Geography
Location: Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 0.44 sq kmland: 0.44 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.7 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain: low hill
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100% (urban area)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography—note: urban; landlocked; enclave of Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
People
Population: 870 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Ethnic groups: Italians, Swiss, other
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Italian, Latin, various other languages
Government
Country name:conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Data code: VT
Government type: monarchical-sacerdotal state
Capital: Vatican City
Independence: 11 February 1929 (from Italy)
National holiday: Installation Day of the Pope (John Paul II), 22October (1978)
Constitution: Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March1968)
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)head of government: Secretary of State Archbishop Angelo CardinalSODANO (since 2 December 1990)cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the popeelections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the deathof the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the popeelection results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch: unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch: none; normally handled by Italy
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none (exclusive ofinfluence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: IAEA, ICFTU, Intelsat,IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer),UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVOchancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Corrine C. BOGGS embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via Delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box F, APO AE 09624
Flag description: two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band
Economy
Economy—overview: This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by contributions (known as Peter's Pence) from Roman Catholics throughout the world, the sale of postage stamps and tourist mementos, fees for admission to museums, and the sale of publications. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to, or somewhat better than, those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards,and 3,000 lay workers who live outside the Vatican
Budget:revenues: $175.5 millionexpenditures: $175 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994)
Industries: printing and production of a small amount of mosaicsand staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Electricity—production: 0 kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh; note?electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid—recipient: none
Currency: 1 Vatican lira (VLit) = 100 centesimi
Exchange rates: Vatican lire (VLit) per US$1—1,688.7 (January 1998), 1,736.2 (1998), 1,703.1 (1997), 1,542.9 (1996), 1,628.9 (1995), 1,612.4 (1994); note—the Vatican lira is at par with the Italian lira which circulates freely
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: automatic exchange domestic: tied into Italian system international: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1996)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:total: 862 m; note—connects to Italy's network at Rome's SaintPeter's stationnarrow gauge: 862 m 1.435-m gauge
Highways: none; all city streets
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: none
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Italy; SwissPapal Guards are posted at entrances to the Vatican City
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Honduras ————
Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 112,090 sq kmland: 111,890 sq kmwater: 200 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,520 kmborder countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua922 km
Coastline: 820 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain: mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources: timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, ironore, antimony, coal, fish
Land use:arable land: 15%permanent crops: 3%permanent pastures: 14%forests and woodland: 54%other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; damaging hurricanes and floods along Caribbean coast
Environment—current issues: urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water) as well as several rivers and streams with heavy metals; severe Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 5,997,327 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41% (male 1,262,190; female 1,217,752)15-64 years: 55% (male 1,643,550; female 1,665,666)65 years and over: 4% (male 98,715; female 109,454) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.24% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.98 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.46 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.68 years male: 63.16 years female: 66.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Honduran(s) adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%,Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 72.7%male: 72.6%female: 72.7% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Hondurasconventional short form: Honduraslocal long form: Republica de Honduraslocal short form: Honduras
Data code: HO
Government type: republic
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos,singular—departamento) plus probable Central District (Tegucigalpa);Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso,Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, LaPaz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982
Legal system: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law; some influence of English common law; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since 27January 1998); note—the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmenthead of government: President Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (since27 January 1998); note—the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;election last held 30 November 1997 (next to be held NA November2001)election results: Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse elected president;percent of vote—Carlos Roberto FLORES Facusse (PLH) 53%, Nora deMELGAR (PNH) 42%, other 5%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or AsambleaNacional (128 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: last held on 30 November 1997 (next to be held November2001)election results: percent of vote by party—PLH 50%, PNH 42%, PINU-SD4%, PDCH 2%, other 2%; seats by party—PLH 70, PNH 55, PINU-SD 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema deJustica), judges are elected for four-year terms by the NationalAssembly
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party or PLH [RaphaelMELGAR, president]; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Association ofHonduran Campesinos or ANACH; Honduran Council of Private Enterpriseor COHEP; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; National Unionof Campesinos or UNC; General Workers Confederation or CGT; UnitedFederation of Honduran Workers or FUTH; Committee for the Defense ofHuman Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Coordinating Committee of PopularOrganizations or CCOP
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, and Jacksonville
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Francis CREAGAN embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy
Economy—overview: Prior to Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, Honduras had been pursuing a moderate economic reform program and had posted strong annual growth numbers. The storm has dramatically changed economic forecasts for Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Central America and the hardest hit by Mitch. Honduras sustained approximately $3 billion in damages and will probably see GDP shrink by 2% in 1999 and unemployment rise. Hardest hit was the all-important agricultural sector, which is responsible for the majority of exports. As a result, the trade deficit is likely to balloon in 1999 to $445 million. However, significant aid has helped to stabilize the country. In addition, the Paris Club and bilateral creditors have offered substantial debt relief, and Tegucigalpa is currently under consideration for inclusion in the IMF-World Bank Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). Additional financing will be needed to restore the economy to its pre-Mitch level.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$14.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 19% services: 61% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 42.1% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (1997 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 37%, services 39%, industry 24% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% (1997); underemployed 30% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $655 millionexpenditures: $850 million, including capital expenditures of $150million (1997 est.)
