Elevation extremes: lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m highest point: Jabal ash Shanabi 1,544 m
Natural resources: petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc,salt
Land use:arable land: 19%permanent crops: 13%permanent pastures: 20%forests and woodland: 4%other: 44% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 3,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and presents human health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography—note: strategic location in central Mediterranean
People
Population: 9,513,603 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (male 1,513,296; female 1,417,166)15-64 years: 63% (male 3,006,029; female 3,018,411)65 years and over: 6% (male 283,026; female 275,675) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.39% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 19.72 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.05 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 31.38 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.35 years male: 71.95 years female: 74.86 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.38 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups: Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions: Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages: Arabic (official and one of the languages ofcommerce), French (commerce)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 66.7%male: 78.6%female: 54.6% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Tunisiaconventional short form: Tunisialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyahlocal short form: Tunis
Data code: TS
Government type: republic
Capital: Tunis
Administrative divisions: 23 governorates; Al Kaf, Al Mahdiyah,Al Munastir, Al Qasrayn, Al Qayrawan, Aryanah, Bajah, Banzart, Bin'Arus, Jundubah, Madanin, Nabul, Qabis, Qafsah, Qibili, Safaqis,Sidi Bu Zayd, Silyanah, Susah, Tatawin, Tawzar, Tunis, Zaghwan
Independence: 20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday: National Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution: 1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988
Legal system: based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November1987)head of government: Prime Minister Hamed KAROUI (since 26 September1989)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelectedwithout opposition; percent of vote—Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 99%
Legislative branch: unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlisal-Nuwaab (163 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 20 March 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)election results: percent of vote by party—RCD 97.7%, MDS 1.0%,others 1.3%; seats by party—RCD 144, MDS 10, others 9; note—thegovernment changed the electoral code to guarantee that theopposition won seats
Judicial branch: Court of Cassation (Cour de Cassation)
Political parties and leaders: Constitutional Democratic Rallyparties are legal, including the Communist Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: the Islamic fundamentalistparty, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB,AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, BSEC (observer), CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,ITU, MINURCA, MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW,OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Noureddine MEJDOUB chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robin L. RAPHEL embassy: 144 Avenue de la Liberte, 1002 Tunis-Belvedere mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy
Economy—overview: Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 4.0% in 1993-97 and reached 5.0% in 1998. Inflation has been moderate. Growth in tourism and increased trade have been key elements in this steady growth. Tunisia's association agreement with the European Union entered into force on 1 March 1998, the first such accord between the EU and Mediterranean countries to be activated. Under the agreement Tunisia will gradually remove barriers to trade with the EU over the next decade. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, and improvements in government efficiency are among the challenges for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$49 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$5,200 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 28% services: 58% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 14.1% (1990 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 30.7% (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 3.3 million (1995 est.)note: shortage of skilled labor
Labor force—by occupation: services 55%, industry 23%,agriculture 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15.6% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.8 billionexpenditures: $6.5 billion, including capital expenditures to $1.4billion (1998 est.)
Industries: petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and ironore), tourism, textiles, footwear, food, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: 4.2% (1997 est.)
Electricity—production: 7.535 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.54% hydro: 0.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 7.616 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 81 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: olives, dates, oranges, almonds, grain, sugar beets, grapes; poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $5.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: hydrocarbons, textiles, agriculturalproducts, phosphates and chemicals
Exports—partners: EU 80%, North African countries 6%, Asia 4%, US1% (1996)
Imports: $7.9 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: industrial goods and equipment 57%,hydrocarbons 13%, food 12%, consumer goods
Imports—partners: EU countries 80%, North African countries 5.5%,Asia 5.5%, US 5% (1996)
Debt—external: $12.1 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $933.2 million (1995); note?ODA, $90 million (1998 est.)
Currency: 1 Tunisian dinar (TD) = 1,000 millimes
Exchange rates: Tunisian dinars (TD) per US$1—1.1027 (December 1998), 1.1393 (1998), 1.1059 (1997), 0.9734 (1996), 0.9458 (1995), 1.0116 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 560,000 (1996 est.); 3,185 cellular telephone subscribers (1998 est.)
Telephone system: the system is above the African average and is continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access is available through two private service providers licensed by the government domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat with back-up control station; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations: AM 7, FM 8, shortwave 1 (1998 est.)
