Age structure:0-14 years: 43.1% (male 799,241; female 788,370)15-64 years: 53.5% (male 969,581; female 1,000,740)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 53,322; female 72,284) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 17.9 yearsmale: 17.6 yearsfemale: 18.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.62% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:35.93 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:19.73 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: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 93.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 86.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 41.71 yearsmale: 40.18 yearsfemale: 43.29 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.68 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:12.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:250,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:22,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Central African(s)adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups:Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%,Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim15%note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence theChristian majority
Languages:French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language),tribal languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51%male: 63.3%female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
Government Central African Republic
Country name:conventional long form: Central African Republicconventional short form: nonelocal short form: nonelocal long form: Republique Centrafricaineformer: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empireabbreviation: CAR
Government type:republic
Capital:Bangui
Administrative divisions:14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economicprefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefectureeconomique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**,Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei,Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
Independence:13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Constitution:passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995
Legal system:based on French law
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)head of government: Prime Minister Abel GOUMBA (since NA March 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on15 March 2003 in which former President Ange-Felix PATASSE wasoverthrown (President BOZIZE has stated that elections will be heldby NA 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note -there were 85 seats in the National Assembly before the 1998election)elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to beheld NA 2003)election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judgesappointed by the president, 3 by the president of the NationalAssembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;Inferior Courts
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS];Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; CivicForum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum forModernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD[Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development orMDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the CentralAfrican People or MLPC [the party of deposed president, Ange-FelixPATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA];People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY];National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social DemocraticParty or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC (observer), OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOYFAX: [1] (202) 332-9893telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mattie R. SHARPLESS embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 61 44 94
Flag description:four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellowwith a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointedstar on the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Central African Republic
Economy - overview:Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains thebackbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), withmore than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. Theagricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted forabout 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry for 54%.Important constraints to economic development include the CAR'slandlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largelyunskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomicpolicies. Factional fighting between the government and itsopponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growthlikely to be no more than 1.3% in 2003. Distribution of income isextraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the internationalcommunity can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $4.296 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 55%industry: 20%services: 25% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:61.3 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (2001 est.)
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly ofbicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2002)
Electricity - production:106 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.8% hydro: 80.2% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:98.63 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber
Exports:$134 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners:Belgium 66.8%, Spain 6.4%, Kazakhstan 4% (2002)
Imports:$102 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electricalequipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:France 30%, US 5.2%, Cameroon 4.5%, Germany 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$881.4 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $73 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France(2000 est.)
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:calendar year
Communications Central African Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:9,500 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:710 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair systemdomestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay andlow-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communicationinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:283,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.cf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:2,000 (2002)
Transportation Central African Republic
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 23,810 km paved: 643 km unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:900 kmnote: traditional trade carried on by means of shallow-draftdugouts; Oubangui is the most important river, navigable all year tocraft drawing 0.6 m or less; 282 km navigable to craft drawing asmuch as 1.8 m
Ports and harbors:Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Airports:50 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 47 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2002)
Military Central African Republic
Military branches:Central African Armed Forces (FACA) (including Republican Guard,Ground Forces, Naval Forces, and Air Force), Presidential SecurityGuard, Gendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 858,671 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 449,466 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$13.43 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Central African Republic
Disputes - international:internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlapinto Chad and CAR, leaving refugees and rebel groups in bothcountries; violent ethnic skirmishes persist along the border withSudan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Chad
Introduction Chad
Background:Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured threedecades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before asemblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The governmenteventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-militarygroups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorableto Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multipartypresidential and National Assembly elections in 1996 and 1997,respectively. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad,which continued to escalate throughout 2000. A peace agreement,signed in January 2002 between the government and the rebels,provides for the demobilization of the rebels and theirreintegration into the political system. Despite movement towarddemocratic reform, power remains in the hands of a northern ethnicoligarchy.
