Debt—external: $175 million (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: $55 million (1995)
Currency: 1 lilangeni (E) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: emalangeni (E) per US$1—5.9812 (January 1999), 5.4807 (1998), 4.6032 (1997), 4.2706 (1996), 3.6266 (1995), 3.5490 (1994); note—the Swazi lilangeni is at par with the South African rand
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Communications
Telephones: NA; 45,000 cellular telephone subscribers (1993 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines andlow-capacity, microwave radio relayinternational: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios: 200,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (in addition, there are seven repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 20,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 297 km; note—includes 71 km which are not in usenarrow gauge: 297 km 1.067-m gauge
Highways: total: 3,810 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 18 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), RoyalSwaziland Police Force
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 221,199 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 128,806 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $23 million (FY95/96)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY95/96)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Swaziland has asked South Africa to open negotiations on reincorporating some nearby South African territories that are populated by ethnic Swazis or that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
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@Sweden ———
Introduction
Background: Having long lost its military prowess of the 17th century, Sweden has evolved into a prosperous and peaceful constitutional monarchy with a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements. As the 20th century comes to an end, this long successful formula is being undermined by high unemployment; the rising cost of a "cradle to the grave" welfare state; the decline of Sweden's competitive position in world markets; and indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe. A member of the European Union, Sweden chose not to participate in the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf ofBothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 449,964 sq kmland: 410,928 sq kmwater: 39,036 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 2,205 km border countries: Finland 586 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline: 3,218 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlinesterritorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion ofstraits to high seas)
Climate: temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool,partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain: mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources: zinc, iron ore, lead, copper, silver, timber,uranium, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 7%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 1%forests and woodland: 68%other: 24% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,150 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: ice floes in the surrounding waters, especiallyin the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment—current issues: acid rain damaging soils and lakes;pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea
Environment—international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: strategic location along Danish Straits linkingBaltic and North Seas
People
Population: 8,911,296 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19% (male 856,819; female 812,958)15-64 years: 64% (male 2,896,383; female 2,802,571)65 years and over: 17% (male 651,549; female 891,016) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.29% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 12 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 10.77 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: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 3.91 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 79.29 years male: 76.61 years female: 82.11 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.83 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swede(s)adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups: white, Lapp (Sami), foreign-born orfirst-generation immigrants 12% (Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes,Norwegians, Greeks, Turks)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 94%, Roman Catholic 1.5%,Pentecostal 1%, other 3.5% (1987)
Languages: Swedishnote: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1979 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Swedenconventional short form: Swedenlocal long form: Konungariket Sverigelocal short form: Sverige
Data code: SW
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Administrative divisions: 21 counties (lan, singular and plural);Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands,Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands,Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens,Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands
Independence: 6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king); 6 June 1809(constitutional monarchy was established)
National holiday: Day of the Swedish Flag, 6 June
Constitution: 1 January 1975
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); HeirApparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of themonarch (born 14 July 1977)head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March1996)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerelections: the monarch is hereditary; prime minister elected by theParliament; election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA2002)election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister; percent ofparliamentary vote—131 votes out of 349
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats;members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representationbasis to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 September 1998 (next to be held NA September2002)election results: percent of vote by party—Social Democrats 36.5%,Moderates 22.7%, Left Party 12%, Christian Democrats 11.8%, CenterParty 5.1%, Liberal Party 4.7%, Greens 4.5%; seats by party—SocialDemocrats 131, Moderates 82, Left Party 43, Christian Democrats 42,Center Party 18, Liberal Party 17, Greens 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen, judges areappointed by the government (prime minister and cabinet)
Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Goranformal leader but party spokesperson is Briger SCHLAUG]
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG,UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rolf EKEUS chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lyndon Lowell OLSON, Jr. embassy: Strandvagen 101, S-115 89 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)
Flag description: blue with a yellow cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy—overview: Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole twentieth century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. In recent years, however, this extraordinarily favorable picture has been clouded by budgetary difficulties, inflation, high unemployment, and a gradual loss of competitiveness in international markets. Sweden has harmonized its economic policies with those of the EU, which it joined at the start of 1995. Sweden decided not to join the euro system at its outset in January 1999 but plans to hold a referendum in 2000 on whether to join. Annual GDP growth is forecast for 2.2% and 2.6% in 1999 and 2000 respectively. Budgetary problems and shaky business confidence will constrain government plans to reduce unemployment.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$175 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.9% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$19,700 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 30.5% services: 67.3% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 4.552 million (1992)
Labor force—by occupation: community, social and personal services 38.3%, mining and manufacturing 21.2%, commerce, hotels, and restaurants 14.1%, banking, insurance 9%, communications 7.2%, construction 7%, agriculture, fishing, and forestry 3.2% (1991)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% plus about 5% in training programs (1998est.)