Radios: 1.7 million (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 19 (these are network stations; there are some additional stations of low power) (1997)
Televisions: 650,000 (1998 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 2,260 kmstandard gauge: 492 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,758 km 1.000-m gaugedual gauge: 10 km 1.000-m and 1.435-m gauges (three rails) (1993est.)
Highways: total: 23,100 km paved: 18,226 km unpaved: 4,874 km (1996 est.)
Pipelines: crude oil 797 km; petroleum products 86 km; naturalgas 742 km
Ports and harbors: Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Sfax, Sousse,Tunis, Zarzis
Merchant marine:total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 188,345 GRT/215,749 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 5, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gastanker 1, oil tanker 3, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 1(1998 est.)
Airports: 32 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 14over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 182,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 8under 914 m: 7 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, paramilitary forces,National Guard
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 2,601,928 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,486,964 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 99,597 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $356 million (1999)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: maritime boundary dispute with Libya; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration
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@Turkey ———
Geography
Location: southwestern Asia (that part west of the Bosporus issometimes included with Europe), bordering the Black Sea, betweenBulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and theMediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 35 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 780,580 sq kmland: 770,760 sq kmwater: 9,820 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 2,627 kmborder countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km,Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 331 km, Syria 822 km
Coastline: 7,200 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundaryagreed upon with the former USSRterritorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and inMediterranean Sea
Climate: temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters;harsher in interior
Terrain: mostly mountains; narrow coastal plain; high centralplateau (Anatolia)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m
Natural resources: antimony, coal, chromium, mercury, copper,borate, sulfur, iron ore
Land use:arable land: 32%permanent crops: 4%permanent pastures: 16%forests and woodland: 26%other: 22% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 36,740 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: very severe earthquakes, especially in northernTurkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van
Environment—current issues: water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic
Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Environmental Modification
Geography—note: strategic location controlling the TurkishStraits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black andAegean Seas
People
Population: 65,599,206 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30% (male 10,148,457; female 9,781,452)15-64 years: 64% (male 21,255,506; female 20,560,070)65 years and over: 6% (male 1,775,164; female 2,078,557) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.57% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.92 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.27 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: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 35.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.29 years male: 70.81 years female: 75.88 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Turk(s) adjective: Turkish
Ethnic groups: Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20%
Religions: Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (Christian andJews)
Languages: Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.3%male: 91.7%female: 72.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Turkeyconventional short form: Turkeylocal long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyetilocal short form: Turkiye
Data code: TU
Government type: republican parliamentary democracy
Capital: Ankara
Administrative divisions: 80 provinces (iller, singular—il);Adana, Adiyaman, Afyon, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya,Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik,Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum,Denizli, Diyarbakir, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir,Gazi Antep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Icel, Igdir,Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahraman Maras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli,Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir,Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanli Urfa, Siirt,Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldaknote: Karabuk, Kilis, Osmaniye and Yalova are the four newestprovinces; the US Board on Geographic Names is awaiting an officialTurkish administrative map for verification of the boundaries
Independence: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the OttomanEmpire)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Declaration of the Republic,29 October (1923)
Constitution: 7 November 1982
Legal system: derived from various European continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Suleyman DEMIREL (since 16 May 1993)head of government: Prime Minister Bulent ECEVIT (since 11 January1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on thenomination of the prime ministernote: there is also a National Security Council that serves as anadvisory body to the president and the cabinetelections: president elected by the National Assembly for aseven-year term; election last held 16 May 1993 (next scheduled tobe held NA May 2000); prime minister and deputy prime ministerappointed by the presidentelection results: Suleyman DEMIREL elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote—54%
