GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 31% services: 51% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 35.3% (1990-91 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.8% highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9.3% (1998)
Labor force: 6.2 million (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: services 46%, agriculture 37%, industry 17% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3 billionexpenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1billion (1997 est.)
Industries: processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 5.05 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 4.95% hydro: 95.05% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 5.05 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef
Exports: $4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds and other gems, coconut products, rubber products, petroleum products (1997)
Exports—partners: US 36%, UK 11%, Japan 6%, Germany 5%,Belgium-Luxembourg 4% (1997)
Imports: $5.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, textiles,petroleum, building materials, sugar (1997)
Imports—partners: India 10%, Japan 9%, South Korea 8%, Hong Kong7%, Taiwan 7% (1997)
Debt—external: $8.8 billion (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $559.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Sri Lankan rupee (SLRe) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Sri Lankan rupees (SLRes) per US$1—67.948 (January 1999), 64.593 (1998), 58.995 (1997), 55.271 (1996), 51.252 (1995), 49.415 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 352,681 (1997 est.); 114,888 cellular telephonesubscribers (1997 est.)
Telephone system: very inadequate domestic service, but expandingwith the entry of two wireless loop operators and privatization ofnational telephone company; good international servicedomestic: NAinternational: submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satelliteearth stations—2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 5, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.6 million (1996 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 21 (19 network stations, two low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions: 1.6 million (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 1,501 kmbroad gauge: 1,442 km 1.676-m gaugenarrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (1995)
Highways:total: 99,200 kmpaved: 39,680 kmunpaved: 59,520 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 430 km; navigable by shallow-draft craft
Pipelines: crude oil and petroleum products 62 km (1987)
Ports and harbors: Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine:total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 178,867 GRT/276,363 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 14, container 1, oil tanker 1,refrigerated cargo 5 (1998 est.)
Airports: 13 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 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: 5,223,590 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,062,758 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 199,196 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $719 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 4.2% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Sudan ——-
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 2,505,810 sq kmland: 2.376 million sq kmwater: 129,810 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than one-quarter the size of theUS
Land boundaries:total: 7,687 kmborder countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season(April to October)
Terrain: generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in east andwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Red Sea 0 m highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources: petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper,chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold
Land use:arable land: 5%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 46%forests and woodland: 19%other: 30% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 19,460 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms
Environment—current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
People
Population: 34,475,690 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 7,941,909; female 7,614,225)15-64 years: 53% (male 9,094,712; female 9,061,194)65 years and over: 2% (male 423,389; female 340,261) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 39.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.6 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.24 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 70.94 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 56.4 years male: 55.41 years female: 57.44 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.58 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other1%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%,Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages: Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diversedialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, Englishnote: program of Arabization in process
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 46.1%male: 57.7%female: 34.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Sudanconventional short form: Sudanlocal long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudanlocal short form: As-Sudanformer: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Data code: SU
Government type: transitional—previously ruling military junta; presidential and National Assembly elections held in March 1996; new constitution drafted by Presidential Committee, went into effect on 30 June 1998 after being approved in nationwide referendum
Capital: Khartoum
Administrative divisions: 26 states (wilayat, singular—wilayah);A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum,Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah, An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, AshShamaliyah, Bahr al Jabal, Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr alGhazal, Gharb Darfur, Gharb Kurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan,Junqali, Kassala, Nahr an Nil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur,Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq al Istiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
Independence: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution: 12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: NA years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman MuhammadTAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President (Police) Maj.General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Lt. General Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR(since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali Uthman MuhammadTAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President (Police) Maj.General George KONGOR AROP (since NA February 1994); note—thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note—Presidental-BASHIR's government is dominated by members of Sudan's NationalIslamic Front (NIF), a fundamentalist political organization formedfrom the Muslim Brotherhood in 1986; in 1998, the NIF created theNational Congress as its legal front; the National Congress/NIFdominates much of Khartoum's overall domestic and foreign policies;President al-BASHIR named a new cabinet on 20 April 1996 whichincludes members of the National Islamic Front, serving and retiredmilitary officers, and civilian technocrats; on 8 March 1998, hereshuffled the cabinet and brought in several former rebel andopposition members as ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)election results: Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR elected president;percent of vote—Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR 75.7%; note—about fortyother candidates ran for presidentnote: al-BASHIR, as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Councilfor National Salvation (RCC), assumed power on 30 June 1989 andserved concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, primeminister, and minister of defense until 16 October 1993 when he wasappointed president by the RCC; upon its dissolution on 16 October1993, the RCC's executive and legislative powers were devolved tothe president and the Transitional National Assembly (TNA), Sudan'sappointed legislative body, which has since been replaced by theNational Assembly which was elected in March 1996
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (400 seats; 275 elected by popular vote, 125 elected by a supraassembly of interest groups known as the National Congress) elections: last held 6-17 March 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: NA; the March 1996 elections were held on a nonparty basis; parties are banned in the new National Assembly
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders: political parties were banned following 30 June 1989 coup, however, political "associations" are allowed under a new law drafted in 1998 and implemented on 1 January
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Islamic Front orits legal front)
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACP, AfDB,AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mahdi Ibrahim MAHAMMAD (recalled to Khartoum in August 1998) chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: US officials at the US Embassy in Khartoum were moved for security reasons in February 1996 and have been relocated to the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Cairo, Egypt; they visit Khartoum monthly, but the Sudanese Government has not allowed such visits since August 1998; the US Embassy in Khartoum (located on Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue; mailing employees; the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya is located temporarily in the USAID Building at The Crescent, Parkland, Nairobi; mailing address—P.O. Box 30137, Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831; Cairo, Egypt is located at (North Gate) 8, Kamel El-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo; mailing address—Unit 64900, APO AE
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy
Economy—overview: Sudan is buffeted by civil war, chronic political instability, adverse weather, high inflation, a drop in remittances from abroad, and counterproductive economic policies. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980. Agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Industry mainly processes agricultural items. Sluggish economic performance over the past decade, attributable largely to declining annual rainfall, has kept per capita income at low levels. A large foreign debt and huge arrears continue to cause difficulties. In 1990 the International Monetary Fund took the unusual step of declaring Sudan noncooperative because of its nonpayment of arrears to the Fund. After Sudan backtracked on promised reforms in 1992-93, the IMF threatened to expel Sudan from the Fund. To avoid expulsion, Khartoum agreed to make payments on its arrears to the Fund, liberalize exchange rates, and reduce subsidies, measures it has partially implemented. The government's continued prosecution of the civil war and its growing international isolation continued to inhibit growth in the nonagricultural sectors of the economy during 1998. Hyperinflation has raised consumer prices above the reach of most. In 1998, a top priority was to develop potentially lucrative oilfields in southcentral Sudan; the government is working with foreign partners to exploit the oil sector.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$31.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 6.1% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$930 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 17% services: 50% (1992 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 27% (mid-1997 est.)
Labor force: 11 million (1996 est.) note: labor shortages for almost all categories of skilled employment (1983 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 10%, government 6%
Unemployment rate: 30% (FY92/93 est.)
Budget:revenues: $482 millionexpenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $30million (1996)
Industries: cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar,soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 1.315 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 27.76% hydro: 72.24% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.315 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sesame; sheep
Exports: $594 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: cotton 23%, sesame 22%, livestock/meat 13%,gum arabic 5% (1996)
Exports—partners: Saudi Arabia 20%, UK 14%, China 11%, Italy 8%(1996)
Imports: $1.42 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles (1996)
Imports—partners: Saudi Arabia 10%, South Korea 7%, Germany 6%,Egypt 6% (1996)
Debt—external: $20.3 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $254.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Sudanese pound (LSd) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Sudanese pounds (LSd) per US$1—1,819.70 (April 1998), 1,873.53 (2d Qtr 1998), 1,575.74 (1997), 1,250.79 (1996), 580.87 (1995), 289.61 (1994), 159.31 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar yearnote: prior to July 1995, Sudan had a fiscal year that began on 1July and ended on 30 June; as a transition to their new fiscal year,a six-month budget was implemented for 1 July-31 December 1995; thenew calendar year (1 January-31 December) fiscal year becameeffective 1 January 1996
Communications
Telephones: 77,215 (1983 est.)
Telephone system: large, well-equipped system by Africanstandards, but barely adequate and poorly maintained by modernstandardsdomestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephonecommunications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellitesystem with 14 earth stationsinternational: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations: AM 11, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 5.75 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 250,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 5,516 kmnarrow gauge: 4,800 km 1.067-m gauge; 716 km 1.6096-m gaugeplantation line
Highways:total: 11,900 kmpaved: 4,320 kmunpaved: 7,580 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 5,310 km navigable
Pipelines: refined products 815 km
Ports and harbors: Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, PortSudan, Sawakin
Merchant marine:total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 38,093 GRT/49,727 DWTships by type: cargo 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998 est.)
Airports: 63 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 12over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 511,524 to 2,437 m: 14914 to 1,523 m: 26under 914 m: 11 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense ForceMilitia
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 7,942,139 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,889,557 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 379,174 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $550 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: administrative boundary with Kenya does not coincide with international boundary; Egypt asserts its claim to the "Hala'ib Triangle," a barren area of 20,580 sq km under partial Sudanese administration that is defined by an administrative boundary which supersedes the treaty boundary of 1899
======================================================================
@Suriname ————
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North AtlanticOcean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:total: 163,270 sq kmland: 161,470 sq kmwater: 1,800 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 mhighest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp,bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, ironore
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 96%other: 4% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, most of which lives along the coast
People
Population: 431,156 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33% (male 72,673; female 69,212)15-64 years: 62% (male 135,573; female 130,700)65 years and over: 5% (male 10,585; female 12,413) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.89 years male: 68.32 years female: 73.59 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.55 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%,Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), SranangTongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language ofCreoles and much of the younger population and is lingua francaamong others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93%male: 95%female: 91% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Surinameconventional short form: Surinamelocal long form: Republiek Surinamelocal short form: Surinameformer: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Data code: NS
Government type: republic
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular—distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September1996); note—the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from amongthe members of the National Assemblynote: First Advisor of State maintains significant powerelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidatereceives a constitutional majority vote in the National Assemblyafter two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869representatives from the national, local, and regional councils),for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff electionheld 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent oflegislative vote—NA; National Assembly failed to elect president;results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly—JulesWIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received407 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or NationalAssemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NDP16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The ProgressiveDevelopment Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders: The New Front or NF (a coalitionDemocratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP,Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF)
Political pressure groups and leaders: Union for Liberation and
International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC,FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and utility sectors. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.48 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 32% services: 58% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1998 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997)
Budget:revenues: $393 millionexpenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34million (1997 est.)
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminumproduction, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity—production: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 19.75% hydro: 80.25% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Exports: $548.84 million (1997)
Exports—commodities: alumina, aluminum, crude oil, lumber, shrimpand fish, rice, bananas
Exports—partners: Norway 24%, Netherlands 22%, US 22%, France9.5%, Japan 7.6%, UK 6.5% (1997)
Imports: $551.8 million (1997)
Imports—commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs,cotton, consumer goods
Imports—partners: US 48%, Netherlands 21.2%, UK 5.1%, Japan 4%(1997)
Debt—external: $216 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $76.4 million (1995); note?theNetherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba andSuriname in 1996
Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100cents
Exchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1—850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (1998), 401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994) note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined; during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 32, shortwave 1
Radios: 290,256 (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (in addition, there are seven repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 59,598 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 166 km (single track)standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways:total: 4,530 kmpaved: 1,178 kmunpaved: 3,352 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport;oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate manyof the principal waterways
Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo,Paranam, Wageningen
Airports: 46 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 5over 3,047 m: 1under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 41914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 34 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and AirForce elements), Civil Police
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 118,686 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 69,842 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $8.5 million (1997 est.)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.6% (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claims area in French Guiana betweenLitani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the LawaRivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugsdestined mostly for Europe
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@Svalbard ————
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references: Arctic Region
Area:total: 62,049 sq kmland: 62,049 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 3,587 km
Maritime claims:exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway butnot recognized by Russiaterritorial sea: 4 nm
Climate: arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; coolsummers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west andnorth coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable mostof the year
Terrain: wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered;west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords alongwest and north coasts
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources: coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc,wildlife, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry andcloudberry)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements:party to: NAsigned, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% ofthe total area
People
Population: 2,503 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: -3.55% (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 years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Ethnic groups: Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, otherNEGL% (1994)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
Government
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to asSpitzbergen)
Data code: SV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway
Government type: NA
Capital: Longyearbyen
Independence: none (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
Legal system: NA
Executive branch:chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)head of government: Governor Ann-Kristin OLSEN (since NA) andAssistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistantgovernor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry ofJustice
International organization participation: none
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy—overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: $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: NA
Budget:revenues: $11.7 millionexpenditures: $11.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
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
Exports: $NA
Imports: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $8.7 million from Norway (1997)
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)
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system:domestic: local telephone serviceinternational: satellite earth station—1 of NA type (forcommunication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 2), shortwave 0note: there are five meteorological/radio stations
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund,Pyramiden
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 3under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Svalbard is the focus of a maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia
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@Swaziland ————-
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates: 26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 17,360 sq kmland: 17,200 sq kmwater: 160 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources: asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower,forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use:arable land: 11%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 62%forests and woodland: 7%other: 20% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: landlocked; almost completely surrounded by SouthAfrica
People
Population: 985,335 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 227,675; female 228,733)15-64 years: 51% (male 243,853; female 259,950)65 years and over: 3% (male 9,866; female 15,258) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.8 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 21.72 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 101.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 38.11 years male: 36.86 years female: 39.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.92 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Swazi(s) adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%
Religions: Christian 60%, indigenous beliefs 40%
Languages: English (official, government business conducted inEnglish), siSwati (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.7%male: 78%female: 75.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Swazilandconventional short form: Swaziland
Data code: WZ
Government type: monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital: Mbabane; note—Lobamba is the royal and legislativecapital
Administrative divisions: 4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini,Shiselweni
Independence: 6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday: Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution: none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people; since then a few more outlines for a constitution have been compiled but so far none have been accepted
Legal system: based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: NA; note—no suffrage before September 1993; 55 of the 65 seats in the House of Assembly were filled by popular vote in the elections of September and October 1993; of a population of less than 1 million, the electorate numbered 283,693
Executive branch:chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)head of government: Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas DLAMINI (since9 August 1996)cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed bythe monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisorybody, consists of the Senate (20 seats—10 appointed by the House ofAssembly and 10 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-yearterms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats—10 appointed by themonarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-yearterms)elections: House of Assembly—last held NA September and NA October1998 (next to be held NA 2003)election results: House of Assembly—balloting is done on a nonpartybasis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council ofeach constituency and for each constituency the three candidateswith the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to asingle winner by a second round
Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the monarch;Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings illegal parties: People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: Suite 3M, 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alan R. McKEE embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Economy
Economy—overview: In this small landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar and wood pulp are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives nearly all of its imports and to which it sends more than half of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.6% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$4,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 42% services: 48% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (1998)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: private sector about 70%, public sector about 30%
Unemployment rate: 22% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $400 millionexpenditures: $450 million, including capital expenditures of $115million (FY96/97)
Industries: mining (coal and asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, softdrink concentrates
Industrial production growth rate: 3.7% (FY95/96)
Electricity—production: 415 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 49.4% hydro: 50.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 986 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 571 million kWh (1996)note: imports about 60% of its electricity from South Africa
Agriculture—products: sugarcane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice,citrus, pineapples, corn, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Exports: $972 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp,cotton yarn, citrus and canned fruit (1996)
Exports—partners: South Africa 58%, EU 17%, Mozambique, NorthKorea (1995)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals (1996)
Imports—partners: South Africa 96%, Japan, UK, Singapore (FY95/96)