Budget:revenues: $109.4 billionexpenditures: $146.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY95/96)
Industries: iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (1998)
Electricity—production: 135.192 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 9.75% hydro: 37.52% nuclear: 52.62% other: 0.11% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 141.392 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 9.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 15.9 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: grains, sugar beets, potatoes; meat, milk
Exports: $85.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paperproducts, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals
Exports—partners: EU 55% (Germany 11%, UK 9%, Denmark 6%, Finland5%), Norway 8%, US 8% (1994)
Imports: $66.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery, petroleum and petroleum products,chemicals, motor vehicles, foodstuffs, iron and steel, clothing
Imports—partners: EU 68% (Germany 19%, UK 10%, Denmark 8%, France6%), Norway 8%, US 6% (1997)
Debt—external: $66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $1.7 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Swedish krona (SKr) = 100 oere
Exchange rates: Swedish kronor (SKr) per US$1—7.8193 (January 1999), 7.9499 (1998), 7.6349 (1997), 6.7060 (1996), 7.1333 (1995), 7.7160 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 13 million (1996 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and internationalfacilities; automatic systemdomestic: coaxial and multiconductor cable carry most voice traffic;parallel microwave radio relay network carries some additionaltelephone channelsinternational: 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earthstations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat(Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note—Sweden shares the Inmarsatearth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland,Iceland, and Norway)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 5, FM 360 (mostly repeaters),shortwave 0
Radios: 7.272 million (1993 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 163 (1997)
Televisions: 3.5 million
Transportation
Railways:total: 13,415 km (includes 3,594 km of privately-owned railways)standard gauge: 13,415 km 1.435-m gauge (7,917 km electrified and1,152 km double track) (1996)
Highways:total: 138,000 kmpaved: 105,018 km (including 1,330 km of expressways)unpaved: 32,982 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 2,052 km navigable for small steamers and barges
Pipelines: natural gas 84 km
Ports and harbors: Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg,Hudiksvall, Kalmar, Karlshamn, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm,Sundsvall
Merchant marine:total: 154 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,894,783GRT/1,528,077 DWTships by type: bulk 6, cargo 28, chemical tanker 28, combinationore/oil 4, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 24, railcar carrier 1,refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 39, short-sea passenger5, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 13 (1998 est.)
Airports: 255 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 145 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 24 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 110 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 105 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Swedish Army, Royal Swedish Navy, Swedish AirForce
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 2,076,903 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,817,554 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 52,486 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $4.9 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.2% (FY97/98)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: minor transshipment point for and consumer of narcotics shipped via the CIS and Baltic states; increasing consumer of European amphetamines
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@Switzerland —————-
Introduction
Background: Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers and Switzerland did not participate in either World War I or II. The political and economic integration of Europe since World War II may be rendering obsolete Switzerland's concern for neutrality.
