GDP: purchasing power parity—$134.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 4% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$1,770 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 30% services: 42% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50.9% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 29% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998)
Labor force: 32.7 million
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 65%, industry and services 35% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate: 25% (1995 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.6 billionexpenditures: $6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.7billion (1996 est.)
Industries: food processing, garments, shoes, machine building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper
Industrial production growth rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Electricity—production: 14.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 12.1% hydro: 84% nuclear: 0% other: 3.9% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 14.88 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas; poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: $9.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports—commodities: crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee,rubber, tea, garments, shoes
Exports—partners: Japan, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong,France, South Korea
Imports: $11.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports—commodities: machinery and equipment, petroleum products,fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports—partners: Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, HongKong, Taiwan
Debt—external: $7.3 billion Western countries; $4.5 billion CEMA debts primarily to Russia; $9 billion to $18 billion nonconvertible debt (former CEMA, Iraq, Iran)
Economic aid—recipient: $2.2 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 1999
Currency: 1 new dong (D) = 100 xu
Exchange rates: new dong (D) per US$1—13,900 (December 1998), 11,100 (December 1996), 11,193 (1995 average), 11,000 (October 1994), 10,800 (November 1993), 8,100 (July 1991)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 800,000 (1995 est.)
Telephone system: while Vietnam's telecommunication sector lagsfar behind other countries in Southeast Asia, Hanoi has madeconsiderable progress since 1991 in upgrading the system; Vietnamhas digitized all provincial switch boards, while fiber-optic andmicrowave transmission systems have been extended from Hanoi, DaNang, and Ho Chi Minh City to all provinces; the density oftelephone receivers nationwide doubled from 1993 to 1995, but isstill far behind other countries in the region; Vietnam'stelecommunications strategy aims to increase telephone density to 30per 1,000 inhabitants by the year 2000 and authorities estimate thatapproximately $2.7 billion will be spent on telecommunicationsupgrades through the end of the decadedomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations—2 Intersputnik (Indian Oceanregion)
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM 228, shortwave 0
Radios: 7.215 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: 2.9 million (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways:total: 2,835 km (in addition, there are 224 km not restored toservice after war damage)standard gauge: 151 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 2,454 km 1.000-m gaugedual gauge: 230 km NA-m gauges (three rails)
Highways: total: 93,300 km paved: 23,418 km unpaved: 69,882 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 17,702 km navigable; more than 5,149 km navigable at all times by vessels up to 1.8 m draft
Pipelines: petroleum products 150 km
Ports and harbors: Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City,Hong Gai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang
Merchant marine:total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 527,920 GRT/820,515 DWTships by type: bulk 7, cargo 98, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk1, oil tanker 12, refrigerated cargo 4 (1998 est.)
Airports: 48 (1994 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (1994 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways: total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (1994 est.)
Military
Military branches: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includesGround Forces, Navy, and Air Force), Coast Guard
Military manpower—military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower—availability:males age 15-49: 20,492,806 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military service:males age 15-49: 12,933,945 (1999 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age annually:males: 877,714 (1999 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $650 million (1997)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: 9.3% (1997)
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: maritime boundary with Cambodia not defined; involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei; maritime boundary with Thailand resolved, August 1997; maritime boundary dispute with China in the Gulf of Tonkin; Paracel Islands occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; offshore islands and sections of boundary with Cambodia are in dispute; sections of land border with China are indefinite
Illicit drugs: minor producer of opium poppy with 3,000 hectares cultivated in 1998, capable of producing 20 metric tons of opium; probably minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin destined for the US and Europe; growing opium/heroin addiction; possible small-scale heroin production
======================================================================
@Virgin Islands ———————
Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 352 sq kmland: 349 sq kmwater: 3 sq km
Area—comparative: twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 188 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds,relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation;rainy season May to November
Terrain: mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little levelland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use:arable land: 15%permanent crops: 6%permanent pastures: 26%forests and woodland: 6%other: 47% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment—current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources
Environment—international agreements:party to: NAsigned, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: important location along the Anegada Passage?akey shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of thebest natural, deepwater harbors in the Caribbean
People
Population: 119,827 (July 1999 est.)note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% bornelsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%,other 8%
Age structure:0-14 years: 28% (male 17,454; female 16,585)15-64 years: 63% (male 34,712; female 41,325)65 years and over: 9% (male 4,237; female 5,514) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.19% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 17.08 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.34 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.84 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.89 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 10.07 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.74 years male: 74.04 years female: 81.67 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.42 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Virgin Islander(s) adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups: black 80%, white 15%, other 5%
Religions: Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages: English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Virgin Islands of the United Statesconventional short form: Virgin Islandsformer: Danish West Indies
Data code: VQ
Dependency status: organized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type: NA
Capital: Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions: none (territory of the US); there areno first-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are three islands at the second order; SaintCroix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
National holiday: Transfer Day, 31 March (1917) (from Denmark toUS)
Constitution: Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system: based on US laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note—indigenous inhabitantsare US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President William Jefferson CLINTON of the US (since20 January 1993); Vice President Albert GORE, Jr. (since 20 January1993)head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gerald LUZ James II (since 5January 1999)cabinet: NAelections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor electedby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November1998 (next to be held NA November 2002)election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL elected governor;percent of vote—Dr. Charles W. TURNBULL (Democrat) 58.9%, formerGovernor Roy L. SCHNEIDER (ICM) 41.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral Senate (15 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)elections: last held 3 November 1998 (next to be held NA November2000)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats byparty—Democratic Party 6, independents 5, Republican Party 2,Independent Citizens Movement 2note: the Virgin Islands elect one representative to the US House ofRepresentatives; election last held 3 November 1998 (next to be heldNA November 2000); results—Dr. Donna GREEN (Democrat) 80%, Victor O.FRAZER (ICM) 20%
Judicial branch: US District Court (judges are appointed by thepresident); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor)
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party [James O'BRYON
International organization participation: ECLAC (associate),Interpol (subbureau), IOC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (territory of the US)
Flag description: white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel
Economy
Economy—overview: Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The number of US tourists in the first five months of 1996 was down by 55% from the same period in 1995, the lingering result of the fierce hurricanes of 1995. Unemployment rose sharply in 1996. The manufacturing sector consists of textile, electronics, pharmaceutical, and watch assembly plants. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. A major economic problem at the beginning of 1997 was the more than $1 billion in governmental arrears, income tax refunds, payments to vendors, and overdue wages.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$1.2 billion (1987 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$12,500 (1987 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): NA%
Labor force: 47,443 (1990 est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 62%, other 17% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 6.2% (March 1994)
Budget:revenues: $364.4 millionexpenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1990 est.)
Industries: tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rumdistilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 1.02 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 1.02 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: truck garden products, fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
Exports—commodities: refined petroleum products
Exports—partners: US, Puerto Rico
Imports: $2.2 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
Imports—commodities: crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports—partners: US, Puerto Rico
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 United States dollar (US$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: US currency is used
Fiscal year: 1 October—30 September
Communications
Telephones: 60,000 (1990 est.)
Telephone system:domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relayinternational: submarine cable and satellite communications;satellite earth stations—NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 0 (1988)
Radios: 105,000 (1994 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 66,000 (1994 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 856 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors: Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay,Port Alucroix
Merchant marine: none
Airports: 2note: international airports on Saint Thomas and Saint Croix; thereis an airfield on St. John (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@Wake Atoll —————
Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates: 19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 6.5 sq kmland: 6.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall inWashington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 19.3 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical
Terrain: atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 0%forests and woodland: 0%other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998)
Natural hazards: occasional typhoons
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: US military personnel have left the island, but some civilian personnel remain (1999 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Wake Atoll
Data code: WQ
Dependency status: unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC by the Department of the Interior; occasional activities on the island are managed by the US Army under a US Air Force contract
Legal system: NA
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy
Economy—overview: Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity—production: NA kWh note: electricity supplied by the US military
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Communications
Telephone system: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off theOverseas Telephone System (OTS)domestic: NAinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Transportation
Ports and harbors: none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Airports: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Transportation—note: formerly an important commercial aviationbase, now occasionally used by US military, some commercial cargoplanes, and for emergency landings
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claimed by Marshall Islands
======================================================================
@Wallis and Futuna ————————-
Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates: 13 18 S, 176 12 W
Map references: Oceania
Area:total: 274 sq kmland: 274 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island),Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area—comparative: 1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 129 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool,dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80%humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Terrain: volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:arable land: 5%permanent crops: 20%permanent pastures: NA%forests and woodland: NA%other: 75% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources
Environment—international agreements: party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: both island groups have fringing reefs
People
Population: 15,129 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate: 1.04% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 22.34 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.66 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -7.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islandersadjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups: Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 100%
Languages: French, Wallisian (indigenous Polynesian language)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 50%male: 50%female: 50% (1969 est.)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islandsconventional short form: Wallis and Futunalocal long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futunalocal short form: Wallis et Futuna
Data code: WF
Dependency status: overseas territory of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms named Wallis, Sigave, Alo
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: French legal system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by High Administrator Claude PIERRET (since NA)head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly VictorBRIAL (since 1 June 1997)cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and threemembers appointed by the high administrator on the advice of theTerritorial Assemblynote: there are three traditional kings with limited powerselections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-yearterm; high administrator appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of theTerritorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected bythe members of the assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or AssembleeTerritoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 16 March 1997 (next to be held NA March 2002)election results: percent of vote by party—NA; seats by party—NAnote: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate andone deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate—electionslast held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by NA September 2007);results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats—RPR 1; French NationalAssembly—elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held byNA March 2002); results—percent of vote by party—NA; seats—RPR 1
Judicial branch: none; justice generally administered underFrench law by the high administrator, but the three traditionalkings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu
Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic or RPR
International organization participation: FZ, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territoryof France)
Flag description: a large white modified Maltese cross centered on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions
Economy
Economy—overview: The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of the labor force earning its livelihood from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia. Wallis and Futuna imports food—particularly flour, sugar, rice, and beef—fuel, clothing, machinery, and transport equipment, but its exports are negligible, consisting mostly of breadfruit, yams, and taro root.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$28.7 million (1995 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1995 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): NA%
Labor force: NA
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:revenues: $20 millionexpenditures: $20 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries: copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh
Agriculture—products: breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats
Exports: $370,000 (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Exports—commodities: copra, handicrafts
Exports—partners: NA
Imports: $13.5 million (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
Imports—commodities: foodstuffs, manufactured goods, transportation equipment, fuel, clothing
Imports—partners: France, Australia, New Zealand
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1—102.72 (January 1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995), 100.94 (1994); note—linked at the rate of 18.18 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 340 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 120 km (Ile Uvea 100 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)paved: 16 km (all on Ile Uvea)unpaved: 104 km (Ile Uvea 84 km, Ile Futuna 20 km)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Leava, Mata-Utu
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 44,160 GRT/41,656 DWTships by type: oil tanker 1, passenger 1 (1998 est.)
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military—note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: none
======================================================================
@West Bank ————-
Introduction
Background: The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, and the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations.
Geography
Location: Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 35 15 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:total: 5,860 sq kmland: 5,640 sq kmwater: 220 sq kmnote: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarterof the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem andJerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means ofdepicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 404 km border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate, temperature and precipitation vary withaltitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain: mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west,but barren in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land use:arable land: 27%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 32%forests and woodland: 1%other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment—current issues: adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography—note: landlocked; highlands are main recharge area forIsrael's coastal aquifers; there are 216 Israeli settlements andcivilian land use sites in the West Bank and 29 in East Jerusalem(August 1998 est.)
People
Population: 1,611,109 (July 1999 est.)note: in addition, there are some 166,000 Israeli settlers in theWest Bank and about 176,000 in East Jerusalem (August 1998 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 45% (male 370,770; female 352,803)15-64 years: 52% (male 422,209; female 411,597)65 years and over: 3% (male 22,376; female 31,354) (1999 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.14% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 35.59 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 4.2 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 25.22 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.83 years male: 70.96 years female: 74.79 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.78 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: NA adjective: NA
Ethnic groups: Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions: Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%,Christian and other 8%
Languages: Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and manyPalestinians), English (widely understood)
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: West Bank
Data code: WE
Economy
Economy—overview: Economic conditions in the West Bank?where economic activity is governed by the Paris Economic Protocol of April 1994 between Israel and the Palestinian Authority—have deteriorated since the early 1990s. Real per capita GDP for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) declined 36.1% between 1992 and 1996 owing to the combined effect of falling aggregate incomes and robust population growth. The downturn in economic activity was largely the result of Israeli closure policies—the imposition of generalized border closures in response to security incidents in Israel—which disrupted previously established labor and commodity market relationships between Israel and the WBGS. The most serious negative social effect of this downturn has been the emergence of chronic unemployment; average unemployment rates in the WBGS during the 1980s were generally under 5%, by the mid-1990s this level had risen to over 20%. Since 1997 Israel's use of comprehensive closures has decreased and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce the impact of closures and other security procedures on the movement of Palestinian goods and labor. These positive changes to the conduct of economic activity, combined with international donor pledges of over $3 billion made to the Palestinian Authority in November, may fuel a moderate economic recovery in 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$3.1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 2.2% (1998 est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$2,000 (1998 est.)
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 33% industry: 25% services: 42% (1995 est., includes Gaza Strip)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.6% (1997 est.)
Labor force: NA note: excluding Israeli settlers
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 13%, commerce, restaurants, and hotels 12%, construction 8%, other services 54% (1996)
Unemployment rate: 17.3% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $816 millionexpenditures: $866 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)note: includes Gaza Strip
Industries: generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: NA kWh note: most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; at the same time, some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nabulus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: NA% hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA%
Electricity—consumption: NA kWh
Electricity—exports: NA kWh
Electricity—imports: NA kWh
Agriculture—products: olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports: $781 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) (includes Gaza Strip)
Exports—commodities: olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Exports—partners: Israel, Jordan
Imports: $2.1 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) (includes Gaza Strip)
Imports—commodities: food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports—partners: Israel, Jordan
Debt—external: $108 million (1997 est.)
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 new Israeli shekel (NIS) = 100 new agorot; 1Jordanian dinar (JD) = 1,000 fils
Exchange rates: new Israeli shekels (NIS) per US$1—4.2260 (November 1998), 3.4494 (1997), 3.1917 (1996), 3.0113 (1995), 3.0111 (1994); Jordanian dinars (JD) per US$1—0.7090 (January 1999), 0.7090 (1998), 0.7090 (1997), 0.7090 (1996), 0.7005 (1995), 0.6987 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year (since 1 January 1992)
Communications
Telephones: NA; 3.1% of Palestinian households have telephones
Telephone system:domestic: NAinternational: NAnote: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL areresponsible for communication services in the West Bank
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA; note—82% of Palestinian households have radios (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA; note—54% of Palestinian households have televisions (1992 est.)
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 4,500 kmpaved: 2,700 kmunpaved: 1,800 km (1997 est.)note: Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewishsettlements
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 2 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: West Bank and Gaza Strip areIsraeli-occupied with current status subject to theIsraeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement—permanent status to bedetermined through further negotiation
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@Western Sahara ———————
Geography
Location: Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates: 24 30 N, 13 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area:total: 266,000 sq kmland: 266,000 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area—comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline: 1,110 km
Maritime claims: contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Climate: hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore aircurrents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain: mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky orsandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed location 463 m
Natural resources: phosphates, iron ore
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%permanent pastures: 19%forests and woodland: 0%other: 81%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Environment—current issues: sparse water and arable land
Environment—international agreements: party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
People
Population: 239,333 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.34% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 45.42 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.58 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 136.67 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.1 years male: 47.98 years female: 50.57 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.7 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
Ethnic groups: Arab, Berber
Religions: Muslim
Languages: Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic
Literacy: NA
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara
Data code: WI
Government type: legal status of territory and question of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR); territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991
Capital: none
Administrative divisions: none (under de facto control of Morocco)
Suffrage: none; a UN sponsored voter identification campaign has yet to be completed
Executive branch: none
International organization participation: none
Diplomatic representation in the US: none
Diplomatic representation from the US: none
Economy
Economy—overview: Western Sahara, a territory poor in natural resources and lacking sufficient rainfall, depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. Most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Incomes and standards of living are substantially below the Moroccan level.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$NA
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity?$NA
GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%-45% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 12,000
Labor force—by occupation: animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries: phosphate mining, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 85 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)
Exports: $NA
Exports—commodities: phosphates 62%
Exports—partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Imports: $NA
Imports—commodities: fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs
Imports—partners: Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1—9.320 (January 1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997), 8.716 (1996), 8.540 (1995), 9.203 (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones: 2,000
Telephone system: sparse and limited systemdomestic: NAinternational: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay,tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations—2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 6,200 km paved: 1,350 km unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est.)
Ports and harbors: Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Airports: 12 (1998 est.)
Airports—with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Airports—with unpaved runways:total: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1998 est.)
Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures—dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%
Transnational Issues
Disputes—international: claimed and administered by Morocco, but sovereignty is unresolved and the UN is attempting to hold a referendum on the issue; the UN-administered cease-fire has been in effect since September 1991
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@World ——-