Industries: sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1992 est.)
Electricity—production: 2.73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 12.09% hydro: 87.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 2.734 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 4 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports—commodities: bananas, coffee, shrimp, lobster, minerals,meat, lumber
Exports—partners: US 54%, Germany 7%, Belgium 5%, Japan 4%, Spain3% (1995)
Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f. 1996)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, manufactured goods, fuel and oil, foodstuffs
Imports—partners: US 43%, Guatemala 5%, Japan 5%, Germany 4%,Mexico 3%, El Salvador 3% (1995)
Debt—external: $4.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid—recipient: $418.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 lempira (L) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: lempiras (L) per US$1 (end of period)—13.8076 (December 1998), 13.8076 (1998), 13.0942 (1997), 12.8694 (1996), 10.3432 (1995), 9.4001 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 105,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: inadequate systemdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 176, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 2.115 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 11 (in addition, there are 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 400,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 595 kmnarrow gauge: 190 km 1.067-m gauge; 128 km 1.057-m gauge; 277 km0.914-m gauge
Highways:total: 14,173 kmpaved: 3,126 kmunpaved: 11,047 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 465 km navigable by small craft
Ports and harbors: La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, SanLorenzo, Tela, Puerto Lempira
Merchant marine:total: 247 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 555,534 GRT/730,602 DWTships by type: bulk 21, cargo 157, chemical tanker 4, container 7,livestock carrier 1, oil tanker 25, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 4,refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger5, vehicle carrier 1note: a flag of convenience registry; Russia owns 6 ships, Vietnam1, Singapore 3, North Korea 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 122 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1112,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 21under 914 m: 87 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,455,053 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 866,492 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 69,646 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $33 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.6% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: demarcation of boundary with El Salvador defined by 1992 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision has not been completed; small boundary section left unresolved by ICJ decision not yet reported to have been settled; with respect to the maritime boundary in the Golfo de Fonseca, ICJ referred to an earlier agreement in this century and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Nicaragua
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption
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@Hong Kong ————-
Introduction
Background: Pursuant to the agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. Under the terms of this agreement, China has promised that under its "one country, two systems" formula its socialist economic system will not be practiced in Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates: 22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 1,092 sq kmland: 1,042 sq kmwater: 50 sq km
Area—comparative: six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 30 km border countries: China 30 km
Coastline: 733 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot andrainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain: hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:arable land: 6%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 1%forests and woodland: 20%other: 72% (1997 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1997 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment—current issues: air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: more than 200 islands
People
Population: 6,847,125 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 644,982; female 598,188)15-64 years: 71% (male 2,397,277; female 2,490,745)65 years and over: 11% (male 323,949; female 391,984) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.9% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.9 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.96 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 12.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.91 years male: 76.15 years female: 81.85 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.39 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chinese adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions: eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese), English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 92.2%male: 96%female: 88.2% (1996 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Hong Konglocal long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqulocal short form: Xianggangabbreviation: HK
Data code: HK
Dependency status: special administrative region of China
Government type: NA
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none (special administrative region ofChina)
Independence: none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday: National Day, 1-2 October; note—1 July 1997 iscelebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region EstablishmentDay
Constitution: Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China'sNational People's Congress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 100,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member Election Commission drawn from broad regional groupings and other central government bodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary AnsonCHAN (since 29 November 1993), Financial Secretary Donald TSANG(since 7 March 1995), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1July 1997)elections: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60seats; 30 indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 20elected by popular vote, and 10 elected by an 800-member electioncommittee; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 25 May 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—Democratic Party 13, Liberal Party 9, Democratic Alliance forthe Betterment of Hong Kong 9, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance 5,Frontier Party 3, Citizens Party 1, independents 20
Judicial branch: The Court of Final Appeal in the Hong KongSpecial Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [Martin LEE,
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association for Democracy Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Confederation of Trade Chamber of Commerce; Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Hong Kong Professional chairman]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, CCC,ESCAP (associate), ICFTU, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau),IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrativeregion of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General Richard A. BOUCHER consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 464, Box 30, FPO AP 96522-0002
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
Economy
