Exports - commodities: wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners: Germany 17%, UK 16%, Sweden 10%, Lithuania 8% (2001 est.)
Imports: $3.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners: Germany 17%, Russia 9%, Lithuania 8%, Finland 8%,Sweden 7% (2001 est.)
Debt - external: $2.6 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $96.2 million (1995)
Currency: Latvian lat (LVL)
Currency code: LVL
Exchange rates: lati per US dollar - 0.6384 (January 2002), 0.628 (2001), 0.607 (2000), 0.585 (1999), 0.590 (1998), 0.581 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Latvia
Telephones - main lines in use: 734,693 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 401,263 (2000)
Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications international: earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 1.76 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code: .lv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 41 (2001)
Internet users: 310,000 (2001)
Transportation Latvia
Railways: total: 2,412 km broad gauge: 2,379 km 1.520-m gauge (271 km electrified) narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2001)
Highways: total: 59,178 km paved: 22,843 km unpaved: 36,335 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 300 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines: crude oil 750 km; refined products 780 km; natural gas 560 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Merchant marine: total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 30,119 GRT/30,572 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.) ships by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 4
Airports: 25 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: 1 914 to 1,523 m: Airports - with unpaved runways: 2 914 to 1,523 m: Military Latvia
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces,Border Guard, National Guard
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 591,592 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 464,843 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 19,114 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.2% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Latvia
Disputes - international: the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Lithuania
Introduction
Lithuania
Background: Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but this proclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently has restructured its economy for eventual integration into Western European institutions.
Geography Lithuania
Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 65,200 sq km water: NA sq km land: NA sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,273 km border countries: Belarus 502 km,Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline: 99 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers
Terrain: lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point:Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land
Land use: arable land: 45% permanent crops: 1% other: 54% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-PersistentOrganic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population: 3,601,138 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.2% (male 333,966; female 319,992) 15-64 years: 68% (male 1,184,969; female 1,265,711) 65 years and over: 13.8% (male 167,789; female 328,711) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.25% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 10.22 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 12.87 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 14.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 75.6 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.4 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.02% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 500 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Lithuanian(s) adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups: Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Belarusian 1.6%, other 2.1%
Religions: Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox,Protestant, Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages: Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 98% (1989 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name: Republic of Lithuania conventional short form: Republic local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Vilnius
Administrative divisions: 10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis);Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages,Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence: 11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is the date of independence from German, Austrian, Prussian, and Russian occupation, 11 March 1990 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Constitution: adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 26 February 1998) head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3 July 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 December 1997 and 4 January 1998 (next to be held in late 2002); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote - Valdas ADAMKUS 50.4%, Arturas PAULAUSKAS 49.6%
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democratic Coalition 31.1%, New Union-Social Liberals 19.6%, Liberal Union 17.2%, TS 8.6%, remaining parties all less than 5%; seats by party - Social Democratic Coalition 52, Liberal Union 34, New Union-Social Liberals 29, TS 9, Farmer's Party 4, Center Union 2, Poles' Electoral Action 2, Modern Christian Democratic Union 1, independents 3, others 5
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Party or LKDP[Kazys BOBELIS, chairman]; Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles[Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Partyor TS [Vytautas LANDSBERGIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS[Kestutis GLAVECKAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP [RamunasKARBAUSKIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Green Party [Rimantas BRAZIULIS];Lithuanian Liberal Union [Eugenijus GENTVILAS, chairman]; LithuanianLiberal Youth [Neringa MOROZAITE]; Lithuanian National Democratic Party[Vygintas GONTIS]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition [AlgirdasBRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian Democratic LaborParty or LDDP, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSPD, and NewDemocracy; Moderate Conservative Union [Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; ModernChristian Democratic Union [Vytautas BOGUSIS, chairman]; New Democracy andFarmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; New Union-Social Liberals[Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Young Lithuania [Arnoldas PLATELIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACCT (observer), BIS,CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK,UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKAS consulate(s) general: 234-5860 chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorJohn F. TEFFT embassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilnius mailing address: AmericanEmbassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723 telephone: [370] (2)665-500 FAX: [370] (2) 665-510
