Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass
National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President of France JacquesCHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner ThierryLATASTE (since 19 July 1999)
head of government: President of the Government Jean LEQUES (since 28 May 1999)
cabinet: Consultative Committee
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress
Legislative branch: unicameral Territorial Congress or CongresTerritorial (54 seats; members are members of the three ProvincialAssemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie 3, LKS 1
note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held 27 September 1992 (next to be held NA September 2001); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 25 May-1 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts;Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance pour la Caledonie [DidierLEROUX]; Developper Ensemble pour Construire l'Avenir or DEPCA[Robert FROUIN]; Federation des Comites de Coordination desIndependantistes or FCCI [Leopald SOREDIE]; Front Uni de LiberationKanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Groupe de l'Alliance Multiraciale or GAM[Dany DALMAYRAE]; Independance et Progres [Alphonse PUJAPUJANE];Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [RockWAMYTAN] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); La Caledonie Autrement[Denis MILLIARD]; Loyalty Islands Development Front or FDIL [ConoHAMU]; National Front or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Parti de Liberation Kanakor PALIKA [Charles WASHETINE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republicor RPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [leaderNA]; Renouveau [Thierry VALET]; Socialist Kanak Liberation or LKS[Nidoish NAISSELINE]; Union Caledonienne or UC [Bernard LEPEU];Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; UnionProgressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Andre GOPEA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ESCAP (associate), FZ,ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory ofFrance)
Flag description: the flag of France is used
New Caledonia Economy
Economy - overview: New Caledonia has more than 20% of the world's known nickel resources. In recent years, the economy has suffered because of depressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of export earnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, the substantial financial support from France and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. The situation in 1998 was clouded by the spillover of financial problems in East Asia and by lower prices for nickel. Nickel prices jumped in 1999-2000, and large additions were made to capacity. French Government interests in the New Caledonian nickel industry are being transferred to local ownership.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3 billion (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (1998 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,000 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4%
industry: 30%
services: 66% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1998 est.)
Labor force: 79,395 (including 15, 018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 19% (1996)
Budget: revenues: $861.3 million
expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52 million (1996 est.)
Industries: nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate: -0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production: 1.52 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.95%
hydro: 21.05%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 1.414 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Exports: $411 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners: Japan 27%, France 17%, Taiwan 12%, South Korea 9% (1999)
Imports: $843 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: transport equipment, machinery and electrical equipment, fuels, minerals, wine, sugar, rice
Imports - partners: France 49%, Australia 14%, Singapore 6%, NewZealand 5%, US 5% (1999)
Debt - external: $79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $880 million annual subsidy from France
Currency: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code: XPF
Exchange rates: Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 127.11 (January 2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998), 106.11 (1997), 93.00 (1996); note - linked at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
New Caledonia Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 13,040 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 52,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .nc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 5,000 (2000)
New Caledonia Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 4,825 km
paved: 2,287 km
unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine: total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,261GRT/1,600 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Airports: 29 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 11 (2000 est.)
Heliports: 6 (2000 est.)
New Caledonia Military
Military branches: French Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force,Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $192.3 million (1996)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.3% (1996)
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
New Caledonia Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of NewCaledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
======================================================================
@New Zealand
New Zealand Introduction
Background: The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand withdrew from a number of defense alliances during the 1970s and 1980s. In recent years the government has sought to address longstanding native Maori grievances.