Geography Chad
Location:Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.284 million sq kmwater: 24,800 sq kmland: 1,259,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 5,968 kmborder countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain:broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains innorthwest, lowlands in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 mhighest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources:petroleum (unexploited but exploration under way), uranium, natron,kaolin, fish (Lake Chad)
Land use: arable land: 2.78% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.2% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts;locust plagues
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal inrural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in theSahel
People Chad
Population:9,253,493 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,228,605; female 2,201,368)15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,171,169; female 2,393,184)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 105,686; female 153,481) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 16 yearsmale: 15.2 yearsfemale: 16.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:3.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:47.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 95.74 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 86.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 105 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 48.51 yearsmale: 46.97 yearsfemale: 50.1 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.44 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.6% 5%-7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:150,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:14,000 (confirmed AIDS cases, actual number far higher butdifficult to estimate) (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chadian(s)adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups:200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane(Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi,Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom areMuslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang,Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000French citizens live in Chad
Religions:Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%
Languages:French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than120 different languages and dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabictotal population: 47.5%male: 56%female: 39.3% (2003 est.)
Government Chad
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Chadconventional short form: Chadlocal long form: Republique du Tchadlocal short form: Tchad
Government type:republic
Capital:N'Djamena
Administrative divisions:14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha,Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari,Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjilenote: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrativestructure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department),and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, BathaOriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, LogoneOriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, TandjileOccidental, Tibesti
Independence:11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution:passed by referendum 31 March 1996
Legal system:based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December1990)head of government: Prime Minister Moussa Faki MAHAMAT (since NAJuly 2003)cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelection results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percentof vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, SalehKEBZABO 7%note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URDelections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterm; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, thetwo candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a secondround of voting; last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006);prime minister appointed by the president
Legislative branch:bicameral according to constitution, consists of a NationalAssembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified,members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewableevery two years)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, others 11elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to beheld in NA April 2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarlejy YORONGAR];National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Mamadou BISSO];National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO];Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman](originally in opposition but now the party in power and the partyof the president); Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen.Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]; Viva Rally for Development and Progressor Viva RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hassaballah Abdelhadi Ahmat SOUBIANEchancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher E. GOLDTHWAIT embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 70-09 FAX: [235] (51) 56-54
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorraand Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered inthe yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Chad
Economy - overview:Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boostedby major oilfield and pipeline projects that began in 2000. Over 80%of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and stock raisingfor its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulkof Chad's export earnings, but Chad will begin to export oil in2004. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlockedposition, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chadrelies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public andprivate sector investment projects. A consortium led by two UScompanies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reservesestimated at 1 billion barrels in southern Chad. Oil production isscheduled to come on stream in late 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $9.297 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 13% services: 49% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, andfishing)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $198 millionexpenditures: $218 million, including capital expenditures of $146million (1998 est.)
Industries:oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodiumcarbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:5% (1995)
Electricity - production:94.04 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:87.46 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Exports:$197 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, cattle, gum arabic
Exports - partners:Portugal 28.3%, Germany 13.6%, US 7.8%, Czech Republic 6.5%, France5.8%, Nigeria 5.8%, Poland 5.5%, Spain 5.2%, Morocco 4.5% (2002)
Imports:$570 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleumproducts, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:France 31.5%, US 31.4%, Germany 5.5%, Nigeria 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:$1.1 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$238.3 million; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $150million
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:calendar year
Communications Chad
Telephones - main lines in use:9,700 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5,500 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: primitive systemdomestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stationsinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:1.67 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.td
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:4,000 (2002)
Transportation Chad
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,000 km
Pipelines:oil 205 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:50 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Chad
Military branches:Armed Forces (including National Army, Air Force, and Gendarmerie),Rapid Intervention Force, National and Nomadic Guard (GNNT),Presidential Security Guard, Police
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,940,328 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,015,982 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 86,953 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$40.74 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Chad
Disputes - international:internal political instabilities with fighting and violence overlapinto Chad and Central African Republic, leaving refugees and rebelgroups in both countries; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southernLibya; Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon,Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lakeregion, which remains the site of armed clashes among localpopulations and militias; Chad rejects Nigerian request toredemarcate boundary, the site of continuing cross-border incidents
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Chile
Introduction Chile
Background:A three-year-old Marxist government was overthrown in 1973 by adictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled untila freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economicpolicies, first implemented by the PINOCHET dictatorship, led tounprecedented growth in 1991-97 and have helped secure the country'scommitment to democratic and representative government.