Legislative branch: unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 24 December 1995 (next to be held 18 April 1999) election results: percent of vote by party—RP 21.38%, DYP 19.18%, ANAP 19.65%, DSP 14.64%, CHP 10.71%, independent 0.48%; seats by party—RP 158, DYP 135, ANAP 133, DSP 75, CHP 49; note—seats held by various parties are subject to change due to defections, creation of new parties, and ouster or death of sitting deputies; seating by party as of 1 January 1999: FP 144, ANAP 137, DYP 97, DSP 61, CHP 55, DTP 12, BBP 8, MHP 3, DP 1, DEPAR 1, independents 20, vacant 11
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges appointed by the president; Court of Appeals, judges are elected by the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors
Political parties and leaders: Motherland Party or ANAP [Mesutoutlawed on 22 February 1998
Political pressure groups and leaders: Turkish Confederation ofIndependent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD
International organization participation: AsDB, BIS, BSEC, CCC,CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NATO,NEA, OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNOMIG, UNPREDEP, UNRWA, UPU, WEU (associate), WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Baki ILKIN chancery: 1714 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark R. PARRIS embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Ankara mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823 consulate(s) general: Istanbul consulate(s): Adana
Flag description: red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening
Economy
Economy—overview: Turkey has a dynamic economy that is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with traditional village agriculture and crafts. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. Its most important industry—and largest exporter—is textiles and clothing, which is almost entirely in private hands. The economic situation in recent years has been marked by rapid growth coupled with partial success in implementing structural reform measures. Inflation declined to 70% in 1998, down from 99% in 1997, but the public sector fiscal deficit probably remained near 10% of GDP—due in large part to interest payments which accounted for 42% of central government spending in 1998. The government enacted a new tax law and speeded up privatization in 1998 but made no progress on badly needed social security reform. Ankara is trying to increase trade with other countries in the region yet most of Turkey's trade is still with OECD countries. Despite the implementation in January 1996 of a customs union with the EU, foreign direct investment in the country remains low—about $1 billion annually—perhaps because potential investors are concerned about still-high inflation and the unsettled political situation. Economic growth will remain about the same in 1999; inflation should decline further.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$425.4 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.8% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$6,600 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14.4% industry: 28.7% services: 56.9% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 70% (1998)
Labor force: 22.7 million (April 1998)note: about 1.5 million Turks work abroad (1994)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 42.5%, services 34.5%,industry 23% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $44.4 billionexpenditures: $58.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.7billion (1998)
Industries: textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper
Industrial production growth rate: 4.1% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 103 billion kWh (1997)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0.5% (1997)
Electricity—consumption: 91.16 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 300 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 265 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock
Exports: $31 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: textiles and apparel 30%, foodstuffs 15%,iron and steel products 13% (1997)
Exports—partners: Germany 20%, US 9%, Russia 5%, UK 6%, Italy 6%(1998)
Imports: $47 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment 50%, fuels,minerals, foodstuffs (1997)
Imports—partners: Germany 16%, Italy 9%, US 9%, Russia 6%, UK 6%,France 2% (1997)
Debt—external: $93.4 billion (1998)
Economic aid—recipient: ODA, $195 million (1993)
Currency: Turkish lira (TL)
Exchange rates: Turkish liras (TL) per US$1—331,400 (January 1999), 260,724 (1998), 151,865 (1997), 81,405 (1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 17 million (in addition, there are 1.5 millioncellular telephone subscribers) (1997 est.)
Telephone system: fair domestic and international systems;undergoing modernization and refurbishment programsdomestic: cable; AMPS standard cellular system in Ashkhabad withplans for expansioninternational: 12 satellite earth stations—Intelsat (AtlanticOcean), Eutelsat, and Inmarsat (Indian and Atlantic Ocean regions);3 submarine fiber-optic cables (1996); connected internationally bythe Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line that became operational in1998
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there are 36 national broadcast stations, 108 regional broadcast stations, and 1,058 local broadcast stations (1996)
Radios: 9.4 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 69 (in addition, there are 476 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 10.53 million (1993 est.)
Transportation
Railways: total: 10,386 km standard gauge: 10,386 km 1.435-m gauge (1,088 km electrified)
Highways:total: 382,397 kmpaved: 95,599 km (including 1,560 km of expressways)unpaved: 286,798 km (1997 est.)
Waterways: about 1,200 km
Pipelines: crude oil 1,738 km; petroleum products 2,321 km;natural gas 708 km
Ports and harbors: Gemlik, Hopa, Iskenderun, Istanbul, Izmir,Kocaeli (Izmit), Icel (Mersin), Samsun, Trabzon
Merchant marine:total: 531 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,913,171GRT/9,832,994 DWTships by type: bulk 159, cargo 239, chemical tanker 32, combinationbulk 5, combination ore/oil 6, container 12, liquefied gas tanker 5,oil tanker 36, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 3,roll-on/roll-off cargo 21, short-sea passenger 9, specialized tanker3 (1998 est.)
