Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:4.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1998)
Televisions:320,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.mm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only forthe government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
Transportation Burma
Railways: total: 3,955 km narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 28,200 km paved: 3,440 km unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 12,800 km note: 3,200 km navigable by large commercial vessels
Pipelines:gas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bassein, Bhamo, Chauk, Mandalay, Moulmein, Myitkyina, Rangoon,Akyab (Sittwe), Tavoy
Merchant marine:total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 352,765 GRT/536,396 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Germany 5, Japan 4 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 7, cargo 21, container 1, passenger/cargo 3,petroleum tanker 1
Airports:80 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 72 under 914 m: 34 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Burma
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 12,349,921 note: both sexes liable for military service (2003 est.) females age 15-49: 12,358,507
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 6,566,122females age 15-49: 6,553,458 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 453,420females: 455,422 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$39 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Burma
Disputes - international:despite continuing border committee talks, significant differencesremain with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling ofethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities
Illicit drugs:world's second largest producer of illicit opium (potentialproduction in 2002 - 630 metric tons, down 27% due to drought and,to a lesser extent, eradication; cultivation in 2002 - 77,000hectares, a 27% decline from 2001); surrender of drug warlord KHUNSA's Mong Tai Army in January 1996 was hailed by Rangoon as a majorcounternarcotics success, but lack of government will and ability totake on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitmentagainst money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrugeffort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regionalconsumption
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Burundi
Introduction Burundi
Background:Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinatedin October 1993 after only four months in office. Since then, some200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnicviolence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands havebeen internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboringcountries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure their borders,intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congoin 1998. More recently, many of these troops have been redeployedback to Burundi to deal with periodic upsurges in rebel activity. Anew transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, was tobe the first step toward holding national elections in three years.While the Government of Burundi signed a cease-fire agreement inDecember 2002 with three of Burundi's four Hutu rebel groups,implementation of the agreement has been problematic and one rebelgroup refuses to sign on, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.
Geography Burundi
Location:Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:3 30 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 27,830 sq kmwater: 2,180 sq kmland: 25,650 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 974 kmborder countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda290 km, Tanzania 451 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varieswith altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generallymoderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annualrainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May andSeptember to November, and dry seasons from June to August andDecember to January
Terrain:hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 mhighest point: Mount Heha 2,670 m
Natural resources:nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum(not yet exploited), vanadium, arable land, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 29.98%permanent crops: 12.85%other: 57.17% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:740 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding, landslides, drought
Environment - current issues:soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion ofagriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested landremains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitatloss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; theKagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remoteheadstream of the White Nile
People Burundi
Population:6,096,156note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.7% (male 1,438,759; female 1,409,567)15-64 years: 50.6% (male 1,516,833; female 1,564,513)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 66,355; female 100,129) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 16.3 yearsmale: 15.9 yearsfemale: 16.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.18% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:39.72 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:17.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 71.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 64.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 78.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.2 yearsmale: 42.54 yearsfemale: 43.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:8.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:390,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:40,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Burundian(s)adjective: Burundian
Ethnic groups:Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans3,000, South Asians 2,000
Religions:Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenousbeliefs 23%, Muslim 10%
Languages:Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along LakeTanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51.6%male: 58.5%female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
Government Burundi
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Burundiconventional short form: Burundilocal short form: Burundilocal long form: Republika y'u Burundiformer: Urundi
Government type:republic
Capital:Bujumbura
Administrative divisions:16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke,Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro,Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi
Independence:1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural politicalsystem; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitutionwhich enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents
Legal system:based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003);note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the secondhalf of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April 2003);note - from the Tutsi minorityhead of government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for thesecond half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on1 November 2001; Vice President Alphonse KADEGE (since 30 April2003); note - from the Tutsi minoritycabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by presidentelections: NA; current president assumed power on 30 April 2003 aspart of the transitional government established by the 2000 ArushaAccord
Legislative branch:bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale(expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitionalgovernment inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; termlength is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out thethree-year transition period)elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996; electionsare planned to follow the completion of the three-year transitionalgovernment)election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16,civilians 27, other parties 13
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts ofAppeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of FirstInstance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)
Political parties and leaders:the two national, mainstream, governing parties are: Unity forNational Progress or UPRONA [Alphonse KADEGE, president]; BurundiDemocratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:Burundi African Alliance for the Salvation or ABASA [TerrenceNSANZE]; Rally for Democracy and Economic and Social Development orRADDES [Joseph NZEYIMANA]; Party for National Redress or PARENA[Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]; People's Reconciliation Party or PRP[Mathias HITIMANA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated withHutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to governmentsecurity forces
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, CEPGL, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWAchancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James Howard YELLINembassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumburamailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumburatelephone: [257] 223454FAX: [257] 222926
Flag description:divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom)and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disksuperimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed starsoutlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above,two stars below)
Economy Burundi
Economy - overview:Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with anunderdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantlyagricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent onsubsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and teaexports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. Theability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weatherconditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsiminority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and thecoffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of thepopulation. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted inthe death of over 200,000 persons, sent 800,000 refugees intoTanzania, and displaced 525,000 others internally. Doubts about theprospects for sustainable peace continue to impede development. Onlyone in two children go to school, and approximately one in tenadults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in shortsupply.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.146 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: 19% services: 31% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:42.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):12% (2002 est.)
