Administrative divisions: since in the past the authoritiesclaimed to be the government of all China, the centraladministrative divisions include the provinces of Fu-chien (some 20offshore islands of Fujian Province including Quemoy and Matsu) andTaiwan (the island of Taiwan and the Pescadores islands); note—themore commonly referenced administrative divisions are those ofTaiwan Province—16 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5municipalities* (shih, singular and plural), and 2 specialmunicipalities** (chuan-shih, singular and plural); Chang-hua,Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*, Hua-lien, I-lan,Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung,T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*, T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**,T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; the provincial capital is atChung-hsing-hsin-ts'unnote: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National holiday: National Day, 10 October (1911) (Anniversary ofthe Chinese Revolution)
Constitution: 1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, and 1997
Legal system: based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President LEE Teng-hui (succeeded to the presidencyfollowing the death of President CHIANG Ching-kuo 13 January 1988,elected by the National Assembly 21 March 1990, elected by popularvote in the first-ever direct elections for president 23 March1996); Vice President LIEN Chan (since 20 May 1996)head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan)Vincent SIEW (since 1 September 1997) and Vice Premier (VicePresident of the Executive Yuan) LIU Chao-shiuan (since 10 December1997)cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 23 March1996 (next to be held NA 2000); premier appointed by the president;vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation ofthe premierelection results: LEE Teng-hui elected president; percent ofvote—LEE Teng-hui 54%, PENG Ming-min 21%, LIN Yang-kang 15%, andCHEN Li-an 10%
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats—168elected by popular vote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportionof nationwide votes received by participating political parties,eight elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on the basis ofthe proportion of nationwide votes received by participatingpolitical parties, eight elected by popular vote among theaboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms) andunicameral National Assembly (334 seats; members elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)elections: Legislative Yuan—last held 5 December 1998 (next to beheld NA December 2001); National Assembly—last held 23 March 1996(next to be held NA 2000)election results: Legislative Yuan—percent of vote by party—KMT 46%,DPP 29%, CNP 7%, independents 10%, other parties 8%; seats byparty—KMT 123, DPP 70, CNP 11, independents 15, other parties 6;National Assembly—percent of vote by party—KMT 55%, DPP 30%, CNP14%, other 1%; seats by party—KMT 183, DPP 99, CNP 46, other 6
Judicial branch: Judicial Yuan, justices appointed by thepresident with the consent of the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalistparties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmental groups note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the ruling party's traditional stand that the island will eventually reunify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC,IOC, WCL, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through a private instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through a private institution, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which has its headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia offices in Taipei at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, telephone International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung
Flag description: red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Economy
Economy—overview: Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities and partial government ownership of some large banks and industrial firms. Real growth in GDP has averaged about 8.5% a year during the past three decades. Export growth has been even faster and has provided the impetus for industrialization. Inflation and unemployment are low, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes less than 3% to GDP, down from 35% in 1952. Traditional labor-intensive industries are steadily being moved off-shore and replaced with more capital- and technology-intensive industries. Taiwan has become a major investor in China, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The tightening of labor markets has led to an influx of foreign workers, both legal and illegal. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from "the Asian flu" in 1998.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$362 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4.8% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$16,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 35.3% services: 62% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.1% (1998)
Labor force: 9.4 million (1997)
Labor force—by occupation: services 52%, industry 38%, agriculture 10% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 2.7% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $40 billionexpenditures: $55 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries: electronics, textiles, chemicals, clothing, food processing, plywood, sugar milling, cement, shipbuilding, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1997)
Electricity—production: 134.906 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 63.2% hydro: 7.1% nuclear: 29.7% other: 0% (1997)
Electricity—consumption: 134.906 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Exports: $122.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 21.7%, electronic products 14.8%, information/communications 11.8%, textile products 11.6% (1997)
Exports—partners: US 24.2%, Hong Kong 23.5%, Europe 15.1%, Japan 9.6% (1997)
Imports: $114.4 billion (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports—commodities: machinery and electrical equipment 16.5%, electronic products 16.3%, chemicals 10.0%, precision instrument 5.6% (1997)
Imports—partners: Japan 25.4%, US 20.3%, Europe 18.9%, Hong Kong 1.7% (1997)
Debt—external: $80 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 New Taiwan dollar (NT$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Taiwan dollars per US$1—32.45 (yearend 1997), 27.5 (1996), 27.4 (1995), 26.2 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 11.526 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: extensive microwave radio relay trunk system on east andwest coastsinternational: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Pacific Oceanand 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa),Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia,Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations: AM 158, FM 48, shortwave 21
Radios: 8.62 million
Television broadcast stations: 29 (in addition, there are two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 10.8 million (1996 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 4,600 km (519 km electrified); note—1,108 km belongs to theTaiwan Railway Administration and the remaining 3,492 km isdedicated to industrial usenarrow gauge: 4,600 km 1.067-m
Highways:total: 19,634 kmpaved: 17,171 km (including 548 km of expressways)unpaved: 2,463 km (1997)
Pipelines: petroleum products 615 km; natural gas 97 km
Ports and harbors: Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung,Su-ao, T'ai-chung
Merchant marine:total: 180 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,106,573GRT/7,963,834 DWTships by type: bulk 47, cargo 30, combination bulk 3, container 72,oil tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 9, roll-on/roll-off cargo 2 (1998est.)
