International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group,Benelux, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA,ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH,UNMIK, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joris M. VOS chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 244-5300 FAX: (202) 362-3430 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia P. SCHNEIDER embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715 telephone: (70) 310-9209 FAX: (70) 361-4688 consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer
@Netherlands:Economy
Economy - overview: The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy in which the government has successfully reduced its role since the 1980s. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Dutch rank third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France. The Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances and stagnating job growth long before its European partners. This has helped cushion the economy from a slowdown in the euro area. Strong 3.8% GDP growth in 1998 was followed by an only slightly lower 3.4% expansion in 1999. The outlook remains favorable, with real GDP growth in 2000 projected at 3.25%, along with a small budget surplus. The Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $365.1 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $23,100 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 26.8% services: 69.7% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 24.7% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.2% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 7 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.5% but generous welfare benefits have prompted large numbers to drop out of the labor market (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $163 billion expenditures: $170 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1999)
Electricity - production: 88.736 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.32% hydro: 0.11% nuclear: 4.08% other: 4.49% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 94.325 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 400 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 12.2 billion kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $169 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners: EU 78% (Germany 27%, Belgium-Luxembourg 13%,France 11%, UK 10%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (1998)
Imports: $152 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners: EU 61% (Germany 20%, Belgium-Luxembourg 11%, UK 10%, France 7%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (1998)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $3.4 billion (1999)
Currency: 1 Netherlands guilder, gulden, or florin (f.) = 100 cents; note - to be replaced by the euro on 1 January 2002
Exchange rates: euros per US$1 - 0.9867 (January 2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders, gulden, or florins (f.) per US$1 - 1.8904 (January 1999), 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996), 1.6057 (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 2.20371 guilders per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Netherlands:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 8.431 million (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1.016 million (1996)
Telephone system: highly developed and well maintained domestic: the existing system of multi-conductor cables is gradually being replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellular telephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization of the system is expected in the year 2001, with the introduction of the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios: 15.3 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations: 15 (plus five low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 8.1 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 70 (1999)
@Netherlands:Transportation
Railways: total: 2,739 km standard gauge: 2,739 km 1.435-m gauge; (1,991 km electrified) (1998)
Highways: total: 125,575 km paved: 113,018 km (including 2,235 km of expressways) unpaved: 12,557 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 5,046 km, of which 47% is usable by craft of 1,000 metric ton capacity or larger
Pipelines: crude oil 418 km; petroleum products 965 km; natural gas 10,230 km
Ports and harbors: Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven,Groningen, Haarlem, Ijmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen,Utrecht
Merchant marine: total: 563 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,035,899 GRT/4,576,841 DWT ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 343, chemical tanker 41, combination bulk 2, container 56, liquified gas 20, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large load carrier 8, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 32, roll-on/roll-off 16, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 5 (1999 est.) note: many Dutch-owned ships are also operating under the registry of Netherlands Antilles (1998 est.)
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 6 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 1 (1999 est.)
@Netherlands:Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Constabulary
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 4,090,273 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,566,882 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 96,684 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $6.956 billion (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
@Netherlands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: major European producer of illicit amphetamines and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe
______________________________________________________________________
@New Caledonia:Introduction
Background: Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s seems to have dissipated.
@New Caledonia:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east ofAustralia
Geographic coordinates: 21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 19,060 sq km land: 18,575 sq km water: 485 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 2,254 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 12% forests and woodland: 39% other: 49% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 160 sq km (1991)
Natural hazards: cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Environment - current issues: erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
@New Caledonia:People
Population: 201,816 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 31,396; female 30,160) 15-64 years: 64% (male 65,042; female 63,961) 65 years and over: 5% (male 5,324; female 5,933) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.52% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 20.84 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 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: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.77 years male: 69.84 years female: 75.85 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups: Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%,Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages: French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91% male: 92% female: 90% (1976 est.)