Geography Chile
Location:Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, betweenArgentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates:30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 756,950 sq kmland: 748,800 sq kmnote: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomezwater: 8,150 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries: total: 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200/350 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cooland damp in south
Terrain:low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
Natural resources:copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum,hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.42% other: 96.93% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:18,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; airpollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollutionfrom raw sewage
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, NuclearTest Ban
Geography - note:strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic andPacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People Chile
Population:15,665,216 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.4% (male 2,112,251; female 2,018,099)15-64 years: 66% (male 5,151,551; female 5,180,607)65 years and over: 7.7% (male 499,441; female 703,267) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 29.5 yearsmale: 28.6 yearsfemale: 30.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.05% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:16.1 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.63 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: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.88 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 9.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.35 yearsmale: 73.04 yearsfemale: 79.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.09 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:220 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups:white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions:Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.2%male: 96.4%female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Government Chile
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Chileconventional short form: Chilelocal long form: Republica de Chilelocal short form: Chile
Government type:republic
Capital:Santiago
Administrative divisions:13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General CarlosIbanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana(Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaisonote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution:11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981, amended 30 July 1989,1993, and 1997
Legal system:based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codesinfluenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdictionnote: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminaljustice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is beinggradually implemented throughout the country
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelection results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percentof vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2005)
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of theSenate or Senado (49 seats, 38 elected by popular vote, 9 designatedmembers, and 2 former presidents who serve six-year terms and aresenators for life); elected members serve eight-year terms (one-halfelected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara deDiputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7),independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - CPD 62 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6), UDI35, RN 22, independent 1elections: Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held NADecember 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001(next to be held NA December 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by thepresident and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidatesprovided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court iselected by the 21-member court); Constitutional Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC - including RN and UDI;Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR]; Coalition ofParties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD - including PDC, PS,PPD, PRSD; Communist Party or PC [Gladys MARIN]; IndependentDemocratic Union or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]; National Renewal or RN[Sebastian PINERA]; Party for Democracy or PPD [Guido GIRARDI];Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Orlando CANTUARIAS];Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations
International organization participation:APEC, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), NAM,OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UNU,UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHIchancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewYork, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELD embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a bluesquare the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end ofthe white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in thecenter representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizesthe sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for theblood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by theUS flag
Economy Chile
Economy - overview:Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high levelof foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as arole model for economic reform was strengthened when the democraticgovernment of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the militarygovernment. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fellto half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policiesimplemented to keep the current account deficit in check and becauseof lower export earnings - the latter a product of the globalfinancial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls andelectricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economicgrowth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effectsof the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strongfinancial institutions and sound policy that have given it thestrongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growthrebounded to 4.4% in 2000. Growth fell back to 2.8% in 2001 and 1.8%in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluationof the Argentine peso. Unemployment remains stubbornly high, puttingpressure on President LAGOS to improve living standards. One brightspot was the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, whichwill take effect on 1 January 2004.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $156.1 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $10,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 34% services: 56% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 21% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 45.6% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:56.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:5.9 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 14%, industry 27%, services 59% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.2% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $17 billionexpenditures: $17 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron andsteel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:-1.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:41.66 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 51.5% other: 1.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:40.13 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1.386 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:13,640 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:241,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:81.05 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:1.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.47 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:5.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:67.78 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, grapes, beans, sugar beets, potatoes, fruit; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber
Exports:$17.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper, fish, fruits, paper and pulp, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 19.1%, Japan 10.5%, China 6.7%, Mexico 5%, Italy 4.7%, UK 4.4%(2002)
Imports:$15.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, chemicals, motor vehicles, fuels, electricalmachinery, heavy industrial machinery, food
Imports - partners:Argentina 18%, US 14.9%, Brazil 9.5%, China 6.5%, Germany 4.3%(2002)
Debt - external:$40.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $40 million (2001 est.)
