Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet, all other justices are appointed by the cabinet
Political parties and leaders: Liberal Democratic Party or LDP president, Hirohisa FUJII, secretary general]; Japan Communist Party Katsuyuki ISHIDA, secretary general] note: subsequent to the last legislative elections, the New Frontier Party or NFP and the Sun Party disbanded; the DPJ was formed by former members of the SDP and Sakigake and, in April 1998, was joined by three additional parties which had formed after the NFP disbanded; New Peace Party and Komei merged to form Komeito in November 1998
International organization participation: AfDB, APEC, AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EBRD,ESCAP, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UN Security Council(temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA,UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kunihiko SAITOchancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Hagatna (Guam), Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston,Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri), LosAngeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), SanFrancisco, and Seattleconsulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas S. FOLEY embassy: 10-5, Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description: white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center
Economy
Economy—overview: Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) have helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most powerful economy in the world. One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force; this guarantee is eroding. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in 1992-95 largely because of the aftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. Growth picked up to 3.9% in 1996, largely a reflection of stimulative fiscal and monetary policies as well as low rates of inflation. But in 1997-98 Japan experienced a wrenching recession, centered about financial difficulties in the banking system and real estate markets and exacerbated by rigidities in corporate structures and labor markets. In early 1999 output has started to stabilize as emergency government spending begins to take hold. The crowding of habitable land area and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.903 trillion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -2.6% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$23,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 38% services: 60% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 67.72 million (November 1998)
Labor force—by occupation: trade and services 50%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 33%, utilities and communication 7%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6%, government 3% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 4.4% (November 1998)
Budget:revenues: $407 billionexpenditures: $711 billion, including capital expenditures (publicworks only) of about $86 billion (FY99/00 est.)
Industries: among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of steel and nonferrous metallurgy, heavy electrical equipment, construction and mining equipment, motor vehicles and parts, electronic and telecommunication equipment, machine tools, automated production systems, locomotives and railroad rolling stock, ships, chemicals; textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate: -6.9% (1998)
Electricity—production: 948.559 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 61.47% hydro: 8.34% nuclear: 29.83% other: 0.36% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 948.559 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish
Exports: $440 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: manufactures 96% (including machinery 50%, motor vehicles 19%, consumer electronics 3%)
Exports—partners: US 30%, EU 18%, Southeast Asia 12%, China 5%
Imports: $319 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: manufactures 54%, foodstuffs and raw materials 28%, fossil fuels 16%
Imports—partners: US 24%, Southeast Asia 14%, EU 14%, China 13%
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $9.1 billion (1999)
Currency: yen (Y)
Exchange rates: yen (Y) per US$1—113.18 (January 1999), 130.91 (1998), 120.99 (1997), 108.78 (1996), 94.06 (1995), 102.21 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 64 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations—5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Oceanand 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); submarine cables toChina, Philippines, Russia, and US (via Guam)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 318, FM 58, shortwave 0
Radios: 97 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 7,549 (consisting of 6,995 non-government and non-commercial stations, of which 95 are main stations of 1 kW or greater power and 6,900 are low-power stations, and 554 commercial stations of which 113 are main stations and 441 are repeaters); note—in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable stations (1997)
Televisions: 100 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 23,670.7 kmstandard gauge: 2,893.1 km 1.435-m gauge (entirely electrified)narrow gauge: 89.8 km 1.372-m gauge (89.8 km electrified); 20,656.8km 1.067-m gauge (10,383.6 km electrified); 31 km 0.762-m gauge (3.6km electrified) (1994)
Highways:total: 1.16 million kmpaved: 859,560 km (including 6,070 km of expressways)unpaved: 300,440 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: about 1,770 km; seagoing craft ply all coastal inlandseas
Pipelines: crude oil 84 km; petroleum products 322 km; naturalgas 1,800 km
Ports and harbors: Akita, Amagasaki, Chiba, Hachinohe, Hakodate,Higashi-Harima, Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kinuura, Kobe, Kushiro,Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Sakaide, Shimizu, Tokyo,Tomakomai
Merchant marine:total: 713 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,753,027GRT/19,311,312 DWTships by type: bulk 159, cargo 54, chemical tanker 13, combinationbulk 16, combination ore/oil 4, container 27, liquefied gas tanker40, oil tanker 232, passenger 10, passenger-cargo 2, refrigeratedcargo 27, roll-on/roll-off cargo 48, short-sea passenger 13, vehiclecarrier 68 (1998 est.)
