Televisions: 1,131,065 (1996)
Transportation
Railways: total: 2,994 km standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge (921 km closed) (1997)
Highways: total: 8,420 km paved: 7,578 km unpaved: 842 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km; used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft
Ports and harbors: Fray Bentos, Montevideo, Nueva Palmira,Paysandu, Punta del Este, Colonia, Piriapolis
Merchant marine:total: 2 oil tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,042 GRT/83,684DWT (1998 est.)
Airports: 65 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 33 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, CoastGuard, Marines), Air Force, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 806,451 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 653,796 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $172 million (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 0.9% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: two short sections of the boundary with Brazil are in dispute—Arroyo de la Invernada (Arroio Invernada) area of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the islands at the confluence of the Rio Cuareim (Rio Quarai) and the Uruguay River
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@Uzbekistan —————
Geography
Location: Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States
Area:total: 447,400 sq kmland: 425,400 sq kmwater: 22,000 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 6,221 km border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline: 0 kmnote: Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea witha 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims: none (doubly landlocked)
Climate: mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain: mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Sirdaryo (Syr Darya), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium,silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:arable land: 9%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 46%forests and woodland: 3%other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: drying up of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtectionsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography—note: along with Liechtenstein, one of the only twodoubly landlocked countries in the world
People
Population: 24,102,473 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37% (male 4,556,973; female 4,413,617)15-64 years: 58% (male 6,938,090; female 7,068,839)65 years and over: 5% (male 443,604; female 681,350) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.32% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 23.43 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.44 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.91 years male: 60.29 years female: 67.71 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.82 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uzbekistani(s) adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%,Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other3%
Languages: Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (yearend 1996)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistanconventional short form: Uzbekistanlocal long form: Uzbekiston Respublikasilocal short form: noneformer: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Data code: UZ
Government type: republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch; executive power concentrated in the presidency
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions: 12 wiloyatlar (singular—wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, whenhe was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December1995) and 10 deputy prime ministerscabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president withapproval of the Supreme Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA January2000; note—extension of President KARIMOV's term for an additionalfour years overwhelmingly approved—99.6% of total vote in favor—bynational referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and allother ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Islom KARIMOV elected president; percent ofvote—Islom KARIMOV 86%, Muhammed SOLIH 12%, other 2%
Legislative branch: unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis(250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA December1999)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12,other 31; note—seating following the final runoff elections wereheld 22 January 1995: People's Democratic Party 69, FatherlandProgress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120note: all parties in parliament support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by thepresident and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party or NDPYULDASHEV, chairman]; Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Partysecretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC,EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115 mailing address: use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy
Economy—overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 10% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. It was one of the poorest areas of the former Soviet Union with more than 60% of its population living in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's third largest cotton exporter, a major producer of gold and natural gas, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Faced with high rates of inflation, however, the government began to reform in mid-1994, by introducing tighter monetary policies, expanding privatization, slightly reducing the role of the state in the economy, and improving the environment for foreign investors. Nevertheless, the state continues to be a dominating influence in the economy, and reforms have so far failed to bring about much-needed structural changes. The IMF suspended Uzbekistan's $185 million standby arrangement in late 1996 because of governmental steps that made impossible fulfillment of Fund conditions. Uzbekistan has responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by tightening export and currency controls within its already largely closed economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$59.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 1% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 27% services: 47% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 40% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 11.9 million (1998 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture and forestry 44%, industry20%, services 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 5% plus another 10% underemployed (December1996 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.4 billionexpenditures: $4.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1billion (1997 est.)
Industries: textiles, food processing, machine building,metallurgy, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (1998)
Electricity—production: 47.9 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 84.18% hydro: 15.82% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 43.885 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 5.6 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 6.5 billion kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Exports: $3.8 billion (1998)
Exports—commodities: cotton, gold, natural gas, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, autos
Exports—partners: Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe, Western Europe
Imports: $4.1 billion (1998)
Imports—commodities: grain, machinery and parts, consumerdurables, other foods
Imports—partners: principally other FSU, Czech Republic, WesternEurope
Debt—external: $2.6 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $276.6 million (1995)
Currency: Uzbekistani som (UKS)
Exchange rates: Uzbekistani soms (UKS) per US$1—111.9 (February 1999), 110.95 (December 1998), 75.8 (September 1997), 41.1 (1996), 30.2 (1995), 11.4 (1994), 1.0 (1993)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.475 million (1998 est.)
