Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (71 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) election results: PS 4, MOLIRENA 3, PLN 3, Democratic Change 2, PRC 1, MORENA 1 note: basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula elections: Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal
Political parties and leaders: Arnulfista Party or PA [Mireya ElisaMOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Civic Renewal Party or PRC [Serguei DE LA ROSA];Democratic Change [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Partyor PRD [Martin TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party or PLN [Raul ARANGOGasteazopo]; National Renovation Movement or MORENA [Pedro VALLARINO Cox];Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Ramon MORALES];Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [RubenAROSEMENA]; Solidarity Party or PS [Samuel LEWIS Galindo]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Chamber of Commerce; NationalCivic Crusade; National Council of Organized Workers or CONATO; NationalUnion of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); National Councilof Private Enterprise or CONEP; Panamanian Association of BusinessExecutives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; WorkersConfederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP
International organization participation: CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer),NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorGuillermo "Billy" FORD FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416 consulate(s) general:Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, SanFrancisco, Tampa telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407 chancery: 2862 McGillTerrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Frederick A. BECKER embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 6959, Panama City 5 mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002 telephone: [507] 207-7000 FAX: [507] 227-1964
Flag description: divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center
Economy Panama
Economy - overview: Panama's economy is based primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Services include the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-01. The government plans public works programs, tax reforms, and new regional trade agreements in order to stimulate growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.9 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.4% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 17% services: 76% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 37% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 48.5 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 1.1 million (2000 est.) note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate: 13% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.9 billion expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $471 million (2000 est.)
Industries: construction, petroleum refining, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 4.894 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.49% hydro: 69.11% other: 1.4% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 4.651 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 20 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 120 million kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp
Exports: $5.9 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
Exports - partners: US 45.9%, Sweden 8.1%, Benelux 5.3%, Costa Rica 5.1% (2000 est.)
Imports: $6.7 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: capital goods, crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports - partners: US 33.1%, Ecuador 7.2%, Venezuela 6.6%, Japan 5.5% (2000 est.)
Debt - external: $7.6 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $197.1 million (1995)
Currency: balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
Currency code: PAB; USD
Exchange rates: balboas per US dollar - 1.000 (fixed rate)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Panama
Telephones - main lines in use: 396,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 17,000 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed domestic: NA international: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations: AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 815,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Televisions: 510,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .pa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 6 (2000)
Internet users: 45,000 (2000)
Transportation Panama
Railways: total: 355 km broad gauge: 76 km 1.524-m gauge narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2001)
Highways: 4,079 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: Waterways: 882 km note: 800 km navigable by shallow draft vessels; 82 km Panama Canal
Pipelines: crude oil 130 km (2001)
Ports and harbors: Balboa, Cristobal, Coco Solo, Manzanillo (part ofColon area), Vacamonte
Merchant marine: total: 4,838 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 118,878,358 GRT/180,588,102 DWT ships by type: bulk 1,445, cargo 907, chemical tanker 337, combination bulk 73, combination ore/oil 18, container 560, liquefied gas 207, livestock carrier 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 12, passenger 38, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 542, railcar carrier 2, refrigerated cargo 283, roll on/roll off 104, short-sea passenger 38, specialized tanker 34, vehicle carrier 230 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Albania 2, Angola 1, Antigua and Barbuda 1, Argentina 11, Australia 13, Austria 2, Bahamas, The 5, Belgium 2, Belize 6, Brazil 6, British Virgin Islands 8, Cambodia 1, Canada 9, Chile 12, China 259, Colombia 14, Croatia 2, Cuba 20, Cyprus 3, Denmark 3, Dominican Republic 1, Ecuador 3, Egypt 16, Equatorial Guinea 1, France 9, Germany 72, Greece 523, Haiti 1, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 299, Iceland 1, India 18, Indonesia 48, Ireland 1, Israel 5, Italy 9, Japan 1642, Kenya 1, Kuwait 2, Latvia 8, Liberia 5, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 18, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 8, Monaco 112, Netherlands 19, Netherlands Antilles 1, Nigeria 3, Norway 98, Paraguay 1, Peru 15, Philippines 49, Poland 5, Portugal 7, Puerto Rico 2, Romania 7, Russia 12, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Saudi Arabia 4, Seychelles 1, Singapore 112, South Africa 3, South Korea 342, Spain 52, Sri Lanka 3, Sudan 1, Sweden 2, Switzerland 81, Taiwan 334, Thailand 14, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 4, Ukraine 1, United Arab Emirates 54, United Kingdom 73, United States 115, Venezuela 6, Virgin Islands (UK) 8 (2002 est.)