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview: Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has been slowly rebounding from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. High unemployment, at 12.5% in 2001, and weak consumption have held back recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and has moved ahead with plans to join the EU. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is underway.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $27.4 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 32% services: 59% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 34 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 1.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12.5% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.59 billion expenditures: $1.77 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries: metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate: 15% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 10.966 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 20.16% hydro: 3.06% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 76.78%
Electricity - consumption: 6.898 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 6.3 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 3 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $4.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: mineral products 21%, textiles and clothing 19%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 8%, wood and wood products 6%, foodstuffs 4% (2000)
Exports - partners: Latvia 15%, Germany 14%, UK 8%, Russia 7%, Ukraine 5% (2000)
Imports: $5.7 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: mineral products 23%, machinery and equipment 16%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, transport equipment 9% (2000)
Imports - partners: Russia 28%, Germany 15%, Poland 5%, France 4%, UK 4% (2000)
Debt - external: $3.6 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $228.5 million (1995)
Currency: litas (LTL)
Currency code: LTL
Exchange rates: litai per US dollar - 4.000 (fixed rate since 1 May 1994); note - litai is the plural of litas; effective 2 February 2002 the litas are pegged to the euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use: 1.142 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 500,000 (2001)
Telephone system: general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an improved international capability and better residential access domestic: completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded; mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber applications international: to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations: AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios: 1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 27 note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions: 1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code: .lt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 32 (2001)
Internet users: 341,000 (2001)
Transportation Lithuania
Railways: total: 1,998 km broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified) narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (2001) standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways: total: 44,000 km paved: 35,500 km unpaved: 8,500 km (2001)
Waterways: 600 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines: crude oil, 105 km; natural gas 760 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine: total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 279,743 GRT/304,156 DWT ships by type: cargo 25, combination bulk 8, petroleum tanker 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 13 (2002 est.)
Airports: 72 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 63 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 55 (2001)
Military Lithuania
Military branches: Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force,National Volunteer Defense Forces (SKAT)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 933,638 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 733,415 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 28,506 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international: the Russian Duma has not ratified 1997 boundary treaty; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Liberia
Introduction
Liberia
Background: Seven years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1996 when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held. President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real political opposition. The years of fighting coupled with the flight of most businesses have disrupted formal economic activity. A still unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country. In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds along with an army embargo and a travel ban on government officials for Liberia's support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone.
Geography Liberia
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenCote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 111,370 sq km water: 15,050 sq km land: 96,320 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries: total: 1,585 km border countries: Guinea 563 km,Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Coastline: 579 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain: mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 2% other: 96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara(December to March)
Environment - current issues: tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity,Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification,Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
People Liberia
Population: 3,288,198 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.3% (male 714,563; female 709,582) 15-64 years: 53.2% (male 854,324; female 894,753) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 57,925; female 57,051) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.91% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 45.95 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 16.05 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -10.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: by the end of 1999, all Liberian refugees who had fled the domestic strife were assumed to have returned (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 130.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 53.33 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 6.29 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 125,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 13,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa,Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella),Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who hadbeen slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from theCaribbean who had been slaves)
Religions: indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages: English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 38.3% male: 53.9% female: 22.4% (1995 est.) note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school system
Government Liberia
Country name: Republic of Liberia conventional short form: Government type: republic
Capital: Monrovia
Administrative divisions: 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gparbolu, GrandBassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence: 26 July 1847
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution: 6 January 1986
Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2003) election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%
Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2003) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1; note - the Alliance of Political Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the Liberia Unification Party or LUP
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP[David KORTIE]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [George BORWAH]; LiberianAction Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian National Union or LINU[Victor MOMOH]; Liberian People's Party or LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; NationalDemocratic Party of Liberia or NDPL [Isaac D. DIKENAH]; National PatrioticParty or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party; People's Progressive Partyor PPP [Weah A. WEAH]; Reformation Alliance Party or RAP [James THOMAS];True Whig Party or TWP [Rudolph SHERMAN]; United People's Party or UPP[Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP [Charles Clarke]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS,FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador William V. S. BULL consulate(s) general: Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point, Monrovia mailing address: use [231] 226-370 through 226-380 FAX: Flag description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
Economy Liberia
Economy - overview: A civil war in 1989-96 destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some returned; many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry and timber industry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depend on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government, including the encouragement of foreign investment. Recent growth has been from a low base, and continued growth will require major policy successes and containment of armed rebellion.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 60% industry: 10% services: 30% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 80%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8% (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 70%
Budget: revenues: $85.4 million expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Industries: rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate: NA
Electricity - production: 450 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 418.5 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Exports: $55 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners: Belgium 38.5%, Germany 17.6%, Italy 6.0%, US 5.8% (2000)
Imports: $170 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners: France 29.1%, South Korea 20.6%, Japan 15.8%,Singapore 8.4% (2000)
Debt - external: $2.1 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $94 million (1999)
Currency: Liberian dollar (LRD)
Currency code: LRD
Exchange rates: Liberian dollars per US dollar - 46.0400 (December 2001), 48.5833 (2001), 40.9525 (2000), 41.9025 (1999), 41.5075 (1998), 1.0000 (officially fixed rate 1940-97); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars per US dollar - 40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995) note: until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market determined
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use: 6,700 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1998)
Telephone system: general assessment: telephone and telegraph servicevia microwave radioNA international:Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios: 790,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions: 70,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .lr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2001)
Internet users: 500 (2000)
Transportation Liberia
Railways: total: 490 km (328 km single-track) standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge note: in 1989, Liberia had three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were shut down by the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have been dismantled; approximately 60 km of railroad track was exported for scrap (2001) narrow gauge: Highways: total: 10,600 km paved: 657 km unpaved: 9,943 km note: there is major deterioration on all highways due to heavy rains and lack of maintenance (1996 est.)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia
Merchant marine: total: 1,513 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,912,244 GRT/79,297,046 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 9, Australia 2, Austria 15, Belgium 9, Brazil 5, Canada 4, Cayman Islands 1, Chile 7, China 39, Croatia 11, Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Germany 437, Greece 154, Hong Kong 69, India 5, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 90, Latvia 20, Man, Isle of 5, Monaco 56, Netherlands 12, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 103, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 21, Singapore 20, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 10, Spain 2, Sweden 9, Switzerland 17, Taiwan 29, Turkey 3, Ukraine 4, United Arab Emirates 12, United Kingdom 39, United States 113, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.) ships by type: bulk 16, combination ore/oil 32, container 318, liquefied gas 99, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 23, petroleum tanker 302, refrigerated cargo 69, roll on/roll off 20, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 42
Airports: 47 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 35 (2001)
Military Liberia
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 729,469 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 393,028 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $7.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.3% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Liberia
Disputes - international: rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra Leone
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Slovakia
Introduction
Slovakia
Background: In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Historic, political, and geographic factors have caused Slovakia to experience more difficulty in developing a modern market economy than some of its Central European neighbors.
Geography Slovakia
Location: Central Europe, south of Poland
Geographic coordinates: 48 40 N, 19 30 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 48,845 sq km water: 45 sq km land: 48,800 sq km
Area - comparative: about twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total: 1,524 km border countries: Austria 91 km,Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters
Terrain: rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m highest point:Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m
Natural resources: brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land
Land use: arable land: 31% permanent crops: 3% other: 66% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, NuclearTest Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed,but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys
People Slovakia
Population: 5,422,366 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.3% (male 508,256; female 484,739) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 1,888,705; female 1,910,842) 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 237,770; female 392,054) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.14% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 10.09 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 9.22 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 8.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 78.41 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 400 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Slovak(s) adjective: Slovak
Ethnic groups: Slovak 85.7%, Hungarian 10.6%, Roma 1.6% (the 1992 censusfigures underreport the Gypsy/Romany community, which is about 500,000),Czech, Moravian, Silesian 1.1%, Ruthenian and Ukrainian 0.6%, German 0.1%,Polish 0.1%, other 0.2% (1996)
Religions: Roman Catholic 60.3%, atheist 9.7%, Protestant 8.4%, Orthodox 4.1%, other 17.5%
Languages: Slovak (official), Hungarian
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Slovakia
Country name: conventional long form: Slovak Republic conventional short form: Slovakia local short form: Slovensko local long form: Slovenska Republika
Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Bratislava
Administrative divisions: 8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj);Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky,Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky
Independence: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the CzechRepublic and Slovakia)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)
Constitution: ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
Legal system: civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Rudolf SCHUSTER (since 15 June 1999) head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30 October 1998) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 May 1999 (next to be held NA May/June 2004); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president note: government coalition - SDK, SDL, SMK, SOP, KDH election results: Rudolf SCHUSTER elected president in the first direct, popular election; percent of vote - Rudolf SCHUSTER 57%
Legislative branch: unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms) election results: 9.1%, SOP 8%; seats by party - governing coalition 93 (SDK 42, SDL 23, SMK 15, SOP 13), opposition 57 (HZDS 43, SNS 14); note - seating as of January 2002 - governing coalition 90 (SDK 23, SDL 21, SOP 16, SMK 15, KDH 9, DS 6), opposition 51 (HZDS 43, SNS 8), PSNS 6, independents 3 elections: Judicial branch: Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council)
Political parties and leaders: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Democratic Party or DS [Ludovit KANIK]; Direction (Smer) [Robert FICO]; Liberal Democratic Union or LDU [Jan BUDAJ]; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia-People's Party or HZDS-LS [Vladimir MECIAR]; Party of Civic Understanding or SOP [Pavol HAMZIK]; note - SSDS and SZS joined the SOP parliamentary caucus; Party of the Democratic Left or SDL [Pvel KONCOS]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Bela BUGAR]; Real Slovak National Party or PSNS [Jan SLOTA]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU [Mikulas DZURINDA]; note - this is DZURINDA's new party for the 2002 elections; he remains chairman of a rump and splintering SDK; Slovak Democratic Coalition or SDK (loose parliamentary club grouping, representing members of the smaller SSDS, SZS, and those committed to run under SDKU in 2002) [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Anna MALIKOVA]; Yes (ANO) [Paval RUSKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Association of Employers ofSlovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation ofTrade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG
International organization participation: Australia Group, BIS, BSEC(observer), CCC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNTAET,UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin BUTORA chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald WEISER embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338 FAX: [421] (2) 5443-0096
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue
Economy Slovakia
Economy - overview: Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA government made excellent progress in 2001 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and foreign investment has picked up. Slovakia's economy exceeded expectations in 2001, despite recession in key export markets. Revival of domestic demand, partly due to a rise in real wages, offset slowing export growth to help drive the economy to its strongest expansion since 1998. Solid domestic demand is expected to boost economic growth to 3.4% in 2002, and about 4% in 2003. Unemployment, rising to 19.8% at the end of 2001, remained the economy's Achilles' heel. The government faces other strong challenges in 2002, especially the maintenance of fiscal balance ahead of the September 2002 parliamentary election, cutting budget and current account deficits, and privatization of the Slovak energy and power monopolies.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $62 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 32% services: 64% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 5.1% highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 26.3 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 29.3%, agriculture 8.9%, construction 8%, transport and communication 8.2%, services 45.6% (1994)
Unemployment rate: 19.8% (yearend 2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $5.2 billion expenditures: $5.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999)
Industries: metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 27.53 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 35.34% hydro: 17.11% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 47.55%
Electricity - consumption: 25.203 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 4.9 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 4.5 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products
Exports: $12.5 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 39.4%, intermediate manufactured goods 27.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 13%, chemicals 8% (1999)
Exports - partners: EU 59.0% (Germany 26.8%, Italy 9.2%, Austria 8.4%),Czech Republic 17.4% (2000)
Imports: $14.4 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37.7%, intermediate manufactured goods 18%, fuels 13%, chemicals 11%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 9.5% (1999)
Imports - partners: EU 48.9% (Germany 25.1%, Italy 6.2%), Russia 17.0%,Czech Republic 14.7% (2000)
Debt - external: $7.8 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $421.9 million (1995)
Currency: Slovak koruna (SKK)
Currency code: SKK
Exchange rates: koruny per US dollar - 47.792 (September 2001), 46.035 (2000), 41.363 (1999), 35.233 (1998), 33.616 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Slovakia
Telephones - main lines in use: 1,934,558 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 736,662 (April 1999)
Telephone system: general assessment: a modernization and privatization program is increasing accessibility to telephone service, reducing the waiting time for new subscribers, and generally improving service quality domestic: and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been added international: three international exchanges (one in Bratislava and two in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services
Radio broadcast stations: AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 3.12 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 38 (plus 864 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: 2.62 million (1997)
Internet country code: .sk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000)
Internet users: 700,000 (2000)
Transportation Slovakia
Railways: total: 3,660 km broad gauge: 102 km 1.520-m gauge narrow gauge: 51 km (46 km 1,000-m gauge; 5 km 0.750-m gauge) (2001) standard gauge: 3,507 km 1.435-m gauge (1,505 km electrified; 1,011 km double-tracked)
Highways: total: 17,710 km paved: 17,533 km (including 288 km of expressways) unpaved: 177 km (1998 est.)
Waterways: 172 km (all on the Danube)
Pipelines: petroleum products NA km; natural gas 2,700 km
Ports and harbors: Bratislava, Komarno
Merchant marine: total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 15,191GRT/19,489 DWT ships by type: cargo 3 (2002 est.)
Airports: 34 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 7 (2001) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 7 (2001)
Heliports: 1 (2001)
Military Slovakia
Military branches: Army (Ground Forces), Air and Air Defense Forces,Home Guards (Territorial Defense Forces), Civil Defense Force, RailwayArmed Forces (subordinate to the Ministry of Transportation, Post,and Telecommunications)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,486,728 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,136,775 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 45,502 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $406 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.89% (2002)
Transnational Issues Slovakia
Disputes - international: Slovakia requested additional ICJ judgment in 1998, and talks continue to set modalities to assure Hungarian compliance with 1997 ICJ decision to proceed with construction of Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Dam, abandoned by Hungary in 1989
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Palmyra Atoll
Introduction
Palmyra Atoll
Background: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.
Geography Palmyra Atoll
Location: Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Geographic coordinates: 5 52 N, 162 06 W
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 11.9 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 11.9 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: terrestrial and aquatic wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
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
People Palmyra Atoll
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff,US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA
Government Palmyra Atoll
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:Palmyra Atoll
Dependency status: incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior
Legal system: the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
Economy Palmyra Atoll
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Palmyra Atoll
Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World WarII are unserviceable and overgrown (2001)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: West Lagoon
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Military Palmyra Atoll
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Palmyra Atoll
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Liechtenstein
Introduction
Liechtenstein
Background: The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to conclude a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral) the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. However, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering.
Geography Liechtenstein
Location: Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates: 47 10 N, 9 32 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 160 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 160 sq km
Area - comparative: about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 35 km,Switzerland 41 km
Coastline: 0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain: mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point:Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: NA
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, AirPollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-PersistentOrganic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note: along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People Liechtenstein
Population: 32,842 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.3% (male 3,003; female 3,001) 15-64 years: 70.5% (male 11,530; female 11,639) 65 years and over: 11.2% (male 1,494; female 2,175) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.94% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 11.24 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 6.76 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 82.74 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.5 children born/woman (2002 est.)