Political parties and leaders: People's Unity Party or PUP (was
Political pressure groups and leaders: Independent Trade Unionchairman]
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OAS (observer),OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bolat K. NURGALIYEVchancery: 1401 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONESembassy: 99/97A Furmanova Street, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan480091mailing address: American Embassy Almaty, Department of State,Washington, DC 20521-7030
Flag description: sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in yellow
Economy
Economy—overview: Kazakhstan, the second largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, possesses enormous untapped fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has considerable agricultural potential with its vast steppe lands accommodating both livestock and grain production. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a relatively large machine building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR and the collapse of demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products have resulted in a sharp contraction of the economy since 1991, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97 the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. The December 1996 signing of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium agreement to build a new pipeline from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field to the Black Sea increases prospects for substantially larger oil exports in several years. Kazakhstan's economy turned downward in 1998 with a 2.5% decline in GDP growth due to slumping oil prices and the August financial crisis in Russia. 1999 will also be a difficult year.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$52.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -2.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 11.5% industry: 32.6% services: 55.9% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 24.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 8.8 million (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: industry 27%, agriculture and forestry 23%, other 50% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 13.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.9 billionexpenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials; much of industrial capacity is shut down and/or is in need of repair
Industrial production growth rate: -2.1% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 52 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 86.3% hydro: 13.6% nuclear: 0.1% other: 0% (1997)
Electricity—consumption: 64.34 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 1.75 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 8.5 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; wool, livestock
Exports: $6.3 billion (1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: oil, ferrous and nonferrous metals,chemicals, grain, wool, meat, coal
Exports—partners: Russia, UK, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Netherlands,China, Italy, Germany (1997)
Imports: $7.4 billion (1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and parts, industrial materials,oil and gas, consumer goods
Imports—partners: Russia, Ukraine, US, Uzbekistan, Turkey, UK,Germany, South Korea (1997)
Debt—external: $3.1 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $409.6 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kazakhstani tenge = 100 tiyn
Exchange rates: tenges per US$1—85.2 (February 1999), 78.30 (1998), 75.44 (1997), 67.30 (1996), 60.95 (1995), 35.54 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2 million (1997)
Telephone system: service is poor domestic: landline and microwave radio relay; AMPS standard cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan international: international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and through 8 international telecommunications circuits at the Moscow international gateway switch; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat and a new digital satellite earth station established at Almaty; a third satellite earth station at Atyrau provides teleconnectivity to the AT&T network via Intelsat; cable connected by the Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: 4.088 million (with multiple speakers for program diffusion 6.082 million)
Television broadcast stations: 20 (of which at least eight are government stations and at least 12 are private stations—seven of those are satellite TV relay stations) (1997)
Televisions: 4.75 million
Transportation
Railways:total: 14,400 km in common carrier service; does not includeindustrial linesbroad gauge: 14,400 km 1.520-m gauge (3,299 km electrified) (1997)
Highways:total: 141,000 kmpaved: 104,200 kmunpaved: 36,800 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 3,900 km on the Syrdariya (Syr Darya) and Ertis(Irtysh)
Pipelines: crude oil 2,850 km; refined products 1,500 km; naturalgas 3,480 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen(Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Airports: 10 (1997 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1997 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Military
Military branches: General Purpose Forces (Army), Air Force,Border Guards, Navy, Republican Guard
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 4,450,258 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,550,645 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 155,767 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $232.4 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome
Illicit drugs: significant illicit cultivation of cannabis and limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrone); limited government eradication program; cannabis consumed largely in the CIS; used as transshipment point for illicit drugs to Russia, North America, and Western Europe from Southwest Asia
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@Kenya ——-
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, betweenSomalia and Tanzania
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 582,650 sq kmland: 569,250 sq kmwater: 13,400 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries:total: 3,446 kmborder countries: Ethiopia 830 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline: 536 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by GreatRift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m
Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites,rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife
Land use:arable land: 7%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 37%forests and woodland: 30%other: 25% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring drought in northern and eastern regions; flooding during rainy seasons
Environment—current issues: water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value
People
Population: 28,808,658 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43% (male 6,244,321; female 6,104,181)15-64 years: 54% (male 7,845,083; female 7,826,442)65 years and over: 3% (male 343,449; female 445,182) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 30.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 47.02 years male: 46.56 years female: 47.49 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.88 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Kenyan(s)adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%,Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian,European, and Arab) 1%
