Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point:Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 13% other: 85% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible
Environment - current issues: water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Geography - note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
People Seychelles
Population: 80,098 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 11,238; female 11,002) 15-64 years: 66% (male 25,763; female 27,086) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,667; female 3,342) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.47% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 17.27 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 16.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 76.63 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.81 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: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective:Seychellois
Ethnic groups: mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions: Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1%
Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% (1971 est.)
Government Seychelles
Country name: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Government type: republic
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins,Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, BaieSainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand'Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise,Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, SaintLouis, Takamaka
Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Constitution: 18 June 1993
Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006) election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that presidential elections have been held separately from legislative elections cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10 % of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: percent of vote by party - SPPF 61.7%, UO 26.1%, DP 12.1%; seats by party - SPPF 30, UO 3, DP 1 note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the percentage that each party won of the total vote
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM];Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition orUO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF[France Albert RENE] - the governing party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Roman Catholic Church; trade unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA,FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL chancery: 800 Second [1] (212) 972-1786 telephone: Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles
Flag description: five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
Economy Seychelles
Economy - overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2001, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector should remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $605 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 26.3% services: 70.6% (1999)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.1% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 30,900 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $249 million expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries: fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 160 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 148.8 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
Exports: $182.6 million (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: canned tuna, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)
Exports - partners: UK 48.1%, Italy 23.1%, France 14.8%, Netherlands 2.7% (1999)
Imports: $360.2 million (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners: Italy 13.3%, South Africa 10.7%, France 9.9%,UK 8.0%, Singapore 7.7% (1999)
Debt - external: $240 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $16.4 million (1995)
Currency: Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Currency code: SCR
Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.7458 (January 2002), 5.8575 (2001), 5.7138 (2000), 5.3426 (1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use: 19,635 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 16,316 (1999)
Telephone system: general assessment: effective system domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios: 42,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .sc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: 6,000 (2001)
Transportation Seychelles
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 280 km paved: 176 km unpaved: 104 km (1997)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Victoria
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,086 GRT/10,192 DWT ships by type: cargo 2 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: South Africa 2 (2002 est.)
Airports: 14 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2001)
Military Seychelles
Military branches: Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), PresidentialProtection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includesPolice Mobile Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable ofassisting the Army in maintaining internal stability)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 23,210 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 11,554 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $11 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.8% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Seychelles
Disputes - international: claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administeredBritish Indian Ocean Territory)
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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South Africa
Introduction South Africa
Background: After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.
Geography South Africa
Location: Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates: 29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 1,219,912 sq km land: 1,219,912 sq km note: includes PrinceEdward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island) water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries: total: 4,862 km border countries: Botswana 1,840 km,Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km,Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline: 2,798 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights
Terrain: vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point:Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 1% other: 87% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 13,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: prolonged droughts
Environment - current issues: lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of theselected agreements
Geography - note: South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland
People South Africa
Population: 43,647,658 note: South Africa took a census October 1996 that showed a population of 40,583,611 (after an official adjustment for a 6.8% underenumeration based on a postenumeration survey); estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 31.6% (male 6,943,761; female 6,849,745) 15-64 years: 63.4% (male 13,377,011; female 14,300,850) 65 years and over: 5% (male 816,222; female 1,360,069) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.02% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 20.63 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 61.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 45.68 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 2.38 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 19.94% (2000 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 5.2 million (2000 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 300,000 (2000 est.)
Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African
Ethnic groups: black 75.2%, white 13.6%, Colored 8.6%, Indian 2.6%
Religions: Christian 68% (includes most whites and Coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians), Muslim 2%, Hindu 1.5% (60% of Indians), indigenous beliefs and animist 28.5%
Languages: 11 official languages, including Afrikaans, English, Ndebele,Pedi, Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85% male: 86% female: 85% (2000 est.)