Economy—overview: Hong Kong has a bustling free market economy highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Indeed, imports and exports, including reexports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Real GDP growth averaged a remarkable 8% in 1987-88 and a still strong 5% in 1989-97. The widespread Asian economic difficulties in 1998 hit this trade-dependent economy quite hard, with GDP down 5%.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$168.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$25,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 15.9% services: 84% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.216 million (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31.9%, social services 9.9%, manufacturing 9.2%, financing, insurance, and real estate 13.1%, transport and communications 5.7%, construction 2.6%, other 27.6% (October 1998)
Unemployment rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $30.1 billionexpenditures: $26 billion, including capital expenditures of $289million (FY97/98)
Industries: textiles, clothing, tourism, electronics, plastics,toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate: -3.7% (1998)
Electricity—production: 27 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 28.598 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—exports: 1.483 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 5.875 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: fresh vegetables; poultry
Exports: $188.08 billion (including reexports; f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: clothing, textiles, yarn and fabric,footwear, electrical appliances, watches and clocks, toys
Exports—partners: China 35%, US 22%, Japan 6%, Germany 4%, UK 4%(1997)
Imports: $208.63 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, rawmaterials, semimanufactures, petroleum; a large share is reexported
Imports—partners: China 38%, Japan 14%, Taiwan 8%, US 8%,Singapore 5% (1997)
Debt—external: none (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: none
Currency: 1 Hong Kong dollar (HK$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Hong Kong dollars (HK$) per US$—7.74 (1997-99), 7.730 (1996), 7.800 (1995), 7.800 (1994); note—linked to the US dollar at the rate of about 7.8 HK$ per 1 US$
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 4.47 million (1998)
Telephone system: modern facilities provide excellent domesticand international servicesdomestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-opticnetworkinternational: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Oceanand 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN membernations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 3 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.75 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 34 km standard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (all electrified) (1996 est.)
Highways: total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Hong Kong
Merchant marine:total: 195 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,075,304GRT/10,133,186 DWTships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 117, cargo 18, chemical tanker2, combination bulk 2, container 40, liquefied gas tanker 1,multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 6, refrigerated cargo1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1, vehicle carrier 3note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 13countries among which are UK 16, South Africa 3, China 9, Japan 6,Bermuda 2, Germany 3, Canada 2, Cyprus 1, Belgium 1, and Norway 1(1998 est.)
Airports: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Hong Kong garrison of the PLA including elements of the PLA Army, the PLA Navy and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,924,304 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,452,110 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 45,656 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: a hub for Southeast Asian heroin trade; transshipment and money-laundering center; increasing indigenous amphetamine abuse
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@Howland Island ———————
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 1.6 sq kmland: 1.6 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about three times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 6.4 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 5%other: 95%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Environment—current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People
Population: uninhabitednote: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air andnaval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military duringWorld War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is byspecial-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only andgenerally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annuallyby US Fish and Wildlife Service
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island
Data code: HQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy—overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only; note—there is one boat landing area along the middle of the west coast
Airports: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refuelingstop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia Earhart and FredNoonan—they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were neverseen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Transportation—note: Earhart Light is a day beacon near themiddle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during WorldWar II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famedaviatrix Amelia Earhart
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Hungary ———-
Introduction
Background: After World War II Hungary became part of Soviet-dominated Eastern Europe, and its government and economy were refashioned on the communist model. Increased nationalist opposition, which culminated in the government's announcement of withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact in 1956, led to massive military intervention by Moscow and the swift crushing of the revolt. In the more open GORBACHEV years, Hungary led the movement to dissolve the Warsaw Pact and steadily moved toward multiparty democracy and a market-oriented economy. Following the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Hungary has developed close political and economic relations with western Europe and is now being considered a possible future member of the European Union.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 93,030 sq kmland: 92,340 sq kmwater: 690 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 2,009 kmborder countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,Serbia and Montenegro 151 km (all with Serbia), Slovakia 515 km,Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Tisza River 78 m highest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils
Land use:arable land: 51%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 13%forests and woodland: 19%other: 15% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Environment—current issues: the approximation of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments, estimated by the Government of Hungary at $4 billion over six years; the 1997 budget allocated $9.7 million for this purpose; the 1998 budget allocated $11.3 million; the Central Environmental Fund, which collects monies from product charges, environmental fines, and mining taxes, provided approximately $76.2 million in 1997 and is expected to provide $109.5 million in 1998
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin
People