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%
Languages: English (official), Swahili (official), numerousindigenous languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 78.1%male: 86.3%female: 70% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Kenyaconventional short form: Kenyaformer: British East Africa
Data code: KE
Government type: republic
Capital: Nairobi
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces and 1 area*; Central,Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley,Western
Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997
Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14October 1978); note—the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmenthead of government: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14October 1978); note—the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote from among the membersof the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 29December 1997 (next to be held by early 2003); vice presidentappointed by the presidentelection results: President Daniel T. arap MOI reelected; percent ofvote—Daniel T. arap MOI (KANU) 40.12%, Mwai KIBAKI (DP) 31.09%,Raila ODINGA (NDP) 10.2%, Michael WAMALWA (FORD-Kenya) 8.29%,Charity NGILU (SDP) 7.71%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (222 seats, 12 appointed by the president, 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 29 December 1997 (next to be held between 1 December 2002 and 30 April 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—KANU 107, FORD-A 1, FORD-K 17, FORD-People 3, DP 39, NDP 21, SDP 15, SAFINA 5, smaller parties 2; seats appointed by the president—KANU 6, FORD-Kenya 1, DP 2, SDP 1, NDP 1, SAFINA 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, chief justice is appointed bythe president; High Court
Political parties and leaders:Toroitich arap MOI]SHIKUKU, chairman]; Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Kenya orMWANDAWIRO, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National ConventionExecutive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of politicalCatholic and other Christian churches; human rights groups; laborunions; Muslim organizations; Protestant National Council of
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,EADB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,MINURSO, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMOP, UNOMIL, UNOMSIL, UNPREDEP,UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel K. CHEMAIchancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence B. BUSHNELLembassy: USAID Building, The Crescent, Parklands, Nairobi (temporarylocation)mailing address: P. O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center
Economy
Economy—overview: Since 1993, the government of Kenya has implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform. Steps have included the removal of import licensing and price controls, removal of foreign exchange controls, fiscal and monetary restraint, and reduction of the public sector through privatizing publicly owned companies and downsizing the civil service. With the support of the World Bank, IMF, and other donors, these reforms have led to a turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s. Kenya's real GDP grew at 5% in 1995 and 4% in 1996, and inflation remained under control. Growth slowed in 1997-98. Political violence damaged the tourist industry, and the IMF allowed Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program to lapse due to the government's failure to enact reform conditions and to adequately address public sector corruption. Moreover, El Nino rains destroyed crops and damaged an already crumbling infrastructure in 1997 and 1998. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, the government's continued and inefficient dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and the country's high population growth rate.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$43.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1.6% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,550 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 17% services: 54% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 42% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 47.7% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.5% (1998)
Labor force: 9.2 million (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 75%-80%, nonagriculture 20%-25%
Unemployment rate: 50% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.6 billionexpenditures: $2.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 3.8% (1995)
Electricity—production: 3.81 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 10.5% hydro: 81.63% nuclear: 0% other: 7.87% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 3.985 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 175 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coffee, tea, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs
Exports: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: tea 18%, coffee 15%, petroleum products(1995)
Exports—partners: Uganda 16.1%, Tanzania 12.8%, UK 10.4%, Germany7.5% (1996)
Imports: $3.05 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transportation equipment 31%,consumer goods 13%, petroleum products 12% (1995)
Imports—partners: UK 13.2%, UAE 8.2%, South Africa 7.6%, Germany7.4% (1996)
Debt—external: $6.45 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $642.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Kenyan shilling (KSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Kenyan shillings (KSh) per US$1—61.802 (January 1999), 60.367 (1998), 58.732 (1997), 57.115 (1996), 51.430 (1995), 56.051 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 383,676 (1997); 3,077 cellular telephone subscribers (1998)
Telephone system: domestic: primarily microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations—4 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 24, FM 7, shortwave 2
Radios: 5 million
Television broadcast stations: 8 (of which six are government-controlled and two are commercial) (1997)
Televisions: 500,000
Transportation
Railways: total: 2,652 km narrow gauge: 2,652 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 63,800 km paved: 8,868 km unpaved: 54,932 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: part of the Lake Victoria system is within the boundaries of Kenya
Pipelines: petroleum products 483 km
Ports and harbors: Kisumu, Lamu, Mombasa
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,883 GRT/6,255 DWTships by type: oil tanker 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 232 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 21over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 14 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 2112,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 14914 to 1,523 m: 113under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary GeneralService Unit of the Police
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 7,094,151 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,397,008 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $197 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: administrative boundary with Sudan does not coincide with international boundary
