Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km
Ports and harbors: Koror
Merchant marine: none (1999 est.)
Airports: 3 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (1999 est.)
@Palau:Military
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years
@Palau:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Palmyra Atoll:Geography
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 5 52 N, 162 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 11.9 sq km land: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 14.5 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: equatorial, hot, and very rainy
Terrain: very low
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 100% other: 0%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall
@Palmyra Atoll:People
Population: uninhabited (July 2000 est.)
@Palmyra Atoll:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll
Data code: LQ
Dependency status: incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Palmyra Atoll:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Palmyra Atoll:Transportation
Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World WarII are unserviceable and overgrown
Ports and harbors: West Lagoon
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Palmyra Atoll:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Palmyra Atoll:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
@Panama:Introduction
Background: With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama on 31 December 1999.
@Panama:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 78,200 sq km land: 75,990 sq km water: 2,210 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 555 km border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season(May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 7% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 20% forests and woodland: 44% other: 27% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 320 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean
@Panama:People
Population: 2,808,268 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31% (male 439,590; female 422,949) 15-64 years: 63% (male 901,793; female 878,138) 65 years and over: 6% (male 79,330; female 86,468) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.34% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 19.53 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.95 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.16 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: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 20.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.47 years male: 72.74 years female: 78.31 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Panamanian(s) adjective: Panamanian
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14% note: many Panamanians bilingual
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.8% male: 91.4% female: 90.2% (1995 est.)
@Panama:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Panama conventional short form: Panama local long form: Republica de Panama local short form: Panama
Data code: PM
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Panama
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces (provincias, singular -provincia) and 2 territories* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui,Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Ngobe-Bugle*, Panama, SanBlas*, and Veraguas
Independence: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent fromSpain 28 November 1821)
National holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903)
Constitution: 11 October 1972; major reforms adopted April 1983 and in 1994
Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President (Dominador) Kaiser Baldonero BAZAN (since 1 September 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (since 1 September 1999); First Vice President Arturo Ulises VALLARINO (since 1 September 1999); Second Vice President (Dominador) Kaiser Baldonero BAZAN (since 1 September 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004) election results: Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez elected president; percent of vote - Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez (PA) 44%, Martin TORRIJOS (PRD) 37% note: government coalition - PRD, PLN, and Popular Nationalist Party
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 2 May 1999 (next to be held May 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRD 35, PA 18, PS 4, PDC 4, MOLIRENA 3, PRC 2, PLN 2, Democratic Change 2, MORENA 1; note - one seat had yet to be decided note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia, nine judges appointed for 10-year terms; five superior courts; three courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders: Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya ElisaMOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [RubenAROSEMENA]; Civic Renewal Party or PRC ;Democratic Change ; Democratic Revolutionary Partyor PRD ; National Liberal Party or PLN [Dr. RobertoALEMAN Zubieta, Oscar UCROS, Raul ARANGO]; National RenovationMovement or MORENA ; Nationalist RepublicanLiberal Movement or MOLIRENA ; Solidarity Party orPS
Political pressure groups and leaders: Chamber of Commerce; NationalCivic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO;National Council of Private Enterprise or CONEP; PanamanianAssociation of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian IndustrialistsSociety or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama orCTRP
International organization participation: CAN (associate), CCC, ECLAC,FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo FORD chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-1407 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Simon FERRO embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 38, Apartado 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002 telephone: 227-1777 FAX: 227-1964
Flag description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
@Panama:Economy
Economy - overview: Because of its key geographic location, Panama's economy is service-based, heavily weighted toward banking, commerce, and tourism. The hand-over of the canal and military installations by the US has given rise to new construction projects. The MOSCOSO administration inherited an economy that is much more structurally sound and liberalized than the one inherited by its predecessor. Even though export demand is likely to remain slack in some key markets - especially the Andean countries - GDP growth in 2000 probably will be 3% to 4%. Key reform initiatives from the previous administration - including the privatization of public utilities - remain uncompleted. Although President MOSCOSO is unlikely to overturn any previous reforms, her populist leanings make it unlikely any new initiatives will be undertaken in the near future. Indeed, the government has failed to formulate a comprehensive economic policy framework, and the only concrete step it has taken by yearend 1999 has been a hike in agricultural tariffs.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $21 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.4% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,600 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 25% services: 67% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.5% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.044 million (1997 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 18%, industry 18%, services 64% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13.1% (1997 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.4 billion expenditures: $2.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $341 million (1997 est.)
Industries: construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: 0.4% (1995 est.)
Electricity - production: 4.523 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25.56% hydro: 73.78% nuclear: 0% other: 0.66% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 4.329 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 13 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 136 million kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Exports: $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee
Exports - partners: US 40%, Sweden, Costa Rica, Spain, Benelux,Honduras (1998)
Imports: $6.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports - partners: US 40%, Central America and Caribbean, Japan (1998)
Debt - external: $7 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $197.1 million (1995)
Currency: 1 balboa (B) = 100 centesimos
Exchange rates: balboas (B) per US$1 - 1.000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Panama:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 325,300 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: domestic and international facilities well developeddomestic: NAinternational: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American MicrowaveSystem
Radio broadcast stations: AM 80, FM 44, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 815,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 9 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 510,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (1999)
@Panama:Transportation
Railways: total: 355 km broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge
Highways: total: 11,258 km paved: 3,783 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 7,475 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km PanamaCanal
Pipelines: crude oil 130 km
Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part ofColon area), Vacamonte
Merchant marine: total: 4,732 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 106,054,086 GRT/159,304,019 DWT ships by type: bulk 1,377, cargo 976, chemical tanker 323, combination bulk 68, combination ore/oil 15, container 525, liquified gas 184, livestock carrier 8, multi-functional large load carrier 12, passenger 46, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 496, rail car carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 313, roll-on/roll-off 106, short-sea passenger 42, specialized tanker 33, vehicle carrier 202 (1999 est.) note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 71 countries among which are Japan 1,262, Greece 378, Hong Kong 244, South Korea 259, Taiwan 229, China 193, Singapore 103, US 116, Switzerland 78, and Indonesia 53 (1998 est.)
Airports: 105 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 41 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 21 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 49 (1999 est.)
@Panama:Military
Military branches: an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 761,568 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 521,487 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $132 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY97)
Military - note: on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"
@Panama:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major drug-money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving, yet Panama has failed to prosecute anyone for money laundering - official corruption remains a major problem
______________________________________________________________________
@Papua New Guinea:Introduction
Background: The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997, after claiming some 20,000 lives.
@Papua New Guinea:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 0.1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 92.9% other: 6% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Rim of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, 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: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
@Papua New Guinea:People
Population: 4,926,984 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 972,289; female 940,049) 15-64 years: 58% (male 1,470,158; female 1,365,523) 65 years and over: 3% (male 84,942; female 94,023) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.47% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 32.68 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 8 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: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 59.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.1 years male: 61.05 years female: 65.26 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.38 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant10%, indigenous beliefs 34%
Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 72.2% male: 81% female: 62.7% (1995 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG
Data code: PP
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu,Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang,Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern,Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West NewBritain
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: 16 September 1975
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA (since NA August 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Mao ZEMING (since NA December 1999) cabinet: National 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 National Executive Council; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held NA June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note - association with political parties is very fluid
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice, other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission
Political parties and leaders: Black Action Party ;Bougainville Unity Alliance or BUA ; ChristianDemocratic Party ; Hausman Party ; League forNational Advancement or LNA ; Liberal Party ;Melanesian Alliance or MA ; Melanesian Labor Party; Milne Bay Party ; Movement for GreaterAutonomy ; National Alliance or NA ;National Party or NP ; Papua New Guinea First Party(includes People's National Congress or PNC andChristian Country Party ); Papua New Guinea United Partyor Pangu Pati ; People's Action Party or PAP [TedDIRO]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM ; People'sNational Alliance ; People's Progress Party or PPP [MichaelNALI]; People's Resources Awareness Party ; People'sSolidarity Party ; People's Unity Party or PUP [AlfredKAIABE]; United Party or UP ; United Resource PartyInternational organization participation: ACP, APEC, AsDB, ASEAN(observer), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC, SPF,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nagora Y. BOGAN chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: (202) 745-3680 FAX: (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Arma Jane KARAER embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby telephone: 321-1455 FAX: 321-3423
Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five white five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered
@Papua New Guinea:Economy
Economy - overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by the rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for the bulk of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. Budgetary support from Australia and development aid under World Bank auspices have helped sustain the economy. In 1995, Port Moresby reached agreement with the IMF and World Bank on a structural adjustment program, of which the first phase was successfully completed in 1996. In 1997, droughts caused by the El Nino weather pattern wreaked havoc on Papua New Guinea's coffee, cocoa, and coconut production, the mainstays of the agricultural-based economy and major sources of export earnings. The coffee crop was slashed by up to 50% in 1997. Despite problems with drought, the year 1998 saw a small recovery in GDP. Growth increased to 3.6% in 1999 and may be even higher in 2000, say 4.3%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 35% services: 40% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 16.5% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 1.941 million
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, servicesNA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $1.6 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.74 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.54% hydro: 30.46% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.618 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork
Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish and prawns
Exports - partners: Australia 20%, Japan 13%, Germany 7%, South Korea 5%, Philippines 4%, UK 3% (1998)
Imports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners: Australia 51%, Singapore 10%, Japan 8%, US 5%, NewZealand 5%, Malaysia 3% (1998)
Debt - external: $2.4 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $400 million (1999 est.)
Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 2.7624 (November 1999), 2.520 (1999), 2.058 (1998), 1.434 (1997), 1.318 (1996), 1.276 (1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Papua New Guinea:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 44,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1995)
Telephone system: services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Radios: 410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (1997)
Televisions: 42,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999)
@Papua New Guinea:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 10,940 km
Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine: total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 36,417 GRT/52,432 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 3 (1999 est.)
Airports: 492 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 473 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 58 under 914 m: 402 (1999 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1999 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Military
Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground,Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,274,818 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 706,159 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $42 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1% (FY98)
@Papua New Guinea:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
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@Paracel Islands:Geography
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: NA
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 518 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: tropical
Terrain: NA
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: NA
@Paracel Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2000 est.)
@Paracel Islands:Government
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Data code: PF
@Paracel Islands:Economy
Economy - overview: China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
@Paracel Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island andDuncan Island being expanded
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Paracel Islands:Military
Military - note: occupied by China
@Paracel Islands:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan andVietnam
______________________________________________________________________
@Paraguay:Introduction
Background: In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.
@Paraguay:Geography
Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes: lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use: arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 55% forests and woodland: 32% other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September toJune); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land were lost from 1958-85); water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, andBrazil
@Paraguay:People
Population: 5,585,828 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 1,109,887; female 1,074,815) 15-64 years: 56% (male 1,574,978; female 1,563,872) 65 years and over: 5% (male 120,662; female 141,614) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.64% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 31.27 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 30.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.68 years male: 71.22 years female: 76.27 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.16 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani (spoken by most of rural population)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.1% male: 93.5% female: 90.6% (1995 est.)
@Paraguay:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay
Data code: PA
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Asuncion
Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular -departamento) and one capital city; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana,Amambay, Asuncion (city), Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu,Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu,Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch: chief of state: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March 1999); vice president (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi (since 28 March 1999); vice president (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: Raul CUBAS Grau elected president; percent of vote - 55.3%; resigned 28 March 1999 note: President Luis GONZALEZ Macchi, formerly president of the Chamber of Senators, constitutionally succeeded President Raul CUBAS Grau, who resigned after being impeached soon after the assassination of Vice President Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA will be decided in an election expected to be held in August 2000
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003); Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 25, PLRA 13, PEN 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 45, PLRA 26, PEN 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema deJusticia, judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel ofMagistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura
Political parties and leaders: Authentic Radical Liberal Party or PLRA; Christian Democratic Party or PDC; Febrerista Revolutionary Party or PRF [Carlos MariaLJUBETIC]; National Encounter or PEN ; NationalRepublican Association - Colorado Party [acting president Bader RACHIDLICHI]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Central orCNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church;Unitary Workers Central or CUT
International organization participation: CCC, 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,Mercosur, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Esteban AGUIRRE MARTINEZ chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-6960 through 6962 FAX: (202) 234-4508 consulate(s) general: Kansas City (Kansas), Miami, New Orleans, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stephan G. MCFARLAND embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001 telephone: (21) 213-715 FAX: (21) 213-728
Flag description: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
@Paraguay:Economy
Economy - overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but GDP declined slightly in 1998 and 1999. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure. Growth should recover in 2000, perhaps to 2%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $19.9 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,650 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 21% services: 51% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 32% (1997-98 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 46.6% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (1999)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate: 12% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.9 billion expenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (1995 est.)
Industries: sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products
Industrial production growth rate: -4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production: 50.324 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.12% hydro: 99.66% nuclear: 0% other: 0.22% (1998)
Electricity - consumption: 1.494 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports: 45.307 billion kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)
Agriculture - products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Exports: $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils
Exports - partners: Brazil, Argentina, EU
Imports: $3.2 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery
Imports - partners: Brazil 34%, US, Argentina, Uruguay, EU, Hong Kong (1998)
Debt - external: $2.7 billion (1999)
Economic aid - recipient: $NA
Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: guarani (G) per US$ - 3.332.0 (January 2000), 3,119.1 (1999), 2,726.5 (1998), 2,177.9 (1997), 2,056.8 (1996), 1,963.0 (1995); note - since early 1998, the exchange rate has operated as a managed float; prior to that, the exchange rate was determined freely in the market
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Paraguay:Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 167,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 15,807 (1995)
Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion domestic: fair microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Radios: 925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 10 (1997)
Televisions: 515,000 (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (1999)
@Paraguay:Transportation
Railways: total: 971 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge note: there are 470 km of various gauges that are privately owned
Highways: total: 29,500 km paved: 15,000 km unpaved: 14,500 km (1999)
Waterways: 3,100 km
Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine: total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,287 GRT/32,510 DWT ships by type: cargo 15, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 4, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1999 est.)
Airports: 937 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 927 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 29 914 to 1,523 m: 346 under 914 m: 551 (1999 est.)
@Paraguay:Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), AirForce
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,349,800 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 974,313 (2000 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 56,701 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $125 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY98)
@Paraguay:Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South America; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for Southern Cone markets and Europe and a limited amount to the US
______________________________________________________________________
@Peru:Introduction
Background: After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980. In recent years, bold reform programs and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity and drug trafficking have resulted in solid economic growth.
@Peru:Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 1,285,220 sq km land: 1.28 million sq km water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 5,536 kmborder countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,414 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
Terrain: western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 21% forests and woodland: 66% other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia
@Peru:People
Population: 27,012,899 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35% (male 4,776,074; female 4,628,899) 15-64 years: 61% (male 8,224,829; female 8,119,751) 65 years and over: 4% (male 579,465; female 683,881) (2000 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.75% (2000 est.)
Birth rate: 24.48 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 40.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.01 years male: 67.63 years female: 72.5 years (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.04 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: Peruvian(s) adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.7% male: 94.5% female: 83% (1995 est.)
@Peru:Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Peru conventional short form: Peru local long form: Republica del Peru local short form: Peru
Data code: PE
Government type: constitutional republic
Capital: Lima
Administrative divisions: 24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali note: the 1979 constitution mandated the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 of the 24 departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios, Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari (from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna, Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca, Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali); formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of Lima; because of inadequate funding from the central government and organizational and political difficulties, the regions have yet to assume major responsibilities; the 1993 constitution retains the regions but limits their authority; the 1993 constitution also reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments
Independence: 28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution: 31 December 1993
Legal system: based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; additionally there are two vice presidents head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; additionally there are two vice presidents note: Prime Minister Alberto BUSTAMANTE (since 13 October 1999) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held 9 April 2000) election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of vote - Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
Legislative branch: unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held 9 April 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, other parties 33.9%; seats by party - C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, CODE-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3, Renovation Party 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, other parties 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema deJusticia, judges are appointed by the National Council of theJudiciary