Airports: 107 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 21 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 65 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 53 (2001)
Military Panama
Military branches: an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 789,973 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 540,052 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $128 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.3% (FY99)
Military - note: on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"
Transnational Issues Panama
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: major cocaine transshipment point and major drug money-laundering center; no recent signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Portugal
Introduction
Portugal
Background: Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal entered the EC (now the EU)in 1985.
Geography Portugal
Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain
Geographic coordinates: 39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 92,391 sq km land: 91,951 sq km note: includes Azores andMadeira Islands water: 440 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south
Terrain: mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources: fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 8% other: 70% (1999 est.)
Irrigated land: 6,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed,but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification,Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People Portugal
Population: 10,084,245 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.9% (male 875,485; female 827,670) 15-64 years: 67.3% (male 3,324,215; female 3,463,301) 65 years and over: 15.8% (male 644,761; female 948,813) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.18% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 11.5 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 79.87 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.48 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.74% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 36,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 280 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Portuguese (singular and plural) adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups: homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)
Languages: Portuguese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.4% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Portugal
Country name: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital: Lisbon
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence: 1143 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday: Portugal Day, 10 June (1580)
Constitution: 25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November 1992, and 3 September 1997
Legal system: civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996) note: the president head of government: Prime Minister Jose Manuel DURAO Barroso (since 6 April 2002) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA January 2006); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president election results: Jorge SAMPAIO reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral (Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%
Legislative branch: unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: percent of vote by party - PSD 40.1%, PS 37.8%, PP 8.7%, PCP/PEV 6.9%, The Left Bloc 2.7%; seats by party - PSD 105, PS 96, PP 14, PCP/PEV 12, The Left Bloc 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders: The Greens or PEV [no leader]; PopularParty or PP [Paulo PORTAS]; Portuguese Communist Party/The Greens orPCP/PEV [Carlos CARVALHAS]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [EduardoFerro RODRIGUES]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Jose Manuel DURAOBarroso]; United Democratic Coalition or CDU [leader NA]; The Left Bloc[no leader]
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: AfDB, Australia Group, BIS,CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO,NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNTAET, UPU, WCL, WEU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorJoao Alberto Bacelar ROCHA PARIS consulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford(Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island) consulate(s) general: Boston,New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610 chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington,DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate John N. PALMER embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726 [351] (21) 727-9109 consulate(s): Flag description: two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
Economy Portugal
Economy - overview: Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past decade, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating its new currency, the euro, on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies. Economic growth has been above the EU average for much of the past decade, but GDP per capita stands at just 75% of that of the leading EU economies. The government has failed to reign in a widening deficit and to advance structural reforms needed to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness. A poor educational system, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $174.1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,300 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 30.5% services: 65.7% (2000)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 35.6 (1994-95)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.4% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 5.1 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: services 60%, industry 30%, agriculture 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.4% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $45 billion expenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries: textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: 2.4% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 43.242 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 70.03% hydro: 25.91% other: 4.06% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 41.146 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 3.767 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 4.698 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $24.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper products, hides
Exports - partners: EU 79% (Spain 19%, Germany 18%, France 13%, UK 11%,Benelux 6%), US 6% (2000)
Imports: $37.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles, agricultural products
Imports - partners: EU 74% (Spain 25%, Germany 14%, France 11%, Italy 7%, UK 6%), US 3%, Japan 3% (2000)
Debt - external: $13.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - donor: ODA, $271 million (1995)
Currency: euro (EUR); Portuguese escudo (PTE) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code: EUR; PTE
Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); Portuguese escudos per US dollar - 180.10 (1998), 175.31 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use: 5.3 million (yearend 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,074,194 (1999)
Telephone system: general assessment: undergoing rapid development in recent years, Portugal's telephone system, by the end of 1998, achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities and a main line telephone density of 53% domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations international: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations: AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 62 (plus 166 repeaters) note: includesAzores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Televisions: 3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code: .pt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 16 (2000)
Internet users: 2 million (2001)
Transportation Portugal
Railways: total: 2,850 km broad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified; 426 km double-tracked) narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2001)
Highways: total: 68,732 km paved: 59,110 km (including 797 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,622 km (1999)
Waterways: 820 km note: relatively unimportant to national economy, used by shallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton or less cargo capacity
Pipelines: crude oil 22 km; petroleum products 58 km; natural gas 700 km note: long have not yet been built
Ports and harbors: Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores),Leixoes, Lisbon, Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores),Setubal, Viana do Castelo
Merchant marine: total: 140 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,001,440 GRT/1,519,701 DWT ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 71, chemical tanker 17, container 10, liquefied gas 8, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 4, vehicle carrier 2 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 6, Germany 20, Greece 1, Iceland 1, Italy 16, Lebanon 1, Liberia 1, Monaco 2, Norway 5, Panama 5, Spain 22, Switzerland 8, United Kingdom 1, Virgin Islands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)
Airports: 67 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 40 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 7 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 26 (2001)
Military Portugal
Military branches: Army, Navy (PON) (includes Marines), Air Force,Republican Guard (includes Fiscal Guard)
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,525,848 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 2,024,526 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 71,404 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.286 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.2% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues Portugal
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Papua New Guinea
Introduction Papua New Guinea
Background: The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997, after claiming some 20,000 lives.
Geography Papua New Guinea
Location: Southeastern Asia, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 462,840 sq km land: 452,860 sq km water: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline: 5,152 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
Climate: tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain: mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 1% other: 99% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified:Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast
People Papua New Guinea
Population: 5,172,033 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.6% (male 1,013,936; female 980,841) 15-64 years: 57.7% (male 1,544,650; female 1,440,628) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 90,661; female 101,317) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.39% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 31.61 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 56.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 66.03 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 4.21 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.22% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 5,400 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 450 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups: Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions: Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%,Presbyterian/Methodist/London Missionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%,Evangelical Alliance 4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%,indigenous beliefs 34%
Languages: English spoken by 1%-2%, pidgin English widespread, Motu spoken in Papua region note: 715 indigenous languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 72% female: 57% (2000)
Government Papua New Guinea
Country name: conventional long form: Independent State of Papua NewGuinea conventional short form: Papua New Guinea abbreviation: PNG former:Territory of Papua and New Guinea
Government type: constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Capital: Port Moresby
Administrative divisions: 20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu,Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang,Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern,Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administeredUN trusteeship)
National holiday: Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution: 16 September 1975
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Silas ATOPARE (since 13 November 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Sir Mekere MORAUTA (since 14 July 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Michael OGIO (since 3 November 2000) cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general for up to five years on the basis of majority support in National Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 14-28 June 1997 (next to be held 15 June 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 15%, Pangu Pati 14%, NA 14%, PDM 8%, PNC 6%, PAP 5%, UP 3%, NP 1%, PUP 1%, independents 33%; seats by party - PPP 16, Pangu Pati 15, NA 15, PDM 9, PNC 7, PAP 5, UP 3, NP 1, PUP 1, independents 37; note - association with political parties is very fluid
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)
Political parties and leaders: Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [leaderNA]; National Alliance or NA [George MANDA, party president]; NationalFront Party [leader NA]; National Party or NP [Michael MEL]; Papua NewGuinea Revival Party [John PUNDARI]; Papua New Guinea United Party orPangu Pati [Chris HAIVETA]; People's Action Party or PAP [Ted DIRO];People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Sir Mekere MORAUTA]; People'sLabor Party or PLP [Peter YAMA]; People's National Congress or PNC[Bill SKATE]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Michael NALI]; People'sUnity Party or PUP [Alfred KAIABE]; United Party or UP [Rimbiuk PATO]note: more than 40 political parties have registered to participate inthe June 2002 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACP, APEC, ARF (dialoguepartner), AsDB, ASEAN (associate member), C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, Sparteca, SPC,SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador NagoraY. BOGAN chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington,DC 20036 FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679 telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Susan S. JACOBS embassy: Douglas Street, P. O. Box 1492, Port Moresby telephone: Flag description: divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered
Economy Papua New Guinea
Economy - overview: Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The economy has declined over the past two years and will probably continue to falter in 2002. Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA has tried to restore integrity to state institutions, stabilize the kina, restore stability to the national budget, privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. The government has had considerable success in attracting international support, specifically gaining the support of the IMF and the World Bank in securing development assistance loans. Significant challenges remain for MORAUTA, however, including gaining further investor confidence, specifically for the proposed Papua New Guinea-Australia oil pipeline, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, and maintaining the support of members of Parliament.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $12.2 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -2.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30.4% industry: 36.8% services: 32.8% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 37%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 50.9 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.3% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 2.3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $894 million expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2000 est.)
Industries: copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 1.65 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 54.55% hydro: 45.45% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 1.535 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables; poultry, pork
Exports: $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns
Exports - partners: Australia 30%, Japan 11%, China 6%, Germany 4%,South Korea 4%, UK 3%, Philippines 1%, US 1% (2000)
Imports: $1.024 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners: Australia 50%, Singapore 20%, Japan 4%, NZ 4%,Indonesia 3%, Malaysia 3%, US 2% (2000)
Debt - external: $2.6 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $400 million (1999 est.)
Currency: kina (PGK)
Currency code: PGK
Exchange rates: kina per US dollar - 3.706 (January 2002), 3.374 (2001), 2.765 (2000), 2.539 (1999), 2.058 (1998), 1.434 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Papua New Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use: 61,152 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,053 (1996)
Telephone system: general assessment: services are adequate and being improved; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services domestic: mostly radiotelephone international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Radios: 410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (all in the Port Moresby area) note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2002)
Televisions: 59,841 (1999)
Internet country code: .pg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 3 (2000)
Internet users: 135,000 (2001)
Transportation Papua New Guinea
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1996)
Waterways: 10,940 km
Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine: total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 40,911GRT/58,723 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered hereas a flag ofSingapore 2, United Kingdom 7 (2002 est.) ships by type: petroleumtanker 3, roll on/roll off 3
Airports: 490 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 under 914 m: 1 (2001) 914 to 1,523 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 469 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 57 under 914 m: 402 (2001)
Heliports: 2 (2001)
Military Papua New Guinea
Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground Force,Maritime Operations Element, and Air Operations Element)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 1,338,003 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 740,085 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $42 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Palau
Introduction
Palau
Background: After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year when the islands gained independence.
Geography Palau
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines
Geographic coordinates: 7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references: Oceania
Area: total: 458 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 458 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington,DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,519 km
Maritime claims: 3 NM extended fishing zone: Climate: wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain: varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point:Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m
Natural resources: forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals
Land use: arable land: 22% permanent crops: 0% other: 78% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: typhoons (June to December)
Environment - current issues: inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea,Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selectedagreements
Geography - note: westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands
People Palau
Population: 19,409 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.8% (male 2,678; female 2,522) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 7,241; female 6,074) 65 years and over: 4.6% (male 426; female 468) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.61% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 19.32 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.14 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 72.5 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 2.47 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Palauan(s) adjective: Palauan
Ethnic groups: Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 70%, Asian (mainly Filipinos, followed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and Vietnamese) 28%, white 2% (2000 est.)
Religions: Christian (Roman Catholics 49%, Seventh-Day Adventists,Jehovah's Witnesses, the Assembly of God, the Liebenzell Mission, andLatter-Day Saints), Modekngei religion (one-third of the populationobserves this religion which is indigenous to Palau)
Languages: English and Palauan official in all states except Sonsoral (Sonsorolese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92% male: 93% female: 90% (1980 est.)
Government Palau
Country name: Republic of Palau conventional short form: of thePacific Islands) local long form: Beluu er a Belau
Government type: constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994
Capital: Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror
Administrative divisions: 16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatobohei,Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang,Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsoral
Independence: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)
Constitution: 1 January 1981
Legal system: based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Sandra PIERANTOZZI (since 19 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 53%, Peter SUGIYAMA 46%; Sandra PIERANTOZZI elected vice president; percent of vote - Sandra PIERANTOZZI 52%, Alan SEID 45%
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004); House of Delegates - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004) election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9; House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: NA
International organization participation: ACP, ESCAP, FAO, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281 telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814 chancery: 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the Ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau; Charge d'Affaires Ronald A. HARMS embassy: address NA, Koror P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940 telephone: Flag description: light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side
Economy Palau
Economy - overview: The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 50,000 in FY00/01. The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $174 million (2001 est.) note: GDP numbers reflect US spending
GDP - real growth rate: 1% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 8,300 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 20%, industry NA%, services NA% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 2.3% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $57.7 million expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1 million (FY98/99 est.)
Industries: tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Agriculture - products: coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes
Exports: $11 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities: shellfish, tuna, copra, garments
Exports - partners: US, Japan, Singapore
Imports: $126 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs
Imports - partners: US
Debt - external: $0 (FY99/00)
Economic aid - recipient: $155.8 million (1995); note - the Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities
Currency: US dollar (USD)
Currency code: USD
Exchange rates: the US dollar is used
Fiscal year: 1 October - 30 September
Communications Palau
Telephones - main lines in use: 6,700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,000 (2002)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios: 12,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .pw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2002)
Transportation Palau
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 61 km paved: 36 km unpaved: 25 km
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Koror
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 3 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2001)
Military Palau
Military branches: NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA%
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years
Transnational Issues Palau
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Guinea-Bissau
Introduction
Guinea-Bissau
Background: In 1994, 20 years after independence from Portugal, the country's first multiparty legislative and presidential elections were held. An army uprising that triggered a bloody civil war in 1998, created hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. The president was ousted by a military junta in May 1999. An interim government turned over power in February 2000 when opposition leader Kumba YALA took office following two rounds of transparent presidential elections. Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy will be complicated by its crippled economy devastated in the civil war.
Geography Guinea-Bissau
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates: 12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 36,120 sq km water: 8,120 sq km land: 28,000 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than three times the size ofConnecticut
Land boundaries: total: 724 km border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline: 350 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m
Natural resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 2% other: 87% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 170 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying further inland
People Guinea-Bissau
Population: 1,345,479 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 41.9% (male 281,394; female 282,641) 15-64 years: 55.2% (male 353,755; female 388,968) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,130; female 21,591) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.23% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 38.95 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 15.05 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 108.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 52.2 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 5.13 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 2.5% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 14,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 1,300 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guinean (s) adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 34% male: 50% female: 18% (2000 est.)
Government Guinea-Bissau
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissauconventional shortGuine-Bissau local long form:Government type: republic, multiparty since mid-1991
Capital: Bissau
Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Independence: 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996
Legal system: NA