New Zealand Geography
Location: Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast ofAustralia
Geographic coordinates: 41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 268,680 sq km
land: 268,670 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands, Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative: about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 15,134 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain: predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Cook 3,764 m
Natural resources: natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone
Land use: arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 50%
forests and woodland: 28%
other: 8% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 2,850 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside
Environment - international agreements: party to:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: about 80% of the population lives in cities;Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world
New Zealand People
Population: 3,864,129 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 22.36% (male 442,738; female 421,462)
15-64 years: 66.11% (male 1,281,781; female 1,272,674)
65 years and over: 11.53% (male 193,895; female 251,579) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.14% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 14.28 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 7.56 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.71 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 6.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.99 years
male: 75.01 years
female: 81.1 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.06% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 1,200 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups: New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, otherEuropean 4.6%, Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions: Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%, Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages: English (official), Maori
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
New Zealand Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Wellington
Administrative divisions: 93 counties, 9 districts*, and 3 towndistricts**; Akaroa, Amuri, Ashburton, Bay of Islands, Bruce,Buller, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Clifton, Clutha, Cook, Dannevirke,Egmont, Eketahuna, Ellesmere, Eltham, Eyre, Featherston, Franklin,Golden Bay, Great Barrier Island, Grey, Hauraki Plains, Hawera*,Hawke's Bay, Heathcote, Hikurangi**, Hobson, Hokianga, Horowhenua,Hurunui, Hutt, Inangahua, Inglewood, Kaikoura, Kairanga, Kiwitea,Lake, Mackenzie, Malvern, Manaia**, Manawatu, Mangonui, Maniototo,Marlborough, Masterton, Matamata, Mount Herbert, Ohinemuri, Opotiki,Oroua, Otamatea, Otorohanga*, Oxford, Pahiatua, Paparua, Patea,Piako, Pohangina, Raglan, Rangiora*, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua*,Runanga, Saint Kilda, Silverpeaks, Southland, Stewart Island,Stratford, Strathallan, Taranaki, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga,Thames-Coromandel*, Tuapeka, Vincent, Waiapu, Waiheke, Waihemo,Waikato, Waikohu, Waimairi, Waimarino, Waimate, Waimate West,Waimea, Waipa, Waipawa*, Waipukurau*, Wairarapa South, Wairewa,Wairoa, Waitaki, Waitomo*, Waitotara, Wallace, Wanganui, Waverley**,Westland, Whakatane*, Whangarei, Whangaroa, Woodville
note: there may be a new administrative structure of 16 regions(Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay,Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,Waikato, Wanganui-Manawatu, Wellington, West Coast) that aresubdivided into 57 districts and 16 cities* (Ashburton, Auckland*,Banks Peninsula, Buller, Carterton, Central Hawke's Bay, CentralOtago, Christchurch*, Clutha, Dunedin*, Far North, Franklin,Gisborne, Gore, Grey, Hamilton*, Hastings, Hauraki, Horowhenua,Hurunui, Hutt*, Invercargill*, Kaikoura, Kaipara, Kapiti Coast,Kawerau, Mackenzie, Manawatu, Manukau*, Marlborough, Masterton,Matamata Piako, Napier*, Nelson*, New Plymouth, North Shore*,Opotiki, Otorohanga, Palmerston North*, Papakura*, Porirua*,Queenstown Lakes, Rangitikei, Rodney, Rotorua, Ruapehu, Selwyn,Southland, South Taranaki, South Waikato, South Wairarapa,Stratford, Tararua, Tasman, Taupo, Tauranga, Thames Coromandel,Timaru, Upper Hutt*, Waikato, Waimakariri, Waimate, Waipa, Wairoa,Waitakere*, Waitaki, Waitomo, Wanganui, Wellington*, Western Bay ofPlenty, Westland, Whakatane, Whangarei)
Dependent areas: Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday: Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi establishedBritish sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution: consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986 which is the principal formal charter
Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame SilviaCARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Jim ANDERTON (since 10 December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general for a three-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 27 November 1999 (next must be called by November 2002)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NZLP 49, NP 39, Alliance 10, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 7, NZFP 5, UNZ 1
note: NZLP and Alliance formed the government coalition; the National Party became the opposition party
Judicial branch: High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders: ACT, New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE];Alliance (a coalition of the New Labor Party, Democratic Party, NewZealand Liberal Party, and Mana Motuhake) [Jim ANDERTON]; GreenParty [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP[Jenny SHIPLEY]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS];New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; United New Zealand orUNZ [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspendedsecurity obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF (dialoguepartner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, C, CCC,CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA,Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,UNMOP, UNTAET, UNTSO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorJames Brendan BOLGER
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorCarol MOSELEY-BRAUN
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, FPO AP 96531-1001
telephone: [64] (4) 472-2068
consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation
New Zealand Economy
Economy - overview: Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economic restructuring, moving an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access toward a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes, broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Inflation remains among the lowest in the industrial world. Per capita GDP has been moving up toward the levels of the big West European economies. New Zealand's heavy dependence on trade leaves its growth prospects vulnerable to economic performance in Asia, Europe, and the US. With the FY00/01 budget pushing up pension and other public outlays, the government's ability to meet fiscal targets will depend on sustained economic growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $67.6 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.6% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8%
industry: 23%
services: 69% (1999)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 1.88 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)
Unemployment rate: 6.3% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $19.2 billion
expenditures: $19.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate: 6.2% (2000)
Electricity - production: 37.952 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 30.49%
hydro: 61.42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 8.09% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 35.295 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $14.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: dairy products, meat, fish, wool, forestry products, manufactures
Exports - partners: Australia 22%, US 14%, Japan 13%, UK 7% (1999)
Imports: $14.3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, consumer goods, plastics
Imports - partners: Australia 24%, US 17%, Japan 12%, UK 4% (1999)
Debt - external: $30.8 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $123 million (1995)
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code: NZD
Exchange rates: New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.2502 (January 2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999), 1.8632 (1998), 1.5083 (1997), 1.4543 (1996)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
New Zealand Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.84 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 588,000 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios: 3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 1.926 million (1997)
Internet country code: .nz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 36 (2000)
Internet users: 1.34 million (2000)
New Zealand Transportation
Railways: total: 3,913 km
narrow gauge: 3,913 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified) (1999)
Highways: total: 92,200 km
paved: 53,568 km (including at least 144 km of expressways)
unpaved: 38,632 km (1996)
Waterways: 1,609 km
note: of little importance in satisfying total transportation requirements
Pipelines: petroleum products 160 km; natural gas 1,000 km; liquefied petroleum gas or LPG 150 km
Ports and harbors: Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga,Wellington
Merchant marine: total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 72,389GRT/109,018 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, roll on/roll off 1 (2000 est.)
Airports: 111 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 67
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 42 (2000 est.)
New Zealand Military
Military branches: New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, RoyalNew Zealand Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,000,102 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 841,915 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 26,480 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $883 million (FY97/98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.1% (FY97/98)
New Zealand Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (RossDependency)
======================================================================
@Nicaragua
Nicaragua Introduction
Background: Settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s, Nicaragua gained its independence in 1821. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990 and again in 1996 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.
Nicaragua Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and theNorth Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates: 13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 129,494 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: natural prolongation
territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate: tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain: extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interior mountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources: gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 46%
forests and woodland: 27%
other: 17% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 880 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and occasionally severe hurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear TestBan, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Nicaragua People
Population: 4,918,393 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.98% (male 976,087; female 941,141)
15-64 years: 58.08% (male 1,418,555; female 1,438,096)
65 years and over: 2.94% (male 62,963; female 81,551) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.15% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 27.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 4.82 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.33 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 33.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 69.05 years
male: 67.1 years
female: 71.11 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.18 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 4,900 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 360 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages: Spanish (official)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 65.7%
male: 64.6%
female: 66.6% (1995 est.)
Nicaragua Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua
Government type: republic
Capital: Managua
Administrative divisions: 15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento), 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas, Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution: 9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system: civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage: 16 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (since 10 January 1997); Vice President Leopoldo NAVARRO (since 24 October 2000); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (since 10 January 1997); Vice President Leopoldo NAVARRO (since 24 October 2000); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held 4 November 2001); note - in July 1995 the term of the office of the president was amended to five years
election results: Arnoldo ALEMAN Lacayo (Liberal Alliance - ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 51.03%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 37.75%, Guillermo OSORNO (PCCN) 4.10%, Noel VIDAURRE (PCN) 2.26%, Benjamin LANZAS (PRONAL) 0.53%, other (18 other candidates) 4.33%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 1996 (next to be held 4 November 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PC 1, PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 Alliance 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for seven-year terms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders: Conservative Party of Nicaragua orPCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI[Virgilio GODOY]; Liberal Alliance (ruling alliance includingLiberal Constitutional Party or PLC, New Liberal Party or PALI,Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN, and CentralAmerican Unionist Party or PUCA) [leader NA]; National ConservativeParty or PC [Pedro SOLARZANO, Noel VIDAURRE]; National Project orPRONAL [Benjamin LANZAS]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path orPCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ]; Nicaraguan ResistanceParty or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National LiberationFront or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista RenovationMovement or MRS [Sergio RAMIREZ]; Unity Alliance or AU [AlejandroSERRANO]; Union Nacional Opositora 96 or UNO-96 [Alfredo CESARAguirre]
Political pressure groups and leaders: National Workers Front or FNTis a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions including -Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health Workers Federation orFETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of ProfessionalAssociations or CONAPRO, National Association of Educators ofNicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE, NationalUnion of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers Central orCST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; PermanentCongress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of fournon-Sandinista labor unions including - Autonomous NicaraguanWorkers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS,Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and LaborAction and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTNis an independent labor union; Superior Council of PrivateEnterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups
International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, 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 (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorAlfonso ORTEGA Urbina
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorOliver P. GARZA
embassy: Apartado Postal 327, Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] (2) 662298, 666010, 666012, 666013, 666015, 666018, 666026, 666027, 666032, 666033
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Nicaragua Economy
Economy - overview: Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge external debt. While the country has made progress toward macro-economic stabilization over the past few years, a banking crisis and scandal has shaken the economy. Managua will continue to be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Donors have made aid conditional on improving governability, the openness of government financial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. Nicaragua met the conditions for additional debt service relief in December 2000. Growth should remain moderate to high in 2001.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.1 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31.6%
industry: 22.8%
services: 45.6% (1999)
Population below poverty line: 50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 39.8% (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 11% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 1.7 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 20% plus considerable underemployment (1999 est.)
Budget: revenues: $734 million
expenditures: $836 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 est.)
Industries: food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear, wood
Industrial production growth rate: 4.4% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.349 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 67.26%
hydro: 17.71%
nuclear: 0%
other: 15.03% (1999)
Electricity - consumption: 2.265 billion kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports: 20 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports: 100 million kWh (1999)
Agriculture - products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Exports: $631 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, beef, sugar, bananas; gold
Exports - partners: US 37.7%, El Salvador 12.5%, Germany 9.8%, CostaRica 5.1%, Spain 2.5%, France 2.1% (1999)
Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products, consumer goods
Imports - partners: US 34.5%, Costa Rica 11.4%, Guatemala 7.3%,Panama 6.9%, Venezuela 5.9%, El Salvador 5.5% (1999)
Debt - external: $6.4 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: NA
Currency: gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code: NIO
Exchange rates: gold cordobas per US dollar - 12.96 (November 2000), 12.69 (2000 est.), 11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998), 9.45 (1997), 8.44 (1996)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Nicaragua Communications
Telephones - main lines in use: 140,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 7,911 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreign investment
domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
international: satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 320,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .ni
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2000)
Internet users: 20,000 (2000)
Nicaragua Transportation
Highways: total: 16,382 km
paved: 1,818 km
unpaved: 14,564 km (1998)
Waterways: 2,220 km (including 2 large lakes)
Pipelines: crude oil 56 km
Ports and harbors: Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas,Puerto Sandino, Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine: none (2000 est.)
Airports: 182 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 171
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 145 (2000 est.)
Nicaragua Military
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,269,322 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 779,267 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 58,232 (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $26 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY98)
Nicaragua Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; with respect to the maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJ referred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua Mixed Boundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolution among El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required; maritime boundary dispute with Honduras in the Caribbean Sea is before the ICJ; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
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@Niger
Niger Introduction
Background: Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Niger hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999 were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council that effected a transition to civilian rule in December 1999.
Niger Geography
Location: Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates: 16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1.267 million sq km
land: 1,266,700 sq km
water: 300 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 5,697 km
border countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km, Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain: predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plains in south; hills in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Greboun 1,944 m
Natural resources: uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 7%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 88% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 660 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: landlocked
Niger People
Population: 10,355,156 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 47.97% (male 2,528,484; female 2,439,051)
15-64 years: 49.75% (male 2,518,400; female 2,633,677)
65 years and over: 2.28% (male 123,589; female 111,955) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.72% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 50.68 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 22.71 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 123.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 41.59 years
male: 41.74 years
female: 41.44 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 7.08 children born/woman (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.35% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 64,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 6,500 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups: Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, BeriBeri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200French expatriates
Religions: Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christians
Languages: French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 13.6%
male: 20.9%
female: 6.6% (1995 est.)
Niger Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger
Government type: republic
Capital: Niamey
Administrative divisions: 7 departments (departements, singular - departement), and 1 capital district* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence: 3 August 1958 (from France)
National holiday: Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution: the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 18 July 1999
Legal system: based on French civil law system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president
note: President Ibrahim BARE was assassinated on 9 April 1999; subsequent elections were held under the nine-month provisional government of Major Daouda Mallam WANKE
cabinet: 23-member cabinet appointed by President TANDJA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: Mamadou TANDJA elected president; percent of vote - Mamadou TANDJA 59.9%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 40.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (83 seats, members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNSD-Nassara 38, CDS-Rahama 17, PNDS-Tarayya 16, RDP-Jama'a 8, ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 4
Judicial branch: State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'aor RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Democratic and SocialConvention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; NationalMovement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [MamadouTANDJA, chairman]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and SocialProgress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni AdamouDJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya orPNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Union of Democratic Patriots andProgressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU,chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WADB, WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorJoseph DIATTA
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorCharles O. CECIL
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheel centered in the white band
Niger Economy
Economy - overview: Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, reexport trade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining world demand. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January 1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the products of Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateral and multilateral aid - which was suspended following the April 1999 coup d'etat - for operating expenses and public investment. In 2000, the World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of $35 million to help support fiscal reforms. However, reforms could prove difficult given the government's bleak financial situation.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $10 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40%
industry: 18%
services: 42% (1998)
Population below poverty line: 63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 70,000 receive regular wages or salaries
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $377 million, including $146 million from foreign sources
expenditures: $377 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1999 est.)