Geography
Location: Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area:total: 41,290 sq kmland: 39,770 sq kmwater: 1,520 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:total: 1,852 kmborder countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain: mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources: hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 2%permanent pastures: 28%forests and woodland: 32%other: 28% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 250 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Environment—current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
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, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: landlocked; crossroads of northern and southernEurope; along with southeastern France and northern Italy, containsthe highest elevations in Europe
People
Population: 7,275,467 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17% (male 639,970; female 611,876)15-64 years: 68% (male 2,509,988; female 2,417,580)65 years and over: 15% (male 444,482; female 651,571) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.2% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 10.53 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 9.06 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.49 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: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.99 years male: 75.83 years female: 82.32 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Swiss (singular and plural) adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups: German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%,other 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, noreligion 8.9% (1990)
Languages: German 63.7%, French 19.2%, Italian 7.6%, Romansch0.6%, other 8.9%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Swiss Confederationconventional short form: Switzerlandlocal long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera(Italian)
Data code: SZ
Government type: federal republic
Capital: Bern
Administrative divisions: 26 cantons (cantons, singular—canton inFrench; cantoni, singular—cantone in Italian; kantone,singular—kanton in German); Aargau, Ausser-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden,Inner-Rhoden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, SanktGallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri,Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence: 1 August 1291
National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the SwissConfederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution: 29 May 1874
Legal system: civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1999); VicePresident Adolf OGI (since 1 January 1999); note—the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Ruth DREIFUSS (since 1 January 1999);Vice President Adolf OGI (since 1 January 1999); note—the presidentis both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the FederalAssembly from among its own members for a four-year termelections: president and vice president elected by the FederalAssembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-yearterms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 1998(next to be held NA December 1999)election results: Ruth DREIFUSS elected president; percent ofFederal Assembly vote—Ruth DREIFUSS 75%; Adolf OGI elected vicepresident; percent of legislative vote —NA
Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly orBundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French),Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States orStanderat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consigliodegli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats—members serve four-year terms)and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), ConseilNational (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200seats—members are elected by popular vote on a basis of proportionalrepresentation to serve four-year terms)elections: Council of States—last held throughout 1997 (each cantondetermines when the next election will be held); NationalCouncil—last held 20 October 1995 (next to be held probably 24October 1999)election results: Council of States—percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—FDP 17, CVP 16, SVP 5, SPS 5, LPS 2, LdU 1; NationalCouncil—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—FDP 45, SPS 54,CVP 34, SVP 29, Greens 9, LPS 7, FPS 7, LdU 3, EVP 2, SD 3, PdAdS 3,Ticino League 1, EDU 1, FRAP 1, CSP 1
Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court, judges elected forsix-year terms by the Federal Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Radical Free Democratic Party(Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, PartiRadical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-RadicaleParty (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, PartiSocialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, PartidaChristian Democratic People's Party (ChristichdemokratischeVolkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse orPDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partidapresident]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP,Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro orGreen Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti EcologisteSuisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida(Landesring der Unabhaengigen or LdU, Alliance des Independants orParty (Schweizer Demokraten or SD, Democrates Suisses or DS,Democratici Svizzeri or DS), Liberal Party (Liberale Partei derSchweiz or LPS, Parti Liberal Suisse or PLS, Partito LiberaleSvizzero or PLS), Workers' Party (Parti Suisse du Travail or PST,Partei der Arbeit der Schweiz or PdAdS, Partito Svizzero del Lavoroor PSdL), Evangelical People's Party (Evangelische Volkspartei derSchweiz or EVP, Parti Evangelique Suisse or PEV, Partito EvangelicoSvizzero or PEV), and the Union of Federal Democrats(Eidgenossisch-Demokratische Union or EDU, Union DemocratiqueFederale or UDF, Unione Democratica Federale or UDF)
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB,Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA,FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNTSO,UNU, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred DEFAGO chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Madeleine May KUNIN embassy: Jubilaeumstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
Economy
Economy—overview: Switzerland, a fundamentally prosperous and stable modern economy with a per capita GDP 15%-20% above that of the big West European economies, experienced an export-driven upturn in its economy in 1998. The downturn in the global economy, however, will have a cooling effect on the 1998 boom in the Swiss export sector, including financial services, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and special-purpose machines. A major downturn in the Swiss economy should still be avoided, as consumer and capital spending have picked up and will keep the economy moving in 1999. GDP growth in 1999 is expected to come in around 1.4%. The growing political and economic union of Europe suggests that Switzerland's time-honored neutral separation is becoming increasingly obsolete. Thus, when the surrounding trade partners launched the euro on 1 January 1999, their firms began prodding Swiss exporters and importers to keep their accounts in euros.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$191.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$26,400 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 31.1% services: 66.1% (1995)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28.6% (1982)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0% (1998)
Labor force: 3.8 million (850,000 foreign workers, mostly Italian)
Labor force—by occupation: services 67%, manufacturing and construction 29%, agriculture and forestry 4% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $32.66 billionexpenditures: $34.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.3billion (1998 est.)
