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million visitors in 1997. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$930 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5.5% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$24,500 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.7% (1997)
Labor force: 19,820 (1995)
Labor force—by occupation: service workers 18.7%, clerical 18.6%, construction 12.5%, finance and investment 6.7%, directors and business managers 5.9% (1979)
Unemployment rate: 5.1% (1996)
Budget:revenues: $265.2 millionexpenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997)
Industries: tourism, banking, insurance and finance,construction, construction materials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 290 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming
Exports: $2.65 million (1996)
Exports—commodities: turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports—partners: mostly US
Imports: $379.4 million (1996)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports—partners: US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, NetherlandsAntilles, Japan
Debt—external: $70 million (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Caymanian dollar (CI$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Caymanian dollars (CI$) per US$1—0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 21,584 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: NAinternational: 1 submarine coaxial cable; satellite earth station—1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4 (the four stations have atotal of six frequencies), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 28,200 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 6,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 406 km paved: 304 km unpaved: 102 km
Ports and harbors: Cayman Brac, George Town
Merchant marine:total: 76 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,264,113 GRT/1,970,959DWTships by type: bulk 13, cargo 10, chemical tanker 11, container 4,liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 22,roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 11countries among which are: Greece 15, US 5, UK 5, Cyprus 2, Denmark2, Norway 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Cayman Islands Police Force (RCIPF)
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: vulnerable to drug money laundering and drug transshipment
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@Central African Republic ————————————
Introduction
Background: In 1996, the country experienced three mutinies by dissident elements of the armed forces, which demanded back pay as well as political and military reforms. Subsequent violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and lack of opposition party representation in the government, destroyed many businesses in the capital, reduced tax revenues, and exacerbated the government's problems in meeting expenses. African peacekeepers restored order in 1997; in April 1998 the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINURCA) assumed responsibility for peacekeeping operations.
Geography
Location: Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of theCongo
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 622,980 sq kmland: 622,980 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,203 kmborder countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan1,165 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)