@New Caledonia:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Data code: NC
Dependency status: overseas territory of France since 1956
Government type: NA
Capital: Noumea
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France); thereare no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, andSud
Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass
National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner Thierry LATASTE (since 19 July 1999) head of government: President of the Government Jean LEQUES (since 28 May 1999) cabinet: Consultative Committee 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 government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie 3, LKS 1 note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; JointCommerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance pour la Caledonie [DidierLEROUX]; Developper Ensemble pour Construire l'Avenir or DEPCA [RobertFROUIN]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistesor FCCI ; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [ErnestUNE]; Groupe de l'Alliance Multiraciale or GAM ;Independance et Progres ; Kanak Socialist Frontfor National Liberation or FLNKS (includes PALIKA, UNI,UC, UPM); La Caledonie Autrement ; Loyalty IslandsDevelopment Front or FDIL ; National Front or FN [GuyGEORGE]; Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA ;Rally for Caledonia in the Republic or RPCR ;Renouveau ; Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS [NidoishNAISSELINE]; Union Caledonienne or UC ; Union Nationalepour l'Independance or UNI ; Union ProgressisteMelanesienne or UPM
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
@New Caledonia:Economy
Economy - overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, the substantial financial support from France and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. The situation in 1998 was clouded by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower prices for nickel. Nickel prices jumped in 1999, and large additions were made to capacity.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 30% services: 66% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 79,395 (including 15, 018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1994)
Budget: revenues: $861.3 million expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52 million (1996 est.)
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.52 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65.79% hydro: 34.21% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.414 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Exports: $381 million (f.o.b., 1998)
Exports - commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners: Japan 36%, France 30%, US 14%, Taiwan 9%,Australia 7% (1997)
Imports: $922 million (c.i.f., 1998)
Imports - commodities: foods, machinery and equipment, fuels, minerals
Imports - partners: France 41%, Australia 13%, New Zealand 7%, Japan 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $770 million from France (1998)
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 to the French franc
Fiscal year: calendar year
@New Caledonia:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 44,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 825 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 52,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
@New Caledonia:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 5,562 km paved: 975 km unpaved: 4,587 km (1993)
Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 28 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 11 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 6 (1999 est.)
@New Caledonia:Military
Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $192.3 million (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.3% (1996)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
@New Caledonia:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands claimed by France and Vanuatu
______________________________________________________________________
@New Zealand:Introduction
Background: The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand withdrew from a number of defense alliances during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding native Maori grievances.
@New Zealand:Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast ofAustralia
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 268,680 sq km land: 268,670 sq km water: 10 sq km note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 50% forests and woodland: 28% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine LifeConservation
Geography - note: about 80% of the population lives in cities
@New Zealand:People
Population: 3,819,762 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23% (male 440,824; female 419,740) 15-64 years: 66% (male 1,263,710; female 1,254,958) 65 years and over: 11% (male 191,511; female 249,019) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.17% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 14.28 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 7.57 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.95 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: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.82 years male: 74.85 years female: 80.93 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s) adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
@New Zealand:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: New Zealand abbreviation: NZ
Data code: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 towndistricts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce, Buller,Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke, Egmont,Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin, Golden Bay,Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*, Hawke's Bay,Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt,Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Lake, Mackenzie,Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo, Marlborough,Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki, Oroua,Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea, Piako,Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*, Runanga,Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island, Stratford,Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West, Waimea,Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa, Wairoa,Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**, Westland,Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodvillenote: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that aresubdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, CentralOtago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin, Gisborne,Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua, Hurunui, Hutt*,Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast, Kawerau, Mackenzie,Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata Piako, Napier*,Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*, Opotiki, Otorohanga, PalmerstonNorth*, Papakura*, Porirua*, Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney,Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn, Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato,South Wairarapa, Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, ThamesCoromandel, Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa,Wairoa, Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, WesternBay of Plenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day, 6 February (1840) (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty)
Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of variousdocuments, including certain acts of the UK and New ZealandParliaments; Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1January 1987, but has not been enacted
Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Michael HARDIE BOYS (since 21 March 1996) head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Jim ANDERTON (since 10 December 1999) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms) elections: last held 27 November 1999 (next must be called by November 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NZLP 49, NP 39, Alliance 10, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 7, NZFP 5, UNZ 1 note: NZLP and Alliance formed the government coalition; the National Party became the opposition party
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: ACT, New Zealand ;Alliance (a coalition of the New Labor Party, Democratic Party, NewZealand Liberal Party, and Mana Motuhake) ; ChristianCoalition (a coalition of the Christian Democrats and ChristianHeritage Party) ; Conservative Party (formerlyRight of Centre Party) ; Democratic Party [JohnWRIGHT]; Green Party ; ManaMotuhake ; Mauri Pacific Party (composed of members whobroke away from the NZFP) ; National Party or NP [JennySHIPLEY]; New Labor Party ; New Zealand First Party orNZFP ; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP ;New Zealand Liberal Party ; United New Zealand or UNZInternational organization participation: ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspendedsecurity obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, AsDB, AustraliaGroup, C, CCC, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW,PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Brendan BOLGER chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 328-4800 FAX: (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Carol MOSELEY-BRAUN embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001 telephone: (4) 472-2068 FAX: (4) 471-2380 consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
@New Zealand:Economy
Economy - overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. Moderate growth probably will characterize 2000.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $63.8 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,400 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 23% services: 69% (1998)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.86 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 7% (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $24.9 billion expenditures: $23.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 35.789 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 27.17% hydro: 65.82% nuclear: 0% other: 7.01% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 33.284 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $12.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: dairy products, meat, fish, wool, forestry products, manufactures
Exports - partners: Australia 21%, Japan 13%, US 13%, UK 6% (1998)
Imports: $11.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics
Imports - partners: Australia 22%, US 20%, Japan 11%, UK 5% (1998)
Debt - external: $53 billion (1998)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)
Currency: 1 New Zealand dollar (NZ$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars (NZ$) per US$1 - 1.9451 (January 2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996), 1.5235 (1995)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
@New Zealand:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.719 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 588,000 (1998)
Telephone system: excellent international and domestic systems domestic: NA international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.926 million (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 56 (1999)
@New Zealand:Transportation
Railways: total: 3,913 km narrow gauge: 3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified) (1999)
Highways: total: 92,200 km paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways) unpaved: 38,632 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km; of little importance to transportation
Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km
Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga,Wellington
Merchant marine: total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 102,461 GRT/133,418 DWT ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, rail car carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports: 111 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 43 (1999 est.)
@New Zealand:Military
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal NewZealand Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 990,774 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 834,289 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 26,649 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $883 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY97/98)
@New Zealand:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (RossDependency)
______________________________________________________________________
@Nicaragua:Introduction
Background: Settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s, Nicaragua gained its independence in 1821. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990 and again in 1996 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
@Nicaragua:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 129,494 sq km land: 120,254 sq km water: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 25-nm security zone continental shelf: natural prolongation territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 9% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 46% forests and woodland: 27% other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
@Nicaragua:People
Population: 4,812,569 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (male 971,580; female 936,888) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,372,169; female 1,392,861) 65 years and over: 3% (male 60,539; female 78,532) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.2% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 28.26 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 34.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68.74 years male: 66.81 years female: 70.77 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.27 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nicaraguan(s) adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official) note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 65.7% male: 64.6% female: 66.6% (1995 est.)
@Nicaragua:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua conventional short form: Nicaragua local long form: Republica de Nicaragua local short form: Nicaragua
Data code: NU
Government type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (10 January 1997); Vice President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (10 January 1997); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001); note - in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years election results: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other candidates) 4.33%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held NA 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PNC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema, 16 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Central American Integrationist Partyor PIAC ; Central American Unionist Party or PUCA [BlancaROJAS Echaverry]; Conservative Action Movement or MAC [HernaldoZUNIGA]; Conservative National Party or PNC [Adolfo CALERO, NoelVIDAURRE]; Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERORocha]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI ; IndependentLiberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN ;Liberal Constitutionalist Party or PLC ; Movementfor Revolutionary Unity or MUR ; National Democratic Partyor PND ; National Project or PRONAL [AntonioLACAYO Oyanguren]; Nationalist Liberal Party or PLN [Enrique SANCHEZHerdocia]; Neoliberal Party or PALI ;Nicaraguan Democratic Movement or MDN ; NicaraguanParty of the Christian Road or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, RobertoRODRIGUEZ]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN ;Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN ;Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS ; SocialChristian Party or PSC ; Social Democratic Party or PSD; Unity Alliance or AU ; UNO-96Alliancenote: political blocs include: left - FSLN; center left - MRS, PSD,PSC, MUR, PIAC, AU, PCN, PND, PUCA, UNO-96 Alliance, and MDN; centerright - PALI, PRN, PLI, PRONAL, and MAC; right - PCCN, PLC, PLIUN,PNC, and PLN