Illicit drugs: widespread harvesting of small, wild plots of marijuana and qat (chat); transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and, sometimes, North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa
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@Kingman Reef ——————
Geography
Location: Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 6 24 N, 162 24 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 1 sq kmland: 1 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderated by prevailing winds
Terrain: low and nearly level
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 1 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1996)
Natural hazards: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Environment—current issues: none
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public
People
Population: uninhabited
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Kingman Reef
Data code: KQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the US Navy; however, it is awash the majority of the time, so it is not usable and is uninhabited
Capital: none; administered from Washington, DC
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
Airports: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Kiribati ————
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note—on 1 January 1995, Kiribati unilaterally moved the International Date Line from the middle of the country to include its easternmost islands and make it the same day throughout the country
Geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 717 sq kmland: 717 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes three island groups—Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,Phoenix Islands
Area—comparative: four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,143 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m
Natural resources: phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: 51%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: 3%other: 46% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons can occur any time, but usuallyNovember to March; occasional tornadoes
Environment—current issues: heavy pollution in lagoon of southTarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practicessuch as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, EndangeredSpecies, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: 20 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (OceanIsland) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islandsin the Pacific Ocean—the others are Makatea in French Polynesia andNauru
People
Population: 85,501 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 1.78% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.13 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.53 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 48.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 62.88 years male: 61.02 years female: 64.98 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)adjective: I-Kiribati
Ethnic groups: Micronesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Protestant (Congregational) 41%,Seventh-Day Adventist, Baha'i, Church of God, Mormon 6% (1985 est.)
Languages: English (official), Gilbertese
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Kiribaticonventional short form: Kiribatinote: pronounced kir-ih-bahssformer: Gilbert Islands
Data code: KR
Government type: republic
Capital: Tarawa
Administrative divisions: 3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands,Phoenix Islandsnote: in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts,Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21island councils—one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang,Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton,Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa,Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)
Independence: 12 July 1979 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 July (1979)
Constitution: 12 July 1979
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) TewarekaTENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note—the president is both the chiefof state and head of governmenthead of government: President (Beretitenti) Teburoro TITO (since 1October 1994); Vice President (Kauoman-ni-Beretitenti) TewarekaTENTOA (since 12 October 1994); note—the president is both the chiefof state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof the House of Assembly, includes the president, vice president,attorney general, and up to eight other ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;note—the House of Assembly chooses the presidential candidates fromamong their members and then those candidates compete in a generalelection; election last held 27 November 1998 (next to be held by NANovember 2002); vice president appointed by the presidentelection results: Teburoro TITO reelected president; percent ofvote—Teburoro TITO 52.3%, Dr. Harry TONG 45.8%, Amberoti NIKORA1.9%, Taberannang TIMEON 0%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly or Maneaba NiMaungatabu (41 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officiomember, and one nominated to represent Banaba; members servefour-year terms)elections: last held 23 September 1998 (next to be held by NASeptember 2002)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—Maneaban Te Mauri Party 14, National Progressive Party 11,independents 14
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; High Court, judges at all levels are appointed by the president; 26 Magistrates' courts, judges at all levels are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: National Progressive Party [Teatao note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures
International organization participation: ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP,IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, Intelsat(nonsignatory user), Interpol, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, UPU,WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Kiribati does not have anembassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have anembassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to the Marshall Islands isaccredited to Kiribati
Flag description: the upper half is red with a yellow frigatebird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is bluewith three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean
Economy
Economy—overview: A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few national resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid, largely from the UK and Japan, is a critical supplement to GDP, equal to 25%-50% of GDP in recent years. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$62 million (1996 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1.9% (1996 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$800 (1996 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 7% services: 79% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.6% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (1985 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $33.3 millionexpenditures: $47.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NAmillion (1996 est.)
