Population below poverty line: 46.1% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 26.4% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 112% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1 million-1.5 million
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 80% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $230.2 millionexpenditures: $365.9 million, including capital expenditures of $317million (1996)
Industries: tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power,agricultural processing, construction, garments
Industrial production growth rate: 8.9% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 900 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.04% hydro: 99.96% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity—consumption: 287 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 640 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 27 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Exports: $330 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: wood products, garments, electricity, coffee, tin
Exports—partners: Vietnam, Thailand, Germany, France
Imports: $630 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel
Imports—partners: Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, China, Singapore
Debt—external: $1.2 billion (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $290 million (1998)
Currency: 1 new kip (NK) = 100 at
Exchange rates: new kips (NK) per US$1—4,217 (January 1999),3,299.21 (1998), 1,256.73 (1997), 921.14 (1996), 804.69 (1995),717.67 (1994)note: as of September 1995, a floating exchange rate policy wasadopted
Fiscal year: 1 October—30 September
Communications
Telephones: 28,000 (1998 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public is poor but improving, with over 28,000 telephones currently in service and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas domestic: radiotelephone communications international: satellite earth station—1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 5, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 580,000 (1995)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 32,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 21,716 km paved: 9,673.5 km unpaved: 12,042.5 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: about 4,587 km, primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional kilometers are sectionally navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m
Pipelines: petroleum products 136 km
Ports and harbors: none
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,370 GRT/3,000 DWT(1998 est.)
Airports: 52 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 9over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 431,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 17under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lao People's Army (LPA; includes militia element), Lao People's Navy (LPN; includes riverine element), Air Force, National Police Department
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,200,664 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 648,087 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 57,047 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $77.4 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 4.2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: parts of the border with Thailand are indefinite
Illicit drugs: world's third-largest illicit opium producer (estimated cultivation in 1998—26,100 hectares, a 7% decrease over 1997; estimated potential production in 1998—140 metric tons, a 33% decrease over 1997); potential heroin producer; transshipment point for heroin and methamphetamines produced in Burma; illicit producer of cannabis
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@Latvia ———
Introduction
Background: Along with most of the other small nations of Europe, Latvia shares a history of invasion by a succession of expansionist nations, e.g., Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Russia. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The USSR recaptured Latvia from its German occupiers in 1944. Latvia reestablished its independence in August 1991, a few months prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union; the last Russian troops left in 1994. The status of ethnic Russians, who make up 30% of the population, is an issue of concern to Moscow. Unemployment has become a growing problem and Latvia hopes to receive an invitation to begin EU accession talks by the end of 1999.
Geography
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, betweenEstonia and Lithuania
Geographic coordinates: 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 64,589 sq kmland: 64,589 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,150 kmborder countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km,Russia 217 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters
Terrain: low plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
Natural resources: minimal; amber, peat, limestone, dolomite
Land use:arable land: 27%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 13%forests and woodland: 46%other: 14% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: air and water pollution because of a lack of waste conversion equipment; Gulf of Riga and Daugava River heavily polluted; contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and petroleum products at military bases
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
Population: 2,353,874 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 216,369; female 207,242)15-64 years: 67% (male 749,396; female 825,988)65 years and over: 15% (male 114,038; female 240,841) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: -1.25% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 8.1 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 15.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.75 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: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.85 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 17.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 67.3 years male: 61.24 years female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.18 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Latvian(s) adjective: Latvian
Ethnic groups: Latvian 56.5%, Russian 30.4%, Byelorussian 4.3%,Ukrainian 2.8%, Polish 2.6%, other 3.4%
Religions: Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Languages: Lettish (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 99% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Latviaconventional short form: Latvialocal long form: Latvijas Republikalocal short form: Latvijaformer: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: LG
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Riga
Administrative divisions: 26 counties (singular—rajons) and 7municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons,Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, DobelesRajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, JelgavasRajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Leipaja*,Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons,Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, RigasRajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons,Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 18 November (1918)