Airports: 170 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 140 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 31 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 28 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 14 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), JapanMaritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), Japan Air Self-Defense Force(Air Force)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 30,646,516 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 26,438,961 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 784,658 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $42.9 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, claimed by Japan; Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima/Tokdo) disputed with South Korea; Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands) claimed by China and Taiwan
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@Jarvis Island ——————-
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates: 0 22 S, 160 03 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 4.5 sq kmland: 4.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 8 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain: sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Natural resources: guano (deposits worked until late 1800s)
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100%
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: NAsigned, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, andlow-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraginghabitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People
Population: uninhabitednote: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionallyused as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it wasabandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International GeophysicalYear by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-usepermit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generallyrestricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fishand Wildlife Service
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis Island
Data code: DQ
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 in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island
Transportation—note: there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
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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@Jersey ———
Geography
Location: Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates: 49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 116 sq kmland: 116 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 70 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain: gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources: agricultural land
Land use:arable land: 66%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: NA%other: 34%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
People
Population: 89,721 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 8,308; female 7,663)15-64 years: 68% (male 30,168; female 30,754)65 years and over: 14% (male 5,348; female 7,480) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.63% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.85 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.08 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.11 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.83 years male: 76.08 years female: 81.87 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups: UK and Norman-French descent
Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational NewChurch, Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages: English (official), French (official), Norman-Frenchdialect spoken in country districts
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jerseyconventional short form: Jersey
Data code: JE
Dependency status: British crown dependency
Government type: NA
Capital: Saint Helier
Administrative divisions: none (British crown dependency)
Independence: none (British crown dependency)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system: English law and local statute
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief SirMichael WILKES (since NA 1995) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE(since NA 1995)cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the Stateselections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor andbailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the States (57seats—53 elected including 12 senators popularly elected forsix-year terms, half retiring every third year, 12 constablespopularly elected triennially, and 29 deputies popularly electedtriennially)elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 52
Judicial branch: Royal Court, judges elected by an electoralcollege and the bailiff
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (British crowndependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (British crowndependency)
Flag description: white with the diagonal red cross of SaintPatrick (patron saint of Ireland) extending to the corners of theflag
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is based largely on financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light tax and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$NA
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 2% services: 93% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.7% (1996)
Labor force: 57,050 (1996)
Unemployment rate: 0.7% (1996)
Budget:revenues: $666.9 millionexpenditures: $618.5 million, including capital expenditures of$128.4 million (1996 est.)