Telephone system: poorly developed; ambitiously engaged in telecommunications modernization domestic: in 1998 there were six cellular networks operating in Uzbekistan; 4 GSM, 1 D-AMPS, 1 AMPS standard international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; new Intelsat links to Tokyo (Japan) and Ankara (Turkey) give Uzbekistan international access independent of Russian facilities; satellite earth stations—NA Orbita and NA Intelsat; Trans-Asia-Europe Fiber-Optic Line
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA; note—there are 12 radio broadcast stations including one state-owned broadcast station of NA type and four independent stations
Radios: 29,016,870
Television broadcast stations: 4 (in addition, there are two repeater stations that relay Russian ORT programs and Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tadzhik programs) (1997)
Televisions: 24,497,850
Transportation
Railways:total: 3,380 km in common carrier service; does not includeindustrial linesbroad gauge: 3,380 km 1.520-m gauge (300 km electrified) (1993)
Highways:total: 81,600 kmpaved: 71,237 km (note—these roads are said to be hard surfaced,meaning that some are paved and some are all-weather gravel surfaced)unpaved: 10,363 km dirt (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,100 (1990)
Pipelines: crude oil 250 km; petroleum products 40 km; natural gas 810 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Termiz (Amu Darya river)
Airports: 3 (1997 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, SecurityForces (internal and border troops), National Guard
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 6,172,436 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,012,944 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 254,114 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $200 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1.4% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
Illicit drugs: limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and very small amounts of opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption, almost entirely eradicated by an effective government eradication program; increasingly used as transshipment point for illicit drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Western Europe and for acetic anhydride destined for Afghanistan
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@Vanuatu ———-
Geography
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 14,760 sq kmland: 14,760 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes more than 80 islands
Area—comparative: slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,528 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain: mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:arable land: 2%permanent crops: 10%permanent pastures: 2%forests and woodland: 75%other: 11% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: tropical cyclones or typhoons (January toApril); volcanism causes minor earthquakes
Environment—current issues: a majority of the population does nothave access to a potable and reliable supply of water; deforestation
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Law of the Sea
People
Population: 189,036 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39% (male 37,040; female 35,760)15-64 years: 58% (male 56,649; female 53,799)65 years and over: 3% (male 3,125; female 2,663) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.02% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 28.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 8.26 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: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.17 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.58 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 61.44 years male: 59.41 years female: 63.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups: indigenous Melanesian 94%, French 4%, Vietnamese,Chinese, Pacific Islanders
Religions: Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Catholic 15%,indigenous beliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church ofChrist 3.8%, other 15.7%
Languages: English (official), French (official), pidgin (knownas Bislama or Bichelama)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 53%male: 57%female: 48% (1979 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatuconventional short form: Vanuatuformer: New Hebrides
Data code: NH
Government type: republic
Capital: Port-Vila
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma,Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution: 30 July 1980
Legal system: unified system being created from former dualFrench and British systems
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jean Marie LEYE (since 2 March 1994)head of government: Prime Minister Donald KALPOKAS (since 30 March1998); Deputy Prime Minister Willie JIMMY (since 19 October 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,responsible to Parliamentelections: president elected by an electoral college consisting ofParliament and the presidents of the regional councils for afive-year term; election for president last held 2 March 1994 (nextto be held NA 1999); following legislative elections, the leader ofthe majority party or majority coalition is usually elected primeminister by Parliament from among its members; election for primeminister last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)election results: Jean Marie LEYE elected president; percent ofelectoral college vote—NA; Donald KALPOKAS elected prime minister byParliament with a total of 35 votes; other candidate, Rialuth SergeVOHOR, received 17 votesnote: the general legislative elections in November 1995 did notgive a majority to any of the political parties; since the election,there have been four changes of government—all of which have beencoalitions formed by Parliamentary vote; Rialuth Serge VOHOR wasprime minister from November 1995 until he resigned 7 February 1996when faced with a no-confidence vote in Parliament; Maxime CarlotKORMAN was then elected prime minister and served until he wasousted in a no-confidence motion on 30 September 1996; VOHOR wasthen elected prime minister for a second time; as a result oflegislative elections in March 1998, KALPOKAS was elected primeminister and formed a coalition government with Father LINI'sNational United Party (NUP)
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 6 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—VP 18, UMP 12, NUP 11, other and independent 11; note—political party associations are fluid; there have been four changes of government since the November 1995 elections note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of custom and land
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission
Political parties and leaders: Union of Moderate Parties or UMP
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C,ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF,IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC,SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: Vanuatu does not have anembassy in the US, it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to theUN
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have anembassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accreditedto Vanuatu
Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scale agriculture which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$240 million (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,300 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 13% services: 64% (1996)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, services 32%, industry 3% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $94.4 millionexpenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate: 6.4% (1996 est.)