Labor force:3.7 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $125 millionexpenditures: $176 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly ofimported components; public works construction; food processing
Industrial production growth rate:18% (2001)
Electricity - production:155.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.6% hydro: 99.4% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:177.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:33 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of theCongo (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides
Exports:$26 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides
Exports - partners:Switzerland 28.8%, Germany 20.2%, Belgium 9.4%, Kenya 7.8%, Rwanda6.5%, Netherlands 4.6% (2002)
Imports:$135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Belgium 12.4%, Saudi Arabia 12.3%, Tanzania 9.3%, Kenya 7.7%,France 7.4%, India 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:$1.14 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$92.7 million (2000)
Currency:Burundi franc (BIF)
Currency code:BIF
Exchange rates:Burundi francs per US dollar - NA (2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67(2000), 563.56 (1999), 447.77 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Burundi
Telephones - main lines in use:18,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:30,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: primitive systemdomestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications,and low-capacity microwave radio relayinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:440,000 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:25,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.bi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:6,000 (2002)
Transportation Burundi
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 14,480 km paved: 1,028 km unpaved: 13,452 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:Lake Tanganyika
Ports and harbors:Bujumbura
Airports:7 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 6914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Burundi
Military branches:Army (including naval and air units), Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:16 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,375,900 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 723,516 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 79,462 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$42.13 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Burundi
Disputes - international:Tutsi, Hutu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associatedpolitical rebels, armed gangs, and various government forcescontinue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending theboundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, andUganda to gain control over populated and natural resource areas;government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violencecontinues despite UN peacekeeping efforts
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Cambodia
Introduction Cambodia
Background:Following a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forcescaptured Phnom Penh in 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all citiesand towns; over 1 million displaced people died from execution orenforced hardships. A 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rougeinto the countryside and touched off almost 20 years of fighting.UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance ofnormalcy as did the rapid diminishment of the Khmer Rouge in themid-1990s. A coalition government, formed after national electionsin 1998, brought renewed political stability and the surrender ofremaining Khmer Rouge forces in 1998.
Geography Cambodia
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, betweenThailand, Vietnam, and Laos
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 181,040 sq kmland: 176,520 sq kmwater: 4,520 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oklahoma
Land boundaries: total: 2,572 km border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km
Coastline: 443 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season(December to April); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 mhighest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m
Natural resources:timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropowerpotential
Land use: arable land: 20.96% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 78.43% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:2,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts
Environment - current issues:illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip miningfor gems in the western region along the border with Thailand haveresulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular,destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soilerosion; in rural areas, a majority of the population does not haveaccess to potable water; toxic waste delivery from Taiwan sparkedunrest in Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville) in December 1998
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River andTonle Sap
People Cambodia
Population:13,124,764note: estimates for this country take into account the effects ofexcess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower lifeexpectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39.3% (male 2,606,568; female 2,557,736)15-64 years: 57.6% (male 3,599,216; female 3,962,520)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 148,287; female 250,437) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 19.2 yearsmale: 18.4 yearsfemale: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.8% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:27.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 75.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 66.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 84.96 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.92 yearsmale: 55.49 yearsfemale: 60.47 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.58 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:170,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:12,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Cambodian(s)adjective: Cambodian
Ethnic groups:Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
Religions:Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%
Languages:Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 69.9%male: 80.5%female: 60.3% (2003 est.)