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: 467 million kWh (1995)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh; note?much electricity supplied byFrance
Agriculture—products: potatoes, cauliflowers, tomatoes; beef,dairy products
Exports: $NA
Exports—commodities: light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports—partners: UK
Imports: $NA
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports—partners: UK
Debt—external: none
Economic aid—recipient: none
Currency: 1 Jersey pound (LJ) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Jersey pounds (LJ) per US$1—0.6057 (January 1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 61,447 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 577 km (1995) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Johnston Atoll ———————
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates: 16 45 N, 169 30 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 2.8 sq kmland: 2.8 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 4.7 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 10 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources: NA; guano deposits worked until depletionabout 1890
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: no natural fresh water resources
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; closed to the public; former US nuclear weapons test site; site of Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); some low-growing vegetation
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are 1,200 US military and civilian contractor personnel (January 1999 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
Data code: JQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US;administered from Washington, DC, by the US Defense Threat ReductionAgency (DTRA) and managed cooperatively by DTRA and the Fish andWildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of theNational Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy—overview: Economic activity is limited to providingservices to US military personnel and contractors located on theisland. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity—production: NAkWhnote: there are six 25,000 kWh generators supplied by the baseoperating support contractor
Electricity—consumption: NAkWh
Communications
Telephone system: 13 outgoing and 10 incoming commercial lines;adequate telecommunicationsdomestic: 60-channel submarine cable, 22 DSN circuits by satellite,Autodin with standard remote terminal, digital telephone switch,Military Affiliated Radio System (MARS station), UHF/VHF air-groundradio, a link to the Pacific Consolidated Telecommunications Network(PCTN) satelliteinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 5 channels; also 1 localvolunteer FM radio station;, shortwave NA;
Television broadcast stations: commercial satellite televisionsystem, with 16 channels (1997)
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Johnston Island
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Jordan ———
Geography
Location: Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates: 31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 89,213 sq kmland: 88,884 sq kmwater: 329 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 1,619 kmborder countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 728 km,Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline: 26 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November toApril)
Terrain: mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west;Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,754 m
Natural resources: phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:arable land: 4%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 9%forests and woodland: 1%other: 85% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 630 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 4,561,147 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (male 1,005,211; female 954,968)15-64 years: 54% (male 1,265,116; female 1,200,372)65 years and over: 3% (male 67,852; female 67,628) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.05% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 34.31 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 3.85 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 32.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.06 years male: 71.15 years female: 75.08 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.64 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 96%, Christian 4% (1997 est.)
Languages: Arabic (official), English widely understood amongupper and middle classes
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.6%male: 93.4%female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordanconventional short form: Jordanlocal long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyahlocal short form: Al Urdunformer: Transjordan
Data code: JO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amman
Administrative divisions: 12 governorates (muhafazat,singular—muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, AlMafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate underBritish administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution: 8 January 1952
Legal system: based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King ABDULLAH II (since 7 February 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Fayez TARAWNEH (since 20 August1998)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultationwith the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Majlisal-'Umma consists of the Senate (a 40-member body appointed by themonarch from designated categories of public figures; members servefour-year terms) and the House of Representatives (80 seats; memberselected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representationto serve four-year terms)elections: House of Representatives—last held 4 November 1997 (nextto be held NA November 2001)election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote byparty—NA; seats by party—National Constitutional Party 2, Arab LandParty 1, independents 75, other 2note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolvedby the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989 the firstparliamentary elections in 22 years were held
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation
Political parties and leaders: Al-Ahrar (Freedom) Party [Dr.Ahmad ZO'BI, secretary general]; Arab Ba'th Progressive PartyIshaq al-FARHAN, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab ConstitutionalMAJALI, secretary general]; National Democratic Public MovementHNEIDI, secretary general]
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AL,AMF, CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUA, NAM, OIC,OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marwan Jamil MUASHIR chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William BURNSembassy: Jabel Amman, Ammanmailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; APO AE 09892-0200
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top),white, and green with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoistside bearing a small white seven-pointed star; the seven points onthe star represent the seven fundamental laws of the Koran
Economy
Economy—overview: Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil and coal. Jordan benefited from increased Arab aid during the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when its annual real GNP growth averaged more than 10%. In the remainder of the 1980s, however, reductions in both Arab aid and worker remittances slowed real economic growth to an average of roughly 2% per year. Imports—mainly oil, capital goods, consumer durables, and food—outstripped exports, with the difference covered by aid, remittances, and borrowing. In mid-1989, the Jordanian Government began debt-rescheduling negotiations and agreed to implement an IMF-supported program designed to gradually reduce the budget deficit and implement badly needed structural reforms. The Persian Gulf crisis that began in August 1990, however, aggravated Jordan's already serious economic problems, forcing the government to shelve the IMF program, stop most debt payments, and suspend rescheduling negotiations. Aid from Gulf Arab states, worker remittances, and trade contracted; and refugees flooded the country, producing serious balance-of-payments problems, stunting GDP growth, and straining government resources. The economy rebounded in 1992, largely due to the influx of capital repatriated by workers returning from the Gulf, but recovery was uneven. A preliminary agreement with the IMF in early 1999 will provide new loans over the next three years. Sluggish growth, along with debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental ongoing economic problems.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$15.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 30% services: 64% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: 30% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 34.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.15 million note: in addition, there are 300,000 foreign workers (1997 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: industry 11.4%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 10.5%, construction 10%, transport and communications 8.7%, agriculture 7.4%, other services 52% (1992)
Unemployment rate: 15% official rate; note—actual rate is 25%-30%(1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.8 billionexpenditures: $3 billion, including capital expenditures of $672million (1999 est.)