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Farm Workers Association or ATC; Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD; Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO; National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN; National Union of Employees or UNE; and the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG; National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions: Sandinista Workers Central or CST; Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions: Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A; Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS; Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I; and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco AGUIRRE Sacasa chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: (202) 939-6570 FAX: (202) 939-6542 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Oliver P. GARZA embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: (2) 662298, 666010, 666012, 666013, 666015, 666018, 666026, 666027, 666032, 666033 FAX: (2) 669074
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
@Nicaragua:Economy
Economy - overview: Nicaragua is one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, with low per capita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge external debt. The country has made significant progress toward macro-economic stabilization over the past few years - even with the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998. International aid, debt relief, and continued foreign investment have contributed to the stabilization process. GDP grew 6.3% in 1999, while inflation remained about 12%, and unemployment dropped. Nicaragua may qualify for the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, though aid is conditioned on improving governability, the openness of government financial operations, poverty alleviation, and human rights.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.5 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6.3% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,650 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34% industry: 22% services: 44% (1998)
Population below poverty line: 50% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.5% (1999 est.); considerable underemployment
Budget: revenues: $527 million expenditures: $617 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (1998 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.714 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 53.43% hydro: 35.34% nuclear: 0% other: 11.23% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 2.52 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 99 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 95 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $573 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports - commodities: coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, beef, sugar, bananas; gold
Exports - partners: US 35%, Germany 13%, El Salvador 10%, Spain 4%,Costa Rica 4%, France 2% (1998)
Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products, consumer goods
Imports - partners: US 31%, Costa Rica 11%, Guatemala 8%, Venezuela 6%, El Salvador 5%, Mexico 4% (1998)
Debt - external: $5.7 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: pledges of $1.4 billion in new aid in 1999
Currency: 1 gold cordoba (C$) = 100 centavos
Exchange rates: gold cordobas (C$) per US$1 - 12.29 (December 1999),11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996), 7.55 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Nicaragua:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 140,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,400 (1995)
Telephone system: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System domestic: wire and microwave radio relay international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 320,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 5 (1999)
@Nicaragua:Transportation
Highways: total: 16,382 km paved: 1,818 km unpaved: 14,564 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 2,220 km, including 2 large lakes
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 182 (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: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 171 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 144 (1999 est.)
@Nicaragua:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,229,103 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 755,002 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 57,125 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $26 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY98)
@Nicaragua:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras in the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
______________________________________________________________________
@Nigeria:Introduction
Background: Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999 and a peaceful transition to civilian government completed. The new president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation for economic growth and political stability.
@Nigeria:Geography
Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 923,768 sq km land: 910,768 sq km water: 13,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,047 km border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km
Coastline: 853 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain: southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources: petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone, lead, zinc, natural gas, hydropower, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 44% forests and woodland: 12% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 9,570 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: soil degradation; rapid deforestation; desertification; recent droughts in north severely affecting marginal agricultural activities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
@Nigeria:People
Population: 123,337,822 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: 44% (male 27,181,020; female 26,872,317) 15-64 years: 53% (male 33,495,794; female 32,337,193) 65 years and over: 3% (male 1,729,149; female 1,722,349) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.67% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 40.16 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 13.72 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 74.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.56 years male: 51.58 years female: 51.55 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.66 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nigerian(s) adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups: Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religions: Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages: English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.1% male: 67.3% female: 47.3% (1995 est.)
@Nigeria:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria conventional short form: Nigeria
Data code: NI
Government type: republic transitioning from military to civilian rule
Capital: Abuja note: on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja; many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in Abuja
Administrative divisions: 36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, AbujaFederal Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi,Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu,Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos,Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto,Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence: 1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Constitution: NA 1999 new constitution adopted
Legal system: based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Federal Executive Council elections: president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 27 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) elected president; percent of vote - Olusegun OBASANJO 62.8%, Olu FALAE (APP-AD) 37.2%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats, three from each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003); House of Representatives - last held 20-24 February 1999 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 58%, APP 23%, AD 19%; seats by party - PDP 65, APP 24, AD 20; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 58%, APP 30%, AD 12%; seats by party - PDP 215, APP 75, AD 70