Constitution: the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Executive branch:chief of state: President Guntis ULMANIS (since 7 July 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Vilis KRISTOPANS (since 21November 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister andappointed by the Parliamentelections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term(amended from a three-year term on 4 December 1997); election lastheld 18 June 1996 (next to be held by NA June/July 1999); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: Guntis ULMANIS elected president in the firstround of balloting; percent of parliamentary vote—Guntis ULMANIS53%, Ilga KREITUSE 25%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms—amended from three-year term on 4 December 1997) elections: last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—People's Party 21%, LC 18%, TSP 14%, TVB/LNNK 14%, Social Democrats 13%, New Party 8%; seats by party—People's Party 24, LC 21, TSP 16, TVB/LNNK 17, Social Democrats 14, New Party 8
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges' appointments areconfirmed by Parliament
Political parties and leaders: New Party [Raimonds PAULS];V. IVANOV]; Christian People's Party or KTP (formerly People's FrontADAMSONS]
International organization participation: BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ojars Eriks KALNINS chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James H. HOLMES embassy: Raina Boulevard 7, LV-1510, Riga mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
Flag description: three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
Economy
Economy—overview: Developments in 1998 include an invitation to join the World Trade Organization (the first Baltic country invited), GDP growth of 3.6% (down from 6% in 1997), and reduced inflation at 4.7% (from 8.4% in 1997). The drop in GDP growth is largely attributable to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets following the Asian financial troubles. Unofficial sanctions that Russia imposed in the spring initially hit Latvia's exporters—Russia is among Latvia's top three trade partners—but also prompted them to seek alternative markets. Latvia continued its strict fiscal and monetary policy, including its second balanced budget and had a 1.8% budget surplus. Its draft 1999 budget is based on conservative projections of 2% to 4% GDP growth and 4.5% inflation. Unemployment climbed to 9.2% in 1998, a considerable increase over the 6.7% rate in 1997. Latvia continued to have a high current account deficit, estimated at about 9%. Privatization of large state utilities—especially the energy sector—was postponed and is unlikely to resume before late 1999. EU accession remains Latvia's top priority, and Latvia expects to be invited to start EU accession talks by the end of 1999. Continued troubles in the Russian and East Asian economies probably will hold growth to around 2.5% in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$9.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 28% services: 65% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.1% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.7% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.4 million (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: industry 41%, agriculture and forestry 16%, services 43% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 9.2% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $1.33 billionexpenditures: $1.27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; dependent on imports for energy, raw materials, and intermediate products
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 3.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 28.12% hydro: 71.88% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 6.18 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 3.28 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: wood and wood products, machinery andequipment, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports—partners: Russia 21%, Germany 14%, UK 14%, Sweden 8%(1997)
Imports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: fuels, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports—partners: Russia 16%, Germany 16%, Finland 10%, Sweden 8% (1997)
Debt—external: $212 million (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $96.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Latvian lat (LVL) = 100 santims
Exchange rates: lats (LVL) per US$1—0.570 (January 1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997), 0.551 (1996), 0.528 (1995), 0.560 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 710,848 (1997)
Telephone system: Lattelekom is 51% state owned, plans toprivatize in 2000 to satisfy EU concerns; 50,000 people are on thewaiting list to receive telephone service; Internet service isavailable throughout Latviadomestic: local—two cellular service providers; NMT-450 and GSMstandards provide service nationwide; over 75% of populationcovered; intercity—two synchronous digital hierarchy fiber-opticrings form the national backbone; 11 digital switching centers, 3service centersinternational: Latvia has international fiber-optic connectivity toBelarus, Estonia, Lithuania, and an undersea fiber-optic cable toSweden
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—there are 25 stations of unknown type; 75% of commercial broadcasts must be in the Latvian language; remainder mostly in Russian and European languages
Radios: 1.4 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 30 (origin of TV broadcasts mustbe 40% Latvian and 40% other European languages)
Televisions: NA; note—almost 100% of the population have TVaccess, 16% have VCRs, and 20% have cable or satellite dishes (1995)
Transportation
Railways:total: 2,412 kmbroad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) (1992)narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (1994)
Highways:total: 55,942 kmpaved: 21,426 kmunpaved: 34,516 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 300 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Daugavpils, Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine:total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 42,429 GRT/44,583 DWTships by type: cargo 3, oil tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 3,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 50 (1994 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 27 (1994 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air DefenseForces, Security Forces, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 565,811 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 443,879 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 16,883 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $60 million (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.9% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: draft treaty delimiting the boundary withRussia has not been signed; ongoing talks over maritime boundarydispute with Lithuania (primary concern is oil exploration rights)
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis fromCentral and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia andLatin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe toCIS; limited production of illicit amphetamines, ephedrine, andecstasy for export
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@Lebanon ———-
Introduction