Industries: phosphate mining, petroleum refining, cement, potash,light manufacturing
Industrial production growth rate: -3.4% (1996)
Electricity—production: 5.52 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.64% hydro: 0.36% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 5.52 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry
Exports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: phosphates, fertilizers, potash,agricultural products, manufactures
Exports—partners: Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, EU, Indonesia, UAE,Syria, Ethiopia
Imports: $3.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: crude oil, machinery, transport equipment,food, live animals, manufactured goods
Imports—partners: EU, Iraq, US, Japan, Turkey, Malaysia, Syria,China
Debt—external: $7.5 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $1.097 billion (1995); note?received $320 million from ODA in 1998 (est.)
Currency: 1 Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1—0.7090 (January 1999-1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994), 0.6928 (1993) note: since May 1989, the dinar has been pegged to a basket of currencies
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 425,000 (1998)
Telephone system:domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial and fiber-optic cable, andcellular; Jordan has two cellular telephone providers (withapproximately 50,000 subscribers in 1998), ten data serviceproviders, and four Internet service providers (with approximately8,000 subscribers in 1998)international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals (1996); coaxial cable,fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Saudi Arabia,Syria, and Israel; building a Red Sea Fiber-Optic Link Around theGlobe (FLAG) fiber-optic submarine cable link and planning to updatelinks with Saudi Arabia and Israel to fiber-optic cable; 4,000international circuits (1998 est.); participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1.1 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 8 (in addition, there are approximately 42 repeaters and 1 TV receive-only satellite link) (1997)
Televisions: 350,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 677 kmnarrow gauge: 677 km 1.050-m gauge; note—an additional 110 kmstretch of the old Hejaz railroad is out of use (1998 est.)
Highways:total: 8,000 kmpaved: 8,000 kmunpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 209 km
Ports and harbors: Al 'Aqabah
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,746 GRT/59,100 DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 2, container 1, livestock carrier 1,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 17 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF; includes RoyalJordanian Land Force, Royal Naval Force, and Royal Jordanian AirForce); Badiya (irregular) Border Guards; Ministry of the Interior'sPublic Security Force (falls under JAF only in wartime or crisissituations)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,113,998 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 793,002 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 49,954 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $608.9 million (FY 98)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 7.8% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Juan de Nova Island —————————-
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 4.4 sq kmland: 4.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about seven times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 24.1 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to depth the of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 90%other: 10%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: periodic cyclones
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: wildlife sanctuary
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Juan de Nova Islandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile Juan de Nova
Data code: JU
Dependency status: possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion
Legal system: NA
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (possession of France)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
Economy
Economy—overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Railways: total: NA km; short line going to a jetty
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claimed by Madagascar
======================================================================
@Kazakhstan —————
Introduction
Background: As a republic within the USSR (1920-91), Kazakhstan suffered greatly from Stalinist purges, from environmental damage, and saw the ethnic Russian portion of its population rise to 37% while other non-Kazakhs made up almost 20%. Current issues include the pace of market reform and privatization; fair and free elections and democratic reform; ethnic differences between Russians and Kazakhs; environmental problems; and how to convert the country's abundant energy resources into a better standard of living.