Government Cambodia
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodiaconventional short form: Cambodialocal short form: Kampuchealocal long form: Preahreacheanachakr Kampucheaformer: Khmer Republic, Kampuchea Republic
Government type:multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established inSeptember 1993
Capital:Phnom Penh
Administrative divisions:20 provinces (khett, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities*(krong, singular and plural); Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang,Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot,Kandal, Kaoh Kong, Keb*, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay,Pailin*, Phnum Penh*, Pouthisat, Preah Seihanu*, Preah Vihear, PreyVeng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
Independence:9 November 1953 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 9 November (1953)
Constitution:promulgated 21 September 1993
Legal system:primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from theUnited Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period,royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences ofcustomary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasinginfluence of common law in recent years
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24 September 1993)head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 1993) and TOL LAH (since1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;following legislative elections, a member of the majority party ormajority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of theNational Assembly and appointed by the king
Legislative branch:bicameral consists of the National Assembly (122 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by theNational Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies";members serve five-year terms)elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to beheld in July 2007); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (next to be heldin 2004)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73,FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seatsby party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (2003)
Judicial branch:Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitutionand formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts)exercises judicial authority
Political parties and leaders:Buddhist Liberal Party or BLP [IENG MOULY]; Cambodian PracheachonParty or Cambodian People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; Khmer CitizenParty or KCP [NGUON SOEUR]; National United Front for anIndependent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia orFUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP(formerly Khmer Nation Party or KNP) [SAM RANGSI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador ROLAND ENGFAX: [1] (202) 726-8381telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles Aaron RAY embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546 telephone: [855] (23) 216-436/438 FAX: [855] (23) 216-437/811
Flag description:three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and bluewith a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlinedin black in the center of the red band
Economy Cambodia
Economy - overview:Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997-1998 due to theregional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting.Foreign investment and tourism fell off. In 1999, the first fullyear of peace in 30 years, progress was made on economic reforms andgrowth resumed at 5.0%. Despite severe flooding, GDP grew at 5.0% in2000, 6.3% in 2001, and 5.2% in 2002. Tourism was Cambodia's fastestgrowing industry, with arrivals up 34% in 2000 and up another 40% in2001 before the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US. Evengiven these stout growth estimates, the long-term development of theeconomy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. Thepopulation lacks education and productive skills, particularly inthe poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost totallack of basic infrastructure. Fear of renewed political instabilityand corruption within the government discourage foreign investmentand delay foreign aid. The government is addressing these issueswith assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $20.42 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 20% services: 40% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 36% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:6 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.8% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $396 millionexpenditures: $607 million, including capital expenditures of $254million (2001 est.)
Industries:tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products,rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:16% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:119 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65% hydro: 35% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:110.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:rice, rubber, corn, vegetables
Exports:$1.38 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:timber, garments, rubber, rice, fish
Exports - partners:US 60.2%, Germany 9.1%, UK 7.1%, Singapore 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$1.73 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,machinery, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:Thailand 24.8%, Singapore 16.9%, China 12.1%, Hong Kong 10.9%,South Korea 5.5%, Vietnam 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$829 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $548 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2001 by international donors
Currency:riel (KHR)
Currency code:KHR
Exchange rates:riels per US dollar - 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001), 3,840.75(2000), 3,807.83 (1999), 3,744.42 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cambodia
Telephones - main lines in use:21,800 (mid-1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:80,000 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular service inPhnom Penh and other provincial cities; rural areas have littletelephone servicedomestic: NAinternational: adequate but expensive landline and cellular serviceavailable to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincialcities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Oceanregion)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 3, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:1.34 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (2003)
Televisions:94,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
Transportation Cambodia
Railways: total: 602 km narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 12,323 kmpaved: 1,996 kmunpaved: 10,327 km (2000 est)
Waterways:3,700 kmnote: navigable all year to craft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 kmnavigable to craft drawing as much as 1.8 m
Ports and harbors:Kampong Saom (Sihanoukville), Kampot, Krong Kaoh Kong, Phnom Penh
Merchant marine:total: 527 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,328,371 GRT/3,294,028 DWTships by type: bulk 49, cargo 412, chemical tanker 2, combinationbulk 4, container 17, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 2,multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleumtanker 18, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, short-seapassenger 2note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Aruba 1, Belize 11, Bulgaria 3, Cambodia 194, Canada 4,China 25, Cyprus 14, Egypt 10, Estonia 2, France 1, Georgia 1,Germany 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 13, Honduras 8, Hong Kong 12, Iceland1, Indonesia 2, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Italy 2, Japan 2, Jordan 1, NorthKorea, 1, South Korea, 25, Latvia 3, Lebanon 6, Liberia 7, Malaysia1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 4, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, Panama 10,Romania 2, Russia 75, Saint Kitts and Nevis 4, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines 5, Singapore 17, Syria 20, Turkey 18, Ukraine 16, UnitedArab Emirates 3, United Kingdom 1, United States 5, Vietnam 3 (2002est.)