Population: 10,186,372 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 908,434; female 865,621)15-64 years: 68% (male 3,406,512; female 3,524,260)65 years and over: 15% (male 552,337; female 929,208) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.29 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.5 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.46 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.18 years male: 66.85 years female: 75.74 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.45 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Hungarian(s) adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups: Hungarian 89.9%, Gypsy 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%,Slovak 0.8%, Romanian 0.7%
Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%,atheist and other 7.5%
Languages: Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 98% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Hungaryconventional short form: Hungarylocal long form: Magyar Koztarsasaglocal short form: Magyarorszag
Data code: HU
Government type: republic
Capital: Budapest
Administrative divisions: 19 counties (megyek, singular—megye),20 urban counties* (singular—megyei varos), and 1 capital city**(fovaros); Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Bekescsaba*,Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Budapest**, Csongrad, Debrecen*, Dunaujvaros*,Eger*, Fejer, Gyor*, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,Hodmezovasarhely*, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Kaposvar*, Kecskemet*,Komarom-Esztergom, Miskolc*, Nagykanizsa*, Nograd, Nyiregyhaza*,Pecs*, Pest, Somogy, Sopron*, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Szeged*,Szekesfehervar*, Szolnok*, Szombathely*, Tatabanya*, Tolna, Vas,Veszprem, Veszprem*, Zala, Zalaegerszeg*
Independence: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday: St. Stephen's Day, 20 August (commemorates the coronation of King Stephen in 1000 AD)
Constitution: 18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system: in process of revision, moving toward rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Arpad GONCZ (since 3 August 1990;previously interim president since 2 May 1990)head of government: Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN (since 6 July 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly onthe recommendation of the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afour-year term; election last held 19 June 1995 (next to be held NA1999); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on therecommendation of the presidentelection results: Arpad GONCZ reelected president; a total of 335votes were cast by the National Assembly, Arpad GONCZ received 259;Viktor ORBAN elected prime minister; percent of legislative vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules(386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system ofproportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)elections: last held on 10 and 24 May 1998 (next to be held May/June2002)election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the voterequired for parliamentary representation in the first round)—MSZP32.0%, FIDESZ 28.2%, FKGP 13.8%, SZDSZ 7.9%, MIEP 5.5%, MMP 4.1%,MDF 2.8%, KDNP 2.3%, MDNP 1.5%; seats by party—MSZP 134, FIDESZ 148,FKGP 48, SZDSZ 24, MDF 17, MIEP 14, independent 1; note—the MDF won17 single-member district seats
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by theNational Assembly for a nine-year term
Political parties and leaders: Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF GICZY, president]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP note: the Hungarian Socialist (Communist) Workers' Party or MSZMP renounced communism and became the Hungarian Socialist Party or MSZP in October 1989; the MDNP was formed in March 1996 by breakaway members of the Hungarian Democratic Forum
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS,CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNU,UPU, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Geza JESZENSZKY chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter F. TUFO embassy: V. 1054 Szabadsag Ter 12, Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Economy
Economy—overview: Hungary has consolidated its March 1995 stabilization program and undergone enough restructuring to become an established market economy. The country appears to have entered a period of sustainable growth, gradually falling inflation, and stable external balances. The government's main economic priorities are to complete structural reforms, particularly the implementation of the 1997 pension reform act (the first in the region), taxation reform, and planning for comprehensive health care, local government finance reform, and the reform of education at all levels. Foreign investment has totaled more than $17 billion through 1998. In recognition of Hungary's improved macroeconomic situation, all major credit-rating agencies listed the country's foreign currency debt issuances as investment grade in 1996. The current IMF stand-by arrangement expired in February 1998, and Budapest and the IMF agree that there is no need to renew it. The OECD welcomed Hungary as a member in May 1996, and in December 1997 the EU invited Hungary to begin the accession process. Forecasters expect 4%-5% growth in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$75.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 30.3% services: 66.7% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 24% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.2 million (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: services 65%, industry 26.7%, agriculture 8.3 (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10.8% (1997)
Budget:revenues: $11.2 billionexpenditures: $13.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 11.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 33.162 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 58.76% hydro: 0.62% nuclear: 40.62% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 35.362 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 2.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 4.4 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $20.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment 51.9%, other manufactures 32.7%, agriculture and food products 10.5%, raw materials 2.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (1998)
Exports—partners: Germany 37.3%, Austria 11.4%, Italy 6.1%,Russia 5.0% (1997)
Imports: $22.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 46.5%, other manufactures 40.2%, fuels and electricity 6.6%, agricultural and food products 3.7%, raw materials 3.0% (1998)
Imports—partners: Germany 26.7%, Austria 10.5%, Italy 9.5%,Russia 7.4% (1997)
Debt—external: $22.1 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $122.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 forint (Ft) = 100 filler
Exchange rates: forints per US$1—215.960 (January 1999), 214.402 (1998), 186.789 (1997), 152.647 (1996), 125.681 (1995),105.160 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.16 million (267,000 cellular telephone subscribers) (1996)
Telephone system: 14,213 telex lines; automatic telephone network based on microwave radio relay system; the average waiting time for telephones is expected to drop to one year by the end of 1997 (down from over 10 years in the early 1990s); note—the former state-owned telecommunications firm MATAV—now privatized and managed by a US/German consortium—has ambitious plans to upgrade the inadequate system, including a contract with the German firm Siemens and the Swedish firm Ericsson to provide 600,000 new telephone lines domestic: microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 32, FM 15, shortwave 0
Radios: 6 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 39 (in addition, there are low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 4.38 million (1993 est.)
Transportation