@Finland:Transportation
Railways: total: 5,865 km broad gauge: 5,865 km 1.524-m gauge (2,192 km electrified; 480 km double- or multiple-track) (1998)
Highways: total: 77,895 km paved: 49,853 km (including 473 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,042 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers
Pipelines: natural gas 580 km
Ports and harbors: Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu,Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
Merchant marine: total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,185,966 GRT/1,153,089 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, rail car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 38, short-sea passenger 12 (1999 est.)
Airports: 157 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 88 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 82 (1999 est.)
@Finland:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes SeaGuard)
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,262,526 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,041,795 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 34,651 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.8 billion (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY98)
@Finland:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@France:Introduction
Background: Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the advent of the euro in January 1999. Today, France is at the forefront of European states seeking to exploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of a more unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.
@France:Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and EnglishChannel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering theMediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Geographic coordinates: 46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 547,030 sq km land: 545,630 sq km water: 1,400 sq km note: includes only metropolitan France, but excludes the overseas administrative divisions
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 2,889 kmborder countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,Switzerland 573 km
Coastline: 3,427 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean) territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean
Terrain: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, bauxite, fish, timber, zinc, potash
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 27% other: 18% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 16,300 sq km (1995 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding; avalanches
Environment - current issues: some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: largest West European nation; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
@France:People
Population: 59,329,691 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% (male 5,719,502; female 5,448,608) 15-64 years: 65% (male 19,345,269; female 19,322,902) 65 years and over: 16% (male 3,849,783; female 5,643,627) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.38% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 12.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.76 years male: 74.85 years female: 82.89 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.75 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women) adjective: French
Ethnic groups: Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African,Indochinese, Basque minorities
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim (NorthAfrican workers) 1%, unaffiliated 6%
Languages: French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (1980 est.)
@France:Government
Country name: conventional long form: French Republic conventional short form: France local long form: Republique Francaise local short form: France
Data code: FR
Government type: republic
Capital: Paris
Administrative divisions: 22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)
Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island,French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, GloriosoIslands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallisand Futunanote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 23 April and 7 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN (PS) 47.36%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system to serve five-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2001); National Assembly - last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA May 2002) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 99, UDC 52, DL 47, PS 78, PCF 16, other 29; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PS 245, RPR 140, UDF 109, PCF 37, PRS 13, MEI 8, MDC 7, LDI-MPF 1, FN 1, various left 9, various right 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary; Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, three members appointed by the president, three members appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate; Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders: Citizens Movement or MdC [Jean PierreCHEVENEMENT]; Democratic Force or FD ; Ecology Gererationor GE ; French Communist Party or PCF ;Independent Ecological Movement or MEI ; LeftRadical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS andthe Left Radical Movement or MRG) ; LiberalDemocracy or DL (originally Republican Party or PR) ;Movement for France or LDI-MPF ; National Centerof Independents and Peasants or CNIP ; National Front orFN ; National Front-National Movement [BrunoMEGRET]; Popular Party for French Democracy or PPDF [Herve deCHARETTE]; Radical Party or RRRS ; Rally for theRepublic or RPR ; Reformers' Movement or MR; Socialist Party or PS ; TheGreens (Les Verts) ; The Right (La Droite); Union for French Democracy or UDF (coalition of UDC,FD, RRRS, PPDF) ; Union of the Center or UDC [leaderNA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Communist-controlled labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, nearly 2.4 million members (claimed); independent labor union or Force Ouvriere, 1 million members (est.); independent white-collar union or Confederation Generale des Cadres, 340,000 members (claimed); National Council of French Employers (Conseil National du Patronat Francais) or CNPF or Patronat; Socialist-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, about 800,000 members (est.)
International organization participation: ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, AustraliaGroup, BDEAC, BIS, CCC, CDB (non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA(associate), ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G-7, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN SecurityCouncil, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIBH,UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WEU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francois V. BUJON DE L'ESTANG chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: (202) 944-6000 FAX: (202) 944-6166 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Felix G. ROHATYN embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777 telephone: (1) 43-12-22-22 FAX: (1) 42 66 97 83 consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, and Luxembourg; the official flag for all French dependent areas
@France:Economy
Economy - overview: France's economy combines modern capitalistic methods with extensive, but declining, government intervention. The government retains considerable influence over key segments of each sector, with majority ownership of railway, electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms. It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990s. The government is slowly selling off holdings in France Telecom, in Air France, and in the insurance, banking, and defense industries. Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land, the application of modern technology, and subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe. Persistently high unemployment will continue to pose a major problem for the government; a 35-hour work week is being introduced. France has shied away from cutting exceptionally generous social welfare benefits or the enormous state bureaucracy, preferring to pare defense spending and raise taxes to keep the deficit down. France joined 10 other EU members to launch the euro on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.373 trillion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,300 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 26.1% services: 70.6% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 24.9% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.5% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 25.4 million (1994)
Labor force - by occupation: services 69%, industry 26%, agriculture 5% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 11% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $325 billion expenditures: $360 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: steel, machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, mining; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 480.972 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 10.77% hydro: 12.45% nuclear: 76.24% other: 0.54% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 389.254 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 62 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 3.95 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $304.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: machinery and transportation equipment, chemicals, iron and steel products; agricultural products, textiles and clothing
Exports - partners: EU 63% (Germany 16%, UK 10%, Italy 9%, Spain 9%,Belgium-Luxembourg 8%), US 7% (1998)
Imports: $280.8 billion (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: crude oil, machinery and equipment, chemicals; agricultural products
Imports - partners: EU 62% (Germany 17%, Italy 10%, Belgium-Luxembourg 8%, UK 8%, Spain 7%), US 9% (1998)
Debt - external: $117.6 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $6.3 billion (1997)
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995) note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at a fixed rate of 6.55957 French francs per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@France:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 34.86 million (yearend 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 11.078 million (yearend 1998)
Telephone system: highly developed domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 55.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 574 (plus 9,634 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 34.8 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 128 (1999)
@France:Transportation
Railways: total: 31,939 km (31,940 km are operated by French National Railways (SNCF); 14,176 km of SNCF routes are electrified and 12,132 km are double- or multiple-tracked) standard gauge: 31,840 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 99 km 1.000-m gauge (1998)
Highways: total: 893,300 km paved: 893,300 km (including 10,300 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 14,932 km; 6,969 km heavily traveled
Pipelines: crude oil 3,059 km; petroleum products 4,487 km; natural gas 24,746 km
Ports and harbors: Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, LaPallice, Le Havre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nantes, Paris, Rouen,Saint Nazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg
Merchant marine: total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,155,286 GRT/1,693,030 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, combination bulk 1, container 5, liquified gas 4, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 16, roll-on/roll-off 6, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 1 (1999 est.) note: France also maintains a captive register for French-owned ships in Iles Kerguelen (French Southern and Antarctic Lands) (1998 est.)
Airports: 474 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 267 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 92 914 to 1,523 m: 74 under 914 m: 57 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 207 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 76 under 914 m: 127 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 3 (1999 est.)
@France:Military
Military branches: Army (includes Marines), Navy (includes Naval Air),Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 14,619,317 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 12,167,421 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 402,987 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $39.831 billion (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.5% (FY97)
@France:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Madagascar claims Bassas da India, EuropaIsland, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island;Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorialdispute between Suriname and French Guiana; territorial claim inAntarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and Hunter Islands east of NewCaledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
______________________________________________________________________
@French Guiana:Introduction
Background: First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.
@French Guiana:Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 91,000 sq km land: 89,150 sq km water: 1,850 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources: bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 90% other: 10% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: mostly an unsettled wilderness
@French Guiana:People
Population: 172,605 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 27,116; female 25,902) 15-64 years: 64% (male 59,690; female 50,621) 65 years and over: 5% (male 4,694; female 4,582) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.93% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 22.44 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.76 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.1 years male: 72.77 years female: 79.6 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: French Guianese (singular and plural) adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese,Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: French
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83% male: 84% female: 82% (1982 est.)
@French Guiana:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Department of Guiana conventional short form: French Guiana local long form: none local short form: Guyane
Data code: FG
Dependency status: overseas department of France
Government type: NA
Capital: Cayenne
Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France)
Independence: none (overseas department of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
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 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NA January 1997) head of government: President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992) cabinet: NA elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
Legislative branch: unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: General Council - last held 20-27 March 1994 (next to be held NA 2000); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PSG 8, FDG 4, RPR 1, other left 2, other right 2, other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, PSG 1
Judicial branch: Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Political parties and leaders: Action Democrate Guiana or ADG [AndreLECANTE]; Democratic and European Rally of the Senate or RDSE [leaderNA]; Guianese Socialist Party or PSG ; GuyanaDemocratic Forces or FDG ; Nationalist Popular Partyof Guyana (Parti Nationaliste Populaire Guiana) or PNPG ;Rally for the Republic or RPR ; Socialist Party orPS (may be a subset of PSG); Union for FrenchDemocracy or UDF ; Union of Social Democrats (Union desSocialistes Democates) or USD (umbrella group ofRPR and UDF); Walwari Committee
International organization participation: FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas department ofFrance)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@French Guiana:Economy
Economy - overview: The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1998 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): 2.5% (1992)
Labor force: 58,800 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Unemployment rate: 21.4% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $225 million expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)
Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 430 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry
Exports: $155 million (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports - commodities: shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
Exports - partners: France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (1997)
Imports: $625 million (c.i.f., 1997)
Imports - commodities: food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals
Imports - partners: France 52%, US 14%, Trinidad and Tobago 6% (1997)
Debt - external: $1.2 billion (1988)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 French franc (F) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), 4.9915 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@French Guiana:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 47,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: domestic: fair open wire and microwave radio relay system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998)
Radios: 104,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 30,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@French Guiana:Transportation
Railways: 0 km (1995)
Highways: total: 1,817 km paved: 727 km unpaved: 1,090 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
Ports and harbors: Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 11 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (1999 est.)
@French Guiana:Military
Military branches: French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 48,445 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 31,367 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@French Guiana:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
Illicit drugs: small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
______________________________________________________________________
@French Polynesia:Introduction
Background: The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
@French Polynesia:Geography
Location: Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates: 15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls) land: 3,660 sq km water: 507 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than one-third the size ofConnecticut
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,525 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical, but moderate
Terrain: mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 6% permanent pastures: 5% forests and woodland: 31% other: 57% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: includes five archipelagoes; Makatea in FrenchPolynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati andNauru
@French Polynesia:People
Population: 249,110 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30% (male 38,736; female 37,197) 15-64 years: 65% (male 83,986; female 76,973) 65 years and over: 5% (male 6,127; female 6,091) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.78% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 19.01 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.41 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.79 years male: 72.47 years female: 77.22 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: French Polynesian(s) adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups: Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions: Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 16%
Languages: French (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy: definition: age 14 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 98% female: 98% (1977 est.)
@French Polynesia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesia conventional short form: French Polynesia local long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaise local short form: Polynesie Francaise
Data code: FP
Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1946
Government type: NA
Capital: Papeete
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Vent note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French Polynesia
Independence: none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: based on French system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994) head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President of the Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 22, Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia 10, New Fatherland Party 5, other 4 note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 24 September 1989 (next to be held NA September 1998); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UC 1; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 25 May - 1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders: Centrist Union or UC ;Entente Polynesian ; Haere i Mua ;Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira); Independent Party (Ia Mana Te Nunaa) [JacquesDROLLET]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) ; People'sRally for the Republic (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) ;Polynesian Union Party (includes Te Tiarama and Pupu Here Ai'a Party); Pupu Taina ; Te Aratia Ote Nunaa(Tinomana Ebb); Te e'a No Maohi Nui
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Flag description: two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions
@French Polynesia:Economy
Economy - overview: Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefited from a five-year (1994-98) development agreement with France aimed principally at creating new jobs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.6 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,800 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (1997)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1994)
Labor force: 118,744 (of which 70,044 are employed) (1988)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1992 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1 billion expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)
Industries: tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 360 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.72% hydro: 40.28% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 335 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $212 million (f.o.b., 1996)
Exports - commodities: cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997)
Exports - partners: US 11%, France 6% (1997)
Imports: $860 million (c.i.f., 1996)
Imports - commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, equipment
Imports - partners: France 44.7%, US 13.9% (1994)
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $450.4 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (CFPF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (CFPF) per US$1 - 117.67 (January 2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996), 90.75 (1995); note - linked at the rate of 18.18 CFPFs to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
@French Polynesia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 32,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 128,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 40,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
@French Polynesia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 792 km paved: 792 km unpaved: 0 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors: Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Merchant marine: total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,240 GRT/7,765 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 45 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 10 (1999 est.)
@French Polynesia:Military
Military branches: French Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force),Gendarmerie
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@French Polynesia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
@Gabon:Introduction
Background: Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France in 1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoral process and for reforms of governmental institutions. A small population, abundant natural resources, and foreign private investment have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous black African countries.
@Gabon:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 267,667 sq km land: 257,667 sq km water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 2,551 kmborder countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline: 885 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 18% forests and woodland: 77% other: 3% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Gabon:People
Population: 1,208,436 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 201,737; female 200,764) 15-64 years: 61% (male 371,359; female 364,982) 65 years and over: 6% (male 34,478; female 35,116) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.08% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 27.6 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 16.83 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 96.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 50.08 years male: 48.94 years female: 51.26 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.73 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Gabonese (singular and plural) adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups: Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Eshira, Bapounou, Bateke), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 6,000 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Religions: Christian 55%-75%, Muslim less than 1%, animist
Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira,Bandjabi
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 63.2% male: 73.7% female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
@Gabon:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Gabonese Republic conventional short form: Gabon local long form: Republique Gabonaise local short form: Gabon
Data code: GB
Government type: republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)
Capital: Libreville
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue,Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo,Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1960) (Gabon granted full independence from France)
Constitution: adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; compulsory ICJ jurisdiction not accepted
Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967) head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE (since 23 January 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%
Legislative branch: bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats); members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms elections: National Assembly - last held 15 and 29 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2001); Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 1997 (next to be held in January 2002) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 89, PGP 9, RNB 6, CLR 3, UPG 2, USG 2, independents 4, others 5; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders: African Forum for Reconstruction or FAR; Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean BonifaceASSELE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, formersole party ; GaboneseParty for Progress or PGP ;Gabonese People's Union or UPG ; Gabonese SocialistUnion or USG ; National Rally of Woodcutters (Bucherons) orRNB ; People's Unity Party or PUP [LouisGaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP ;Social Democratic Party or PSD
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CCC,CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul BOUNDOUKOU-LATHA chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 797-1000 FAX: (202) 332-0668 consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James V. LEDESMA embassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Libreville mailing address: B. P. 4000, Libreville telephone: 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, 74 34 92 FAX: 74 55 07
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
@Gabon:Economy
Economy - overview: Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations of sub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, manganese, and uranium exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, the economy is hobbled by poor fiscal management. In 1992, the fiscal deficit widened to 2.4% of GDP, and Gabon failed to settle arrears on its bilateral debt, leading to a cancellation of rescheduling agreements with official and private creditors. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12 January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95 and a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995. Those agreements mandate progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. With support from higher oil prices, growth will move up in 2000-01.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $7.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.7% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 60% services: 30% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.9% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 600,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 60%, services and government 25%, industry and commerce 15%
Unemployment rate: 21% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $302 million (1996 est.)
Industries: food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement; petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, uranium, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (1995)
Electricity - production: 1.025 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.8% hydro: 72.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 953 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Exports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil 75%, timber, manganese, uranium (1998)
Exports - partners: US 68%, China 9%, France 8%, Japan 3% (1998)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, petroleum products, construction materials
Imports - partners: France 39%, US 6%, Cameroon 5%, Netherlands 5%,Cote d'Ivoire, Japan (1998)
Debt - external: $4.6 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $331 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Gabon:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 32,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,000 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 7, shortwave 6 (1998)
Radios: 208,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 63,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@Gabon:Transportation
Railways: total: 649 km (Gabon State Railways or OCTRA) standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)
Highways: total: 7,670 km paved: 629 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,041 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,600 km perennially navigable
Pipelines: crude oil 270 km; petroleum products 14 km
Ports and harbors: Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba,Owendo, Port-Gentil
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,419 GRT/3,205 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 61 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 50 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 25 (1999 est.)
@Gabon:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 278,251 (2000 est.)