Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force and Air Defense Aviation, AirDefense Force, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 922,124 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 732,495 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 32,052 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $72.1 million (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 4% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Armenia supports ethnic Armenians in theNagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in the longstanding,separatist conflict against the Azerbaijani Government; traditionaldemands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Illicit drugs: illicit cultivator of cannabis mostly for domesticconsumption; increasingly used as a transshipment point for illicitdrugs—mostly opium and hashish—to Western Europe and the US viaIran, Central Asia, and Russia
======================================================================
@Aruba ——-
Geography
Location: Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north ofVenezuela
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 N, 69 58 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 193 sq kmland: 193 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: flat with a few hills; scant vegetation
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
Natural resources: NEGL; white sandy beaches
Land use:arable land: 11%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: NA%other: 89% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
People
Population: 68,675 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (male 7,724; female 7,106)15-64 years: 69% (male 22,723; female 24,747)65 years and over: 9% (male 2,623; female 3,752) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.55% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.28 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.48 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 7.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.04 years male: 73.33 years female: 80.94 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Aruban(s) adjective: Aruban
Ethnic groups: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%
Religions: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim,Confucian, Jewish
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese,Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Aruba
Data code: AA
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Oranjestad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of theNetherlands)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; in 1990, Aruba requested and received from the Netherlands cancellation of the agreement to automatically give independence to the island in 1996)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common 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 OlindoKOOLMAN (since 1 January 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Jan (Henny) H. EMAN (since 29July 1994) and Deputy Prime Minister Glenbert F. CROEScabinet: Council of Ministers (elected by the Staten)elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed fora six-year term by the monarch; prime minister and deputy primeminister elected by the Staten for a four-year term; election lastheld 12 July 1997 (next to be held by December 2001)election results: inconclusive; no party won majority in December1997 parliamentary elections; no new government formed as of May 1998
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislature or Staten (21 seats;members elected by direct popular vote and serve four-year terms)elections: last held 12 December 1997 (next to be held by NADecember 2001)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—AVP10, MEP 9, OLA 2
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges areappointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: Electoral Movement Party or MEP
International organization participation: Caricom (observer),ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), WCL, 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 embassy: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
Flag description: blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy
Economy—overview: Tourism is the mainstay of the Aruban economy, although offshore banking and oil refining and storage are also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and less than 1% unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.5 billion (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 6% (1997)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,000 (1997 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): 3% (1997)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: most employment is in the tourist industry (1996)
Unemployment rate: 0.6% (1996 est.)
Budget:revenues: $345.3 millionexpenditures: $378.5 million, including capital expenditures of $107million (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 470 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 470 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: aloes; livestock; fish
Exports: $1.73 billion (including oil reexports)(1997)
Exports—commodities: mostly refined petroleum products
Exports—partners: US 64%, EU
Imports: $2.12 billion (1997)
Imports—commodities: food, consumer goods, manufactures, petroleum products, crude oil for refining and reexport
Imports—partners: US 55.5%, Netherlands 12.3%, Japan 3.5%
Debt—external: $285 million (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $26 million (1995); note?the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996
Currency: 1 Aruban florin (Af.) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Aruban florins (Af.) per US$1—1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 22,922 (1993 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: more than adequateinternational: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (NetherlandsAntilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 19,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 300 kmpaved: 130 kmunpaved: 170 kmnote: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve largetracts of the interior
Ports and harbors: Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas
Merchant marine:total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,366 GRT/1,595 DWT(1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: drug-money-laundering center and transit point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; added to the US list of major drug producing or drug transit countries in December 1996
======================================================================
@Ashmore and Cartier Islands —————————————-
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Geographic coordinates: 12 14 S, 123 05 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 5 sq kmland: 5 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) andCartier Island
Area—comparative: about eight times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 74.1 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: low with sand and coral
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are only seasonal caretakers
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islandsconventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Data code: AT
Dependency status: territory of Australia; administered fromCanberra by the Australian Department of the Environment, Sport, andTerritories
Legal system: relevant laws of the Northern Territory of Australia
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory ofAustralia)
Flag description: the flag of Australia is used
Economy
Economy—overview: no economic activity
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Atlantic Ocean ———————
Geography
Location: body of water between Africa, Europe, Antarctica, and the Western Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates: 0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references: World
Area:total: 82.217 million sq kmnote: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,Denmark Strait, Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Mediterranean Sea,North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and othertributary water bodies
Area—comparative: slightly less than nine times the size of theUS; second-largest of the world's four oceans (after the PacificOcean, but larger than Indian Ocean or Arctic Ocean)
Coastline: 111,866 km
Climate: tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November
Terrain: surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 mhighest point: in the Milwaukee Deep at sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals(seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits,polymetallic nodules, precious stones
Natural hazards: icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait,and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and havebeen spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands;icebergs from Antarctica occur in the extreme southern AtlanticOcean; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northernAtlantic from October to May and extreme southern Atlantic from Mayto October; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May toSeptember
Environment—current issues: endangered marine species include themanatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing ishastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing tointernational disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US,southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in CaribbeanSea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and NorthSea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea,North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
Government
Data code: none; the US Government has not approved a standard for hydrographic codes—see the Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes appendix
Economy
Economy—overview: The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, the dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
Communications
Telephone system:international: numerous submarine cables with most betweencontinental Europe and the UK, between North America and the UK, andin the Mediterranean; numerous direct links across Atlantic viasatellite networks
Transportation
Ports and harbors: Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp(Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca(Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal),Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas(Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal),London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal(Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran(Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio deJaneiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg(Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Transportation—note: Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are twoimportant waterways
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
======================================================================
@Australia ————-
Introduction
Background: Australia became a British commonwealth in 1901. Blessed by rich natural resources, the country enjoyed rapid gains in herding, agriculture, and manufacturing and made a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. Australia subsequently developed its minerals, metals, and fossil fuel markets, all of which have become key Australian exports. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef. Sydney will host the 2000 summer Olympics.
Geography
Location: Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and theSouth Pacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates: 27 00 S, 133 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 7,686,850 sq kmland: 7,617,930 sq kmwater: 68,920 sq kmnote: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 25,760 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east;tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain insoutheast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 mhighest point: Mount Kosciusko 2,229 m
Natural resources: bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver,uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds,natural gas, petroleum
Land use:arable land: 6%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 54%forests and woodland: 19%other: 21% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 21,070 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: cyclones along the coast; severe droughts
Environment—current issues: soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources
Environment—international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification
Geography—note: world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as "the Doctor" occurs along the west coast in the summer
People
Population: 18,783,551 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 2,023,569; female 1,926,901)15-64 years: 66% (male 6,317,045; female 6,172,735)65 years and over: 13% (male 1,022,485; female 1,320,816) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.9% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.21 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.9 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.14 years male: 77.22 years female: 83.23 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.81 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Australian(s) adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups: Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions: Anglican 26.1%, Roman Catholic 26%, other Christian 24.3%, non-Christian 11%
Languages: English, native languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form: Australia
Data code: AS
Government type: democratic, federal-state system recognizing theBritish monarch as sovereign
Capital: Canberra
Administrative divisions: 6 states and 2 territories*; AustralianCapital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*,Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas: Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island,Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island andMcDonald Islands, Norfolk Island
Independence: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday: Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution: 9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system: based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir William DEANE (since 16 February1996)head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Timothy Andrew FISCHER (since 11March 1996)cabinet: Cabinet selected from among the members of FederalParliament by the governor general on the advice of the primeministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition isusually appointed prime minister by the governor general for athree-year term
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of theSenate (76 seats—12 from each of the six states and two from each ofthe two territories; one-half of the members elected every threeyears by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (148 seats; members elected by popular vote on thebasis of proportional representation to serve three-year terms; nostate can have fewer than five representatives)elections: Senate—last held 3 October 1998 (next to be held byOctober 2001); House of Representatives—last held 3 October 1998(next to be held by October 2001)election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—Liberal-National 35, Labor 29, Australian Democrats 9, Greens1, One Nation 1, independent 1; House of Representatives—percent ofvote by party—NA; seats by party—Liberal-National 80, Labor 67,independent 1
Judicial branch: High Court, the Chief Justice and six otherjustices are appointed by the governor general
Political parties and leaders:
Political pressure groups and leaders: Australian DemocraticLabor Party (anti-Communist Labor Party splinter group); Peace andNuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)
International organization participation: ANZUS, APEC, AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, 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), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Sharp PEACOCKchancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, andSan Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Genta Hawkins HOLMESembassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian CapitalTerritory 2600mailing address: APO AP 96549consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four, larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy
Economy—overview: Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies. Rich in natural resources, Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products, minerals, metals, and fossil fuels. Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports, so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy. The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods, but competition in international markets continues to be severe. Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990s, but the economy has expanded at reasonably steady rates in recent years. Canberra's emphasis on reforms is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the regional crisis and its stronger than expected growth rate that reached 4.5% last year. After a slow start in 1998, exports rebounded in the second half of the year because of a sharp currency depreciation and a redirection of sales to Europe, North America, and Latin America.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$393.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$21,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 31% services: 65% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.8% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1998)
Labor force: 9.2 million (December 1997)
Labor force—by occupation: services 73%, industry 22%, agriculture 5% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8.1% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $90.73 billionexpenditures: $89.04 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY98/99 est.)
Industries: mining, industrial and transportation equipment, foodprocessing, chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate: 1.2% (1995)
Electricity—production: 166.683 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 91.14% hydro: 8.84% nuclear: 0% other: 0.02% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 166.683 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Exports: $56 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore,wheat, machinery and transport equipment
Exports—partners: Japan 20%, ASEAN 16%, EU 10%, South Korea 9%,US 9%, NZ 8%, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China (1997)
Imports: $61 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products
Imports—partners: EU 25%, US 23%, Japan 13%, China, NZ (1997)
Debt—external: $156 billion (June 1997)
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $1.43 billion (FY97/98)
Currency: 1 Australian dollar ($A) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Australian dollars ($A) per US$1—1.56 (February 1999), 1.5888 (1998), 1.3439 (1997), 1.2773 (1996), 1.3486 (1995), 1.3668 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 8.7 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international service domestic: domestic satellite system international: submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations—10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (Australia's only shortwave station, Radio Australia, broadcasts to the world in seven languages, using 23 frequencies) (1998)
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 104 (64 of these stations are government-owned and 40 are commercial) (1997)
Televisions: 9.2 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 38,563 km (2,914 km electrified)broad gauge: 6,083 km 1.600-m gaugestandard gauge: 16,752 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 15,728 km 1.067-m gaugedual gauge: 172 km NA gauges
Highways:total: 913,000 kmpaved: 353,331 km (including 13,630 km of expressways)unpaved: 559,669 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil 2,500 km; petroleum products 500 km; naturalgas 5,600 km
Ports and harbors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Devonport(Tasmania), Fremantle, Geelong, Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston(Tasmania), Mackay, Melbourne, Sydney, Townsville
Merchant marine:total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,767,387 GRT/2,426,710DWTships by type: bulk 29, cargo 3, chemical tanker 4, container 4,liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 8, passenger 1, roll-on/roll-offcargo 4 (1998 est.)
Airports: 408 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 262 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 112 914 to 1,523 m: 120 under 914 m: 8 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 146 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 114 under 914 m: 13 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, RoyalAustralian Air Force
Military manpower—military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 4,882,693 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,212,272 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 130,570 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $6.9 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: territorial claim in Antarctica(Australian Antarctic Territory)
Illicit drugs: Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
======================================================================
@Austria ———-
Introduction
Background: Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. After the annexation to Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allied powers, Austria's 1955 State Treaty declared the country "permanently neutral" as a condition of the Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet collapse relieved the external pressure to remain unaligned, but neutrality had evolved into a part of Austrian cultural identity, which has led to an ongoing public debate over whether Vienna legitimately can remain outside of European security structures. A wealthy country, Austria joined the European Union in 1995 and, like many EU members, is adjusting to the new European currency and struggling with high unemployment.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates: 47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 83,858 sq kmland: 82,738 sq kmwater: 1,120 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,562 kmborder countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain in lowlands and snow in mountains; cool summers with occasional showers
Terrain: in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m highest point: Grossglockner 3,797 m
Natural resources: iron ore, oil, timber, magnesite, lead, coal,lignite, copper, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 17%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 23%forests and woodland: 39%other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol
Geography—note: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
People
Population: 8,139,299 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 702,261; female 666,310)15-64 years: 68% (male 2,792,484; female 2,713,397)65 years and over: 15% (male 478,071; female 786,776) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.09% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.04 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.32 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: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.48 years male: 74.31 years female: 80.82 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.37 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Austrian(s) adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups: German 99.4%, Croatian 0.3%, Slovene 0.2%, other 0.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic 78%, Protestant 5%, other 17%
Languages: German
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1974 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Austriaconventional short form: Austrialocal long form: Republik Oesterreichlocal short form: Oesterreich
Data code: AU
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Vienna
Administrative divisions: 9 states (bundeslaender, singular—bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Independence: 1156 (from Bavaria)
National holiday: National Day, 26 October (1955)
Constitution: 1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system: civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidentialelections
Executive branch:chief of state: President Thomas KLESTIL (since 8 July 1992)head of government: Chancellor Viktor KLIMA (since 28 January 1997);Vice Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (since 22 April 1995)cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the adviceof the chancellorelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;presidential election last held 19 April 1998 (next to be held inthe spring of 2004); chancellor chosen by the president from themajority party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen bythe president on the advice of the chancellorelection results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent ofvote—Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%,Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly orBundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (64members; members represent each of the states on the basis ofpopulation, but with each state having at least threerepresentatives; members serve a four- or six-year term) and theNational Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected bydirect popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: National Council—last held 17 December 1995 (next to beheld in the fall of 1999)election results: National Council—percent of vote by party—SPOe38.3%, OeVP 28.3%, FPOe 22.1%, LF 5.3%, Greens 4.6%, other 1.4%;seats by party—SPOe 71, OeVP 53, FPOe 40, LF 10, Greens 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof;Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Courtor Verfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party of Austriacaucus floor leader and Alexander VAN DER BELLEN, party spokesman];
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federal Chamber of Trade and Commerce; Austrian Trade Union Federation (primarily Socialist) or OeGB; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, AustraliaGroup, BIS, BSEC (observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNTSO,UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Helmut TUERKchancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Walt HALLembassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1091, Viennamailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top),white, and red
Economy
Economy—overview: Austria has a well-developed market economy with a high standard of living. As a member of the European Monetary Union (EMU), Austria's economy is closely integrated with other EU member countries, especially with Germany. Austria's membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market. Through privatization efforts, the 1996-98 budget consolidation programs, and austerity measures, Austria brought its total public sector deficit down to 2.5% of GDP in 1997 and public debt—at 66% of GDP in 1997—more or less in line with the 60% of GDP required by the EU's Maastricht criteria. Cuts mainly affect the civil service and Austria's generous social system, the two major causes of the government deficit. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy and deregulate the service sector, particularly telecommunications and energy. The strong GDP growth of 1998 is expected to dwindle back to 2.3% in 1999, and observers caution that this projection may be revised downwards in view of the Asian and Brazilian crises and Germany's lower growth projection.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$184.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$22,700 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 30.8% services: 67.8% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.9% (1998)
Labor force: 3.7 million (1998)
Labor force—by occupation: services 67.7%, industry and crafts 29%, agriculture and forestry 0.7% (salaried employees, 1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $50.4 billionexpenditures: $55.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism (1997)
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 52.15 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 34.4% hydro: 65.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1997)
Electricity—consumption: 56.1 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—exports: 9.8 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—imports: 9 billion kWh (1997)
Agriculture—products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
Exports: $62.5 billion (1998)
Exports—commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, paper and paperboard, metal goods, iron and steel, telecommunication equipment, textiles, medical and pharmaceutical products (1997)
Exports—partners: EU 62% (Germany 35.1%, Italy 8.3%), Central andEastern Europe 17.6% (Hungary 4.9%), Japan 1.3%, US 3.7% (1997)
Imports: $65.8 billion (1998)
Imports—commodities: vehicles, machinery and equipment, apparel, metal goods, oil and oil products, office and data-processing machinery, medical and pharmaceutical products, telecommunication equipment, textiles (1997)
Imports—partners: EU 68.9% (Germany 41.7%, Italy 8%), Central and Eastern Europe 11% (Hungary 3.1%), Asia 7.1% (Japan 2.2%), US 5.4% (1997)
Debt—external: $24.33 billion (1997)
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $513 million (1997); of which, bilateral $298 million, multilateral $215 million
Currency: 1 Austrian schilling (AS) = 100 groschen
Exchange rates: Austrian schillings (AS) per US$1—11.86 (January1999), 12.379 (1998), 12.204 (1997), 10.587 (1996), 10.081 (1995),11.422 (1994)note: on 9 January 1999, the European Union introduced a commoncurrency that is now being used by financial institutions in somemember countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixedrate of 13.7603 Austrian shillings per euro; the euro will replacethe local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 3.47 million (1986 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: highly developed and efficientinternational: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Oceanand 1 Indian Ocean) and 2 Eutelsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 61 (several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (Austria's single shortwave station, Radio Austria International, transmits its programs to the world in six languages using 12 frequencies and six communication satellite relays) (1998)
Radios: 70% of all households had radiosaccoding to the 1993census
Television broadcast stations: 51 (in addition, there are 920repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 2,418,584 (1984 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 5,849 km (there is also 594 km of private tracks)standard gauge: 5,470 km 1.435-m gauge (3,418 km electrified)narrow gauge: 379 km 1.000-m and 0.760-m gauge (84 km electrified)(1997)
Highways: 129,061 km paved: 129,061 km (including 1,613 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 358 km (1997)
Pipelines: crude oil 777 km; natural gas 840 km (1997)
Ports and harbors: Linz, Vienna, Enns, Krems
Merchant marine:total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 67,066 GRT/95,693 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 18, combination bulk 2, container 1(1998 est.)
Airports: 55 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 12 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 29 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (includes Flying Division)
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 2,091,902 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,735,469 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 48,872 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $1.8 billion (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.82% (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin andSouth American cocaine destined for Western Europe
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@Azerbaijan —————
Introduction
Background: In 1806, Azerbaijan, a region of Turkic Muslim people, was conquered by the Russians. In 1918, Azerbaijan declared independence from Russia, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. It again declared its independence in 1991, following the collapse of the USSR. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still unresolved after 10 years and Baku has yet to settle disputes with its neighbors over oil rights in the Caspian Sea. During the war, Karabakh Armenians declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's territory, creating some 750,000 Azerbaijani refugees in the process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated cease-fire in place since May 1994.
Geography
Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, betweenIran and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total: 86,600 sq kmland: 86,100 sq kmwater: 500 sq kmnote: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and theNagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished byAzerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Maine