Data code: CS
Government type: democratic republic
Capital: San Jose
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 November 1949
Legal system: based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998);First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), SecondVice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);note—president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998),Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998);note—president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet selected by the presidentelections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February1998 (next to be held NA February 2002)election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percentof vote—Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES(PLN) 44.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or AsambleaLegislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote toserve four-year terms)elections: last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held NA February2002)election results: percent of vote by party—PUSC 41%, PLN 35%,minority parties 24%; seats by party—PUSC 27, PLN 23, minorityparties 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), justices areelected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Social Christian Unity Party orNA]note: mainly a two-party system—PUSC and PLN; numerous small partiesshare less than 25% of population's support
Political pressure groups and leaders: Costa Rican Confederationof Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate);Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate);Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (CommunistParty affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; National Associationfor Economic Development or ANFE; Free Costa Rica Movement or MCRL(rightwing militants); National Association of Educators or ANDE;Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNSecurity Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime DAREMBLUMchancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Chicago, Durham,Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), andTampaconsulate(s): Austin
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. DODD embassy: Pavas Road, San Jose mailing address: APO AA 34020
Flag description: five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white disk on the hoist side of the red band
Economy
Economy—overview: Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Economic growth has rebounded from -0.9% in 1996 to 3% in 1997 and an estimated 5.5% in 1998. Inflation rose to 22.5% in 1995, dropped to 11.1% in 1997, and reached an estimated 12% in 1998. Unemployment appears moderate at 5.6%, but substantial underemployment continues. Furthermore, large government deficits—fueled by interest payments on the massive internal debt—have undermined efforts to maintain the quality of social services. Curbing inflation, reducing the deficit, and improving public sector efficiency remain key challenges to the government. President RODRIGUEZ has called for an increased economic role for the private sector, but political resistance to privatization has stalled much of his economic program.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$24 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,700 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 24% services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 34.7% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 868,300
Labor force—by occupation: industry and commerce 23.3%, government and services 55.1%, agriculture 21.6% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.6% (1998 est.); much underemployment
Budget:revenues: $1.1 billionexpenditures: $1.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $110million (1991 est.)
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing, constructionmaterials, fertilizer, plastic products
Industrial production growth rate: 10.5% (1992)
Electricity—production: 4.785 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 14.11% hydro: 75.44% nuclear: 0% other: 10.45% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 4.931 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 44 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 190 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coffee, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber
Exports: $3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: manufactured products, coffee, bananas,textiles, sugar (1997)
Exports—partners: US, Benelux, Germany, Italy, Guatemala, ElSalvador, Netherlands, UK, France (1997)
Imports: $4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: raw materials, consumer goods, capitalequipment, petroleum (1997)
Imports—partners: US, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, Guatemala,Germany (1997)
Debt—external: $3.2 billion (October 1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $107.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Costa Rican colon (C) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: Costa Rican colones (C) per US$1—272.58 (January 1999), 257.23 (1998), 232.60 (1997), 207.69 (1996), 179.73 (1995), 157.07 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 281,042 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: very good domestic telephone servicedomestic: NAinternational: connected to Central American Microwave System;satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 0, shortwave 13
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 11 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 340,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 950 km narrow gauge: 950 km 1.067-m gauge (260 km electrified)
Highways: total: 35,597 km paved: 6,051 km unpaved: 29,546 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: about 730 km, seasonally navigable
Pipelines: petroleum products 176 km
Ports and harbors: Caldera, Golfito, Moin, Puerto Limon, PuertoQuepos, Puntarenas
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 156 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 28 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 128 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 99 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Coast Guard, Air Section, Ministry of Public Security Force (Fuerza Publica); note—during 1996, the Ministry of Public Security reorganized and eliminated the Civil Guard, Rural Assistance Guard, and Frontier Guards as separate entities; they are now under the Ministry and operate on a geographic command basis performing ground security, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and national security (border patrol) functions; the constitution prohibits armed forces
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 988,887 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 662,827 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 36,751 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $55 million (1995)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots
======================================================================
@Cote d'Ivoire ——————-
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 5 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 322,460 sq kmland: 318,000 sq kmwater: 4,460 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 3,110 kmborder countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km,Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km
Coastline: 515 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons—warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, manganese, iron ore,cobalt, bauxite, copper
Land use:arable land: 8%permanent crops: 4%permanent pastures: 41%forests and woodland: 22%other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 680 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible
Environment—current issues: deforestation (most of the country's forests—once the largest in West Africa—have been cleared by the timber industry); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 15,818,068 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47% (male 3,702,051; female 3,664,672)15-64 years: 51% (male 4,154,440; female 3,952,999)65 years and over: 2% (male 174,065; female 169,841) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.35% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.17 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: after Liberia's civil war started in 1990, more than 350,000 refugees fled to Cote d'Ivoire and, by September 1998, according to the UNHCR, about 85,000 remain
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 94.17 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.05 years male: 44.48 years female: 47.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ivorian(s) adjective: Ivorian
Ethnic groups: Baoule 23%, Bete 18%, Senoufou 15%, Malinke 11%,Agni, Africans from other countries (mostly Burkinabe and Malians,about 3 million), non-Africans 130,000 to 330,000 (French 30,000 andLebanese 100,000 to 300,000)
Religions: Muslim 60%, Christian 22%, indigenous 18% (some ofthese are also numbered among the Christians and Muslims)
Languages: French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula themost widely spoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 48.5%male: 57%female: 40%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoireconventional short form: Cote d'Ivoirelocal long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoirelocal short form: Cote d'Ivoireformer: Ivory Coast
Data code: IV
Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regimeestablished 1960
Capital: Yamoussoukronote: although Yamoussoukro has been the capital since 1983, Abidjanremains the administrative center; the US, like other countries,maintains its Embassy in Abidjan
Administrative divisions: 50 departments (departements, singular—departement); Abengourou, Abidjan, Aboisso, Adzope, Agboville, Agnibilekrou, Bangolo, Beoumi, Biankouma, Bondoukou, Bongouanou, Bouafle, Bouake, Bouna, Boundiali, Dabakala, Daloa, Danane, Daoukro, Dimbokro, Divo, Duekoue, Ferkessedougou, Gagnoa, Grand-Lahou, Guiglo, Issia, Katiola, Korhogo, Lakota, Man, Mankono, Mbahiakro, Odienne, Oume, Sakassou, San-Pedro, Sassandra, Seguela, Sinfra, Soubre, Tabou, Tanda, Tingrela, Tiassale, Touba, Toumodi, Vavoua, Yamoussoukro, Zuenoula note: Cote d'Ivoire may have a new administrative structure consisting of 58 departments; the following additional departments have been reported but not yet confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN); Adiake', Ale'pe', Dabon, Grand Bassam, Jacqueville, Tiebissou, Toulepleu, Bocanda
Independence: 7 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 7 August
Constitution: 3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time July 1998
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Henri Konan BEDIE (since 7 December 1993);note—succeeded to the presidency following the death of PresidentFelix HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY, who had served continuously since November1960head of government: Prime Minister Daniel Kablan DUNCAN (since 10December 1993)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 22 October 1995 (next to be held October 2000);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Henri Konan BEDIE elected president; percent ofvote—Henri Konan BEDIE 96%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or AssembleeNationale (175 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: elections last held 27 November 1995 (next to be held NANovember 2000)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PDCI150, RDR 13, FPI 12note: a Senate will be created in 2000
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of the Cote
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC,ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURCA, NAM, OAU, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Koffi Moise KOUMOUE-KOFFI chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George MU embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan mailing address: 01 B. P. 1712, Abidjan
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed—green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France
Economy
Economy—overview: Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to weather conditions. Despite attempts by the government to diversify the economy, it is still largely dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to the devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. The 50% devaluation of Franc Zone currencies on 12 January 1994 caused a one-time jump in the inflation rate to 26% in 1994, but the rate fell sharply in 1996-98. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump in growth to 6% annually in 1996-98. Growth may slow in 1999-2000 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors and continued low prices of key exports.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$24.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,680 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 31% industry: 20% services: 49% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 28.5% (1988)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $2.3 billionexpenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $640million (1997 est.)
Industries: foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, automobile assembly, textiles, fertilizer, construction materials, electricity
Industrial production growth rate: 15% (annual rate, first half 1998)
Electricity—production: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 22% hydro: 47% nuclear: 0% other: 31% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber
Exports: $4.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: cocoa 36%, coffee, tropical woods,petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, cotton, fish
Exports—partners: Netherlands 17%, France 15%, Germany 7%, US 6%,Italy 5% (1997)
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: food, consumer goods; capital goods, fuel,transport equipment
Imports—partners: France 28%, Nigeria 20%, US 6%, Italy 5%,Germany 4% (1997)
Debt—external: $16.8 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1—560.01 (January 1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 200,000 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: well-developed by African standards but operating well below capacity domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 71, FM 4, shortwave 13
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 14 (1997)
Televisions: 810,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 660 kmnarrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge; 25 km double track (1995est.)
Highways:total: 50,400 kmpaved: 4,889 kmunpaved: 45,511 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 980 km navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastallagoons
Ports and harbors: Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Merchant marine:total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,200 GRT/1,500 DWT(1998 est.)
Airports: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 7over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 291,524 to 2,437 m: 8914 to 1,523 m: 12under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitaryGendarmerie, Republican Guard (includes Presidential Guard),Sapeur-Pompier (Military Fire Group)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 3,677,627 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,917,433 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 178,860 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $94 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.9% (1996)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for localconsumption; minor transshipment point for Southwest and SoutheastAsian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for LatinAmerican cocaine destined for Europe
======================================================================
@Croatia ———-
Geography
Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 56,538 sq kmland: 56,410 sq kmwater: 128 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 2,197 kmborder countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,Serbia and Montenegro 266 km (241 km with Serbia; 25 km withMontenegro), Slovenia 670 km
Coastline: 5,790 km (mainland 1,778 km, islands 4,012 km)
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean and continental; continental climatepredominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, drysummers along coast
Terrain: geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarianborder, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coast, coastline,and islands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Dinara 1,830 m
Natural resources: oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore,calcium, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt
Land use:arable land: 21%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 20%forests and woodland: 38%other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent and destructive earthquakes
Environment—current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; widespread casualties and destruction of infrastructure in border areas affected by civil strife
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification
Geography—note: controls most land routes from Western Europe toAegean Sea and Turkish Straits
People
Population: 4,676,865 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 404,761; female 383,088)15-64 years: 68% (male 1,591,831; female 1,591,106)65 years and over: 15% (male 272,219; female 433,860) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.1% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74 years male: 70.69 years female: 77.52 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.52 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Croat(s) adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups: Croat 78%, Serb 12%, Muslim 0.9%, Hungarian 0.5%,Slovenian 0.5%, others 8.1% (1991)
Religions: Catholic 76.5%, Orthodox 11.1%, Muslim 1.2%,Protestant 0.4%, others and unknown 10.8%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 96%, other 4% (including Italian,Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 99%female: 95% (1991 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Croatiaconventional short form: Croatialocal long form: Republika Hrvatskalocal short form: Hrvatska