Background: Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions and regaining its national sovereignty since the end of the devastating 16-year civil war, which ended in 1991. Under the Ta'if Accord—the blueprint for national reconciliation—the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the civil war, the Lebanese have formed six cabinets, conducted two legislative elections, and held their first municipal elections in 35 years. Most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded. The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has seized vast quantities of weapons used by the militias during the war and extended central government authority over about one-half of the country. Hizballah, the radical Shi'a party, retains its weapons. Foreign forces still occupy areas of Lebanon. Israel maintains troops in southern Lebanon and continues to support a proxy militia, the Army of South Lebanon (ASL), along a narrow stretch of territory contiguous to its border. The ASL's enclave encompasses this self-declared security zone and about 20 kilometers north to the strategic town of Jazzin. Syria maintains about 25,000 troops in Lebanon based mainly in Beirut, North Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley. Syria's deployment was legitimized by the Arab League during Lebanon's civil war and in the Ta'if Accord. Citing the continued weakness of the LAF, Beirut's requests, and failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord, Damascus has so far refused to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenIsrael and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 33 50 N, 35 50 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 10,400 sq kmland: 10,230 sq kmwater: 170 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 454 km border countries: Israel 79 km, Syria 375 km
Coastline: 225 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, drysummers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; Al Biqa' (Bekaa Valley) separatesLebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal al Makmal 3,087 m
Natural resources: limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus statein a water-deficit region
Land use:arable land: 21%permanent crops: 9%permanent pastures: 1%forests and woodland: 8%other: 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 860 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment—current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, MarineDumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography—note: Nahr al Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity
People
Population: 3,562,699 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30% (male 535,596; female 515,776)15-64 years: 64% (male 1,084,121; female 1,196,678)65 years and over: 6% (male 105,133; female 125,395) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.5 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.45 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: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.53 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.93 years male: 68.34 years female: 73.66 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)adjective: Lebanese
Ethnic groups: Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%
Religions: Islam 70% (5 legally recognized Islamic groups—Alawite or Nusayri, Druze, Isma'ilite, Shi'a, Sunni), Christian 30% (11 legally recognized Christian groups—4 Orthodox Christian, 6 Catholic, 1 Protestant), Judaism NEGL%
Languages: Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian widelyunderstood
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.4%male: 90.8%female: 82.2% (1997 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Lebanese Republicconventional short form: Lebanonlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyahlocal short form: Lubnan
Data code: LE
Government type: republic
Capital: Beirut
Administrative divisions: 5 governorates (muhafazat, singular—muhafazah); Al Biqa', Al Janub, Ash Shamal, Bayrut, Jabal Lubnan
Independence: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
National holiday: Independence Day, 22 November (1943)
Constitution: 23 May 1926, amended a number of times
Legal system: mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorizedfor women at age 21 with elementary education
Executive branch:chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)head of government: Prime Minister Salim al-HUSS (since 4 December1998)cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation withthe president and members of the National Assembly; the currentCabinet was formed in 1998elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-yearterm; election last held 15 October 1998 (next to be held NA 2004);prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the presidentin consultation with the National Assembly; by custom, the presidentis a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, andthe speaker of the legislature is a Shi'a Muslimelection results: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assemblyvote—118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held in the summer of 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NA (one-half Christian and one-half Muslim)
Judicial branch: four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord) rules on constitutionality of laws; Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)
Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized along largely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting of individual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, and economic considerations
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AL,AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Farid ABBOUD chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David SATTERFIELD embassy: Antelias, Beirut mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Beirut; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and red with a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band
Economy
Economy—overview: The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. Peace has enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange. Lebanon's economy has made impressive gains since the launch of "Horizon 2000," the government's $20 billion reconstruction program in 1993. Real GDP grew 8% in 1994 and 7% in 1995 before Israel's Operation Grapes of Wrath in April 1996 stunted economic activity. During 1992-98, annual inflation fell from more than 100% to 5%, and foreign exchange reserves jumped to more than $6 billion from $1.4 billion. Burgeoning capital inflows have generated foreign payments surpluses, and the Lebanese pound has remained relatively stable. Progress also has been made in rebuilding Lebanon's war-torn physical and financial infrastructure. Solidere, a $2-billion firm, is managing the reconstruction of Beirut's central business district; the stock market reopened in January 1996; and international banks and insurance companies are returning. The government nonetheless faces serious challenges in the economic arena. It has had to fund reconstruction by tapping foreign exchange reserves and boosting borrowing. Reducing the government budget deficit is a major goal of the LAHUD government. The stalled peace process and ongoing violence in southern Lebanon could lead to wider hostilities that would disrupt vital capital inflows. Furthermore, the gap between rich and poor has widened in the 1990's, resulting in grassroots dissatisfaction over the skewed distribution of the reconstruction's benefits and leading the government to shift its focus from rebuilding infrastructure to improving living conditions.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$15.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 23% services: 73% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1 millionnote: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers(1996 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 62%, industry 31%,agriculture 7% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 18% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.9 billionexpenditures: $7.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: banking; food processing; jewelry; cement; textiles; mineral and chemical products; wood and furniture products; oil refining; metal fabricating
Industrial production growth rate: 25% (1993 est.)
Electricity—production: 8.4 billion kWh (1997 est.)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 87.72% hydro: 12.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 6.01 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 310 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco, hemp (hashish); sheep, goats
Exports: $711 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: foodstuffs and tobacco 20%, textiles 12%, chemicals 11%, metal and metal products 11%, electrical equipment and products 10%, jewelry 10%, paper and paper products 8% (1997)
Exports—partners: Saudi Arabia 14%, UAE 9%, France 7%, Syria 6%,US 6%, Kuwait 4%, Jordan 4%, Turkey 4%
Imports: $7.5 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs 29%, machinery and transport equipment 28%, consumer goods 18%, chemicals 9%, textiles 5%, metals 5%, fuels 3%, agricultural foods 3% (1997)
Imports—partners: Italy 13%, US 9%, France 9%, Germany 8%,Switzerland 7%, Japan 4%, UK 4%, Syria 4% (1997)
Debt—external: $3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $3.5 billion (pledges 1997-2001)
Currency: 1 Lebanese pound (LL) = 100 piasters
Exchange rates: Lebanese pounds (LL) per US$1—1,508.0 (January 1999), 1,516.1 (1998), 1,539.5 (1997), 1,571.4 (1996), 1,621.4 (1995), 1,680.1 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 150,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding well underway domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 1 note: government is licensing a limited number of the more than 100 AM and FM stations operated sporadically by various factions that sprang up during the civil war
Radios: 2.37 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 28 (1997)
Televisions: 1.1 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 222 km standard gauge: 222 km 1.435-m (from Beirut to the Syrian border)
Highways: total: 6,270 km paved: 6,270 km unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 72 km (none in operation)
Ports and harbors: Al Batrun, Al Mina', An Naqurah, Antilyas, AzZahrani, Beirut, Jubayl, Juniyah, Shikka, Sidon, Tripoli, Tyre
Merchant marine:total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 267,562 GRT/403,252 DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 41, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk1, combination ore/oil 1, container 3, livestock carrier 6,roll-on/roll-off cargo 2, vehicle carrier 3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; includes Army,Navy, and Air Force)
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 925,834 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 573,093 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $445 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 5% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Israeli troops in southern Lebanon since June 1982; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Illicit drugs: inconsequential producer of hashish and heroin; some heroine and cocaine processing mostly in the Bekaa valley; a Lebanese/Syrian eradication campaign started in the early 1990s has practically eliminated the opium and cannabis crops
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@Lesotho ———-
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 30 S, 28 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 30,350 sq kmland: 30,350 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 909 km border countries: South Africa 909 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers
Terrain: mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 mhighest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m
Natural resources: water, agricultural and grazing land, somediamonds and other minerals
Land use:arable land: 11%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: 66%forests and woodland: NA%other: 23% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment—current issues: population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography—note: landlocked; surrounded by South Africa
People
Population: 2,128,950 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 40% (male 424,355; female 422,892)15-64 years: 56% (male 573,285; female 610,636)65 years and over: 4% (male 40,604; female 57,178) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.8% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 31.26 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 13.23 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 77.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.99 years male: 51.37 years female: 54.65 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.03 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)adjective: Basotho
Ethnic groups: Sotho 99.7%, Europeans 1,600, Asians 800
Religions: Christian 80%, rest indigenous beliefs
Languages: Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu,Xhosa
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 71.3%male: 81.1%female: 62.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesothoconventional short form: Lesothoformer: Basutoland
Data code: LT
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital: Maseru
Administrative divisions: 10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe,Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek,Quthing, Thaba-Tseka
Independence: 4 October 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)
Constitution: 2 April 1993
Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996, succeeded tothe throne following the death of his father, King MOSHOESHOE II, on16 January 1996); note—King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne(November 1990 to February 1995) while his father was in exilehead of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since NA May1998)cabinet: Cabinetelections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms ofthe constitution which came into effect after the March 1993election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with noexecutive or legislative powers; under traditional law the collegeof chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line ofsuccession, who shall serve as regent in the event that thesuccessor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate(33 members—22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed bythe ruling party) and the Assembly (80 seats; members elected bypopular vote for five-year terms); note—number of seats in theAssembly rose from 65 to 80 in the May 1998 electionelections: last held 23 May 1998 (next to be held in late 1999 orearly 2000)election results: percent of vote by party—LCD 61%; seats byparty—LCD 79, BCP 1note: results contested; LCD, with only 61% of the vote, won 79 outof 80 parliamentary seats based on a historical political consensusfor a "winner take all" formula
Judicial branch: High Court, chief justice appointed by themonarch; Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary ortraditional court
Political parties and leaders:MOSISILI, leader; Shakhane MOKHEHLE, secretary general]
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW,SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Eunice M. BULANE chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. PETERSONembassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist sidecorner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of alarge shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is adiagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner
Economy
Economy—overview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho's only important natural resource is water. Its economy is based on subsistence agriculture, livestock, and remittances from miners employed in South Africa. The number of such mine workers has declined steadily over the past several years. In 1996 their remittances added about 33% to GDP compared with the addition of roughly 67% in 1990. A small manufacturing base depends largely on farm products which support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries. Agricultural products are exported primarily to South Africa. Proceeds from membership in a common customs union with South Africa form the majority of government revenue. Although drought has decreased agricultural activity over the past few years, completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, generating royalties that will be an important source of income for Lesotho. The pace of parastatal privatization has increased in recent years. Civil disorder in September 1998 destroyed 80% of the commercial infrastructure in Maseru and two other major towns. Most firms were not covered by insurance, and the rebuilding of small and medium business will be a significant challenge in terms of both economic growth and employment levels.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$5.1 billion (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 10% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,400 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 42% services: 44% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 49.2% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4% (1986-87)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 689,000 economically active
Labor force—by occupation: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa
Unemployment rate: substantial unemployment and underemploymenteffecting more than half of the labor force (1996 est.)
Budget:revenues: $507 millionexpenditures: $487 million, including capital expenditures of $170million (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: food, beverages, textiles, handicrafts; construction;tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 19.7% (1995)
Electricity—production: 0 kWh (1995) note: electricity supplied by South Africa
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: 335 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 335 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock
Exports: $200 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: manufactures 65% (clothing, footwear, roadvehicles), wool and mohair 7%, food and live animals 7% (1996)
Exports—partners: South African Customs Union 66%, North America26%, EU 4% (1996)
Imports: $880 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: food; building materials, vehicles,machinery, medicines, petroleum products (1995)
Imports—partners: South African Customs Union 90%, Asia 6%, EU 2%(1995)
Debt—external: $660 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $123.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente note: maloti (M) is the plural form of loti
Exchange rates: maloti (M) per US$1—5.98380 (January 1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997), 4.29935 (1996), 3.62709 (1995), 3.55080 (1994); note—the Basotho loti is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 12,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: rudimentary system domestic: consists of a few landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 66,000
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 11,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 2.6 km; note—owned by, operated by, and included in thestatistics of South Africanarrow gauge: 2.6 km 1.067-m gauge (1995)
Highways:total: 4,955 kmpaved: 887 kmunpaved: 4,068 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 29 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 21 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Lesotho Defense Force (LDF; includes Army andAir Wing), Royal Lesotho Mounted Police (RLMP)
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 504,442 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 271,925 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
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@Liberia ———-
Introduction
Background: The 1995 Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000 factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG). Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19 July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted formal economic activity. A short-lived armed clash in September 1998 between government forces and supporters of factional leader Roosevelt JOHNSON and continuing uncertainty about the security situation have slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of the war-torn country. For two centuries the US has had uniquely close ties to Liberia and today is a major aid donor.
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 111,370 sq kmland: 96,320 sq kmwater: 15,050 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,585 kmborder countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and coolto cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rollingplateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold
Land use:arable land: 1%permanent crops: 3%permanent pastures: 59%forests and woodland: 18%other: 19% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara(December to March)
Environment—current issues: tropical rain forest subject todeforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution ofcoastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment—international agreements:party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change,Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation
People
Population: 2,923,725 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 656,101; female 649,389)15-64 years: 52% (male 775,429; female 738,904)65 years and over: 3% (male 50,126; female 53,776) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.92% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 41.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 11.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 18.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)note: evidence from UNHCR indicates Liberians are being repatriated
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 100.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 59.88 years male: 57.2 years female: 62.64 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian