Terrain: extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources: oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc,nickel, gold, pyrite, chrome
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: NA%other: NA%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes
Environment—current issues: pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment—international agreements:party to: none of the selected agreementssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: controls one of the major land routes fromWestern Europe to Turkey and the Near East; strategic location alongthe Adriatic coast
People
Population: 11,206,847 (Serbia—10,526,478; Montenegro?680,369)(July 1999 est.)note: all data dealing with population is subject to considerableerror because of the dislocations caused by military action andethnic cleansing
Age structure:0-14 years: Serbia—20% (male 1,102,109; female 1,025,069);Montenegro—21% (male 75,633; female 70,464)15-64 years: Serbia—67% (male 3,538,689; female 3,483,192);Montenegro—68% (male 232,223; female 227,371)65 years and over: Serbia—13% (male 595,200; female 782,219);Montenegro—11% (male 30,829; female 43,849) (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate: Serbia—0.02%; Montenegro?0.07% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: Serbia—12.54 births/1,000 population; Montenegro?13.19 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: Serbia—9.68 deaths/1,000 population; Montenegro? 7.44deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: Serbia—-2.65 migrants/1,000 population;Montenegro—-5.09 migrants/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: Serbia—1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: Serbia—1.08 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.07male(s)/female15-64 years: Serbia—1.02 male(s)/female; Montenegro—1.02male(s)/female65 years and over: Serbia—0.76 male(s)/female; Montenegro—0.70male(s)/femaletotal population: Serbia—0.99 male(s)/female; Montenegro—0.99male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: Serbia—16.49 deaths/1,000 live births;Montenegro—10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: Serbia—73.45 years; Montenegro—76.32 yearsmale: Serbia—71.03 years; Montenegro— 72.87 yearsfemale: Serbia—76.05 years; Montenegro—80.07 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: Serbia—1.74 children born/woman;Montenegro—1.76 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups: Serbs 63%, Albanians 14%, Montenegrins 6%,Hungarians 4%, other 13%
Religions: Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%,Protestant 1%, other 11%
Languages: Serbo-Croatian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Serbia and Montenegrolocal long form: nonelocal short form: Srbija-Crna Goranote: Serbia and Montenegro has self-proclaimed itself the "FederalRepublic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) but the US view is that the SocialistFederal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none ofthe successor republics represents its continuation
Data code: Serbia—SR; Montenegro?MW
Government type: republic
Capital: Belgrade (Serbia), Podgorica (Montenegro)
Administrative divisions: 2 republics (republike, singular—republika); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular—autonomna pokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence: 11 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia orFRY formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist FederalRepublic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)
National holiday: St. Vitus Day, 28 June
Constitution: 27 April 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Slobodan MILOSEVIC (since 23 July 1997);note—Milan MILUTINOVIC is president of Serbia (since 21 December1997); Milo DJUKANOVIC is president of Montenegro (since 21 December1997)head of government: Prime Minister Momir BULATOVIC (since 20 May1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Nikola SAINOVIC (since 15 September1995), Vuk DRASKOVIC (since 1 February 1999), Jovan ZEBIC (since 9April 1998), and Vladan KUTLESIC (since 20 March 1997), Zoran LILIC(since 20 May 1998), Danilo VUKSANOVIC (since 20 May 1998)cabinet: Federal Executive Councilelections: president elected by the Federal Assembly for a four-yearterm; election last held 23 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2001);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Slobodan MILOSEVIC elected president; percent oflegislative vote—Slobodan MILOSEVIC 90%
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or SaveznaSkupstina consists of the Chamber of Republics or Vece Republika (40seats—20 Serbian, 20 Montenegrin; members distributed on the basisof party representation in the republican assemblies to servefour-year terms) and the Chamber of Citizens or Vece Gradjana (138seats -, 108 Serbian with half elected by constituency majoritiesand half by proportional representation, 30 Montenegrin with sixelected by constituency and 24 proportionally; members servefour-year terms)elections: Chamber of Republics—last held 24 December 1996 (next tobe held NA 2000); Chamber of Citizens—last held 3 November 1996(next to be held NA 2000)election results: Chamber of Republics—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—NA; note—seats are filled on a proportional basis toreflect the composition of the legislatures of the republics ofMontenegro and Serbia; Chamber of Citizens—percent of vote byparty—NA; seats by party—SPS/JUL/ND 64, Zajedno 22, DPSCG 20, SRS16, NS 8, SVM 3, other 5; note—Zajedno coalition includes SPO, DS,GSS
Judicial branch: Federal Court or Savezni Sud, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms; Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year terms
Political parties and leaders: Serbian Socialist Party or SPS
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ICFTU, IOC, OPCW
Diplomatic representation in the US: the US and Serbia andMontenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relations; the Embassy ofthe former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia continues tofunction in the USchief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Counselor, Charge d'Affairesad interim Nebojsa VUJOVICchancery: 2410 California St. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US and Serbia andMontenegro do not maintain full diplomatic relationschief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chief of Mission Richard M.MILESembassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrademailing address: American Embassy, Belgrade, United StatesDepartment of State, Washington, DC 20521-5070 (pouch)
Economy
Economy—overview: The swift collapse of the Yugoslav federation in 1991 has been followed by highly destructive warfare, the destabilization of republic boundaries, and the breakup of important interrepublic trade flows. Output in Serbia and Montenegro dropped by half in 1992-93. Like the other former Yugoslav republics, it had depended on its sister republics for large amounts of energy and manufactures. Wide differences in climate, mineral resources, and levels of technology among the republics accentuated this interdependence, as did the communist practice of concentrating much industrial output in a small number of giant plants. The breakup of many of the trade links, the sharp drop in output as industrial plants lost suppliers and markets, and the destruction of physical assets in the fighting all have contributed to the economic difficulties of the republics. One singular factor in the economic situation of Serbia is the continuation in office of a government that is primarily interested in political and military mastery, not economic reform. Hyperinflation ended with the establishment of a new currency unit in June 1993; prices were relatively stable from 1995 through 1997, but inflationary pressures resurged in 1998. Reliable statistics continue to be hard to come by, and the GDP estimate is extremely rough. The economic boom anticipated by the government after the suspension of UN sanctions in December 1995 has failed to materialize. Government mismanagement of the economy is largely to blame. Also, the Outer Wall sanctions that exclude Belgrade from international financial institutions and an investment ban and asset freeze imposed in 1998 because of Belgrade's repressive actions in Kosovo have added to economic difficulties.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$25.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,300 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 50% services: 25% (1994 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 48% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: industry 41%, services 35%, trade and tourism 12%, transportation and communication 7%, agriculture 5% (1994)
Unemployment rate: more than 35% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore, limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs, appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 36.155 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.44% hydro: 36.56% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 35.999 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 156 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $2.3 billion (1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: manufactured goods, food and live animals,raw materials
Exports—partners: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, The FormerYugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Imports: $3.9 billion (1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
Imports—partners: Germany, Italy, Russia
Debt—external: $11.2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Yugoslav New Dinar (YD) = 100 paras
Exchange rates: Yugoslav New Dinars (YD) per US $1—official rate: 10.0 (December 1998), 5.85 (December 1997), 5.02 (September 1996), 1.5 (early 1995); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998), 8.9 (December 1997), 2 to 3 (early 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 700,000
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: 27 (public or state-owned 1, private 26)
Radios: 2.015 million
Television broadcast stations: more than 771 (consisting of 86 strong stations, 685 low-power stations, and 20 repeaters in the principal networks; there are also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)
Televisions: 1 million
Transportation
Railways:total: 3,987 kmstandard gauge: 3,987 km 1.435-m gauge (1,377 km partiallyelectrified since 1992) (1998)
Highways:total: 50,414 kmpaved: 45,020 km (including 545 km of expressways)unpaved: 5,394 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: NA km
Pipelines: crude oil 415 km; petroleum products 130 km; naturalgas 2,110 km
Ports and harbors: Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo,Tivat, Zelenika
Merchant marine:total: 1 short-sea passenger (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,437GRT/400 DWT (owned by Montenegro) (1998 est.)
Airports: 48 (Serbia 43, Montenegro 5) (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 18over 3,047 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 (Serbia 3, Montenegro 2)1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 1)914 to 1,523 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)under 914 m: 4 (Serbia 4, Montenegro 0) (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 301,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (Serbia 2, Montenegro 0)914 to 1,523 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1)under 914 m: 14 (Serbia 13, Montenegro 1) (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army (including ground forces with bordertroops, naval forces, air and air defense forces)
Military manpower—military age: Serbia?NA years of age;Montenegro—19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: Serbia—2,727,292; Montenegro—187,198 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: Serbia—2,183,534; Montenegro—150,415 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: Serbia—NA; Montenegro—5,671 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $911 million (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 6.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: disputes with Bosnia and Herzegovina over Serbian populated areas; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian republic; Serbia and Montenegro is disputing Croatia's claim to the Prevlaka Peninsula in southern Croatia because it controls the entrance to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro; Prevlaka is currently under observation by the UN military observer mission in Prevlaka (UNMOP); the border commission formed by The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro in April 1996 to resolve differences in delineation of their mutual border has made no progress so far
Illicit drugs: major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route
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@Seychelles —————
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 455 sq kmland: 455 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: 13%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: 11%other: 74% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe stormsare rare; short droughts possible
Environment—current issues: water supply depends on catchments tocollect rain water
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
People
Population: 79,164 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 11,712; female 11,569)15-64 years: 64% (male 24,879; female 26,038)65 years and over: 7% (male 1,709; female 3,257) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -6.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.65 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.95 years male: 66.61 years female: 75.42 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)adjective: Seychelles
Ethnic groups: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans,Europeans)
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 58%male: 56%female: 60% (1971 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Seychellesconventional short form: Seychelles
Data code: SE
Government type: republic
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse auxPins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, BaieLazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade,Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue,La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe LaRue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of the constitution)
Constitution: 18 June 1993
Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);note—the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June1977); note—the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003)election results: President France Albert RENE reelected; percent ofvote—France Albert RENE (SPPF) 61%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 27%, SirJames MANCHAM (DP) 12%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats—25 elected by popular vote, 10 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least nine percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party (elected)—SPPF 24, DP 1; seats by party (awarded)—SPPF 6, DP 1, UO 3 note: the 10 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: ruling party—Seychelles People's
Political pressure groups and leaders: trade unions; RomanCatholic Church
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C,ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU,OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO,WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Claude MORELchancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have anembassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited toSeychelles
Flag description: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side),yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom ofthe hoist side
Economy
Economy—overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing, which accounted for 70% of GDP in 1996-97. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in the face of stiff international competition. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit and further privatization of public enterprises.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$550 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.3% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,000 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 15% services: 81% (1994)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (1997)
Labor force: 26,000 (1996)
Labor force—by occupation: industry 19%, services 57%, government 14%, fishing, agriculture, and forestry 10% (1989)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $220 millionexpenditures: $241 million, including capital expenditures of $36million (1994 est.)
Industries: fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1992)
Electricity—production: 125 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 125 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
Exports: $53 million ( f.o.b., 1995)
Exports—commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)
Exports—partners: France, UK, China, Germany, Japan (1993)
Imports: $340 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment
Imports—partners: China, Singapore, South Africa, UK (1993)
Debt—external: $170 million (1994 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $16.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1—5.4540 (January 1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997), 4.9700 (1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 13,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in thearchipelagointernational: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacentisland countries and African coastal countries; satellite earthstation—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 50,000 (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are 9 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 12,000 (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 280 km paved: 176 km unpaved: 104 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Victoria
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 14 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, air wing, NationalGuard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 22,420 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 11,242 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $13.7 million (1995)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claims Chagos Archipelago in BritishIndian Ocean Territory
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@Sierra Leone ——————
Introduction
Background: On 25 May 1997, the democratically-elected government of President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH was overthrown by a disgruntled coalition of army personnel from the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) under the command of Major Johnny Paul KOROMA; President KABBAH fled to exile in Guinea. The Economic Community of West African States Cease-Fire Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) forces, led by a strong Nigerian contingent, undertook the suppression of the rebellion. They were initially unsuccessful, but, by October 1997, they forced the rebels to agree to a cease-fire and to a plan to return the government to democratic control. President KABBAH returned to office on 10 March 1998 to face the task of restoring order to a demoralized population and a disorganized and severely damaged economy. Many of the leaders of the coup were tried and executed in October 1998. In January 1999, the situation had deteriorated even further, with commerce at a standstill, hundreds of thousands of people driven from their homes, and bitter fighting between the AFRC/RUF and ECOMOG troops intensifying by large-scale import of arms.
Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia
Geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 71,740 sq kmland: 71,620 sq kmwater: 120 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May toDecember); winter dry season (December to April)
Terrain: coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country,upland plateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources: diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore,gold, chromite
Land use:arable land: 7%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 31%forests and woodland: 28%other: 33% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 290 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from theSahara (November to May); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment—current issues: rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
People
Population: 5,296,651 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 1,182,181; female 1,219,956)15-64 years: 52% (male 1,307,475; female 1,423,046)65 years and over: 3% (male 82,374; female 81,619) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.62 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 14.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 126.23 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.13 years male: 46.07 years female: 52.27 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sierra Leonean(s) adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups: 20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole 10% (descendents of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-eighteenth century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Religions: Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Languages: English (official, regular use limited to literateminority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne(principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole,spoken by the descendents of freed Jamaican slaves who were settledin the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10%of the population but understood by 95%)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende,Temne, or Arabictotal population: 31.4%male: 45.4%female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leoneconventional short form: Sierra Leone
Data code: SL
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Freetown
Administrative divisions: 3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern,Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence: 27 April 1961 (from UK)
National holiday: Republic Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution: 1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Legal system: based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996,reinstated 10 March 1998); note—the president is both the chief ofstate and head of governmenthead of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note—the president is both thechief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with theapproval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsibleto the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held NA 2001);note—president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year termselection results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH elected president; percent ofvote—first round—KABBAH 36.0%, second round—KABBAH 59.5%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives (80 seats—68 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 26-27 February 1996 (next to be held 2001) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—SLPP 27, UNPP 17, PDP 12, APC 5, NUP 4, DCP 3; note—first elections since the former House of Representatives was shut down by the military coup of 29 April 1992
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: 15 parties registered for theM. B. JALLOH]; National Alliance for Democracy Party or NADP
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John Ernest LEIGHchancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph MELROSE; note—embassy closed inlate December 1998embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetownmailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of light green(top), white, and light blue
Economy
Economy—overview: Sierra Leone has substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. The period of AFRC/RUF junta rule (May 1997-February 1998) led to UN sanctions and 20% drop in GDP in 1997. The continued fighting at yearend 1997 set back what small progress had been made by the KABBAH government in recovering from the junta period and reestablishing a viable economy. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Bauxite and rutile mines have been shut down by civil strife. The major source of hard currency is found in the mining of diamonds, the large majority of which are smuggled out of the country. The fate of the economy in 1999 depends on the outcome of negotiations to end the civil strife.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$2.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 0.7% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$530 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 16% services: 32% (1996)
Population below poverty line: 68% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 37.4% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)note: only about 65,000 wage earners (1985)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry 19%,services 16% (1981 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $96 millionexpenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1996 est.)
Industries: mining (diamonds); small-scale manufacturing(beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 230 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 230 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Exports: $41 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports—partners: Belgium 49%, Spain 10%, US 8%, UK 3% (1997)
Imports: $166 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuelsand lubricants
Imports—partners: UK 16%, US 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 8%,Belgium-Luxembourg 3% (1997)
Debt—external: $1.15 billion (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $203.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 leone (Le) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: leones (Le) per US$1—1,630.5 (January 1999), 1,597.2 (1998), 981.48 (1997), 920.73 (1996), 755.22 (1995), 586.74 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 17,526 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: marginal telephone and telegraph servicedomestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceableby military activitiesinternational: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave NA
Radios: 980,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 45,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 84 km used on a limited basis because the mine at Marampa isclosednarrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways:total: 11,700 kmpaved: 1,287 kmunpaved: 10,413 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 800 km; 600 km navigable year round
Ports and harbors: Bonthe, Freetown, Pepel
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 10 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 2over 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 8914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,119,239 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 543,210 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $46 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Singapore ————-
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia andIndonesia
Geographic coordinates: 1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 647.5 sq kmland: 637.5 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than 3.5 times the size ofWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims:exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, asdefined in treaties and practiceterritorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy; no pronounced rainy or dryseasons; thunderstorms occur on 40% of all days (67% of days inApril)
Terrain: lowland; gently undulating central plateau containswater catchment area and nature preserve
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources: fish, deepwater ports
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: 6%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: 5%other: 87% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People
Population: 3,531,600 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21% (male 387,786; female 364,018)15-64 years: 72% (male 1,265,291; female 1,268,458)65 years and over: 7% (male 109,418; female 136,629) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.15% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 13.38 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.69 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.84 years male: 75.79 years female: 82.14 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.47 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Singaporean(s) adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups: Chinese 76.4%, Malay 14.9%, Indian 6.4%, other 2.3%
Religions: Buddhist (Chinese), Muslim (Malays), Christian, Hindu,Sikh, Taoist, Confucianist
Languages: Chinese (official), Malay (official and national),Tamil (official), English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.1%male: 95.9%female: 86.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Singaporeconventional short form: Singapore
Data code: SN
Government type: republic within Commonwealth
Capital: Singapore
Administrative divisions: none
Independence: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia)
National holiday: National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution: 3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependenceState of Singapore Constitution)
Legal system: based on English common law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President ONG Teng Cheong (since 1 September 1993)head of government: Prime Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 28 November1990) and Deputy Prime Ministers LEE Hsien Loong (since 28 November1990) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, responsible toParliamentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 28 August 1993 (next to be held NA August 1999);following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party orthe leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed primeminister by the president; deputy prime ministers appointed by thepresidentelection results: ONG Teng Cheong elected president in the country'sfirst popular election for president; percent of vote—ONG TengCheong 59%, CHUA Kim Yeow 41%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 January 1997 (next to be held by 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—PAP 65% (in contested constituencies), other 35%; seats by party—PAP 81, WP 1, SPP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:general]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN,Australia Group (observer), BIS, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNIKOM, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Cheechancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Steven J. GREENembassy: 27 Napier Street, Singapore 258508mailing address: FPO AP 96534-0001
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) andwhite; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical,white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partiallyenclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle
Economy
Economy—overview: Singapore has an open economy with strong service and manufacturing sectors and excellent international trading links derived from its entrepot history. Extraordinarily strong fundamentals allowed Singapore to weather the effects of the Asian financial crisis better than its neighbors, but the crisis did pull GDP growth down to 1.3% in 1998 from 6% in 1997. Projections for 1999 GDP growth are in the -1% to 1% range. Rising labor costs and appreciation of the Singapore dollar against its neighbors' currencies continue to be a threat to Singapore's competitiveness. The government's strategy to address this problem includes cutting costs, increasing productivity, improving infrastructure, and encouraging higher value-added industries. In applied technology, per capita output, investment, and labor discipline, Singapore has key attributes of a developed country.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$91.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1.3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$26,300 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NEGL% industry: 28% services: 72%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -0.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.856 million (1997 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: financial, business, and other services 33.5%, manufacturing 25.6%, commerce 22.9%, construction 6.6%, other 11.4% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 5% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $16.3 billionexpenditures: $13.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY97/98 est.)
Industries: electronics, financial services, oil drillingequipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubberproducts, processed food and beverages, ship repair, entrepot trade,biotechnology
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 28 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 28 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture—products: rubber, copra, fruit, vegetables; poultry
Exports: $128 billion (1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: computer equipment, rubber and rubberproducts, petroleum products, telecommunications equipment
Exports—partners: Malaysia 19%, US 18%, Hong Kong 9%, Japan 8%,Thailand 6% (1995)
Imports: $133.9 billion (1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: aircraft, petroleum, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports—partners: Japan 21%, Malaysia 15%, US 15%, Thailand 5%,Taiwan 4%, South Korea 4% (1995)
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Singapore dollar (S$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Singapore dollars (S$) per US$1—1.6781 (January 1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: 1.4 million (1997 est.)
Telephone system: good domestic facilities; good internationalservicedomestic: NAinternational: submarine cables to Malaysia (Sabah and PeninsularMalaysia), Indonesia, and the Philippines; satellite earthstations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean), and 1Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1997)
Televisions: 1.05 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 38.6 kmnarrow gauge: 38.6 km 1.000-m gaugenote: there is a 67 km mass transit system with 42 stations
Highways:total: 3,017 kmpaved: 2,936 km (including 148 km of expressways)unpaved: 81 km (1997 est.)
Ports and harbors: Singapore
Merchant marine:total: 875 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,734,146GRT/31,442,482 DWTships by type: bulk 142, cargo 132, chemical tanker 51, combinationbulk 6, combination ore/oil 6, container 154, liquefied gas tanker27, livestock carrier 1, multifunction large-load carrier 6, oiltanker 291, refrigerated cargo 8, roll-on/roll-off cargo 11,short-sea passenger 1, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 30note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 22countries among which are Japan 41, Denmark 35, Sweden 28, Thailand28, Hong Kong 26, Germany 19, Taiwan 19, and Indonesia 11 (1998 est.)
Airports: 9 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, People's Defense Force,Police Force
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,042,587 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 757,940 (1999 est.)