Industries: machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precisioninstruments
Industrial production growth rate: 6% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 54.815 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 3.99% hydro: 52.73% nuclear: 43.27% other: 0.01% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 53.765 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 24.2 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 23.15 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Exports: $94.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: machinery 29%, chemicals 28%, metals,watches, agricultural products (1997)
Exports—partners: EU 61% (Germany 23%, France 9%, Italy 8%, UK6%, Austria 3%), US 10%, Japan 4% (1997)
Imports: $95.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery 22%, chemicals 16%, vehicles,metals, agricultural products, textiles (1997)
Imports—partners: EU 79% (Germany 32%, France 12%, Italy 10%,Netherlands 5%, UK 5%),, US 7%, Japan 3% (1997)
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—donor: ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 Swiss franc, franken, or franco (SFR) = 100 centimes, rappen, or centesimi
Exchange rates: Swiss francs, franken, or franchi (SFR) per US$1—1.3837 (January 1999), 1.4498 (1998), 1.4513 (1997), 1.2360 (1996), 1.1825 (1995), 1.3677 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 5.24 million (1996 est.); 307,000 cellular telephone subscribers (1994 est.)
Telephone system: excellent domestic and international services domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 1 (1997)
Radios: 2.8 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 108 (1997)
Televisions: 2.647 million licenses (1996)
Transportation
Railways:total: 4,479 km (1,564 km double track)standard gauge: 3,304 km 1.435-m gauge (3,288 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,165 km 1.000-m gauge (1,057 km electrified); 10 km0.750-m or 0.800-m gauge (1996)
Highways:total: 71,048 km (including 1,613 km of expressways)paved: NA kmunpaved: NA km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 65 km; Rhine (Basel to Rheinfelden, Schaffhausen toBodensee); 12 navigable lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 314 km; natural gas 1,506 km
Ports and harbors: Basel
Merchant marine:total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 412,459 GRT/724,995 DWTships by type: bulk 13, cargo 1, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 1(1998 est.)
Airports: 67 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 15 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 25 under 914 m: 25 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards,Fortification Guards
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,867,290 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,592,696 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 41,204 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $3.1 billion (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.2% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: because of more stringent government regulations, used significantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
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@Syria ——-
Geography
Location: Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, betweenLebanon and Turkey
Geographic coordinates: 35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 185,180 sq kmland: 184,050 sq kmwater: 1,130 sq kmnote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area—comparative: slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,253 kmborder countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline: 193 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 41 nmterritorial sea: 35 nm
Climate: mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August)and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; coldweather with snow or sleet periodically hitting Damascus
Terrain: primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastalplain; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 mhighest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganeseores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum
Land use:arable land: 28%permanent crops: 4%permanent pastures: 43%forests and woodland: 3%other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,060 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: dust storms, sandstorms
Environment—current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soilerosion; desertification; water pollution from dumping of raw sewageand wastes from petroleum refining; inadequate supplies of potablewater
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography—note: there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 1998 est.)
People
Population: 17,213,871 (July 1999 est.)note: in addition, there are about 37,200 people living in theIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights—18,200 Arabs (16,500 Druze and 1,700Alawites) and about 19,000 Israeli settlers (August 1998 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46% (male 4,032,620; female 3,840,431)15-64 years: 51% (male 4,515,274; female 4,322,415)65 years and over: 3% (male 246,812; female 256,319) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.15% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 36.95 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.4 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 36.42 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.09 years male: 66.75 years female: 69.48 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.37 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Syrian(s) adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages: Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic,Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70.8%male: 85.7%female: 55.8% (1997 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republicconventional short form: Syrialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyahlocal short form: Suriyahformer: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Data code: SY
Government type: republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital: Damascus
Administrative divisions: 14 provinces (muhafazat,singular—muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, ArRaqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah,Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate underFrench administration)
National holiday: National Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution: 13 March 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hafiz al-ASAD (since 22 February 1971);note—President ASAD seized power in the November 1970 coup, assumedpresidential powers 22 February 1971, and was confirmed as presidentin the 12 March 1971 national elections; Vice Presidents 'Abdal-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad ZuhayrMASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)head of government: Prime Minister Mahmud ZUBI (since 1 November1987), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS (since 11 March1984), Dr. Salim YASIN (since NA December 1981), and RashidAKHTARINI (since 4 July 1992)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;referendum/election last held 8 February 1999 (next to be held NA2006); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime ministerand deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Hafiz al-ASAD reelected president; percent ofvote—Hafiz al-ASAD 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Council or Majlisal-shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 30 November-1 December 1998 (next to be held NA2002)election results: percent of vote by party—NPF 67%, non-NPF 33%;seats by party—NPF 167, independents 83; note—the constitutionguarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receiveone-half of the seats