Industries: fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: 0.7% (1992 est.)
Electricity—production: 7 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 7 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish
Exports: $6.7 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Exports—commodities: copra 62%, seaweed, fish
Exports—partners: US, Australia, NZ (1996)
Imports: $37.4 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel
Imports—partners: Australia 46%, Fiji, Japan, NZ, US (1996)
Debt—external: $7.2 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $15.5 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.5853 (January 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3667 (1994)
Fiscal year: NA
Communications
Telephones: 1,400 (1984 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean CooperativeTelecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 15,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 0 (1988)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 670 km (1996 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: small network of canals, totaling 5 km, in Line Islands
Ports and harbors: Banaba, Betio, English Harbor, Kanton
Merchant marine:total: 1 passenger-cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,291GRT/1,295 DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 21 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Military—note: Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Korea, North ——————
Introduction
Background: At the end of World War II, the US and the Soviet Union agreed that US troops would accept the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th parallel and the Soviet Union would do so in the north. In 1948, the UN proposed nationwide elections; after P'yongyang's refusal to allow UN inspectors in the north, elections were held in the south and the Republic of Korea was established. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea was established the following month in the north. Communist North Korean forces invaded South Korea in 1950. US and other UN forces intervened to defend the South and Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. After a bitter three-year war, an armistice was signed in 1953, establishing a military demarcation line near the 38th parallel. The North's heavy investment in military forces has produced an army of 1 million troops equipped with thousands of tanks and artillery pieces. Despite growing economic hardships, North Korea continues to devote a significant portion of its scarce resources to the military.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:total: 120,540 sq kmland: 120,410 sq kmwater: 130 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries: total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline: 2,495 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmnote: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and theexclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreignvessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate: temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain: mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 mhighest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources: coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite,magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 14%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 61%other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 14,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall
Environment—current issues: localized air pollution attributable to inadequate industrial controls; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment—international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated, nearly inaccessible, and sparsely populated
People
Population: 21,386,109 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26% (male 2,800,748; female 2,666,207)15-64 years: 68% (male 7,143,969; female 7,447,147)65 years and over: 6% (male 412,161; female 915,877) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.45% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.92 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.45 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.07 years male: 67.41 years female: 72.86 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups: racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinesecommunity and a few ethnic Japanese
Religions: Buddhism and Confucianism, some Christianity andsyncretic Chondogyonote: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion ofreligious freedom
Languages: Korean
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write Koreantotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (1990 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Koreaconventional short form: North Korealocal long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguklocal short form: nonenote: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer totheir countryabbreviation: DPRK
Data code: KN
Government type: Communist state; one-man dictatorship
Capital: P'yongyang
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (do, singular and plural)and 3 special cities* (si, singular and plural); Chagang-do (ChagangProvince), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo(South Hamgyong Province), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province),Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (KaesongCity), Kangwon-do (Kangwon Province), Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (SouthP'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (P'yongyang City), Yanggang-do(Yanggang Province)
Independence: 9 September 1948, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foundation Day note: 15 August 1945, date of independence from the Japanese and celebrated in North Korea as National Liberation Day
National holiday: Foundation Day, 9 September (1948)
Constitution: adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998
Legal system: based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: KIM Chong-il; note—in September 1998, KIM Chong-ilwas reelected Chairman of the National Defense Commission, aposition accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority";KIM Young-nam was named President of the Supreme People's AssemblyPresidium and given the responsibility of representing the state andreceiving diplomatic credentialshead of government: Premier HONG Song-nam (since 5 September 1998)cabinet: renamed DPRK Cabinet (naegak) on 5 September 1998; waspreviously called the State Administrative Council; Cabinet members,except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed bythe Supreme People's Assemblyelections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assemblyelection results: NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme People's Assembly orCh'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: last held 26 July 1998 (next to be held NA)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—theKWP approves a single list of candidates who are elected withoutopposition; minor parties hold a few seats