Geography
Location: Central Asia, northwest of China
Geographic coordinates: 48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total: 2,717,300 sq kmland: 2,669,800 sq kmwater: 47,500 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 12,012 kmborder countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) note: Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid andsemiarid
Terrain: extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and fromthe plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 mhighest point: Zhengis Shingy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural resources: major deposits of petroleum, natural gas,coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper,molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use:arable land: 12%permanent crops: 11%permanent pastures: 57%forests and woodland: 4%other: 16% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 22,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Environment—current issues: radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with its former defense industries and test ranges are found throughout the country and pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from faulty irrigation practices
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: landlocked
People
Population: 16,824,825 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 2,432,519; female 2,359,375)15-64 years: 65% (male 5,279,877; female 5,580,271)65 years and over: 7% (male 392,934; female 779,849) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.16 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.34 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 58.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.39 years male: 57.92 years female: 69.13 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Kazakhstani(s) adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 46%, Russian 34.7%, Ukrainian 4.9%,German 3.1%, Uzbek 2.3%, Tatar 1.9%, other 7.1% (1996)
Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other7%
Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq) (state language) 40%, Russian(official, used in everyday business) 66%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 99%female: 96% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstanconventional short form: Kazakhstanlocal long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasylocal short form: noneformer: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: KZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Astana note: the government moved from Almaty to Astana in December 1998
Administrative divisions: 14 oblystar (singular—oblysy) and 3 cities (qala, singular—qalasy)*; Almaty, Almaty*, Aqmola (Astana), Aqtobe, Astana*, Atyrau, Batys Qazaqstan (Oral), Bayqongyr*, Mangghystau (Aqtau; formerly Gur'yev), Ongtustik Qazaqstan (Shymkent), Pavlodar, Qaraghandy, Qostanay, Qyzylorda, Shyghys Qazaqstan (Oskemen; formerly Ust'-Kamenogorsk), Soltustik Qazaqstan (Petropavl), Zhambyl (Taraz; formerly Dzhambul) note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995 the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Bayqongyr (Baykonur) space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (formerly Leninsk)
Independence: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Day of the Republic, 25 October (1990) (date onwhich Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty)
Constitution: adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995;first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of theSupreme Soviet from 22 February 1990-91, president since 1 December1991)head of government: Prime Minister Nurlan BALGIMBAYEV (since 10October 1997) and First Deputy Prime Minister Uraz ZHANDOSOV (since20 February 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previouslyscheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note—President NAZARBAYEV'sprevious term had been extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendumheld 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime ministerappointed by the presidentelection results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV elected president; percentof vote—Nursultan NAZARBAYEV 82%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 12%note: President NAZARBAYEV expanded his presidential powers bydecree: only he can initiate constitutional amendments, appoint anddismiss the government, dissolve Parliament, call referenda at hisdiscretion, and appoint administrative heads of regions and cities
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate(47 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other membersare popularly elected, two from each oblast and Almaty, to servefour-year terms) and the Majilis (67 seats; members are popularlyelected to serve four-year terms); note—with the oblasts beingreduced to 14, the Senate will eventually be reduced to 37elections: Senate—(indirect) last held 5 December 1995 (next to beheld NA 1999); Majilis—last held 9 December and 23 December 1995(next to be held NA 1999)election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—party members 13, no party affiliation 34, of which"independent" state officials 25, nominated by the president 7,elected by popular vote 15; Majilis—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—PUP 24, December National Democratic Party 12,Kazakhstan Agrarian Union 5, Confederation of Kazakh Trade Unions 5,KPK 2, independents and others 19
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (44 members); ConstitutionalCouncil (7 members)