Airports: 117 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 81 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 5 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 26 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Land Forces, Navy (includes Naval Air andNaval Infantry), Air Force, Coast Guard, Gendarmerie
Military manpower—military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 18,168,658 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 11,024,173 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 659,338 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $6.737 billion (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 4.3% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Greece; dispute with downstream riparian states (Syria and Iraq) over water development plans for the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers; traditional demands on former Armenian lands in Turkey have subsided
Illicit drugs: major transit route for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish to Western Europe and—to a far lesser extent the US—via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
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@Turkmenistan ——————
Geography
Location: Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 60 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total: 488,100 sq kmland: 488,100 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:total: 3,736 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 kmnote: Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical desert
Terrain: flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m (note—Sarygamysh Koli is alake in north eastern Turkmenistan whose water levels fluctuatewidely; at its shallowest, its level is -110 m; it is presently at-60 m, 20 m above Vpadina Akchanaya)highest point: Ayrybaba 3,139 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, sulfur, salt
Land use:arable land: 3%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 63%forests and woodland: 8%other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: landlocked
People
Population: 4,366,383 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38% (male 845,584; female 813,223)15-64 years: 58% (male 1,243,031; female 1,283,985)65 years and over: 4% (male 68,496; female 112,064) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.58% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 25.91 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.77 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 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: 0.61 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 73.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.11 years male: 57.48 years female: 64.91 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Turkmen(s) adjective: Turkmen
Ethnic groups: Turkmen 77%, Uzbek 9.2%, Russian 6.7%, Kazakh 2%, other 5.1% (1995)
Religions: Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%
Languages: Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 99%female: 97% (1989 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Turkmenistanlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Turkmenistanformer: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: TX
Government type: republic
Capital: Ashgabat
Administrative divisions: 5 welayatlar (singular—welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Nebitdag), Dashhowuz Welayaty (formerly Tashauz), Lebap Welayaty (Charjew), Mary Welayaty note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1991)
Constitution: adopted 18 May 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of MinistersSaparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first directpresidential election occurred); note—the president is both thechief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet ofMinisters Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the firstdirect presidential election occurred); note—the president is boththe chief of state and head of government; Deputy Chairmen of theCabinet of Ministers Mukhamed ABALAKOV (since NA), OrazgeldyAYDOGDIYEV (since NA 1992), Hudaayguly HALYKOV (since NA 1996),Rejep SAPAROV (since NA 1992), Boris SHIKHMURADOV (since NA 1993),Batyr SARJAYEV (since NA 1993), Ilaman SHIKHIYEV (since NA 1995),Yolly GURBANMURADOV (since NA 1997), Saparmurat NURIYEV (since NA1997)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentnote: NIYAZOV has been asked by various local groups, most recentlyon 21 December 1998 at the Second Congress of the Democratic Party,to be "president for life," but he has declined, saying the statuswould require an amendment to the constitutionelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held NA 2002;note—extension of President NIYAZOV's term for an additional fiveyears overwhelmingly approved by national referendum held 15 January1994); deputy chairmen of the cabinet of ministers are appointed bythe presidentelection results: Saparmurat NIYAZOV elected president withoutopposition; percent of vote—Saparmurat NIYAZOV 99.5%
Legislative branch: under the 1992 constitution, there are two parliamentary bodies, a unicameral People's Council or Halk Maslahaty (more than 100 seats, some of which are elected by popular vote and some of which are appointed; meets infrequently) and a unicameral Assembly or Majlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: People's Council—NA; Assembly—last held 11 December 1994 (next to be held NA December 1999) election results: Assembly—percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—Democratic Party 45, other 5; note—all 50 preapproved by President NIYAZOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party of Turkmenistan note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries
International organization participation: CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD,ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, IOM (observer), ISO(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Halil UGUR chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Steven R. MANN embassy: 9 Pushkin Street, Ashgabat mailing address: use embassy street address
Flag description: green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe
Economy
Economy—overview: Turkmenistan is largely desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton, making it the world's tenth largest producer. It also possesses the world's fifth largest reserves of natural gas and substantial oil resources. Until the end of 1993, Turkmenistan had experienced less economic disruption than other former Soviet states because its economy received a boost from higher prices for oil and gas and a sharp increase in hard currency earnings. In 1994, Russia's refusal to export Turkmen gas to hard currency markets and mounting debts of its major customers in the former USSR for gas deliveries contributed to a sharp fall in industrial production and caused the budget to shift from a surplus to a slight deficit. The economy bottomed out in 1996, but high inflation continued. Furthermore, with an authoritarian ex-communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. In 1996, the government set in place a stabilization program aimed at a unified and market-based exchange rate, allocation of government credits by auction, and strict limits on budget deficits. Privatization goals remain limited. Turkmenistan is working hard to open new gas export channels through Iran and Turkey to Europe, but these will take many years to realize. In 1998 Turkmenistan faced revenue shortfalls due to the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and obligations on extensive short-term external debt.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 5% (1998)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,630 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 50% services: 32% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 26.9% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 19.8% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 2.34 million (1996)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry and construction 19%, other 37% (1996)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $521 millionexpenditures: $548 million, including capital expenditures of $83million (1996 est.)
