Area:total: 140,800 sq kmland: 136,800 sq kmwater: 4,000 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries: total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north tosubtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south,central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m
Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential,scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:arable land: 17%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 15%forests and woodland: 42%other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 8,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environment—current issues: the almost total dependence on woodfor fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land withoutreplanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion;water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human healthrisks)
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography—note: landlocked; strategic location between China andIndia; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
People
Population: 24,302,653 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41% (male 5,182,829; female 4,869,895)15-64 years: 55% (male 6,856,905; female 6,571,916)65 years and over: 4% (male 407,797; female 413,311) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.51% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.32 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.18 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: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 73.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.42 years male: 58.47 years female: 58.36 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars,Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas
Religions: Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981) note: only official Hindu state in the world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups
Languages: Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided intonumerous dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 27.5%male: 40.9%female: 14% (1995 est.)
People—note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepalconventional short form: Nepal
Data code: NP
Government type: parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991
Capital: Kathmandu
Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
Constitution: 9 November 1990
Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to thethrone 31 January 1972 following the death of his father KingMAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975); HeirApparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikramhead of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 15April 1998)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the NationalCouncil (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third ofthe members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and theHouse of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular voteto serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives—last held 15 November 1994 (nextto be held 3 May 1999)election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote byparty—NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill)Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats by party— CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP4, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3, independents 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justiceis appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the ConstitutionalCouncil, the other judges are appointed by the monarch on therecommendation of the Judicial Council
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/UnitedMadhar KUMAR, general secretary]; Nepali Congress Party or NCPgeneral secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also calledparty chair]
Political pressure groups and leaders: numerous small,left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radicalNepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW,SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador THAPA Bekh Bahadurchancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANKembassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandumailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red with a blue border around the unique shapeof two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper trianglebears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears awhite 12-pointed sun
Economy
Economy—overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with nearly half of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 41% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past three years. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production is growing by about 5% on average as compared with annual population growth of 2.5%. Since May 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. More recently, however, political instability—five different governments over the past few years—has hampered Kathmandu's ability to forge consensus to implement key economic reforms. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$26.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.9% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 41% industry: 22% services: 37% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 42% (1995-96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 10 million (1996 est.)note: severe lack of skilled labor
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 81%, services 16%,industry 3%
Unemployment rate: NA%; substantial underemployment (1996)
Budget:revenues: $536 millionexpenditures: $818 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY96/97 est.)
Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar,and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate: 14.7% (FY94/95 est.)
Electricity—production: 1.032 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 3.1% hydro: 96.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.013 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 89 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 70 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops;milk, water buffalo meat
Exports: $394 million (f.o.b., 1997), but does not includeunrecorded border trade with India
Exports—commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jutegoods, grain
Exports—partners: India, US, Germany, UK
Imports: $1.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%
Imports—partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany
Debt—external: $2.4 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $411 million (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa
Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1—67.675 (January 1999), 65.976 (1998), 58.010 (1997), 56.692 (1996), 51.890 (1995), 49.398 (1994)
Fiscal year: 16 July—15 July
Communications
Telephones: 115,911 (1996 est.)
Telephone system: poor telephone and telegraph service; fairradiotelephone communication servicedomestic: NAinternational: radiotelephone communications; satellite earthstation—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 88, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 690,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (1998 est.)
Televisions: 45,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 101 km; note—all in Kosi close to Indian bordernarrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge
Highways: total: 7,700 km paved: 3,196 km unpaved: 4,504 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 45 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 5over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 401,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 9under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army AirService, Nepalese Police Force
Military manpower—military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 5,924,732 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,079,569 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 281,658 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $44 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: with Bhutan over 91,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
======================================================================
@Netherlands —————-
Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, betweenBelgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 41,532 sq kmland: 33,889 sq kmwater: 7,643 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, fertile soil
Land use:arable land: 25%permanent crops: 3%permanent pastures: 25%forests and woodland: 8%other: 39% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: the extensive system of dikes and dams protects nearly one-half of the total area from being flooded
Environment—current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: located at mouths of three major European rivers(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
People
Population: 15,807,641 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 1,475,606; female 1,410,088)15-64 years: 68% (male 5,482,193; female 5,288,948)65 years and over: 14% (male 875,847; female 1,274,959) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.47% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 11.36 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.99 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: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.15 years male: 75.28 years female: 81.17 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.49 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 94%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 6% (1988)
Religions: Roman Catholic 34%, Protestant 25%, Muslim 3%, other 2%, unaffiliated 36% (1991)
Languages: Dutch
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1979 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlandsconventional short form: Netherlandslocal long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlandenlocal short form: Nederland
Data code: NL
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien,singular—provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland,Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel,Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence: 1579 (from Spain)
National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April
Constitution: adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17February 1983
Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory;constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the StatesGeneral; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard (since 30 April1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), Princeof Orange, son of the monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994)and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998)and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second Chamberelections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; viceprime ministers appointed by the monarchnote: there is a Council of State composed of the monarch, heirapparent, and councillors consulted by the executive on legislativeand administrative policy
Legislative branch: bicameral States General or Staten Generaalconsists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; membersindirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils forfour-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats;members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: First Chamber—last held 9 June 1995 (next to be held 25May 1999); Second Chamber—last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May2002)election results: First Chamber—percent of vote by party—NA; seatsby party—VVD 23, CDA 19, PvdA 14, D'66 7, other 12; SecondChamber—percent of vote by party—PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%,D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party—PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'6614, other 24
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad, justices arenominated for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA
Political pressure groups and leaders: large multinational firms; Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises; and Interchurch Peace Council or IKV
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, AustraliaGroup, Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB,EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, 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, NAM (guest), NATO,NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer
Economy
Economy—overview: This prosperous and open economy is based on private enterprise with the government's presence felt in many aspects of the economy. Industrial activity features food processing, petroleum refining, and metalworking. The highly mechanized agricultural sector employs only 4% of the labor force, but provides large surpluses for export and the domestic food-processing industry. As a result, the Netherlands ranks third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. Sharp cuts in subsidy and social security spending since the 1980s helped the Dutch achieve sustained economic growth combined with falling unemployment and moderate inflation. The economy achieved a strong 3.7% growth in 1998; a dip in the business cycle probably will cause the economy to decelerate to slightly over 2% growth in 1999. Unemployment in 1999 is expected to be less than 5% of the labor force, and inflation probably will decline. The Dutch joined the first wave of 11 EU countries launching the euro system on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$348.6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 27.5% services: 69.3% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998)
Labor force: 7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 73%, manufacturing and construction 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $163 billionexpenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1999 est.)
Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (1998)
Electricity—production: 83.3 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 94.51% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.95% other: 0.44% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 90.366 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 700 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 11.3 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $160 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels,food and tobacco
Exports—partners: EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%,France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1997)
Imports: $142 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment,chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels, consumer goods
Imports—partners: EU 61% (Germany 21%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK10%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1997)
Debt—external: $0
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $2.9 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents; note—on 1 January 2002 to be replaced by the euro
Exchange rates: Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1—1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (1995), 1.8200 (1994) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 8.431 million (1998 est.); 3.4 million cellulartelephone subscribers (1998 est.)
Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained; system ofmulti-conductor cables gradually being supplemented/replaced by aglass-fiber based telecommunication infrastructure; Mobile GSM-basedmobile telephony density rapidly growing; third generation UniversalMobile Telecommunications System expected for introduction by theyear 2001domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; microwave radio relayinternational: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—3Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3 (relays 3), FM 12 (repeaters 39),shortwave 0
Radios: 14 million (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 15 (in addition, there are five low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 7.6 million (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 2,813 km standard gauge: 2,813 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1996)
Highways:total: 127,000 kmpaved: 114,427 km (including 2,360 km of expressways)unpaved: 12,573 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,046 km, of which 47% is usable by craft of 1,000metric ton capacity or larger
Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; naturalgas 10,230 km
Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven,Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen,Utrecht
Merchant marine:total: 510 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,632,477GRT/4,097,328 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 303, chemical tanker 42, combinationbulk 1, container 52, liquefied gas tanker 17, livestock carrier 1,multifunction large-load carrier 9, oil tanker 24, passenger 8,refrigerated cargo 30, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-seapassenger 3, specialized tanker 4note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registryof Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)
Airports: 28 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 4,117,376 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,595,693 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 95,368 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $6.604 billion (FY97)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.1% (1995)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs
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@Netherlands Antilles ——————————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea—one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela and the other is east of the Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 960 sq kmland: 960 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and SintMaarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area—comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Coastline: 364 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 90% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 207,827 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26% (male 27,160; female 26,149)15-64 years: 67% (male 65,781; female 73,054)65 years and over: 7% (male 6,538; female 9,145) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.01% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.11 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.43 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: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.59 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.25 years male: 72.19 years female: 76.41 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Netherlands Antillean(s) adjective: Netherlands Antillean
Ethnic groups: mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, EastAsian
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-DayAdventist
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (aSpanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, Englishwidely spoken, Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 99% (1981 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Netherlands Antilleslocal long form: nonelocal short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Data code: NT
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Willemstad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of theNetherlands)note: each island has its own government
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: Queen's Day, 30 April (1938)
Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of theNetherlands, as amended
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some Englishcommon law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands(since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH(since NA October 1989)head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 25 February1994)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Statenelections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed bythe monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime ministerby the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be heldby NA 2002)election results: Miguel POURIER elected prime minister; percent oflegislative vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St.M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed bythe monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. EWESTCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPAROLLOCKS]note: political parties are indigenous to each island
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WMO, WToO(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by theKingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James L. WILLIAMS consulate(s) general: J.B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
Flag description: white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Economy
Economy—overview: Tourism, petroleum transshipment, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.4 billion (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -1.8% (1997)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,500 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1997)
Labor force: 89,000
Labor force—by occupation: government 65%, industry and commerce 28% (1983)
Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $710.8 millionexpenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries: tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire),petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities(Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.4 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Exports: $268.2 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: petroleum products 98% (1993)
Exports—partners: US 28.6%, Honduras 6.4%, Belgium-Luxembourg 6%,Italy 4.9%, Guatemala 4.5%, Costa Rica 4% (1996)
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: crude petroleum 64%, food, manufactures(1993)
Imports—partners: Venezuela 34%, US 16.4%, Mexico 15.5%,Netherlands 5%, Italy 3.5%, Brazil 2.8% (1996)
Debt—external: $1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA; note?the Netherlands provided a $97million aid package in 1996
Currency: 1 Netherlands Antillean guilder, gulden, or florin(NAf.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders, gulden, orflorins (NAf.) per US$1—1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 205,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there is a cable service which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks) (1997)
Televisions: 64,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km (1992 est.)
Ports and harbors: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine:total: 95 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 811,782 GRT/1,045,989DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 26, chemical tanker 2, combinationore/oil 3, container 10, liquefied gas tanker 4, multifunctionlarge-load carrier 19, oil tanker 4, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo18, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships of 2 countries:Belgium owns 9 ships, Germany 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, RoyalNetherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-47: 53,285 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 29,888 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 1,457 (1999 est.)
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom ofthe Netherlands
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point forSouth American drugs bound for the US and Europe
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@New Caledonia ——————-
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east ofAustralia
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 19,060 sq kmland: 18,575 sq kmwater: 485 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese,silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 12%forests and woodland: 39%other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons most frequent from November to March
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 197,361 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 29,610; female 28,485)15-64 years: 65% (male 64,552; female 63,229)65 years and over: 6% (male 5,443; female 6,042) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.59% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.68 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.82 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.35 years male: 72.1 years female: 78.77 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages: French, 28 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91%male: 92%female: 90% (1976 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependenciesconventional short form: New Caledonialocal long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependanceslocal short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Data code: NC
Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1956
Government type: NA
Capital: Noumea
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note—areferendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July(1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner and President of the Councilof Government Dominque BUR (since NA August 1995)head of government: President of the Territorial Congress SimonLOUECKHOTE (since NA 1998)cabinet: Consultative Committeeelections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-yearterm; high commissioner appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of theTerritorial Congress elected by the members of the congress
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or CongresTerritorial (54 seats; members are members of the three ProvincialAssemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote toserve six-year terms)elections: last held 9 July 1995 (next to be held NA July 2001)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR22, FLNKS 12, UNCT 9, UNI 5, DEPCA 2, FN 2, RCF 2, and other 2note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; electionslast held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001);results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 1; NewCaledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly;elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002);results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—RPR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Progressive Melanesian Union orPOSTIC]; Union des Synicates de Travailleurs Kanaks Exploites orCaledonia in the Republic or RPCR is a coalition of 5 parties: Union
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territoryof France)
Flag description: three horizontal bands, blue (top), red, and green, with a yellow disk enclosing a black symbol centered to the hoist side; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy—overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports. In addition to nickel, financial support from France and tourism are key to the health of the economy. Performance in 1998 was hampered by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower expected prices for nickel.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.1 billion (1996 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$11,400 (1996 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 25% services: 72% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.7% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 70,044 (1988)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry 16%, services 60%, mining 4% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)
Budget:revenues: $755.6 millionexpenditures: $755.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1995 est.)
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 69.87% hydro: 30.13% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.145 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: vegetables; beef, other livestock products
Exports: $500 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports—commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore
Exports—partners: Japan 31%, France 29%, US 12%, Australia 7%,Taiwan 6% (1996 est.)
Imports: $845 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports—commodities: foods, transport equipment, machinery andelectrical equipment, fuels, minerals
Imports—partners: France 45%, Australia 18%, Singapore 7%, NewZealand 6%, Japan 4% (1996 est.)
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $446.3 million (1995); note?about $50million yearly support from France for government operations
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1—102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.93 (1994); note—linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 38,748 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 97,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (in addition, there are 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 47,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 5,562 km paved: 975 km unpaved: 4,587 km (1993)
Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 27 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed byFrance and Vanuatu
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@New Zealand —————-
Geography