People
Population: 447,439 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (male 96,222; female 96,023)15-64 years: 54% (male 128,506; female 114,767)65 years and over: 3% (male 6,155; female 5,766) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.51% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.41 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -11.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.24 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.54 years male: 49.48 years female: 53.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.87 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Djiboutian(s) adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups: Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, andItalian 5%
Religions: Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages: French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 46.2%male: 60.3%female: 32.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Djibouticonventional short form: Djiboutiformer: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Data code: DJ
Government type: republic
Capital: Djibouti
Administrative divisions: 5 districts (cercles, singular—cercle);'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence: 27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution: multiparty constitution approved in referendum 4September 1992
Legal system: based on French civil law system, traditionalpractices, and Islamic law
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President HASSAN GOULED Aptidon (since 24 June1977); note—President HASSAN GOULED announced early in the year thathe would resign in April 1999head of government: Prime Minister BARKAT Gourad Hamadou (since 30September 1978)cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 7 May 1993 (next to be held 9 April 1999); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: President HASSAN GOULED reelected; percent ofvote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre desDeputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-yearterms)elections: last held 19 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—RPP 65; note—RPP (theruling party) dominated
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Cour Supreme)
Political parties and leaders:Aptidon]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Restorationof Unity and Democracy or FRUD, and affiliates; Movement for Unityand Democracy or MUD
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD,AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user),Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye Oudine chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lange SCHERMERHORN embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of 40% to 50% continues to be a major problem. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Also, renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea has disturbed normal external channels of commerce. Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$530 million (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 0.6% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 20% services: 77% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 282,000
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 75%, industry 11%, services 14% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 40%-50% (1996 est.)
Budget:revenues: $156 millionexpenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries: limited to a few small-scale enterprises, such asdairy products and mineral-water bottling
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 175 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 175 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports: $39.6 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports—commodities: hides and skins, coffee (in transit) (1995)
Exports—partners: Ethiopia 45%, Somalia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia (1996)
Imports: $200.5 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Imports—commodities: foods, beverages, transport equipment,chemicals, petroleum products (1995)
Imports—partners: France, Ethiopia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Thailand(1996)
Debt—external: $276 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $106.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Djiboutian franc (DF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Djiboutian francs (DF) per US$1—177.721 (fixed rate since 1973)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 7,200 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country domestic: microwave radio relay network international: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 35,000
Television broadcast stations: 1 (in addition, there are 5 low-power repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 17,000 (1998)
Transportation
Railways:total: 97 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)narrow gauge: 97 km 1.000-m gaugenote: in April 1998, Djibouti and Ethiopia announced plans torevitalize the century-old railroad that links their capitals
Highways: total: 2,890 km paved: 364 km unpaved: 2,526 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Djibouti
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT(1998 est.)
Airports: 11 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and AirForce)
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 105,075 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 61,712 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $22.5 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 4.5% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Dominica ————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico toTrinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates: 15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 750 sq kmland: 750 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than four times the size ofWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 148 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain: rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber
Land use:arable land: 9%permanent crops: 13%permanent pastures: 3%forests and woodland: 67%other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 64,881 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27% (male 8,680; female 8,530)15-64 years: 64% (male 21,090; female 20,294)65 years and over: 9% (male 2,570; female 3,717) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.41% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -24.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.75 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.01 years male: 75.15 years female: 81.01 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: black, Carib Amerindian
Religions: Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6%
Languages: English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 94%male: 94%female: 94% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominicaconventional short form: Dominica
Data code: DO
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Roseau
Administrative divisions: 10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David,Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark,Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter
Independence: 3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution: 3 November 1978
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vernon Lorden SHAW (since 7 October 1998)head of government: Prime Minister Edison C. JAMES (since 12 June1995)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of theprime ministerelections: president elected by the House of Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 7 October 1998 (next to be heldNA October 2003); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Vernon Lorden SHAW elected president; percent oflegislative vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote representatives; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 June 1995 (next to be held by October 2000); byelections held 13 August 1996 election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—UWP 12, DLP 5, DFP 4
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (located in Saint Lucia), one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders: Dominica Freedom Party or DFP
Political pressure groups and leaders: Dominica LiberationMovement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom,CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS,OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (resident inDominica)chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have anembassy in Dominica; the Ambassador to Dominica resides inBridgetown (Barbados), but travels frequently to Dominica
Flag description: green, with a centered cross of three equal bands—the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions, notably tropical storms. Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 20% of GDP and employs 40% of the labor force. Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the lack of an international airport. Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995; tropical storms had wiped out one-quarter of the crop in 1994 as well. The economy began to recover in mid-1998, fueled by increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals. The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$216 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1.8% (1997)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,300 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1997)
Labor force: 25,000
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $72 millionexpenditures: $79.9 million, including capital expenditures of $11.5million (FY97/98)
Industries: soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cementblocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 50% hydro: 50% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 40 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Exports: $50.4 million (1997)
Exports—commodities: bananas 50%, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports—partners: Caricom countries 47%, UK 36%, US 7% (1996 est.)