Industries: natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, foodprocessing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 9.484 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 99.96% hydro: 0.04% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 7.134 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 2.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 350 million kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cotton, grain; livestock
Exports: $689 million (1997 est.)
Exports—commodities: natural gas, cotton, petroleum products,textiles, electricity, carpets
Exports—partners: FSU, Hong Kong, Switzerland, US, Germany,Turkey (1996)
Imports: $1.1 billion (1997 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and parts, grain and food, plastics and rubber, consumer durables, textiles
Imports—partners: FSU, US, Turkey, Germany, Cyprus (1996)
Debt—external: $1.7 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $27.2 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Turkmen manat (TMM) = 100 tenesi
Exchange rates: manats per US$1—5,350 (January 1999), 4,070(January 1997), 2,400 (January 1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: NA
Telephone system: poorly developeddomestic: NAinternational: linked by cable and microwave radio relay to otherCIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to theMoscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link fromAshgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabatswitches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat;satellite earth stations—1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations: 1 state-owned radio broadcast stationof NA type
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 3 (much programming relayed fromRussia and Turkey) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: total: 2,187 km broad gauge: 2,187 km 1.520-m gauge (1996 est.)
Highways:total: 24,000 kmpaved: 19,488 km (note—these roads are said to be hard-surfaced,meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)unpaved: 4,512 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: the Amu Darya is an important inland waterway
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; natural gas 4,400 km
Ports and harbors: Turkmenbashy
Merchant marine:total: 1 oil tanker (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,896 GRT/3,389 DWT(1998 est.)
Airports: 64 (1994 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 22 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1994 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 35 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: Ministry of Defense (Army, Air and AirDefense, Navy, Border Troops, and Internal Troops), National Guard
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 1,110,606 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 901,735 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 45,050 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $88 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 3% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined among Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivator of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; limited government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia to Russia and Western Europe; also a transshipment point for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan
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@Turks and Caicos Islands ————————————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the North AtlanticOcean, southeast of The Bahamas
Geographic coordinates: 21 45 N, 71 35 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 430 sq kmland: 430 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 389 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny andrelatively dry
Terrain: low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangroveswamps
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Natural resources: spiny lobster, conch
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: NA%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: NA%other: 98% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes
Environment—current issues: limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: 30 islands (eight inhabited)
People
Population: 16,863 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32% (male 2,777; female 2,697)15-64 years: 63% (male 5,619; female 5,085)65 years and over: 5% (male 305; female 380) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.65% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 26.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.86 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.11 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.35 years male: 70.4 years female: 74.4 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: none adjective: none
Ethnic groups: black
Religions: Baptist 41.2%, Methodist 18.9%, Anglican 18.3%,Seventh-Day Adventist 1.7%, other 19.9% (1980)
Languages: English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 98%male: 99%female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
Data code: TK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)
Constitution: introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986;restored and revised 5 March 1988
Legal system: based on laws of England and Wales, with a smallnumber adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953),represented by Governor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January1995)cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members andfive appointed by the governor from among the members of theLegislative Councilelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, ofwhich 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December1999)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—PDM 8,PNP 4, independent (Norman SAUNDERS) 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Progressive National Party or PNP
International organization participation: Caricom (associate),CDB, Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofthe UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territoryof the UK)
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus
Economy
Economy—overview: The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US was the leading source of tourists in 1996, accounting for more than half of the 87,000 visitors. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$117 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$7,700 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (1995)
Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism and financial and other services (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $47 millionexpenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997/98 est.)
Industries: tourism, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 5 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish
Exports: $4.7 million (1993)
Exports—commodities: lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells
Exports—partners: US, UK
Imports: $46.6 million (1993)
Imports—commodities: food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials
Imports—partners: US, UK
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $5.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1,359 (1988 est.)
Telephone system: fair cable and radiotelephone servicesdomestic: NAinternational: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station—1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 7,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; cable television is established) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 121 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 97 km
Ports and harbors: Grand Turk, Providenciales
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 7 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US
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