Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 140,800 sq km
land: 136,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries: total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 15%
forests and woodland: 42%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 8,500 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environment - current issues: deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China andIndia; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
Nepal People
Population: 25,284,463 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 40.35% (male 5,267,234; female 4,933,910)
15-64 years: 56.16% (male 7,264,575; female 6,934,384)
65 years and over: 3.49% (male 437,813; female 446,547) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.32% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 33.4 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 74.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 58.22 years
male: 58.65 years
female: 57.77 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.58 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.29% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 34,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 2,500 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups: Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai,Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others (1995)
Religions: Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2%
note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)
Languages: Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozen other languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many in government and business also speak English (1995)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 27.5%
male: 40.9%
female: 14% (1995 est.)
Nepal Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal
Government type: parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Capital: Kathmandu
Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural);Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi,Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
National holiday: Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)
Constitution: 9 November 1990
Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to the throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew King DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah)
head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 22 March 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
note: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting at the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of most of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, is believed to have been responsible for the shootings before fatally wounding himself; immediately following the shootings and while still clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died three days later and was succeeded by his uncle
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2004)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%; seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal/UnitedMarxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL, general secretary];National Democratic Party or NDP (also called Rastriya PrajantraParty or RPP) [Surya Bahadur THAPA, chairman]; Nepal Sadbhavana(Goodwill) Party or NSP [Gajendra Narayan SINGH, president]; NepalWorkers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, partychair]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, partypresident, Sushil KOIRALA, general secretary]; Rastriya Jana Morcha[Chitra Bahadur K. C., chairman]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [LilaMani POKHAREL, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO,G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW,SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIBH,UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTAET, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorDamodar Prasad GAUTAM
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorRalph FRANK
embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 411179, 410531
Flag description: red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
Nepal Economy
Economy - overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with nearly half of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 41% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past three years. Agricultural production is growing by about 5% on average as compared with annual population growth of 2.3%. Since May 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms, particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by reducing business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. More recently, however, political instability - five different governments over the past few years - has hampered Kathmandu's ability to forge consensus to implement key economic reforms. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $33.7 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,360 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 41%
industry: 22%
services: 37% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 42% (FY95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (FY99/00 est.)
Labor force: 10 million (1996 est.)
note: severe lack of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 81%, services 16%, industry 3%
Unemployment rate: NA%; substantial underemployment (1999)
Budget: revenues: $536 million
expenditures: $818 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)
Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.255 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 9.56%
hydro: 90.44%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 1.309 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 68 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 210 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Exports: $485 million (f.o.b., 1998), but does not include unrecorded border trade with India
Exports - commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners: India 33%, US 26%, Germany 25% (FY97/98)
Imports: $1.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Imports - commodities: gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners: India 31%, China/Hong Kong 16%, Singapore 14%(FY97/98)
Debt - external: $2.4 billion (1997)
Economic aid - recipient: $411 million (FY97/98)
Currency: Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code: NPR
Exchange rates: Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 74.129 (January 2001), 71.104 (2000), 68.239 (1999), 65.976 (1998), 58.010 (1997), 56.692 (1996)
Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July
Nepal Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 236,816 (January 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephone network
domestic: NA
international: radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)
Radios: 840,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 130,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .np
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000)
Internet users: 35,000 (2000)
Nepal Transportation
Railways: total: 59 km; note - all in Kosi close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2000)
Highways: total: 13,223 km
paved: 4,073 km
unpaved: 9,150 km (April 1999)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 45 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 29 (2000 est.)
Nepal Military
Military branches: Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese ArmyAir Service), Nepalese Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,295,990 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,272,077 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 292,589 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $44 million (FY96/97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.9% (FY96/97)
Nepal Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 98,700 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
======================================================================
@Netherlands
Netherlands Introduction
Background: The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I but suffered a brutal invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EC, and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Netherlands Geography
Location: Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates: 52 30 N, 5 45 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 41,526 sq km
land: 33,883 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain: mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Prins Alexanderpolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 321 m
Natural resources: natural gas, petroleum, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 8%
other: 39% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,000 sq km (1996 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding
Environment - current issues: water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: located at mouths of three major European rivers(Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)
Netherlands People
Population: 15,981,472 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.38% (male 1,501,925; female 1,436,017)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,518,575; female 5,333,442)
65 years and over: 13.72% (male 899,052; female 1,292,461) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.55% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 11.85 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.43 years
male: 75.55 years
female: 81.44 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.19% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups: Dutch 91%, Moroccans, Turks, and other 9% (1999 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%, unaffiliated 40% (1998)
Languages: Dutch
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
Netherlands Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (provincien, singular -provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen,Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland,Zuid-Holland
Dependent areas: Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence: 1579 (from Spain)
National holiday: Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution: adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17February 1983
Legal system: civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994) and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998) and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note: government coalition - PvdA, VVD, and D'66; there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors consulted by the executive on legislative and administrative policy
Legislative branch: bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 1999 (next to be held NA May 2003); Second Chamber - last held 6 May 1998 (next to be held May 2002)
election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 20, VVD 19, PvdA 15, D'66 4, other 17; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - PvdA 30.0%, VVD 25.3%, CDA 19.3%, D'66 9.3%, other 16.1%; seats by party - PvdA 45, VVD 38, CDA 29, D'66 14, other 24
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA[Jaap de Hoop SCHEFFER]; Democrats '66 or D'66 [Tom DE GRAAF]; LaborParty or PvdA [Wim KOK]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy(Liberal) or VVD [Hans F. DIJKSTAL]; a host of minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprising Socialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union; Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
International organization participation: AfDB, AsDB, AustraliaGroup, 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL,WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorJoris M. VOS
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York
consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorCynthia P. SCHNEIDER
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209
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 depending heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. 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 Dutch economy has expanded by 3% or more in each of the last four years and real GDP growth is likely to be about 3.6% in 2001. The government in 2001 will implement its most comprehensive tax reform since World War II, designed to reduce high income tax levels and redirect the fiscal burden onto consumption. The Dutch were among the first 11 EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on 1 January 1999.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $388.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $24,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 26.3%
services: 70.4% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 7.2 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate: 2.6% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $134 billion
expenditures: $134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries: agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 3.2% (2000)
Electricity - production: 85.294 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.25%
hydro: 0.11%
nuclear: 4.27%
other: 5.37% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 97.76 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 3.97 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 22.407 billion kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports: $210.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners: EU 78% (Germany 26%, Belgium-Luxembourg 12%,France 12%, UK 11%, Italy 6%), Central and Eastern Europe, US (2000)
Imports: $201.2 billion (c.i.f., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners: EU 56% (Germany 18%, Belgium-Luxembourg 10%, UK 5%, France 6%), US 9%, Central and Eastern Europe (2000)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 est.)
Currency: Netherlands guilder (NLG); euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in the Netherlands at a fixed rate of 2.20371 Netherlands guilders per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
Currency code: NLG; EUR
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Netherlands guilders per US dollar - 1.9837 (1998), 1.9513 (1997), 1.6859 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Netherlands Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 9,132,400 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 4,081,891 (April 1999)
Telephone system: general assessment: 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: 21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 8.1 million (1997)
Internet country code: .nl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 52 (2000)
Internet users: 6.8 million (2000)
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)
Waterways: 5,046 km
note: 47% of total route length 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, Vlissingen
Merchant marine: total: 596 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,321,500 GRT/4,877,632 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 371, chemical tanker 43, container 59, liquefied gas 21, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 9, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 29, roll on/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 5 (2000 est.)
Airports: 28 (2000 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 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2000 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2000 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: 4,083,349 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 3,555,501 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 96,082 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY00/01 est.)
Netherlands Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy
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@Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles Introduction
Background: Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Sint Maarten is shared with France; its northern portion is named Saint Martin and is part of Guadeloupe.
Netherlands Antilles Geography
Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 960 sq km
land: 960 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative: more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km
border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Coastline: 364 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use: arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 90% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October
Environment - current issues: NA
Netherlands Antilles People
Population: 212,226 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.21% (male 27,332; female 26,169)
15-64 years: 66.99% (male 67,562; female 74,599)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 6,874; female 9,690) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.97% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 16.55 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.94 years
male: 72.76 years
female: 77.22 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.07 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Dutch Antillean(s)
adjective: Dutch Antillean
Ethnic groups: mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1981 est.)
Netherlands Antilles Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
former: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status: part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type: parliamentary
Capital: Willemstad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of theNetherlands)
note: each island has its own government
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution: 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of theNetherlands, as amended
Legal system: based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Jaime SALEH (since NA October 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Miguel POURIER (since 8 November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER (since NA)
note: Miguel POURIER assumed prime ministership following the resignation of Susanne CAMELIA-ROMER
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP
Legislative branch: unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 January 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, SPA 1, PDB 2, UPB 1, MAN 2, PLKP 3, WIPM 1, SEA 1, DP-St. M 2, FOL 2; no party won enough seats to form a government
note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4
Judicial branch: Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR[Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaireor PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [ErrolHERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [JulianWOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [SarahWESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics orFAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [ErrolCOVA]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER];New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Unionof Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maartenor SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi];Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic LaborMovement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St.Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious AlternativePeople's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS[Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [WillJOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, RignaldLAK, Editha WRIGHT]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by theKingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: ConsulGeneral Barbara J. STEPHENSON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 4613066
Flag description: white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Netherlands Antilles Economy
Economy - overview: Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined slightly in each of the past five years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure as compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, with Venezuela, the US, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -3.5% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 89,000
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14.9% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $710.8 million
expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Industries: tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.11 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 1.032 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Exports: $276 million (f.o.b., 2000)
Exports - commodities: petroleum products
Exports - partners: US 17.5%, Guatemala 8%, Costa Rica 6.5%, TheBahamas 4.6%, Jamaica 4.1%, Chile 3.4% (1998)
Imports: $1.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners: Venezuela 35.3%, US 21%, Mexico 9.8%, Italy 5.4%, Netherlands 4.8%, Brazil 3.1% (1998)
Debt - external: $1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid - recipient: IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and theNetherlands continued its support with $40 million
Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code: ANG
Exchange rates: Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Netherlands Antilles Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 76,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 13,977 (1996)
Telephone system: general assessment: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 217,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (there is also a cable service which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997)
Televisions: 69,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .an
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6
Internet users: 2,000 (2000)
Netherlands Antilles Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 600 km
paved: 300 km
unpaved: 300 km (1992)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine: total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,113,774 GRT/1,397,841 DWT
ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 35, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, multi-functional large-load carrier 19, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 7
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 8, Germany 1, Italy 1 (2000 est.)
Airports: 5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Netherlands Antilles Military
Military branches: Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, CoastGuard, National Guard, Police Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 54,284 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 30,405 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 1,610 (2001 est.)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of theNetherlands
Netherlands Antilles Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: money-laundering center; transshipment point forSouth American drugs bound for the US and Europe
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@New Caledonia
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: 204,863 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.31% (male 31,674; female 30,416)
15-64 years: 63.95% (male 66,014; female 65,006)
65 years and over: 5.74% (male 5,548; female 6,205) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.48% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 20.37 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.02 years
male: 70.08 years
female: 76.11 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.48 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
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
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