Airports: 39 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force,Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command,Combined Service Forces
Military manpower—military age: 19 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 6,544,602 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,019,737 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 204,711 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $7.446 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 2.8% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: involved in complex dispute over theSpratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, andpossibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed byVietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto(Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China
Illicit drugs: considered an important heroin transit point; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and heroin
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@Tajikistan —————
Introduction
Background: Tajikistan has experienced three changes of government and a civil war since it gained independence in September 1991 when the USSR collapsed. A peace agreement was signed in June 1997, but implementation is progressing slowly. Russian-led peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the Tajikistani-Afghan border.
Geography
Location: Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total: 143,100 sq kmland: 142,700 sq kmwater: 400 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:total: 3,651 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters;semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain: Pamir and Alay mountains dominate landscape; westernFergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Syrdariya 300 mhighest point: Qullai Kommunizm 7,495 m
Natural resources: significant hydropower potential, somepetroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony,tungsten
Land use:arable land: 6%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 25%forests and woodland: 4%other: 65% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides; part of the basin of the shrinking Aral Sea suffers from severe overutilization of available water for irrigation and associated pollution
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Ozone LayerProtectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: landlocked
People
Population: 6,102,854 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41% (male 1,250,344; female 1,224,355)15-64 years: 55% (male 1,661,488; female 1,681,839)65 years and over: 4% (male 122,065; female 162,763) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.43% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 27.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.85 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 114.78 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.28 years male: 61.15 years female: 67.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.48 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tajikistani(s) adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups: Tajik 64.9%, Uzbek 25%, Russian 3.5% (declining because of emigration), other 6.6%
Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 5%
Languages: Tajik (official), Russian widely used in governmentand business
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 99%female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistanconventional short form: Tajikistanlocal long form: Jumhurii Tojikistonlocal short form: noneformer: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TI
Government type: republic
Capital: Dushanbe
Administrative divisions: 2 oblasts (viloyatho, singular—viloyat) and one autonomous oblast* (viloyati mukhtori); Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshoni* (Khorugh—formerly Khorog), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa—formerly Kurgan-Tyube), Viloyati Leninobod (Khujand—formerly Leninabad) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: National Day, 9 September (1991)
Constitution: 6 November 1994
Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994;head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Yahyo AZIMOV (since 8 February1996)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approvedby the Supreme Assembly for approvalelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 6 November 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent ofvote—Emomali RAHMONOV 58%, Abdumalik ABDULLOJANOV 40%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli(181 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 26 February and 12 March 1995 (next to be heldNA 1999)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; estimated seats byparty—Communist Party and affiliates 100, People's Party 10, Partyof People's Unity 6, Party of Economic and Political Renewal 1,other 64
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by thepresident
Political parties and leaders: Tajik Communist Party or CPTfrom the People's Party and Party of People's Unity; United Tajik
International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tajikistan does not have anembassy in the US, but has a mission at the UN: address—136 EastALIMOV
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Robert FINNembassy: temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in Almatymailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: NAFAX: NA
Flag description: three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven five-pointed gold stars is located in the center of the white stripe
Economy
Economy—overview: Tajikistan has the lowest per capita GDP among the former Soviet republics. Agriculture dominates the economy, with cotton the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The Tajikistani economy has been gravely weakened by five years of civil conflict and by the loss of subsidies from Moscow and of markets for its products. Tajikistan thus depends on aid from Russia and Uzbekistan and on international humanitarian assistance for much of its basic subsistence needs. Even if the peace agreement of June 1997 is honored, the country faces major problems in integrating refugees and former combatants into the economy. Moreover, constant political turmoil and the continued dominance by former communist officials have impeded the introduction of meaningful economic reforms. Still in a post-conflict status, the future of Tajikistan's economy and the potential for attracting foreign investment depend upon stability and progress in the peace process.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$6 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5.3% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$990 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 35% services: 40% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 46.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 1.9 million (1996)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 52%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 17%, services 31% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% includes only officially registeredunemployed; also large numbers of underemployed workers andunregistered unemployed people (December 1998)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers,cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigeratorsand freezers
Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 13.555 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 4.09% hydro: 95.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 12.555 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 3.8 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 2.8 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $740 million (1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: cotton, aluminum, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles
Exports—partners: FSU 78%, Netherlands (1994)
Imports: $810 million (1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: fuel, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, textiles, foodstuffs
Imports—partners: FSU 55%, Switzerland, UK (1994)
Debt—external: $1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $64.7 million (1995)
Currency: the Tajikistani ruble (TJR) = 100 tanga
Exchange rates: Tajikistani rubles (TJR) per US$1—998 (January 1999), 350 (January 1997), 284 (January 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 303,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not reached by the national network domestic: cable and microwave radio relay international: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics, and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations—1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast station of NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 0 (there are, however, repeaters that relay programs from Russia, Iran, and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways:total: 480 km in common carrier service; does not include industriallines (1990)