Government South Africa
Country name: Republic of South Africa conventional short form:Government type: republic
Capital: Pretoria; note - Cape Town is the legislative center andBloemfontein the judicial center
Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Northern Province (may have become Limpopo), Western Cape
Independence: 31 May 1910 (from UK)
National holiday: Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution: 10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases
Legal system: based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since 17 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 2 June 1999 (next scheduled for sometime between May and July 2004) head of government: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Jacob ZUMA (since 17 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation) note: ANC-IFP is the governing coalition
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities); note - following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February 1997 the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no change in membership and party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new constitution elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held 2 June 1999 (next to be held by 2 August 2004) election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 66.4%, DP 9.6%, IFP 8.6%, NP 6.9%, UDM 3.4%, ACDP 1.4%, FF 0.8%, other 2.9%; seats by party - ANC 266, DP 38, IFP 34, NP 28, UDM 14, ACDP 6, FF 3, other 11; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ANC 61, NP 17, FF 4, IFP 5, DP 3
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; HighCourts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE, president]; African National Congress or ANC [Thabo MBEKI, president]; Democratic Alliance (formed from the merger of the Democratic Party or DP and the New National Party or NP; note - NP split from DP in 2001) [Anthony LEON]; Freedom Front or FF [Dr. Pieter MULDER, president]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; New National Party or NP [Marthinus VAN SCHALKWYK]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president]; United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Congress of South African TradeUnions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South AfricanCommunist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South AfricanNational Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, nationalpresident]; note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, BIS, C, CCC,ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MONUC,NAM, NSG, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNITAR, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador Makate Sheila SISULU consulate(s) general: [1] (202) 232-4400 chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorCameron H. HUME embassy: 877 PretoriusP. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001 telephone: Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag description: two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes note: prior to 26 April 1994, the flag was actually four flags in one - three miniature flags reproduced in the center of the white band of the former flag of the Netherlands, which had three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and blue; the miniature flags were a vertically hanging flag of the old Orange Free State with a horizontal flag of the UK adjoining on the hoist side and a horizontal flag of the old Transvaal Republic adjoining on the other side
Economy South Africa
Economy - overview: South Africa is a middle-income, developing country with an abundant supply of resources, well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors, a stock exchange that ranks among the 10 largest in the world, and a modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region. However, growth has not been strong enough to cut into high unemployment, and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially the problems of poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. Other problems are crime, corruption, and HIV/AIDS. At the start of 2000, President MBEKI vowed to promote economic growth and foreign investment, and to reduce poverty by relaxing restrictive labor laws, stepping up the pace of privatization, and cutting unneeded governmental spending. The economy slowed in 2001, largely the result of the slowing of the international economy.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $412 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2.6% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $9,400 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 31% services: 66% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 45.9% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 59.3 (1993-94)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 17 million economically active (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 37% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $22.6 billion expenditures: $24.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA billion (FY02/03)
Industries: mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production: 194.383 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92.62% hydro: 0.69% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 6.69%
Electricity - consumption: 181.521 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 4.549 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 5.294 billion kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products
Exports: $32.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment
Exports - partners: EU 33%, US 20%, Japan 6%, Mozambique 2.5% (2001 est.)
Imports: $28.1 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery, foodstuffs and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments
Imports - partners: EU 41%, US 11.4%, Saudi Arabia 7.3%, Japan 7% (2001 est.)
Debt - external: $25.5 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $539 million (1999)
Currency: rand (ZAR)
Currency code: ZAR
Exchange rates: rand per US dollar - 11.58786 (January 2002), 8.60918 (2001), 6.93983 (2000), 6.10948 (1999), 5.52828 (1998), 4.60796 (1997)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications South Africa
Telephones - main lines in use: more than 5 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 7.06 million (2001)
Telephone system: general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern in Africa domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria international: 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 17 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations: 556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)
Televisions: 6 million (2000)
Internet country code: .za
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 150 (2001)
Internet users: 2.4 million (2001)
Transportation South Africa
Railways: total: 20,384 km narrow gauge: 20,070 km 1.067-m gauge (9,090 km electrified); 314 km 0.610-m gauge note: in addition, South Africa has an electrified 1.065-m gauge commuter rail system, with a total length of 1,254 km, which serves Johannesburg-Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, East London, and Port Elizabeth (2001)
Highways: total: 358,596 km paved: 59,753 km (including 1,927 km of expressways) unpaved: 298,843 km (1996)
Waterways: NA
Pipelines: crude oil 931 km; petroleum products 1,748 km; natural gas 322 km
Ports and harbors: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Mossel Bay, PortElizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 271,650GRT/268,604 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered hereas a flagDenmark 3, Netherlands 1 (2002 est.) ships by type:Airports: 740 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 144 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 47 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 11 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 596 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 304 under 914 m: 258 (2001)
Military South Africa
Military branches: South African National Defense Force (including Army,Navy, Air Force, and Medical Services), South African Police Service
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 11,557,242 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 7,031,337 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 466,399 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.79 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY01)
Military - note: the National Defense Force continues to integrate former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces
Transnational Issues South Africa
Disputes - international: Swaziland continues to press South Africa into ceding ethnic Swazi lands in Kangwane region of KwaZulu-Natal province, that were long ago part of the Swazi Kingdom
Illicit drugs: transshipment center for heroin, hashish, marijuana, and possibly cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Senegal
Introduction
Senegal
Background: Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
Geography Senegal
Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates: 14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries: total: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km,Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline: 531 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate: tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain: generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 0% other: 88% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 710 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note: westernmost country on the African continent; TheGambia is almost an enclave of Senegal
People Senegal
Population: 10,589,571 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,321,789; female 2,290,105) 15-64 years: 53.4% (male 2,710,178; female 2,943,554) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 159,445; female 164,500) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.91% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 36.99 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 8.14 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 55.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 64.61 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 5.03 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 95,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 10,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups: Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%,Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions: Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostlyRoman Catholic)
Languages: French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 39.1% male: 51.1% female: 28.9% (2001 est.)
Government Senegal
Country name: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Government type: republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital: Dakar
Administrative divisions: 10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar,Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies,Ziguinchor note: there may be another region called Matam
Independence: 4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday: Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution: a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001
Legal system: based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000) head of Prime Minister Madior BOYE (since 3 March 2001) cabinet: with the president election results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of vote in the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, Abdou DIOUF (PS) 41.51% elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term under new constitution; election last held 27 February and 19 March 2000 (next to be held 27 February 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10 note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001, had 140 seats
Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note-the judicial system was reformed in 1992
Political parties and leaders: African Party for Democracy and Socialismor And Jef (also known as PADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general];African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces ofProgress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention orCDP (also known as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-LaborParty Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for Socialism andDemocracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC[Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO];National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier DIOUF]; Senegalese DemocraticParty or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]; Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane TanorDIENG]; SOPI Coalition (a coalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE];Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders: labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH,MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM,UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorMamadou Mansour SECK FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315[1] (202) 234-0540 chancery:Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: AmbassadorHarriet L. ELAM-THOMAS embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of RueKleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 823-4296,823-7384 FAX: [221] 822-2991
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Senegal
Economy - overview: In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which is linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually during 1995-2001. Annual inflation had been pushed down to less than 1%, but rose to an estimated 3.3% in 2001. Investment rose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in information technology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% of GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronic unemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $16.2 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 5.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,580 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18.5% industry: 20.7% services: 60.8% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 42.8% (1991)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: 41.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.3% (2001 est.)
Labor force: NA
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 70%
Unemployment rate: 48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $1.373 billion expenditures: $1.373 billion, including capital expenditures of $357 million (2002 est.)
Industries: agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate: 5.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.32 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 1.228 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports: $1 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners: France 19%, Italy 12%, Spain 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 2% (2000)
Imports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: foods and beverages, consumer goods, capital goods, petroleum products
Imports - partners: France 27%, Nigeria 19%, Germany 4%, US 4%, Italy 3% (2000)
Debt - external: $3.1 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $362.6 million (2002 est.)
Currency: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code: XOF
Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XOF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Senegal
Telephones - main lines in use: 234,916 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 373,965 (2001)
Telephone system: general assessment: good system domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system international: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 10, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (1997)
Televisions: 361,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .sn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 15 (2002)
Internet users: 40,000 (2001)
Transportation Senegal
Railways: total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (70 km double-tracked) (2001)
Highways: total: 14,576 km paved: 4,271 km unpaved: 10,305 km (1996)
Waterways: 897 km note: 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on theSaloum river
Ports and harbors: Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll,Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Airports: 20 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Military Senegal
Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, NationalPolice (Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 2,406,337 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,257,423 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 114,189 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $68.6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Senegal
Disputes - international: Senegalese separatists disrupt legal border trade with smuggling, cattle rustling, and other illegal activities in Guinea-Bissau
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Saint Helena
Introduction Saint Helena
Background: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough Island has a meteorological station.
Geography Saint Helena
Location: islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway betweenSouth America and Africa
Geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 42 W
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 410 sq km note: includes St. Helena Island, Ascension,and the island group of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan daCunha Island, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three NightingaleIslands water: 0 sq km land: 410 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 60 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain: Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains note: Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 13% permanent crops: 0% other: 87% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns
People Saint Helena
Population: 7,317 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 18.8% (male 698; female 678) 15-64 years: 71.9% (male 2,727; female 2,531) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 296; female 387) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.7% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 13.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate: 6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 21.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 80.23 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility rate: 1.53 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: Saint Helenian(s) adjective: Saint Helenian
Ethnic groups: African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
Religions: Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist,Roman Catholic
Languages: English
Literacy: definition: age 20 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97% female: 98% (1987 est.)
Government Saint Helena
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:Saint Helena
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Government type: NA
Capital: Jamestown
Administrative divisions: 1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*;Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution: 1 January 1989
Legal system: NA
Suffrage: NA years of age
Executive branch: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) elections: of government: Governor and Commander in Chief David HOLLAMBY (since NA June 1999) cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 June 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court;Juvenile Court
Political parties and leaders: none
Political pressure groups and leaders: none
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
Economy Saint Helena
Economy - overview: The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, the raising of livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $18 million (1998 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: NA%
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 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): 3.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force: 3,500 (1998 est.) note: 1,200 work offshore
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate: 14% (1998 est.)
Budget: revenues: $11.2 million expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY92)
Industries: construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity - production: 5 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 4.65 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha)
Exports: $704,000 (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports - commodities: fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts
Exports - partners: South Africa, UK
Imports: $14.434 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports - commodities: food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Imports - partners: UK, South Africa
Debt - external: $NA
Economic aid - recipient: $12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997)
Currency: Saint Helenian pound (SHP)
Currency code: SHP
Exchange rates: Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6047 (1997); note - the Saint Helenian pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Helena
Telephones - main lines in use: 2,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 0 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: can communicate worldwide domestic:automatic network international: HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena toAscension which is a major coaxial submarine cable relay point betweenSouth Africa, Portugal, and UK ; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 3,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 2,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .sh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (2000)
Internet users: NA
Communications - note: Gough Island has a meteorological station
Transportation Saint Helena
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 158 km (Saint Helena 118 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan daCunha 0 km) paved: 138 km (Saint Helena 98km, Ascension 40 km, Tristanda Cunha 0 km) unpaved: 20 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km,Tristan da Cunha 0 km)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown
Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
Military Saint Helena
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Saint Helena
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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Slovenia
Introduction
Slovenia
Background: The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new nation, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power of the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy make Slovenia a leading candidate for future membership in the EU and NATO.
Geography Slovenia
Location: Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia
Geographic coordinates: 46 07 N, 14 49 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 20,273 sq km water: 122 sq km land: 20,151 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,334 km border countries: Austria 330 km,Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km
Coastline: 46.6 km
Maritime claims: NA
Climate: Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east
Terrain: a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountain and valleys with numerous rivers to the east
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point:Triglav 2,864 m
Natural resources: lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests
Land use: arable land: 11% permanent crops: 3% other: 86% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: flooding and earthquakes
Environment - current issues: Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, AirPollution-Sulphur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol