Debt—external: $32 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $39.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 naira (N) = 100 kobo
Exchange rates: nairas (N) per US$1—21.886 (December 1998), 21.886 (1998), 21.886 (1997), 21.895 (1995), 21.996 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 405,100 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: average system limited by poor maintenance; major expansion in progress domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, cellular network, and a domestic communications satellite system with 20 earth stations international: satellite earth stations—3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 1 coaxial submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations: AM 82, FM 32, shortwave 10 (1998 est.)
Radios: 17.2 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (government-controlled)
Televisions: 6.1 million (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 3,557 kmnarrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gaugestandard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (1995)note: years of neglect of both the rolling stock and theright-of-way have seriously reduced the capacity and utility of thesystem; a project to restore Nigeria's railways is now underway
Highways:total: 51,000 kmpaved: 26,000 km (including 2,044 km of expressways)unpaved: 25,000 km (1998 est.)note: many of the roads reported as paved may be graveled; becauseof poor maintenance and years of heavy freight traffic (in part theresult of the failure of the railroad system), much of the roadsystem is barely useable
Waterways: 8,575 km consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers andsmaller rivers and creeks
Pipelines: crude oil 2,042 km; petroleum products 3,000 km;natural gas 500 km
Ports and harbors: Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele,Warri
Merchant marine:total: 38 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 371,499 GRT/631,425 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 13, chemical tanker 3, oil tanker 20,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 72 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 18 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 25,967,281 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 14,890,337 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 1,201,738 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $236 million (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.7% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: delimitation of international boundaries in the vicinity of Lake Chad, the lack of which led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaits ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; dispute with Cameroon over land and maritime boundaries around the Bakasi Peninsula is currently before the International Court of Justice; maritime boundary dispute with Equatorial Guinea because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea
Illicit drugs: facilitates movement of heroin en route from Southeast and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and North America; increasingly a transit route for cocaine from South America intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets
======================================================================
@Niue ——
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east ofTonga
Geographic coordinates: 19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 260 sq kmland: 260 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 64 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain: steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use:arable land: 19%permanent crops: 8%permanent pastures: 4%forests and woodland: 19%other: 50% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment—current issues: traditional methods of burning brush and trees to clear land for agriculture have threatened soil supplies which are not naturally very abundant
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: one of world's largest coral islands
People
Population: 2,103 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 0.5% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Niuean(s) adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups: Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, andTongans)
Religions: Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church) 75%—a Protestant churchclosely related to the London Missionary Society, Latter-Day Saints10%, other 15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses,Seventh-Day Adventist)
Languages: Polynesian closely related to Tongan and Samoan,English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue
Data code: NE
Dependency status: self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs
Government type: self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital: Alofi
Administrative divisions: none; note—there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages each with its own village council whose members are elected and serve three-year terms
Independence: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governingparliamentary government in free association with New Zealand
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty ofWaitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: 19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UKand New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High CommissionerWarren SEARELL (since NA August 1993)head of government: Premier Frank Fakaotimanava LUI (since 12 March1993)cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministerselections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by theLegislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 23February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999)election results: Frank Fakaotimanava LUI elected premier; percentof Legislative Assembly vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a common roll and 14 are village representatives) elections: last held 23 February 1996 (next to be held NA March 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NPP 9, independents 11
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders: Niue People's Action Party or NPP
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governingterritory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governingterritory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description: yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars—a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is heavily dependent on aid and remittances from New Zealand as Niue has no indigenous export products. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by grants from New Zealand which are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.4 million (1993 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,200 (1993 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1992)
Labor force: 450 (1992 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $5.5 millionexpenditures: $6.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1985 est.)