Airports:21 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 16under 914 m: 1 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 13
Heliports:2 (2002)
Military Cambodia
Military branches:Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,275,533 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,829,535 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 165,395 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$112 million (FY01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3% (FY01 est.)
Transnational Issues Cambodia
Disputes - international:completed boundary demarcation with Thailand; accuses Vietnam ofmoving and destroying boundary markers and encroachments, initiatingborder incidents; accuses Thailand of preventing access to PreahVihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962;maritime boundary with Vietnam hampered by dispute over offshoreislands
Illicit drugs:narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in thegovernment, military, and police; possible small-scale opium,heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis forthe international market; vulnerable to money laundering due to itscash-based economy and porous borders
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Cameroon
Introduction Cameroon
Background:The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyedstability, which has permitted the development of agriculture,roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despitemovement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly inthe hands of an ethnic oligarchy.
Geography Cameroon
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between EquatorialGuinea and Nigeria
Geographic coordinates:6 00 N, 12 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 475,440 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq kmland: 469,440 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:total: 4,591 kmborder countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km,Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298km, Nigeria 1,690 km
Coastline:402 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 50 NM
Climate:varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hotin north
Terrain:diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau incenter, mountains in west, plains in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Fako (on Cameroon Mountain) 4,095 m
Natural resources:petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12.81% permanent crops: 2.58% other: 84.61% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:330 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases fromLake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes
Environment - current issues:water-borne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing;desertification; poaching; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout thecountry there are areas of thermal springs and indications ofcurrent or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highestmountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano
People Cameroon
Population:15,746,179note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.3% (male 3,372,129; female 3,291,295)15-64 years: 54.5% (male 4,315,672; female 4,265,286)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 227,444; female 274,353) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.4 yearsmale: 18.2 yearsfemale: 18.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.02% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:35.49 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:15.3 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 70.12 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 65.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 74.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 48.05 yearsmale: 47.15 yearsfemale: 48.97 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.63 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:11.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:920,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:53,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Cameroonian(s)adjective: Cameroonian
Ethnic groups:Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%,non-African less than 1%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:24 major African language groups, English (official), French(official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 79%male: 84.7%female: 73.4% (2003 est.)
Government Cameroon
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cameroonconventional short form: Cameroonformer: French Cameroon
Government type:unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (oppositionparties legalized in 1990)note: preponderance of power remains with the president
Capital:Yaounde
Administrative divisions:10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord,Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest
Independence:1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)
Constitution:20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted;revised January 1996
Legal system:based on French civil law system, with common law influence; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October2004); prime minister appointed by the presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19September 1996)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submittedby the prime ministerelection results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidatesboycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote sharesrelatively meaningless
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms;note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of thelegislature)elections: last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for thelegislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Courtof Justice (consists of 9 judges and 6 substitute judges, elected bythe National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; DemocraticRally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for theDefense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for theLiberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader MarcelYONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA];National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLOBOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union ofCameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Southern Cameroon National Council [Frederick Ebong ALOBWEDE];Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, C, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-19, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),ITU, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UN Security Council(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGAchancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador George McDade STAPLESembassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaoundemailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy,Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520telephone: [237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14FAX: [237] 223-07-53branch office(s): Douala
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellowwith a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses thepopular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Cameroon
Economy - overview:Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions,Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies insub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problemsfacing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civilservice and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and WorldBank programs designed to spur business investment, increaseefficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize thenation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed anIMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however,the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budgettransparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs.International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on theeconomy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $26.84 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 46% industry: 21% services: 33% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 48% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:47.7 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%
Unemployment rate:30% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.2 billionexpenditures: $2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:petroleum production and refining, food processing, light consumergoods, textiles, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:4.2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:3.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.7% hydro: 97.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:3.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:76,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:22,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:200 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:55.22 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber
Exports: $1.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,coffee, cotton
Exports - partners:Italy 16.7%, Spain 16%, France 12.8%, US 8.3%, Netherlands 8.2%,Taiwan 7.7%, China 5.2%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:France 28.2%, Nigeria 12.8%, US 8%, Belgium 5.7%, Germany 5.3%,Italy 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$8.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debtof $1.3 billion by $900 million; total debt relief now amounts to$1.26 billion
Currency:Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Cameroon
Telephones - main lines in use:95,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:300,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: available only to business and governmentdomestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatterinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:2.27 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:450,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.cm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:45,000note: Cameroon also had more than 100 cyber-cafes in 2001 (December2001)
Transportation Cameroon
Railways: total: 1,008 km narrow gauge: 1,008 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)