Currency:Chilean peso (CLP)
Currency code:CLP
Exchange rates:Chilean pesos per US dollar - 688.95 (2002), 634.94 (2001), 535.47(2000), 508.78 (1999), 460.29 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Chile
Telephones - main lines in use:2.603 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:944,225 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwaveradio relay facilitiesdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellitesystem with 3 earth stationsinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios:5.18 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:3.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):7 (2000)
Internet users:3.1 million (2002)
Transportation Chile
Railways:total: 6,585 kmbroad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 79,814 kmpaved: 15,484 km (including 294 km of expressways)unpaved: 64,330 km (2000)
Waterways:725 km
Pipelines:gas 2,267 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleum gas531 km; oil 983 km; refined products 545 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Antofagasta, Arica, Chanaral, Coquimbo, Iquique, Puerto Montt,Punta Arenas, San Antonio, San Vicente, Talcahuano, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:total: 50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 696,202 GRT/900,317 DWTships by type: bulk 9, cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 4,liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off6, vehicle carrier 4note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Netherlands 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:363 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 71over 3,047 m: 62,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 21914 to 1,523 m: 23under 914 m: 15 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 292over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 11914 to 1,523 m: 60under 914 m: 216 (2002)
Military Chile
Military branches:Army of the Nation, National Navy (including naval air, coastguard, and marines), Air Force of the Nation, Chilean Carabineros(National Police), Investigations Police
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,154,636 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,070,140 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 131,324 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.5 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Chile
Disputes - international:Bolivia continues to press Chile and Peru to restore the Atacamacorridor ceded to Chile in 1884; dispute with Peru over the economiczone delimited by the maritime boundary; Chile demands water rightsto Bolivia's Rio Lauca and Silala Spring; Beagle Channel islandsdispute resolved through Papal mediation in 1984, but armedincidents persist since 1992 oil discovery; territorial claim inAntarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlapsArgentine and British claims
Illicit drugs:a growing transshipment country for cocaine destined for the US andEurope; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chilemore attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits,especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone; imported precursorspassed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@China
Introduction China
Background:For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing therest of the world in the arts and sciences. But in the 19th andearly 20th centuries, China was beset by civil unrest, majorfamines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World WarII, the Communists under MAO Zedong established a dictatorship that,while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls overeveryday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people.After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping gradually introducedmarket-oriented reforms and decentralized economic decision-making.Output quadrupled by 2000. Political controls remain tight whileeconomic controls continue to be relaxed.
Geography China
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea,and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 9,596,960 sq kmland: 9,326,410 sq kmwater: 270,550 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:total: 22,147.34 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,Hong Kong 30 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Macau 0.34 km, Mongolia4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
Coastline:14,500 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Terrain:mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas,and hills in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 mhighest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten,antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum,lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Land use:arable land: 13.31%permanent crops: 1.2%other: 85.49% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:525,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and easterncoasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; landsubsidence
Environment - current issues:air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) fromreliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularlyin the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation;estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soilerosion and economic development; desertification; trade inendangered species
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:world's fourth-largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US);Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak;
People China
Population:1,286,975,468 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.1% (male 155,473,656; female 141,737,406)15-64 years: 69.5% (male 461,223,219; female 433,154,970)65 years and over: 7.4% (male 44,954,643; female 50,431,574) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 31.5 years male: 31.2 years female: 31.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:12.96 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.09 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.26 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 24.91 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.22 yearsmale: 70.33 yearsfemale: 74.28 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:850,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:30,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese (singular and plural)adjective: Chinese