Imports: $104.2 million (1997)
Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports—partners: US 41%, Caricom 25%, UK 13%, Netherlands, Canada
Debt—external: $105 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $24.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (EC$) per US$1—2.7000 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 14,613 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: fully automatic networkinternational: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links toMartinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to SaintLucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 45,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there is one cable television company) (1997)
Televisions: 5,200 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; banking industry is vulnerable to money laundering
======================================================================
@Dominican Republic —————————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 48,730 sq kmland: 48,380 sq kmwater: 350 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than twice the size of NewHampshire
Land boundaries: total: 275 km border countries: Haiti 275 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 6 nm
Climate: tropical maritime; little seasonal temperaturevariation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain: rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleysinterspersed
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use:arable land: 21%permanent crops: 9%permanent pastures: 43%forests and woodland: 12%other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Environment—current issues: water shortages; soil eroding intothe sea damages coral reefs; deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography—note: shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (easterntwo-thirds is the Dominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
People
Population: 8,129,734 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (male 1,447,435; female 1,393,122)15-64 years: 61% (male 2,501,206; female 2,426,564)65 years and over: 4% (male 171,049; female 190,358) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.62% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.97 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.66 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 42.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.07 years male: 67.86 years female: 72.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups: white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.1%male: 82%female: 82.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Dominican Republicconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Republica Dominicanalocal short form: none
Data code: DR
Government type: republic
Capital: Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions: 29 provinces (provincias,singular—provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco,Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo,Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, LaVega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, MontePlata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, SanchezRamirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago,Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution: 28 November 1966
Legal system: based on French civil codes
Suffrage: 18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age note: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch:chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16 August1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16August 1996); Vice President Jaime David FERNANDEZ Mirabal (since 16August 1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and headof governmentcabinet: Cabinet nominated by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 1996;runoff election held 30 June 1996 (next to be held 16 May 2000)election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna elected president; percentof vote—Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (PLD) 51.25%, Jose Francisco PENAGomez (PRD) 48.75%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or CongresoNacional consists of the Senate or Senado (30 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber ofDeputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate—last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NA May2002); Chamber of Deputies—last held 16 May 1998 (next to be held NAMay 2002)election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—PRD 24, PLD 4, PRSC 2; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote byparty—NA; seats by party—PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Council made up of legislative and executive members with the president presiding)
Political parties and leaders: Rene BEAUCHAMPS Javier]; Liberal Party of the Dominican Republic or note: in 1983 several leftist parties, including the PCD, joined to form the Dominican Leftist Front or FID; however, they still retain individual party structures
Political pressure groups and leaders: Collective of PopularOrganizations or COP
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom(observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM (guest),OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU,WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo VEGA Boyrie chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Charlotte Amalie (Virgin Islands), Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Mobile, and Ponce (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
Flag description: a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles—the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms is at the center of the cross
Economy
Economy—overview: In December 1996, incoming President FERNANDEZ presented a bold reform package for this Caribbean economy—including the devaluation of the peso, income tax cuts, a 50% increase in sales taxes, reduced import tariffs, and increased gasoline prices—in an attempt to create a market-oriented economy that can compete internationally. Even though most reforms are stalled in the legislature, the economy grew vigorously in 1997-98, with tourism and telecommunications leading the advance. The government is working to increase electric generating capacity, a key to continued economic growth, but the privatization of the state electricity company has met numerous delays. In late September 1998, Hurricane Georges caused approximately $1.3 billion in damages, largely to agriculture and infrastructure.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$39.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 19% industry: 25% services: 56% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.6% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.3 million to 2.6 million
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 50%, services and government 32%, industry 18% (1991 est.)
Unemployment rate: 16% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.3 billionexpenditures: $2.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $867million (1999 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and goldmining, textiles, cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity—production: 6.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 70.15% hydro: 29.85% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 6.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Exports: $997 million (1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, coffee, cocoa
Exports—partners: US 45%, EU 19.9%, Canada 3.6%, South Korea 3.3% (1996)
Imports: $3.6 billion (1998)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics,chemicals and pharmaceuticals
Imports—partners: US 44%, EU 16%, Venezuela 11%, NetherlandsAntilles, Mexico, Japan (1995)
Debt—external: $3.6 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $239.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Dominican peso (RD$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: Dominican pesos (RD$) per US$1—15.949 (January 1999), 15.267 (1998), 14.265 (1997), 13.775 (1996), 13.597 (1995), 13.160 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 190,000 (1987 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwaveradio relay networkinternational: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station—1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 120, FM 0, shortwave 6
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 25 (1997)
Televisions: 728,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 757 kmstandard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge (Central Romana Railroad)narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge (Dominica Government Railway);240 km operated by sugar companies in various gauges (0.558-m,0.762-m, 1.067-m gauges) (1995)
Highways: total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports and harbors: Barahona, La Romana, Puerto Plata, San Pedrode Macoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT(1998 est.)
Airports: 36 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 2,156,827 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,355,342 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 82,902 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $180 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US
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@Ecuador ———-
Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references: South America
Area:total: 283,560 sq kmland: 276,840 sq kmwater: 6,720 sq kmnote: includes Galapagos Islands
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland andGalapagos Islandsterritorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical along coast becoming cooler inland
Terrain: coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, timber
Land use:arable land: 6%permanent crops: 5%permanent pastures: 18%forests and woodland: 56%other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,560 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; periodic droughts
Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes
Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
People
Population: 12,562,496 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35% (male 2,250,690; female 2,172,302)15-64 years: 60% (male 3,745,390; female 3,833,841)65 years and over: 5% (male 261,090; female 299,183) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.26 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.06 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.69 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.16 years male: 69.54 years female: 74.9 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.63 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Ecuadorian(s) adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 55%,Amerindian 25%, Spanish 10%, black 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic 95%
Languages: Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especiallyQuechua)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90.1%male: 92%female: 88.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Ecuadorconventional short form: Ecuadorlocal long form: Republica del Ecuadorlocal short form: Ecuador
Data code: EC
Government type: republic
Capital: Quito
Administrative divisions: 21 provinces (provincias, singular—provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe note: a new province, Orellana, was reported to have been formed in 1998
Independence: 24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 10 August (1809) (independence of Quito)
Constitution: 10 August 1998
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literatepersons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998); VicePresident Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note—the presidentis both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Jamil MAHUAD (since 10 August 1998);Vice President Gustavo NOBOA (since 10 August 1998); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 31 May 1998;runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)election results: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote—51%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (121 seats; 79 members are popularly elected at-large nationally to serve four-year terms; 42 members are popularly elected by province—two per province—for four-year terms) elections: last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—DP 32, PSC 27, PRE 24, ID 18, P-NP 9, FRA 5, PCE 3, MPD 2, CFP 1; note—defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema), new justices areelected by the full Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:BRAVO]director]EHLERS]Gonzalez]
International organization participation: CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-11,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ivonne A-BAKIchancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie M. ALEXANDERembassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quitomailing address: APO AA 34039consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description: three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia that is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms
Economy
Economy—overview: Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas. Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas, and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World Trade Organization in 1996, but has failed to comply with many of its accession commitments. In recent years, growth has been uneven due to ill-conceived fiscal stabilization measures. The populist government of Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz proposed a major currency reform in 1996, but popular discontent with BUCARAM'S austerity measures and rampant official corruption led to his replacement by National Congress with Fabian ALARCON in February 1997. ALARCON adopted a minimalist economic program that put off necessary reforms until August 1998 when President Jamil MAHUAD was elected. MAHAUD inherited an economy in crisis due to mismanagement, El Nino damage to key export sectors such as agriculture, and low world commodity prices in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. MAHAUD announced a fiscal austerity package and expressed interest in an IMF agreement but faces major difficulties in promoting economic growth, including possible political objections to further reform.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$58.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,800 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 37% services: 51% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 35% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.6% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 43% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.2 million
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 29%, manufacturing 18%,commerce 15%, services and other activities 38% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 12% with widespread underemployment (November1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: planned $5.1 billion not including revenue from potentialprivatizationsexpenditures: $5.1 billion (1999)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work,paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 8.45 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 17.16% hydro: 82.84% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 8.45 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: petroleum 30%, bananas 26%, shrimp 16%, cutflowers 2%, fish 1.9%
Exports—partners: US 39%, Latin America 25%, EU countries 22%,Asia 12%
Imports: $2.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: transport equipment, consumer goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals
Imports—partners: US 32%, EU 19%, Latin America 35%, Asia 11%
Debt—external: $12.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $695.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 sucre (S/) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: sucres (S/) per US$1—7,133.1 (January 1999), 5,446.6 (1998), 3,988.3 (1997), 3,189.5 (1996), 2,564.5 (1995), 2,196.7 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 586,300 (1994 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliableinternational: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 272, FM 0, shortwave 39
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 15 (including one station on theGalapagos Islands) (1997)
Televisions: 940,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 965 km (single track)narrow gauge: 965 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 42,874 km paved: 5,752 km unpaved: 37,122 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 1,500 km
Pipelines: crude oil 800 km; petroleum products 1,358 km
Ports and harbors: Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta,Puerto Bolivar, San Lorenzo
Merchant marine:total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 99,078 GRT/162,423 DWTships by type: chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker17, passenger 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 183 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 56 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 19 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 127 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 90 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (Ejercito Ecuatoriano), Navy (ArmadaEcuatoriana, includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza AereaEcuatoriana), National Police
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 3,259,534 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,199,704 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 130,208 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $720 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 3.4% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: on October 26, 1998, Peru and Ecuador concluded treaties on commerce and navigation and on boundary integration, to complete a package of agreements settling the long-standing boundary dispute between them; demarcation of the agreed-upon boundary was scheduled to begin in mid-January 1999
Illicit drugs: significant transit country for derivatives of coca originating in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; important money-laundering hub
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@Egypt ——-
Introduction
Background: One of the four great ancient civilizations, Egypt, ruled by powerful pharaohs, bequeathed to Western civilization numerous advances in technology, science, and the arts. For the last two millennia, however, Egypt has served a series of foreign masters—Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, and the British. Formal independence came in 1922, and the remnants of British control ended after World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1981 altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population will stress Egyptian society and resources as it enters the new millenium.
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 1,001,450 sq kmland: 995,450 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than three times the size of NewMexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,689 kmborder countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 255 km, Libya 1,150 km,Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline: 2,450 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates,manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 32,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, volcanic activity; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment—current issues: agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining natural resources
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, shortest sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics
People
Population: 67,273,906 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36% (male 12,260,845; female 11,712,752)15-64 years: 61% (male 20,604,620; female 20,211,012)65 years and over: 3% (male 1,099,517; female 1,385,160) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.82% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)