Judicial branch: Supreme Constitutional Court, justices areappointed for four-year terms by the president; High JudicialCouncil; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:National Progressive Front (NPF) includes: the ruling Arab Socialistsecretary general of the party, and chairman of the National
Political pressure groups and leaders: non-Ba'th parties havelittle effective political influence; Communist party ineffective;conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates inexile in Jordan and Yemen)
International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,CAEU, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU,WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Walid MUALEM chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a symbolic eagle centered in the white band
Economy
Economy—overview: Syria's predominantly statist economy is on a shaky footing because of Damascus's failure to implement extensive economic reform. The dominant agricultural sector remains underdeveloped, with roughly 80% of agricultural land still dependent on rain-fed sources. Although Syria has sufficient water supplies in the aggregate at normal levels of precipitation, the great distance between major water supplies and population centers poses serious distribution problems. The water problem is exacerbated by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution. Private investment is critical to the modernization of the agricultural, energy, and export sectors. Oil production is leveling off, and the efforts of the nonoil sector to penetrate international markets have fallen short. Syria's inadequate infrastructure, outmoded technological base, and weak educational system make it vulnerable to future shocks and hamper competition with neighbors such as Jordan and Israel.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$41.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 21% services: 53% (1997)
Population below poverty line: 15%-25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15%-20% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 4.7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: services 40%, agriculture 40%, industry 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12%-15% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.5 billionexpenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages,tobacco, phosphate rock mining
Industrial production growth rate: 0.2% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 19.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.73% hydro: 36.27% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 19.3 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Exports: $4.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: petroleum 65%, textiles 16%, food and liveanimals 13%, manufactures 6% (1997 est.)
Exports—partners: Italy 18%, Germany 13%, France 12%, Turkey 10%,Lebanon 7%, Spain 6% (1997 est.)
Imports: $5.7 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 40%, foodstuffs/animals 15%, metal and metal products 15%, textiles 10%, chemicals 10%, consumer goods 5% (1997 est.)
Imports—partners: Ukraine 14%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, Turkey 5%,France 4%, South Korea 4%, Japan 4%, US 3% (1997 est.)
Debt—external: $22 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $327.3 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1—46 (1998), 41.9(January 1997); official fixed rate 11.225
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 541,465 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios: 3.392 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 54 (of which 36 are low-power stations and repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 700,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 1,998 kmbroad gauge: 1,766 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 232 km 1.050-m gauge
Highways:total: 41,451 kmpaved: 9,575 km (including 877 km of expressways)unpaved: 31,876 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: 870 km; minimal economic importance
Pipelines: crude oil 1,304 km; petroleum products 515 km
Ports and harbors: Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine:total: 131 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 401,407 GRT/578,081 DWTships by type: bulk 11, cargo 115, livestock carrier 4,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 104 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 63 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, SyrianArab Air Force, Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces, Police and SecurityForce
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 4,060,995 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,271,539 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 188,546 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $800 million-$1 billion (1997 est.); note—based on official budget data that understate actual spending
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 8% (1995 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Golan Heights is Israeli occupied; dispute with upstream riparian Turkey over Turkish water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; Syrian troops in northern, central, and eastern Lebanon since October 1976
Illicit drugs: a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets
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@Taiwan ———
Introduction
Background: In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan, however it reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government that over five decades has gradually democratized and incorporated native Taiwanese within its structure. Throughout this period, the island has prospered as one of East Asia's economic tigers. The dominant political issue continues to be the relationship between Taiwan and Mainland China and the question of eventual reunification.
Geography
Location: Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea,Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of thePhilippines, off the southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates: 23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 35,980 sq kmland: 32,260 sq kmwater: 3,720 sq kmnote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland and Delawarecombined
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,448 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon(June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain: eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat togently rolling plains in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Yu Shan 3,997 m
Natural resources: small deposits of coal, natural gas,limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 5%forests and woodland: 55%other: 15%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: earthquakes and typhoons
Environment—current issues: air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 22,113,250 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (male 2,515,398; female 2,338,506)15-64 years: 70% (male 7,825,953; female 7,574,836)65 years and over: 8% (male 989,040; female 869,517) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 14.63 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.32 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.14 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.01 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.49 years male: 74.38 years female: 80.85 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.77 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese (singular and plural)adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups: Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese14%, aborigine 2%
Religions: mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%,Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%
Languages: Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakkadialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94% (1998 est.)male: 93% (1980 est.)female: 79% (1980 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan
Data code: TW
Government type: multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly elected president
Capital: Taipei