Highways:total: 13,700 kmpaved: 11,330 km (note—these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)unpaved: 2,370 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: natural gas 400 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 59 (1994 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 36 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Presidential National Guard, Security Forces (internal and border troops)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,478,551 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,211,514 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 65,001 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $19.3 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.8% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: most of the boundary with China in dispute; territorial dispute with Kyrgyzstan on northern boundary in Isfara Valley area
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; opium poppy cultivation negligible in 1998 because of government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe
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@Tanzania ————
Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, betweenKenya and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 35 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 945,090 sq kmland: 886,040 sq kmwater: 59,050 sq kmnote: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar
Area—comparative: slightly larger than twice the size ofCalifornia
Land boundaries:total: 3,402 kmborder countries: Burundi 451 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km,Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km
Coastline: 1,424 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to temperate inhighlands
Terrain: plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north,south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m
Natural resources: hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal,diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel
Land use:arable land: 3%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 40%forests and woodland: 38%other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: the tsetse fly; flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought
Environment—current issues: soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa
People
Population: 31,270,820 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44% (male 6,926,149; female 6,967,416)15-64 years: 53% (male 8,030,141; female 8,437,978)65 years and over: 3% (male 415,074; female 494,062) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.14% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 40.37 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 95.27 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.17 years male: 43.85 years female: 48.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.4 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tanzanian(s) adjective: Tanzanian
Ethnic groups: mainland—native African 99% (of which 95% areBantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting ofAsian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar—Arab, native African, mixedArab and native African
Religions: mainland—Christian 45%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs20; Zanzibar—more than 99% Muslim
Languages: Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguju (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili),English, or Arabictotal population: 67.8%male: 79.4%female: 56.8% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzaniaconventional short form: Tanzaniaformer: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar
Data code: TZ
Government type: republic
Capital: Dar es Salaamnote: some government offices have been transferred to Dodoma, whichis planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly nowmeets there on regular basis
Administrative divisions: 25 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam,Dodoma, Iringa, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro,Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma,Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, ZanzibarNorth, Zanzibar Urban/West, Ziwa Magharibinote: Ziwa Magharibi may have been renamed Kagera
Independence: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar becameindependent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united withZanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika andZanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964
National holiday: Union Day, 26 April (1964)
Constitution: 25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984
Legal system: based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November 1995); notethe president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23November 1995); Vice President Omar Ali JUMA (since 23 November1995); note—the president is both chief of state and head ofgovernmentnote: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government formatters internal to Zanzibar; Dr. Salmin AMOUR was elected to thatoffice on 22 October 1995 in a popular electioncabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, areappointed by the president from among the members of the NationalAssemblyelections: president and vice president elected on the same ballotby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NA October 2000); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: percent of vote—Benjamin William MKAPA 62%, MREMA28%, LIPUMBA 6%, CHEYO 4%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274seats—232 elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominatedby the president, five to members of the Zanzibar House ofRepresentatives; members serve five-year terms); note —in additionto enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic ofTanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland;Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make lawsespecially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 29 October-19 November 1995 (next to be held NAOctober 2000)election results: National Assembly: percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—CCM 186, CUF 24, NCCR-Mageuzi 16, CHADEMA 3, UDP 3;Zanzibar House of Representatives: percent of vote by party—NA;seats by party—CCM 26, CUF 24
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; High Court, judges appointed bythe president
Political parties and leaders: Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC,EADB, ECA, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, MONUA, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mustafa Salim NYANG'ANYI chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles R. STITH embassy: 285 Toure Drive, Dar es Salaam (temporary location) mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
Flag description: divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue
Economy
Economy—overview: Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, which accounts for 56% of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 90% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry accounts for 15% of GDP and is mainly limited to processing agricultural products and light consumer goods. The economic recovery program announced in mid-1986 has generated notable increases in agricultural production and financial support for the program by bilateral donors. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's deteriorated economic infrastructure. Growth in 1991-98 has featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Natural gas exploration in the Rufiji Delta looks promising and production could start by 2002. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment. Short-term economic progress also depends on curbing corruption.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$22.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 3.8% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$730 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 56% industry: 15% services: 29% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 51.1% (1991 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 30.2% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 13.5% (1998)
Labor force: 13.495 million
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 10% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $700 millionexpenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY98/99 est.)
Industries: primarily agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond and gold mining, oil refining, shoes, cement, textiles, wood products, fertilizer, salt
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity—production: 1.82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 12.09% hydro: 87.91% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves (Zanzibar), corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports: $952 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: coffee, manufactured goods, cotton, cashewnuts, minerals, tobacco, sisal (1996)
Exports—partners: India 9.8%, Germany 8.9%, Japan 7.8%, Malaysia6.5%, Rwanda 5.2%, Netherlands 4.7% (1997)
Imports: $1.46 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: consumer goods, machinery and transportationequipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil
Imports—partners: South Africa 12.9%, Kenya 9.6%, UK 8.7%, SaudiArabia 6.6%, Japan 4.9%, China 4.6% (1997)
Debt—external: $8.3 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $860.9 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Tanzanian shilling (TSh) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Tanzanian shillings (TSh) per US$1—668.3 (February 1999), 664.67 (1998), 612.12 (1997), 579.98 (1996), 574.76 (1995), 509.63 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 July—30 June
Communications
Telephones: 88,000 (1994)
Telephone system: fair system operating below capacity domestic: open wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 12, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 740,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (1998)
Televisions: 60,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 3,569 km (1995)narrow gauge: 2,600 km 1.000-m gauge; 969 km 1.067-m gaugenote: the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), which operates1,860 km of 1.067-m narrow gauge track between Dar es Salaam andKapiri Mposhi in Zambia (of which 969 km are in Tanzania and 891 kmare in Zambia) is not a part of Tanzania Railways Corporation;because of the difference in gauge, this system does not connect toTanzania Railways
Highways: total: 88,200 km paved: 3,704 km unpaved: 84,496 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, Lake Nyasa
Pipelines: crude oil 982 km
Ports and harbors: Bukoba, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma, Kilwa Masoko,Lindi, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pangani, Tanga, Wete, Zanzibar
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,618 GRT/26,321 DWTships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 2, passenger-cargo 2,roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 129 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 119 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 65 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Tanzanian People's Defense Force or TPDF (includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary Police Field Force Unit, Militia
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 7,119,106 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,120,617 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $21 million (FY98/99)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: dispute with Malawi over the boundary inLake Nyasa (Lake Malawi)
Illicit drugs: growing role in transshipment of Southwest andSoutheast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined forEuropean and US markets and of South Asian methaqualone bound forSouthern Africa
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@Thailand ————
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and theGulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 514,000 sq kmland: 511,770 sq kmwater: 2,230 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:total: 4,863 kmborder countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,Malaysia 506 km
Coastline: 3,219 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain: central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum,timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite
Land use:arable land: 34%permanent crops: 6%permanent pastures: 2%forests and woodland: 26%other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 44,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts
Environment—current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment—international agreements: party to: Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography—note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People
Population: 60,609,046 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24% (male 7,364,411; female 7,095,428)15-64 years: 70% (male 20,878,602; female 21,493,735)65 years and over: 6% (male 1,664,113; female 2,112,757) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 16.46 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.16 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: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 29.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.21 years male: 65.58 years female: 73.01 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups: Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions: Buddhism 95%, Muslim 3.8%, Christianity 0.5%, Hinduism0.1%, other 0.6% (1991)
Languages: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite),ethnic and regional dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.8%male: 96%female: 91.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailandconventional short form: Thailand
Data code: TH
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Bangkok
Administrative divisions: 76 provinces (changwat, singular andplural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat,Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri,Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi,Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri,Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom,Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat,Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, PathumThani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun,Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae,Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi,Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon,Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, UbonRatchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 5 December(1927)
Constitution: new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11October 1997
Legal system: based on civil law system, with influences ofcommon law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)head of government: Prime Minister CHUAN Likphai (since 15 November1997)cabinet: Council of Ministersnote: there is also a Privy Councilelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime ministerdesignated from among the members of the House of Representatives;following a national election for the House of Representatives, theleader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usuallybecomes prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (a 253-member appointed body which will be phased into a 200-member elected body starting in March 2000; members serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (currently has 391 members, but will become a 500-member body after the next election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Representatives—last held 17 November 1996 (next scheduled to be held by 17 November 2000, but may be held earlier) election results: House of Representatives—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NAP 125, DP 123, NDP 52, TNP 39, SAP 20, TCP 18, SP 8, LDP 4, MP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sandika), judges appointed by themonarch
Political parties and leaders: Thai Nation Party or TNP (ChatYoobamrung, SOPHON Petchsavang]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, ASEAN, CCC,CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,UNMIBH, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador NIT Phibunsongkhram chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard HECKLINGER embassy: 120 Wireless Road, Bangkok mailing address: APO AP 96546 consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description: five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red
Economy
Economy—overview: After months of speculative pressure on the Thai baht, the government decided to float the currency in July 1997, the symbolic beginning of the country's current economic crisis. The crisis—which began in the country's financial sector—has spread throughout the economy. After years of rapid economic growth averaging 9% earlier this decade, the Thai economy contracted 0.4% in 1997 and shrunk another 8.5% in 1998. In the years before the crisis, Thailand ran persistent current account deficits. With the depreciation of the Thai baht and the collapse of domestic demand, however, imports have fallen off sharply—by more than 33%—and Thailand posted a trade surplus of approximately $12 billion in 1998. Foreign investment for new projects, the long-time catalyst of Thailand's economic growth, has also slowed. The CHUAN government has closely adhered to the economic recovery program prescribed by the IMF. The cooperation afforded Thailand stability in the value of its currency in the second half of 1998 and helped replenish foreign reserves. Tough measures—including passage of adequate bankruptcy and foreclosure legislation as well as privatization of state-owned companies and recapitalization of the financial sector—remain undone. Bangkok is also trying to establish a social safety net for those displaced by the current economic crisis and is working to increase the quality of Thailand's labor force.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$369 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -8.5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,100 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 39% services: 49% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 13.1% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 37.1% (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 32.6 million (1997 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 54%, industry 15%, services (including government) 31% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.5% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $24 billionexpenditures: $25 billion, including capital expenditures of $8billion (FY96/97)
Industries: tourism; textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing, such as jewelry; electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics; world's second-largest tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate: -10% (1998)
Electricity—production: 82 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 91.46% hydro: 8.54% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 82.561 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 79 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 640 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Exports: $51.6 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports—commodities: manufactures 82% (computers and parts 16%),agricultural products and fisheries 14% (1997)
Exports—partners: US 19.6%, Japan 14.9%, Singapore 11%, Hong Kong5.7%, Malaysia 4.3%, UK 3.7% (1997)
Imports: $73.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports—commodities: capital goods 50%, intermediate goods andraw materials 22%, consumer goods 10.2%, fuels 8.7% (1997)
Imports—partners: Japan 25.6%, US 13.9%, Singapore 5%, Taiwan4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1% (1997)
Debt—external: $90 billion (1997)
Economic aid—recipient: $1.732 billion (1995)
Currency: 1 baht (B) = 100 satang
Exchange rates: baht (B) per US$1—36.624 (January 1999), 41.359 (1998), 31.364 (1997), 25.343 (1996), 24.915 (1995), 25.150 (1994)
Fiscal year: 1 October—30 September
Communications
Telephones: 1,553,200 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: service to general public adequate, but investments in technological upgrades reduced by recession; bulk of service to government activities provided by multichannel cable and microwave radio relay network domestic: microwave radio relay and multichannel cable; domestic satellite system being developed international: satellite earth stations—2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 200 (in government-controlled network), FM 100 (in government-controlled network), shortwave 0
Radios: 10.75 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5 (all in Bangkok; in addition, there are 131 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.3 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 4,623 km narrow gauge: 4,623 km 1.000-m gauge (99 km double track)
Highways: total: 64,600 km paved: 62,985 km unpaved: 1,615 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 3,999 km principal waterways; 3,701 km with navigable depths of 0.9 m or more throughout the year; numerous minor waterways navigable by shallow-draft native craft
Pipelines: petroleum products 67 km; natural gas 350 km