Climate: tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain: vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources: diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil
Land use:arable land: 3%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 5%forests and woodland: 75%other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common
Environment—current issues: tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography—note: landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People
Population: 3,444,951 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (male 757,422; female 749,289)15-64 years: 53% (male 885,087; female 927,282)65 years and over: 3% (male 56,309; female 69,562) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 38.28 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.46 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 103.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.19 years male: 45.35 years female: 49.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Central African(s) adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups: Baya 34%, Banda 27%, Sara 10%, Mandjia 21%, Mboum 4%, M'Baka 4%, Europeans 6,500 (including 3,600 French)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 24%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%, other 11% note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority
Languages: French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and nationallanguage), Arabic, Hunsa, Swahili
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 60%male: 68.5%female: 52.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Central African Republicconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Republique Centrafricainelocal short form: noneformer: Central African Empireabbreviation: CAR
Data code: CT
Government type: republic
Capital: Bangui
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures, singular—prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular—prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Gribingui*, Haute-Kotto, Haute-Sangha, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo-Gribingui, Lobaye, Mbomou, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha*, Vakaga
Independence: 13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 1 December (1958) (proclamationof the republic)
Constitution: passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7January 1995
Legal system: based on French law
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Anicet Georges DOLOGUELE (sinceJanuary 1999)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 19 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Ange-Felix PATASSE elected president; percent ofvote—PATASSE 52.45%, Abel GOUMBA 45.62%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms; note—there were 85 seats in the National Assemblybefore the 1998 election)elections: last held 22-23 November and NA December 1998 (next to beheld NA 2003)election results: percent of vote by party—MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,independents 6%; seats by party—MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 10, FPP 7, PSD5, ADP 4, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7;note—results of election are being contestednote: the National Assembly is advised by the Economic and RegionalCouncil or Conseil Economique et Regional; when they sit togetherthey are called the Congress or Congres
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme, judges appointed by the president; Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Democracy andof the president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Movement for Democracy and
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC(observer), OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henri KOBA chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert C. PERRY embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
Flag description: four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy
Economy—overview: Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for nearly 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. The 50% devaluation of the currencies of 14 Francophone African nations on 12 January 1994 had mixed effects on the CAR's economy. Diamond, timber, coffee, and cotton exports increased, leading an estimated rise of GDP of 7% in 1994 and nearly 5% in 1995. Military rebellions and social unrest in 1996 were accompanied by widespread destruction of property and a drop in GDP of 2%. Ongoing violence between the government and rebel military groups over pay issues, living conditions, and political representation has destroyed many businesses in the capital and reduced tax revenues for the government. The IMF approved an Extended Structure Adjustment Facility in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$5.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,640 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 53% industry: 21% services: 26% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: 6% (1993)
Budget:revenues: $638 millionexpenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $888million (1994 est.)
Industries: diamond mining, sawmills, breweries, textiles,footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 100 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 20% hydro: 80% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 100 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Exports: $182 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports—partners: Belgium-Luxembourg 36%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Spain 4%, Egypt 3%, France
Imports: $155 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, industrial products
Imports—partners: France 30%, Cote d'Ivoire 18%, Cameroon 11%,Germany 4%, Japan
Debt—external: $930 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $172.2 million (1995); note?traditionalbudget subsidies from France
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) perUS$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55(1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 16,867 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 3 (including Africa No. 1 and R. France Internationale stations located in Bangui), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 7,500 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 23,810 km paved: 429 km unpaved: 23,381 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draft dugouts; Oubangui is the most important river
Ports and harbors: Bangui, Nola
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 49 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Central African Armed Forces (includesRepublican Guard and Air Force), Presidential Guard, NationalGendarmerie, Police Force
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 782,678 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 409,044 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $29 million (1996)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.2% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Chad ——
Introduction
Background: In 1960, Chad gained full independence from France. In December 1990, after Chad had endured three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya, former northern guerrilla leader Idriss DEBY seized control of the government. His transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled the territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution which was ratified by popular referendum in 1996, held multiparty national presidential elections in 1996 (DEBY won with 69% of the vote), and held multiparty elections for the National Assembly in 1997 (DEBY's Patriotic Salvation Movement won a majority of the seats). But by the end of 1998, DEBY was beset with numerous problems including heavy casualties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where Chadian troops had been deployed to support embattled President KABILA, a new rebellion in northern Chad, and further delays in the Doba Basin oil project in the south.
Geography
Location: Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 1.284 million sq kmland: 1,259,200 sq kmwater: 24,800 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than three times the size ofCalifornia
Land boundaries:total: 5,968 kmborder countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain: broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources: petroleum (unexploited but exploration underway), uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use:arable land: 3%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 36%forests and woodland: 26%other: 35% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 140 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues
Environment—current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography—note: landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel
People
Population: 7,557,436 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (male 1,675,394; female 1,667,717)15-64 years: 53% (male 1,953,251; female 2,034,883)65 years and over: 3% (male 99,783; female 126,408) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.06 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.57 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 115.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.56 years male: 46.13 years female: 51.09 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.69 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups: Muslims (Arabs, Toubou, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko,Kanembou, Baguirmi, Boulala, Zaghawa, and Maba), non-Muslims (Sara,Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye, Moundang, Moussei, Massa), nonindigenous150,000 (of whom 1,000 are French)
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs (mostlyanimism) 25%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Sara and Sango(in south), more than 100 different languages and dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabictotal population: 48.1%male: 62.1%female: 34.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Chadconventional short form: Chadlocal long form: Republique du Tchadlocal short form: Tchad
Data code: CD
Government type: republic
Capital: N'Djamena
Administrative divisions: 14 prefectures (prefectures,singular—prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti,Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, LogoneOriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
Independence: 11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution: 31 March 1995, passed by referendum
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December1990)head of government: Prime Minister Nassour Guelengdouksia OUAIDOU(since 16 May 1997)cabinet: Council of State appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, thetwo candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a secondround of voting; last held 2 June and 11 July 1996 (next to be heldNA 2001); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: in the first round of voting none of the 15candidates received the required 50% of the total vote; percent ofvote, first round—Lt. Gen. Idress DEBY 47.8%; percent of vote,second round—Lt. Gen. DEBY 69.1%, Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE 30.9%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (125 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); replacesthe Higher Transitional Council or the Conseil Superieur deTransitionelections: National Assembly—last held in two rounds on 5 Januaryand 23 February 1997, (next to be held NA 2001); in the first roundof voting some candidates won clear victories by receiving 50% ormore of the vote; where that did not happen, the two highest scoringcandidates stood for a second round of votingelection results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—MPS65, URD 29, UNDR 15, RDP 3, others 13
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: Patriotic Salvation Movement orthe party in power and the party of the president); National Unionmid-1996 Chad had about 60 political parties, of which these are themost prominent in the new National Assembly
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC,CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MINURCA, NAM,OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANE chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David C. HALSTED embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flag of Andorra, which has a national coat of arms featuring a quartered shield centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy—overview: Landlocked Chad's economic development suffers from it's geographic remoteness, drought, lack of infrastructure, and political turmoil. About 85% of the population depends on agriculture, including the herding of livestock. Of Africa's Francophone countries, Chad benefited least from the 50% devaluation of their currencies in January 1994. Financial aid from the World Bank, the African Development Fund, and other sources is directed largely at the improvement of agriculture, especially livestock production. Lack of financing and low oil prices, however, are stalling the development of an oil field in the Doba Basin and the construction of a proposed oil pipeline through Cameroon.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$7.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 39% industry: 15% services: 46% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 85% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $198 millionexpenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146million (1998 est.)
Industries: cotton textiles, meat packing, beer brewing, natron(sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1995)
Electricity—production: 90 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 90 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports: $220 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: cotton, cattle, textiles
Exports—partners: Portugal 30%, Germany 14%, Thailand, CostaRica, South Africa, France (1997)
Imports: $252 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment,industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports—partners: France 41%, Nigeria 10%, Cameroon 7%, India 6%(1997)
Debt—external: $875 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $238.3 million (1995); note?$125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine Francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system: primitive system domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (one of the shortwave stations has three frequencies) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (broadcasts 1800 to 2100 hours, four days per week) (1997)
Televisions: 7,000 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,000 km navigable
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Armed Forces (includes Ground Force, AirForce, and Gendarmerie), Republican Guard, Rapid Intervention Force,Police
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,689,112 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 875,541 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 70,464 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $39 million (1996)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 3.5% (1996)
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
======================================================================
@Chile ——-
Geography
Location: Southern South America, bordering the South AtlanticOcean and South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:total: 756,950 sq kmland: 748,800 sq kmwater: 8,150 sq kmnote: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries: total: 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; desert in north; cool and damp in south
Terrain: low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; ruggedAndes in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,962 m
Natural resources: copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, preciousmetals, molybdenum
Land use:arable land: 5%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 18%forests and woodland: 22%other: 55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,650 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Environment—current issues: air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion; desertification
Environment—international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: strategic location relative to sea lanes betweenAtlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel,Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People
Population: 14,973,843 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 2,137,255; female 2,044,605)15-64 years: 65% (male 4,845,523; female 4,885,328)65 years and over: 7% (male 440,010; female 621,122) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.23% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.81 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.02 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.46 years male: 72.33 years female: 78.75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups: white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish less than 1%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.2%male: 95.4%female: 95% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Chileconventional short form: Chilelocal long form: Republica de Chilelocal short form: Chile
Data code: CI
Government type: republic
Capital: Santiago
Administrative divisions: 13 regions (regiones, singular—region);Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania,Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins,Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, RegionMetropolitana, Tarapaca, Valparaisonote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution: 11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989
Legal system: based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11 March1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (since 11March 1994); note—the president is both the chief of state and headof governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 11 December 1993 (next to be held NA December1999)election results: Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle elected president; percentof vote—Eduardo FREI Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) 58%, Arturo ALESSANDRI 24.4%,other 17.6%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or CongresoNacional consists of the Senate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected bypopular vote; members serve eight-year terms—one-half elected everyfour years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate—last held 11 December 1997 (next to be held NADecember 2001); Chamber of Deputies—last held 11 December 1997 (nextto be held NA December 2001)election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA%; seats byparty—CPD (PDC 14, PS 4, PPD 2), UPP 17 (RN 7, UDI 10), Chile 2000(UCCP) 1, independent 10; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote byparty—CPD 50.55% (PDC 22.98%, PS 11.10%, PPD 12.55%, PRSD 3.13%),UPP 36.23% (RN 16.78%, UDI 14.43%); seats by party—CPD 70 (PDC 39,PPD 16, PRSD 4, PS 11), UPP 46 (RN 24, UDI 21, Party of the South1), right-wing independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court
Political parties and leaders: Coalition of Parties for Democracy or CPD consists mainly of: Christian Democratic Party or PDC Javier ERRAZURIZ]
Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations; Roman Catholic Church
International organization participation: APEC, CCC, ECLAC, FAO,G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM, OAS, OPANAL,OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP,UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Genaro Luis ARRIAGADA Herrera chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John O'LEARYembassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Santiagomailing address: APO AA 34033
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of white (top) andred; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at thehoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a whitefive-pointed star in the center; design was based on the US flag
Economy
Economy—overview: Chile has a prosperous, essentially free market economy. Civilian governments—which took over from the military in March 1990—have continued to reduce the government's role in the economy while shifting the emphasis of public spending toward social programs. Growth in real GDP averaged more than 7.0% in 1991-1997 but fell to about half of that average in 1998 because of spillover from the global financial crisis. Inflation has been on a downward trend and hit a 60-year low in 1998. Chile's currency and foreign reserves also are strong, as sustained foreign capital inflows—including significant direct investment—have more than offset current account deficits and public debt buy-backs. President FREI, who took office in March 1994, has placed improving Chile's education system and developing foreign export markets at the top of his economic agenda. The Chilean economy remains largely dependent on a few sectors—particularly copper mining, fishing, and forestry. Success in meeting the government's goal of sustained annual economic growth of 5% depends largely on world prices for these commodities, continued foreign investor confidence, and the government's ability to maintain a conservative fiscal stance. In 1996, Chile became an associate member of Mercosur and concluded a free trade agreement with Canada.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$184.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$12,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 33% services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 20.5% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 46.1% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1998)
Labor force: 5.8 million (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 38.3% (includes government 12%), industry and commerce 33.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 19.2%, mining 2.3%, construction 6.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.4% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $17 billionexpenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1996 est.)
Industries: copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate: -1.1% (1998)
Electricity—production: 35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 41.89% hydro: 58.11% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 35.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; timber; fish
Exports: $14.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: copper 37%, other metals and minerals 8.2%,wood products 7.1%, fish and fishmeal 9.8%, fruits 8.4% (1994)
Exports—partners: EU 25%, US 15%, Asia 34%, Latin America 20%(1995 est.)
Imports: $17.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: capital goods 25.2%, spare parts 24.8%, rawmaterials 15.4%, petroleum 10%, foodstuffs 5.7% (1994)
Imports—partners: EU 18%, US 25%, Asia 16%, Latin America 26%(1995 est.)
Debt—external: $31.5 billion (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: ODA, $50.3 million (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Chilean peso (Ch$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Chilean pesos (Ch$) per US$1—475.68 (January 1999), 460.29 (1998), 419.30 (1997), 412.27 (1996), 396.78 (1995), 420.08 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.5 million (1994 est.)
Telephone system: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 63 (in addition, there are 121 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 2.85 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 6,782 kmbroad gauge: 3,743 km 1.676-m gauge (1,653 km electrified)narrow gauge: 116 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,923 km 1.000-m gauge (40 kmelectrified) (1995)
Highways: total: 79,800 km paved: 11,012 km unpaved: 68,788 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 725 km
Pipelines: crude oil 755 km; petroleum products 785 km; naturalgas 320 km
Ports and harbors: Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo,Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente,Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:total: 42 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,201 GRT/787,719 DWTships by type: bulk 11, cargo 10, chemical tanker 5, container 2,liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 3, roll-on/roll-offcargo 4, vehicle carrier 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 378 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 58over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 19914 to 1,523 m: 19under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 320over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 73under 914 m: 229 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army of the Nation, National Navy (includesNaval Air, Coast Guard, and Marines), Air Force of the Nation,Carabineros of Chile (National Police), Investigations Police
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 3,968,176 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,943,206 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 132,202 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $2.12 billion (1998); note—includes earnings from CODELCO Company and costs of pensions; does not include funding for the National Police (Carabineros) and Investigations Police
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.79% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: short section of the southwestern boundary with Argentina is indefinite—process to resolve boundary issues is underway; Bolivia has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Bolivia over Rio Lauca water rights; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
Illicit drugs: a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US and Europe; economic prosperity has made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits; imported precursors pass on to Bolivia
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@China ——-
Introduction
Background: For most of its 3,500 years of history, China led the world in agriculture, crafts, and science, then fell behind in the 19th century when the Industrial Revolution gave the West clear superiority in military and economic affairs. In the first half of the 20th century, China continued to suffer from major famines, civil unrest, military defeat, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship that, while ensuring China's autonomy, imposed strict controls over all aspects of life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping decentralized economic decision making; output quadrupled in the next 20 years. Political controls remain tight at the same time economic controls have been weakening. Present issues are: incorporating Hong Kong into the Chinese system; closing down inefficient state-owned enterprises; modernizing the military; fighting corruption; and providing support to tens of millions of displaced workers.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay,Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:total: 9,596,960 sq kmland: 9,326,410 sq kmwater: 270,550 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:total: 22,143.34 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia4,673 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
Coastline: 14,500 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic innorth
Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west;plains, deltas, and hills in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 43%forests and woodland: 14%other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 498,720 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts
Environment—current issues: air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal, produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species
Environment—international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, NuclearTest Ban
Geography—note: world's fourth-largest country (after Russia,Canada, and US)
People
Population: 1,246,871,951 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26% (male 169,206,275; female 149,115,216)15-64 years: 68% (male 435,047,915; female 408,663,265)65 years and over: 6% (male 39,824,361; female 45,014,919) (1999est.)
Population growth rate: 0.77% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 15.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.98 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.15 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 43.31 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.92 years male: 68.57 years female: 71.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese (singular and plural)adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi,Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities8.1%
Religions: Daoism (Taoism), Buddhism, Muslim 2%-3%, Christian 1%(est.)note: officially atheist, but traditionally pragmatic and eclectic
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on theBeijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei(Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects,minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 81.5%male: 89.9%female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: People's Republic of Chinaconventional short form: Chinalocal long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguolocal short form: Zhong Guoabbreviation: PRC
Data code: CH
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Beijing
Administrative divisions: 23 provinces (sheng, singular andplural), 5 autonomous regions* (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4municipalities** (shi, singular and plural); Anhui, Beijing**,Chongqing**, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi*, Guizhou, Hainan,Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,Liaoning, Nei Mongol*, Ningxia*, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong,Shanghai**, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin**, Xinjiang*, Xizang* (Tibet),Yunnan, Zhejiangnote: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entryfor the special administrative region of Hong Kong
Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty221 BC; Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12February 1912; People's Republic established 1 October 1949)
National holiday: National Day, 1 October (1949)
Constitution: most recent promulgation 4 December 1982
Legal system: a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993) and VicePresident HU Jintao (since 16 March 1998)head of government: Premier ZHU Rongji (since 18 March 1998); VicePremiers QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and WEN Jiabao (since 18March 1998)cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress(NPC)elections: president and vice president elected by the NationalPeople's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 16-18March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); premier nominated by thepresident, confirmed by the National People's Congresselection results: JIANG Zemin reelected president by the NinthNational People's Congress with a total of 2,882 votes (36 delegatesvoted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not vote); HU Jintaoelected vice president by the Ninth National People's Congress witha total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him, 39abstained, and 32 did not vote)
Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Congress orQuanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,979 seats; members elected bymunicipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to servefive-year terms)elections: last held NA December-NA February 1998 (next to be heldlate 2002-NA March 2003)election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—NA
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, judges appointed by theNational People's Congress
Political parties and leaders: Chinese Communist Party or CCPregistered small parties controlled by CCP
Political pressure groups and leaders: no meaningful politicalopposition groups exist
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB, BIS,CCC, CDB (non-regional), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM(observer), OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNOMSIL, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador LI Zhaoxingchancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, andSan Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James R. SASSERembassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijingmailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy
Economy—overview: Beginning in late 1978 the Chinese leadership has been trying to move the economy from a sluggish Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented economy but still within a rigid political framework of Communist Party control. To this end the authorities switched to a system of household responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprise in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. Agricultural output doubled in the 1980s, and industry also posted major gains, especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan, where foreign investment helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. On the darker side, the leadership has often experienced in its hybrid system the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy, lassitude, corruption) and of capitalism (windfall gains and stepped-up inflation). Beijing thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. In late 1993 China's leadership approved additional long-term reforms aimed at giving still more play to market-oriented institutions and at strengthening the center's control over the financial system; state enterprises would continue to dominate many key industries in what was now termed "a socialist market economy". In 1995-97 inflation dropped sharply, reflecting tighter monetary policies and stronger measures to control food prices. At the same time, the government struggled to (a) collect revenues due from provinces, businesses, and individuals; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, most of which had not participated in the vigorous expansion of the economy and many of which had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 60 to 100 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining growth in living standards. Another long-term threat to continued rapid economic growth is the deterioration in the environment, notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. The next few years may witness increasing tensions between a highly centralized political system and an increasingly decentralized economic system. Economic growth probably will slow to more moderate levels in 1999-2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$4.42 trillion (1998 est.)