Electricity—production: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 30 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Exports: $30 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports—commodities: copra, beef, cocoa, timber, coffee
Exports—partners: Japan 28%, Spain 21%, Germany 14%, UK 7%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, Australia, New Caledonia (1996 est.)
Imports: $97 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Imports—commodities: machines and vehicles, food and beverages,basic manufactures, raw materials and fuels, chemicals
Imports—partners: Japan 47%, Australia 23%, Singapore 8%, NewZealand 6%, France 3%, Fiji (1996 est.)
Debt—external: $63 million (1996 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $45.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 vatu (VT) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: vatu (VT) per US$1—129.66 (January 1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995), 116.41 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 4,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: 49,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1996 est.)
Ports and harbors: Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine:total: 82 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,327,078 GRT/1,764,558DWTships by type: bulk 31, cargo 24, chemical tanker 3, combinationbulk 1, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 11,vehicle carrier 6note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 15countries among which are ships of Japan 28, India 10, US 10, Greece3, Hong Kong 3, Australia 2, Canada 1, China 1, and France 1 (1998est.)
Airports: 32 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 291,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 17 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: no regular military forces; Vanuatu PoliceForce (VPF; includes the paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claims Matthew and Hunter Islands east ofNew Caledonia
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@Venezuela ————-
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references: South America, Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 912,050 sq kmland: 882,050 sq kmwater: 30,000 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline: 2,800 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 15 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain: Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold,bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds
Land use:arable land: 4%permanent crops: 1%permanent pastures: 20%forests and woodland: 34%other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,900 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: subject to floods, rockslides, mud slides; periodic droughts
Environment—current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast
Environment—international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography—note: on major sea and air routes linking North andSouth America
People
Population: 23,203,466 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33% (male 3,988,499; female 3,741,568)15-64 years: 62% (male 7,231,546; female 7,184,769)65 years and over: 5% (male 484,071; female 573,013) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.25 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.93 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.23 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 26.51 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.95 years male: 69.97 years female: 76.16 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.61 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Venezuelan(s) adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German,African, indigenous people
Religions: nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%
Languages: Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.1%male: 91.8%female: 90.3% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Venezuelaconventional short form: Venezuelalocal long form: Republica de Venezuelalocal short form: Venezuela
Data code: VE
Government type: republic
Capital: Caracas
Administrative divisions: 22 states (estados, singular—estado),1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Yaracuy, Zulia note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence: 5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution: 23 January 1961
Legal system: based on Napoleonic code; judicial review of legislative acts in Cassation Court only; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999);note—the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); note—the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias elected president; percent ofvote—NA%
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress of the Republic orCongreso de la Republica consists of the Senate or Senado (52 seats,two from each state and the federal district (46), one for each ofthe retired presidents, and others representing minorities (6);members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) andChamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (207 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate—last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NADecember 2003); Chamber of Deputies—last held 6 December 1998 (nextto be held NA December 2003)election results: Senate—percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—AD 16, COPEI 14, Causa R 9, National Convergence 5, MAS 3,independents 5; note—two former presidents (1 from AD, 1 from COPEI)hold lifetime Senate seats; Chamber of Deputies—percent of vote byparty—AD 25.6%, COPEI 24.6%, MAS 10.6%, National Convergence 8.7%,Causa R 19.3%; seats by party—AD 53, COPEI 51, Causa R 40, MAS 22,National Convergence 18, other 23
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema deJusticia), magistrates are elected by both chambers in joint sessionfor a nine-year term, one-third are reelected every three years
Political parties and leaders: National Convergence orCampins, president, and Donald RAMIREZ, secretary general];ALFARO Ucero, secretary general]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS
Political pressure groups and leaders: FEDECAMARAS, aconservative business group; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers orCTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action); VECINOSgroups
International organization participation: CAN, Caricom(observer), CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G- 3, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,LAIA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John Francis MAISTOembassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas1060mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
Economy
Economy—overview: The petroleum sector dominates the economy, accounting for roughly a third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and more than half of government operating revenues. As a result, the steep downturn in international oil prices has had a severe impact on the economy; fiscal cuts spurred by the loss of revenues, high interest rates, and the sharp downturn in export earnings drove the economy into recession in 1998. The recession continued into 1999 with oil prices forecast to stay relatively low, but rising. Although the government has pursued moderate austerity measures to address the downturn in revenues, Venezuela's ongoing reform program has largely stalled. Pressure on the bolivar—overvalued by as much as 40%—was also significant through much of 1998, increasing the probability of an adjustment of the currency in 1999. Newly elected President Hugo CHAVEZ will be hard pressed to address Venezuela's many economic ills. He has promised to strike a balance between reforms designed to address the structural deformities of the economy and addressing declining living standards. CHAVEZ has sought to play down the populism that marked his political campaign for the presidency in an effort to allay investor concerns. The wide range of viewpoints represented on CHAVEZ's economic team is likely to make rapid implementation of a coherent policy difficult.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$194.5 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: -0.9% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$8,500 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 63% services: 33% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: 31.3% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5% highest 10%: 35.6% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29.9% (1998)
Labor force: 9.2 million
Labor force—by occupation: services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 11.5% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $11.99 billionexpenditures: $11.48 billion, including capital expenditures of $3billion (1996 est.)
Industries: petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials,food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate: 0.5% (1995 est.)
Electricity—production: 73 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 20.55% hydro: 79.45% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 72.85 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 150 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $16.9 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports—commodities: petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures (1998)
Exports—partners: US and Puerto Rico 57%, Colombia, Brazil (1997)
Imports: $12.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports—commodities: raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials (1998)
Imports—partners: US 53%, Japan, Colombia, Italy, Germany (1997)
Debt—external: $26.5 billion (1996)
Economic aid—recipient: $50.8 million (1995)
Currency: 1 bolivar (Bs) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: bolivares (Bs) per US$1—570.267 (January 1999), 547.556 (1998), 488.635 (1997), 417.333 (1996), 176.843 (1995), 148.503 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 1.44 million (1987 est.)
Telephone system: modern and expanding domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations international: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth station—1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 181, FM 0, shortwave 26
Radios: 9.04 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 66 (in addition, there are 45 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 3.3 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 584 km (248 km privately owned)standard gauge: 584 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 84,300 km paved: 33,214 km unpaved: 51,086 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 7,100 km; Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo acceptoceangoing vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 6,370 km; petroleum products 480 km; naturalgas 4,010 km
Ports and harbors: Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, LaSalina, Maracaibo, Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz,Puerto Ordaz, Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine:total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 535,882 GRT/937,461 DWTships by type: bulk 5, cargo 9, combination bulk 1, liquefied gastanker 2, oil tanker 8, passenger-cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 5,short-sea passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 371 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 122 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 59 under 914 m: 16 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 249 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 94 under 914 m: 145 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerzas ArmadasNacionales or FAN) includes Ground Forces or Army (FuerzasTerrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada),Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperationor National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or GuardiaNacional)
Military manpower—military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 6,268,982 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,522,757 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 242,362 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $1.1 billion (1998)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 1% (1998)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, opium, and coca leaf for the international drug trade on a small scale; however, large quantities of cocaine and heroin transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; important money-laundering hub; active eradication program primarily targeting opium
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@Vietnam ———-
Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,560 sq kmland: 325,360 sq kmwater: 4,200 sq km
Area—comparative: slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)
Terrain: low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Ngoc Linh 3,143 m
Natural resources: phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite,chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests
Land use:arable land: 17%permanent crops: 4%permanent pastures: 1%forests and woodland: 30%other: 48% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 18,600 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding
Environment—current issues: logging and slash-and-burnagricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soildegradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine lifepopulations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply;growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidlydegrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
Environment—international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, NuclearTest Ban
People
Population: 77,311,210 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34% (male 13,377,315; female 12,603,906)15-64 years: 61% (male 22,934,553; female 24,277,488)65 years and over: 5% (male 1,645,288; female 2,472,660) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.37% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 20.78 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.84 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.1 years male: 65.71 years female: 70.64 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.41 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality:noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups: Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese 3%, Muong, Tai, Meo,Khmer, Man, Cham
Religions: Buddhist, Taoist, Roman Catholic, indigenous beliefs,Islam, Protestant, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao
Languages: Vietnamese (official), Chinese, English, French,Khmer, tribal languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.7%male: 96.5%female: 91.2% (1995 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnamconventional short form: Vietnamlocal long form: Cong Hoa Chu Nghia Viet Namlocal short form: Viet Namabbreviation: SRV
Data code: VM
Government type: Communist state
Capital: Hanoi
Administrative divisions: 58 provinces (tinh, singular andplural), 3 municipalities* (thu do, singular and plural); An Giang,Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre,Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, CaoBang, Dac Lac, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, HaiDuong, Hai Phong*, Ha Nam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, HoChi Minh*, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, LamDong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, NinhThuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, QuangNinh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, ThaiNguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, TuyenQuang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai
Independence: 2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution: 15 April 1992
Legal system: based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997)and Vice President Nguyen Thi BINH (since NA October 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29September 1997), Ngo Xuan LOC (since 29 September 1997), Nguyen ManhCAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29September 1997)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of theprime minister and ratification of the National Assemblyelections: president elected by the National Assembly from among itsmembers for a five-year term; election last held 25 September 1997(next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislativeelections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the presidentfrom among the members of the National Assembly; deputy primeministers appointed by the prime ministerelection results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002) election results: percent of vote by party—CPV 92%, other 8% (the 8% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for election); seats by party—CPV or CPV-approved 450
Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court, chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
Political parties and leaders: only party—Communist Party of
International organization participation: ACCT, APEC, AsDB,ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador LE VAN BANG chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400 consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas B. "Pete" Peterson embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy
Economy—overview: Vietnam is a poor, densely populated country that has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress has been achieved over the past 10 years in moving forward from an extremely low starting point, though the regional downturn is now limiting that progress. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 4% in 1998. These numbers masked some major difficulties that are emerging in economic performance. Many domestic industries, including coal, cement, steel, and paper, have reported large stockpiles of inventory and tough competition from more efficient foreign producers, giving Vietnam a trade deficit of $3.3 billion in 1997. While disbursements of aid and foreign direct investment have risen, they are not large enough to finance the rapid increase in imports; and it is widely believed that Vietnam may be using short-term trade credits to bridge the gap—a risky strategy that could result in a foreign exchange crunch. Meanwhile, Vietnamese authorities continue to move slowly toward implementing the structural reforms needed to revitalize the economy and produce more competitive, export-driven industries. Privatization of state enterprises remains bogged down in political controversy, while the country's dynamic private sector is denied both financing and access to markets. Reform of the banking sector is proceeding slowly, raising concerns that the country will be unable to tap sufficient domestic savings to maintain current high levels of growth. Administrative and legal barriers are also causing costly delays for foreign investors and are raising similar doubts about Vietnam's ability to maintain the inflow of foreign capital. Ideological bias in favor of state intervention and control of the economy is slowing progress toward a more liberalized investment environment.