Data code: HR
Government type: presidential/parliamentary democracy
Capital: Zagreb
Administrative divisions: 21 counties (zupanije, zupanija—singular): Bjelovar-Bilogora, City of Zagreb, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Istra, Karlovac, Koprivnica-Krizevci, Krapina-Zagorje, Lika-Senj, Medimurje, Osijek-Baranja, Pozega-Slavonia, Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Sibenik, Sisak-Moslavina, Slavonski Brod-Posavina, Split-Dalmatia, Varazdin, Virovitica-Podravina, Vukovar-Srijem, Zadar-Knin, Zagreb note: there are two special self-governing districts (kotari, kotar—singular) under local Serb control: Glina, Knin
Independence: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday: Statehood Day, 30 May (1990)
Constitution: adopted on 22 December 1990
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, ifemployed)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Franjo TUDJMAN (since 30 May 1990)head of government: Prime Minister Zlatko MATESA (since 7 November1995); Deputy Prime Ministers Mate GRANIC (since 8 September 1992),Ivica KOSTOVIC (since 14 October 1993), Jure RADIC (since NA October1994), Borislav SKEGRO (since 3 April 1993), and Ljerka MINTAS-HODAK(since November 1995)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 15 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); primeminister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: President Franjo TUDJMAN reelected; percent ofvote—Franjo TUDJMAN 61%, Zdravko TOMAC 21%, Vlado GOTOVAC 18%
Legislative branch: bicameral Assembly or Sabor consists of theHouse of Counties or Zupanijski Dom (68 seats—63 directly elected bypopular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve four-yearterms) and House of Representatives or the Zastupnicki Dom (127seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: House of Counties—last held 13 April 1997 (next to beheld NA 2001); House of Representatives—last held 29 October 1995(next to be held NA 1999)election results: House of Counties—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—HDZ 42, HDZ/HSS 11, HSS 2, IDS 2, SDP/PGS/HNS 2,SDP/HNS 2, HSLS/HSS/HNS 1, HSLS 1; note—in some districts certainparties ran as coalitions, while in others they ran alone; House ofRepresentatives—percent of vote by party—HDZ 45.23%,HSS/IDS/HNS/HKDU/SBHS 18.26%, HSLS 11.55%, SDP 8.93%, HSP 5.01%;seats by party—HDZ 75, HSLS 12, HSS 10, SDP 10, IDS 4, HSP 4, HNS 2,SNS 2, HND 1, ASH 1, HKDU 1, SBHS 1, independents 4
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives; Constitutional Court, judges appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the House of Representatives
Political parties and leaders: Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: BIS (pending member),CCC, CE, CEI, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW,OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Miomir ZUZULchancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERYembassy: Andrije Hebranga 2, Zagrebmailing address: use street address
Flag description: red, white, and blue horizontal bands withCroatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)
Economy
Economy—overview: Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. Croatia faces considerable economic problems stemming from: the legacy of longtime communist mismanagement of the economy; damage during the internecine fighting to bridges, factories, power lines, buildings, and houses; the large refugee and displaced population, both Croatian and Bosnian; and the disruption of economic ties. Western aid and investment, especially in the tourist and oil industries, would help restore the economy. The government has been successful in some reform efforts—partially macroeconomic stabilization policies—and it has normalized relations with its creditors. Yet it still is struggling with privatization of large state enterprises and with bank reform. In 1998, Croatia made progress in reducing its current account deficit to about 8% of GDP from 12% the previous year. Economic growth continues to lag, however, and growing levels of inter-enterprise debt plague the domestic economy. Four commercial banks were put under government control and a major conglomerate is teetering on collapse.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$23.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 24% services: 64% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.4% (1998)
Labor force: 1.63 million (1998)
Labor force—by occupation: industry and mining 31.1%, agriculture 4.3%, government 19.1% (including education and health), other 45.5% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 18.6% (yearend 1998)
Budget:revenues: $5.3 billionexpenditures: $6.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $78.5million (1997 est.)