Judicial branch: Central Court, judges are elected by the SupremePeople's Assembly
Political parties and leaders: major party—Korean Workers' Partychairwoman]
International organization participation: ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICRM,IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ISO, ITU,NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note—North Korea has aPermanent Mission to the UN in New York, headed by YI Hyong-chol
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star
Economy
Economy—overview: North Korea is the world's most centrally planned economy. Agricultural land is collectivized, state-owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods, and heavy and military industries have long been developed at the expense of light and consumer industries. Open-air markets since 1995 have gained increasing importance in the distribution of food and consumer goods but private production remains extremely limited. Total economic output has fallen steadily since 1991—perhaps by as much as one-half—when the country's economic ties to the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc collapsed. The slide has also been fueled by serious energy shortages, aging industrial facilities, and a lack of maintenance and new investment. The leadership has tried to maintain a high level of military spending but the armed forces have nonetheless been affected by the general economic decline. Although North Korea has long depended on imports to meet food needs, serious fertilizer shortages in recent years have combined with structural constraints—such as a shortage of arable land and a short growing season—to reduce staple grain output to more than 1 million tons below what the country needs to meet even minimal demand. Widespread famine and disease have cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of North Koreans in 1994-98. The US, China, the international community, and nongovernmental organizations have sent aid but the problems remain extremely serious.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$21.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 60% services: 15% (1995 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 9.615 million
Labor force—by occupation: agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $19.3 billionexpenditures: $19.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1992 est.)
Industries: military products; machine building, electric power,chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper,zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, foodprocessing
Industrial production growth rate: -7% to -9% (1992 est.)
Electricity—production: 34 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 35.29% hydro: 64.71% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 34 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports: $743 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: minerals, metallurgical products,agricultural and fishery products, manufactures (including armaments)
Exports—partners: Japan 28%, South Korea 21%, China 5%, Germany4%, Russia 1% (1995)
Imports: $1.83 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: petroleum, grain, coking coal, machinery andequipment, consumer goods
Imports—partners: China 33%, Japan 17%, Russia 5%, South Korea4%, Germany 3% (1995)
Debt—external: $12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA; note?an estimated $200 million to $300 million in humanitarian aid from US, South Korea, Japan, and EU in 1997
Currency: 1 North Korean won (Wn) = 100 chon
Exchange rates: official: North Korean won (Wn) per US$1—2.15(May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14 (September 1991), 2.1 (January1990), 2.3 (December 1989); market: North Korean won (Wn) perUS$1—200
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.4 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: system is being expanded with installation of fiber-opticcable nationwide; access traditionally reserved for official andbusiness subscribers; public access is expected to increaseinternational: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)and 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region); other internationalconnections through Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations: AM 27, FM 14, shortwave 3
Radios: 4.7 million
Television broadcast stations: 38
Televisions: 2 million
Transportation
Railways:broad gauge: NA kmtotal: 5,000 kmstandard gauge: 4,095 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified; 159 kmdouble track)narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gaugedual gauge: 240 km 1.435-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (1996est.)
Highways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,253 km; mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines: crude oil 37 km; petroleum product 180 km
Ports and harbors: Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung),Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong(formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine:total: 110 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 691,802 GRT/992,789 DWTships by type: bulk 8, cargo 91, combination bulk 1, multifunctionlarge-load carrier 1, oil tanker 4, passenger 2, passenger-cargo 1,short-sea passenger 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 49 (1994 est.) (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1994 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 6 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, AirForce), Civil Security Forces
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 5,768,038 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,483,188 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 177,888 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $5 billion to $7 billion(1997 est.)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 25% to 33% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: 33-km section of boundary with China in the Paektu-san (mountain) area is indefinite; Demarcation Line with South Korea