Industries: tourism, handicrafts, food processing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 3 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 3 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle
Exports: $117,500 (f.o.b., 1989)
Exports—commodities: canned coconut cream, copra, honey, passion fruit products, pawpaw, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts
Exports—partners: NZ 89%, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia
Imports: $4.1 million (c.i.f., 1989)
Imports—commodities: food, live animals, manufactured goods,machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs
Imports—partners: NZ 59%, Fiji 20%, Japan 13%, Samoa, Australia,US
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $8.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1—1.8560 (January 1999), 1.8629 (1998), 1.5082 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995), 1.6844 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 276 (1992 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages onislandinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1987 est.)
Radios: 1,000
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 312 (1991 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 234 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 234 km
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Police Force
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Norfolk Island ———————
Geography
Location: Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east ofAustralia
Geographic coordinates: 29 02 S, 167 57 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 34.6 sq kmland: 34.6 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 32 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: subtropical, mild, little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Bates 319 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: 25%forests and woodland: NA%other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (especially May to July)
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 1,905 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -0.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Norfolk Islander(s) adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)
Ethnic groups: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian,New Zealander, Polynesians
Religions: Anglican 39%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church inAustralia 16.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 4.4%, none 9.2%, unknown16.9%, other 2.4% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th centuryEnglish and ancient Tahitian
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Islandconventional short form: Norfolk Island
Data code: NF
Dependency status: territory of Australia; Canberra administersCommonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through theDepartment of Environment, Sport and Territories
Government type: NA
Capital: Kingston
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: Pitcairners Arrival Day Anniversary, 8 June (1856)
Constitution: Norfolk Island Act of 1979
Legal system: based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UKand Australia are represented by Administrator A. J. MESSNER (since4 August 1997)head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister GeorgeCharles Smith (since 30 April 1997)cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members ofthe Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy andacts as an advisor to the Administratorelections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by thegovernor general of Australia; chief minister elected by theLegislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years;election last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)election results: George Charles Smith elected chief minister;percent of Legislative Assembly vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats;members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but onlyfour votes can be given to any one candidate; members servethree-year terms)elections: last held 30 April 1997 (next to be held by May 2000)election results: percent of vote—NA; seats—independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions
Political parties and leaders: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory ofAustralia)
Flag description: three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band
Economy
Economy—overview: Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. Revenues from tourism have helped the agricultural sector to become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$NA
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
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: 1,395 (1991 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: tourism NA%, subsistence agricultureNA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $4.6 millionexpenditures: $4.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY92/93)
Industries: tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh
Agriculture—products: Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry
Exports: $1.5 million (f.o.b., FY91/92)
Exports—commodities: postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Islandpine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados
Exports—partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,Asia, Europe
Imports: $17.9 million (c.i.f., FY91/92)
Imports—commodities: NA
Imports—partners: Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ,Asia, Europe
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($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: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 1,087 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: radiotelephone service with Sydney (Australia)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 2,000 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (local programming station; in addition, there are two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (1998)
Televisions: 1,500 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km
Ports and harbors: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Northern Mariana Islands ————————————
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 477 sq kmland: 477 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian
Area—comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,482 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds,little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June,rainy season July to October
Terrain: southern islands are limestone with level terraces andfringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m
Natural resources: arable land, fish
Land use:arable land: 21%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 19%forests and woodland: 0%other: 60%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)
Environment—current issues: contamination of groundwater onSaipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protectionof endangered species conflicts with development
Environment—international agreements:party to: NAsigned, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean
People
Population: 69,398 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (male 8,459; female 8,197)15-64 years: 74% (male 24,651; female 26,949)65 years and over: 2% (male 550; female 592) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.99% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 2.42 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 20.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.36 years male: 72.19 years female: 78.72 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Chamorro, Carolinians and other Micronesians,Caucasian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholic majority, althoughtraditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)
Languages: English, Chamorro, Caroliniannote: 86% of population speaks a language other than English at home
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 97%female: 96% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islandsconventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
Data code: CQ
Dependency status: commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs
Government type: commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature
Capital: Saipan
Administrative divisions: none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order; Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian
Independence: none (commonwealth in political union with the US)
National holiday: Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)
Constitution: Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978
Legal system: based on US system, except for customs, wages,immigration laws, and taxation
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants areUS citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January1993)head of government: Governor Pedro P. TENORIO (since NA January1998) and Lieutenant Governor Jesus R. SABLAN (since NA January 1998)cabinet: NAelections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor electedon the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; electionlast held in NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2001)election results: Pedro P. TENORIO elected governor in a three-wayrace; percent of vote—Pedro P. TENORIO (Republican) 47%
Legislative branch: bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms) elections: Senate—last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999); House of Representatives—last held NA November 1997 (next to be held NA November 1999) election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Republicans 8, Democrats 1; House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Republicans 13, Democrats 5 note: the Commonwealth does not have a nonvoting delegate in Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party—Republican 1 (Juan N. BABAUTA)
Judicial branch: Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court;Federal District Court
Political parties and leaders: Republican Party [Benigno R.
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate),Interpol (subbureau), SPC
Flag description: blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. An agreement for the years 1986 to 1992 entitled the islands to $228 million for capital development, government operations, and special programs. Since 1992, funding has been extended one year at a time. The commonwealth received $27.7 million from FY93/94 through FY95/96. For FY96/97 through FY02/03, funding of $11 million will be provided for infrastructure, with an equal local match. A rapidly growing chief source of income is the tourist industry, which now employs about 50% of the work force. Japanese tourists predominate. The agricultural sector is of minor importance and is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is the fastest growing industry with employment of 12,000 mostly Chinese workers and shipments of $1 billion to the US in 1998 under duty and quota exemptions.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$524 million (1996 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$9,300 (1996 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (1995)
Labor force—by occupation: managerial 20.5%, technical, sales 16.4%, services 19.3%, farming 3.1%, precision production 13.8%, operators, fabricators 26.9%
Unemployment rate: 14% (residents)
Budget:revenues: $221 millionexpenditures: $213 million, including capital expenditures of $17.7million (1996)
Industries: tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh
Agriculture—products: coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle
Exports: $1 billion (1998)
Exports—commodities: garments
Exports—partners: US
Imports: $NA
Imports—commodities: food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products
Imports—partners: US, Japan
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $21.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October—30 September
Communications
Telephones: 13,618 (1993 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3
Radios: 15,460 (1995 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable stations on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)
Televisions: 15,460 (1995 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 362 km (1991 est.) paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Saipan, Tinian
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Norway ———
Introduction
Background: Norway gained its independence from Sweden in 1905. As a separate realm, Norway stayed free of World War I but suffered German occupation in World War II. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s gave a strong boost to Norway's economic fortunes. Norway is planning for the time when its oil and gas reserves are depleted and is focusing on containing spending on its extensive welfare system. It has decided at this time not to join the European Union and the new euro currency regime.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 324,220 sq kmland: 307,860 sq kmwater: 16,360 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,515 kmborder countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km
Coastline: 21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minorindentations 16,093 km)
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North AtlanticCurrent; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountainsbroken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeplyindented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 mhighest point: Glittertinden 2,472 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites,nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 3%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 27%other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 970 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
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, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world; Norway is the only NATO member having a land boundary with Russia
People
Population: 4,438,547 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20% (male 447,607; female 423,844)15-64 years: 65% (male 1,462,906; female 1,415,992)65 years and over: 15% (male 286,339; female 401,859) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.4% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.12 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.36 years male: 75.55 years female: 81.35 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups: Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami)20,000
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), otherProtestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
Languages: Norwegian (official)note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1976 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Norwayconventional short form: Norwaylocal long form: Kongeriket Norgelocal short form: Norge
Data code: NO
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Oslo
Administrative divisions: 19 provinces (fylker, singular—fylke);Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, Moreog Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold,Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms,Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas: Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence: 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Constitution: 17 May 1814, modified in 1884
Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir ApparentCrown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)head of government: Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 15October 1997)cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval ofthe Parliamentelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentaryelections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch withthe approval of the Parliament
Legislative branch: modified unicameral Parliament or Stortingwhich, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers (165seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportionalrepresentation to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 15 September 1997 (next to be held NA September2001)election results: percent of vote by party—Labor 35%, Center Party7.9%, Conservatives 14.3%, Christian People's 13.7%, Socialist Left6%, Progress 15.3%, Liberal Party 4.4%, other parties 1.6%; seats byparty—Labor 65, Center Party 11, Conservatives 23, ChristianPeople's 25, Socialist Left 9, Progress 25, Liberal Party 6, otherparties 1note: for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into twochambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper houseor Lagting
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointedby the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Labor Party [Thorbjorn JAGLAND];
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, AustraliaGroup, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MONUA, MTCR, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMOP,UNPREDEP, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tom Erik VRAALSON chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David B. HERMELIN embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
Flag description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy—overview: Norway is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism. The economy consists of a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. Norway maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50% of GDP and results in one of the highest average tax levels in the world. A major shipping nation, with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods. The country is richly endowed with natural resources—petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals—and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Economic growth in 1999 should drop to about 1%. Despite their high per capita income and generous welfare benefits, Norwegians worry about that time in the 21st century when the oil and gas run out.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$109 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.4% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$24,700 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 30% services: 68% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 21.2% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.3 million (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1993)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (yearend 1997)
Budget:revenues: $48.6 billionexpenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1994 est.)
Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 2.7% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 103.374 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 0.76% hydro: 99.23% nuclear: 0% other: 0.01% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 112.374 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 4.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 13.2 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: oats, other grains; beef, milk; fish
Exports: $39.8 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 55%,machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish (1997)
Exports—partners: EU 76% (UK 19%, Germany 10%, Netherlands 11%,Sweden 9%, France 8%), US 6% (1997)
Imports: $37.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals,foodstuffs
Imports—partners: EU 68% (Sweden 16%, Germany 14%, UK 9%, Denmark7%, Netherlands 4%), US 6%, Japan 4%(1997)
Debt—external: none?Norway is a net external creditor
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)
Currency: 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1—7.4524 (January 1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2.39 million (1994 est.); 470,000 cellular telephone subscribers (1994)
Telephone system: high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services domestic: NA domestic satellite earth stations international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations—NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143 government), shortwave 0
Radios: 3.3 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 209 (1997)
Televisions: 1.5 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 4,012 kmstandard gauge: 4,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,422 km electrified; 96 kmdouble track) (1996)
Highways:total: 91,180 kmpaved: 67,473 km (including 109 km of expressways)unpaved: 23,707 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 1,577 km along west coast; navigable by 2.4 m draftvessels maximum
Pipelines: refined petroleum products 53 km
Ports and harbors: Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad,Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger,Tromso, Trondheim
Merchant marine:total: 788 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,200,416GRT/33,642,888 DWTships by type: bulk 106, cargo 150, chemical tanker 99, combinationbulk 8, combination ore/oil 39, container 19, liquefied gas tanker86, multifunction large-load carrier 1, oil tanker 143, passenger12, refrigerated cargo 15, roll-on/roll-off cargo 52, short-seapassenger 22, vehicle carrier 36note: the government has created an internal register, the NorwegianInternational Ship register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegianregister; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags ofconvenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1998 est.)
Airports: 103 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 32 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includesCoast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, HomeGuard
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,103,738 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 917,244 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 27,448 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: territorial claim in Antarctica (QueenMaud Land); Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute inthe Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for drugs shipped viathe CIS and Baltic states for the European market; increasingdomestic consumption of cannabis and amphetamines
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@Oman ——
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates: 21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 212,460 sq kmland: 212,460 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries: total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior;strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain: vast central desert plain, rugged mountains in north andsouth
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble,limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 5%forests and woodland: NA%other: 95% (1993 est.)