Industries: chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 10.682 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 29.25% hydro: 70.75% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 14.632 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 4.95 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, vegetables; livestock, dairy products
Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 13.6%, miscellaneous manufactures 27.6%, chemicals 14.2%, food and live animals 12.2%, raw materials 6.1%, fuels and lubricants 9.4%, beverages and tobacco 2.7% (1993)
Exports—partners: Germany 22%, Italy 21%, Slovenia 18% (1994)
Imports: $8.4 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment 23.1%, fuels and lubricants 8.8%, food and live animals 9.0%, chemicals 14.2%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 16.0%, raw materials 3.5%, beverages and tobacco 1.4% (1993)
Imports—partners: Germany 21%, Italy 19%, Slovenia 10% (1994)
Debt—external: $8 billion (October 1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Croatian kuna (HRK) = 100 lipas
Exchange rates: Croatian kuna per US$1—6.317 (January 1999), 6.362 (1998), 6.157 (1997), 5.434 (1996), 5.230 (1995), 5.996 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.216 million (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: no satellite earth stations
Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 8, shortwave 0
Radios: 1.1 million
Television broadcast stations: 18 (in addition, there are 145 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.52 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 2,296 kmstandard gauge: 2,296 km 1.435-m gauge (796 km electrified)note: some lines remain inoperative or not in use; disrupted byterritorial dispute (1997)
Highways:total: 27,840 kmpaved: 22,690 km (including 330 km of expressways)unpaved: 5,150 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 785 km perennially navigable; large sections of Savablocked by downed bridges, silt, and debris
Pipelines: crude oil 670 km; petroleum products 20 km; naturalgas 310 km (1992); note—under repair following territorial dispute
Ports and harbors: Dubrovnik, Dugi Rat, Omisalj, Ploce, Pula,Rijeka, Sibenik, Split, Vukovar (inland waterway port on Danube),Zadar
Merchant marine:total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 810,226 GRT/1,227,468DWTships by type: bulk 15, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combinationbulk 5, container 5, liquefied gas 1, multifunction large-loadcarrier 3, oil tanker 1, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2,short-sea passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 72 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 42 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and AirDefense Forces, Frontier Guard, Home Guard
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,188,898 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 943,719 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 33,722 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $950 million (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Eastern Slavonia, which was held by ethnic Serbs during the ethnic conflict, was returned to Croatian control by the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia on 15 January 1998; Croatia and Italy made progress toward resolving a bilateral issue dating from World War II over property and ethnic minority rights; significant progress has been made with Slovenia toward resolving a maritime border dispute over direct access to the sea in the Adriatic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP)
Illicit drugs: transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; a minor transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe
======================================================================
@Cuba ——
Introduction
Background: Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959, and his guiding vision has defined Cuba's Communist revolution while his iron will has held the country together for more than four decades. CASTRO brought Cuba onto the world stage by inviting Soviet support in the 1960s, inciting revolutionary movements throughout Latin America and Africa in the 1970s, and sending his army to fight in Angola in the 1980s. At home, Havana provided Cubans with high levels of healthcare, education, and social security while suppressing the Roman Catholic Church and arresting political dissidents. Cuba is slowly recovering from severe economic recession following the withdrawal of former-Soviet subsidies, worth $4billion-$6 billion per year, in 1990.
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 110,860 sq kmland: 110,860 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 29 kmborder countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 kmnote: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remainspart of Cuba
Coastline: 3,735 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (Novemberto April); rainy season (May to October)
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills andmountains in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources: cobalt, nickel, iron ore, copper, manganese,salt, timber, silica, petroleum
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 7%permanent pastures: 27%forests and woodland: 24%other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,100 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to October (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common
Environment—current issues: pollution of Havana Bay; overhunting threatens wildlife populations; deforestation
Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography—note: largest country in Caribbean
People
Population: 11,096,395 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (male 1,236,899; female 1,172,560)15-64 years: 69% (male 3,820,255; female 3,801,768)65 years and over: 9% (male 496,772; female 568,141) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.38 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.78 years male: 73.41 years female: 78.3 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups: mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions: nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.7%male: 96.2%female: 95.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cubaconventional short form: Cubalocal long form: Republica de Cubalocal short form: Cuba
Data code: CU
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Havana
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence: 20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898;administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)
National holiday: Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953); Liberation Day,1 January (1959)
Constitution: 24 February 1976
Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Council of State and President ofthe Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister fromFebruary 1959 until 24 February 1976, when office was abolished;president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of theCouncil of State and First Vice President of the Council ofMinisters Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President of the Council of State and Presidentof the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister fromFebruary 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of theCouncil of State and First Vice President of the Council ofMinisters Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of theCouncil of State, appointed by the National Assemblynote: there is also a Council of State whose members are elected bythe National Assemblyelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next electionunscheduled)election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent oflegislative vote—100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;percent of legislative vote—100%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (601 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 January 1998 (next to be held in 2003) election results: percent of vote—PCC 94.39%; seats—PCC 601
Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: only party—Cuban Communist Party
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,IAEA, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat(nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES,LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962),OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—Cuba has anInterests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal OfficerFernando REMIREZ DE ESTENOZ; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss(202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note—the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael G. KOZAK; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado Seccion, Havana; telephone: 33-3551 through 3559 and 33-3543 through 3547 (operator assistance required); FAX: 33-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description: five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy—overview: The state plays the primary role in the economy and controls practically all foreign trade. The government has undertaken several reforms in recent years to stem excess liquidity, increase labor incentives, and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. The liberalized agricultural markets introduced in October 1994, at which state and private farmers sell above-quota production at unrestricted prices, have broadened legal consumption alternatives and reduced black market prices. Government efforts to lower subsidies to unprofitable enterprises and to shrink the money supply caused the semi-official exchange rate for the Cuban peso to move from a peak of 120 to the dollar in the summer of 1994 to 21 to the dollar by yearend 1998. New taxes introduced in 1996 helped drive down the number of self-employed workers from 208,000 in January 1996 to 155,000 by July 1998. Havana announced in 1995 that GDP declined by 35% during 1989-93, the result of lost Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The drop in GDP apparently halted in 1994, when Cuba reported 0.7% growth, followed by increases of 2.5% in 1995 and 7.8% in 1996. Growth slowed again in 1997 and 1998 to 2.5% and 1.2% respectively. Export earnings declined 22% in 1998, to $1.4 billion, the result of lower sugar export volume and lower world prices for nickel and sugar. Import expenditures also fell 15% to $3.0 billion, in part due to lower world oil prices. Tourism and remittances play a key role in foreign currency earnings. Living standards for the average Cuban remain at a depressed level compared with 1990.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$17.3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1.2% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,560 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 36.5% services: 56.1% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 4.5 million economically active population (1996est.)note: state sector 76%, non-state sector 24% (1996 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services and government 30%, industry22%, agriculture 20%, commerce 11%, construction 10%, transportationand communications 7% (June 1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.8% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $12.3 billionexpenditures: $13 billion , including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: sugar, petroleum, food, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, paper and wood products, metals (particularly nickel), cement, fertilizers, consumer goods, agricultural machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
Electricity—production: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 98.96% hydro: 1.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 14.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sugarcane, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Exports: $1.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: sugar, nickel, tobacco, shellfish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports—partners: Russia 27%, Canada 18%, Spain 8% (1998 est.)
Imports: $3 billion (c.i.f., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: petroleum, food, machinery, chemicals
Imports—partners: Spain 17%, France 9%, Canada 9% (1998 est.)
Debt—external: $10.1 billion (convertible currency, 1997); another $20 billion owed to Russia (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $46 million (1997 est.)
Currency: 1 Cuban peso (Cu$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Cuban pesos (Cu$) per US$1—1.0000 (nonconvertible, official rate, linked to the US dollar)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 229,000
Telephone system: among the world's least developed telephonesystemsdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station—1 Intersputnik (AtlanticOcean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 150, FM 5, shortwave 1
Radios: 2.14 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 58 (1997)
Televisions: 2.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 4,807 kmstandard gauge: 4,807 km 1.435-m gauge (147 km electrified)note: a large amount of track is in private use by sugar plantations
Highways:total: 60,858 kmpaved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)unpaved: 31,038 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 240 km
Ports and harbors: Cienfuegos, Havana, Manzanillo, Mariel,Matanzas, Nuevitas, Santiago de Cuba
Merchant marine:total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 89,091 GRT/125,463 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 9, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker2, refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)