Military This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military structure, manpower, and expenditures.
Military branches This entry lists the names of the ground, naval, air, marine, and other defense or security forces.
Military expenditures - dollar figure This entry gives current military expenditures in US dollars; the figure is calculated by multiplying the estimated defense spending in percentage terms by the gross domestic product (GDP) calculated on an exchange rate basis not purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Dollar figures for military expenditures should be treated with caution because of different price patterns and accounting methods among nations, as well as wide variations in the strength of their currencies.
Military expenditures - percent of GDP This entry gives current military expenditures as an estimated percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
Military manpower - availability This entry gives the total numbers of males and females age 15-49 and assumes that every individual is fit to serve.
Military manpower - fit for military service This entry gives the number of males and females age 15-49 fit for military service. This is a more refined measure of potential military manpower availability which tries to correct for the health situation in the country and reduces the maximum potential number to a more realistic estimate of the actual number fit to serve.
Military manpower - military age This entry gives the minimum age at which an individual may volunteer for military service or be subject to conscription.
Military manpower - reaching military age annually This entry gives the number of draft-age males and females entering the military manpower pool in any given year and is a measure of the availability of draft-age young adults.
Military - note This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere.
Money figures All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless otherwise indicated.
National holiday This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
Nationality This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.
Natural Gas - consumption This entry is the total quantity of natural gas consumed in cubic meters. The discrepancy between the quantity of natural gas produced and/or imported and the quantity consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
Natural Gas - exports This entry is the total quantity of natural gas exported in cubic meters.
Natural Gas - imports This entry is the total quantity of natural gas imported in cubic meters.
Natural Gas - production This entry is the total quantity of natural gas produced in cubic meters. The discrepancy between the quantity of natural gas produced and/or imported and the quantity consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
Natural Gas - proved reserves This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu. m.). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
Natural hazardsThis entry lists potential natural disasters.
Natural resources This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance.
Net migration rate This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. High levels of migration can cause problems such as increasing unemployment and potential ethnic strife (if people are coming in) or a reduction in the labor force, perhaps in certain key sectors (if people are leaving).
Oil - consumption This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
Oil - exports This entry is the total oil exported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.
Oil - imports This entry is the total oil imported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.
Oil - production This entry is the total oil produced in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
Oil - proved reserves This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
People This category includes the entries dealing with the characteristics of the people and their society.
People - note This entry includes miscellaneous demographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
Personal Names - Capitalization The Factbook uses all uppercase letters for personal names by which the subject is usually referred to in various media. An example is President Vicente FOX Quesada of Mexico. Members of royal families are usually referred by other than their family name (King and Prime Minister FAHD bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands, or King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet of Thailand). Some Asians are referred to by the first element of their name - also their surname, such as President NO Muh-hyun of South Korea.
Personal Names - Spelling The romanization of personal names in the Factbook normally follows the same transliteration system used by the US Board on Geographic Names for spelling place names. At times, however, a foreign leader expressly indicates a preference for, or the media or official documents regularly use, a romanized spelling that differs from the transliteration derived from the US Government standard. In such cases, the Factbook uses the alternative spelling.
Personal Names - Titles The Factbook capitalizes any valid title (or short form of it) immediately preceding a person's name. A title standing alone is lowercased. Examples: President PUTIN and President BUSH are chiefs of state. In Russia, the president is chief of state and the premier is the head of the government, while in the US, the president is both chief of state and head of government.
PetroleumSee "Oil" entries
Petroleum productsSee "Oil" entries
Pipelines This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
Political parties and leaders This entry includes a listing of significant political organizations and their leaders.
Political pressure groups and leaders This entry includes a listing of organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.
Population This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account the effects of the growing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries are currently: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Population below poverty line National estimates of the percentage of the population lying below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.
Population growth rate The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.
Ports and harbors This entry lists the major ports and harbors selected on the basis of overall importance to each country. This is determined by evaluating a number of factors (e.g., dollar value of goods handled, gross tonnage, facilities, military significance).
Radio broadcast stations This entry includes the total number of AM, FM, and shortwave broadcast stations.
Railways This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge: broad, dual, narrow, standard, and other.
Reference mapsThis section includes world and regional maps.
Religions This entry includes a rank ordering of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population.
Sex ratio This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertility patterns. Eventually it could cause unrest among young adult males who are unable to find partners.
Suffrage This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
Telephone numbers All telephone numbers in the Factbook consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area code (where required) in parentheses, and the local number. The one component that is not presented is the international access code, which varies from country to country. For example, an international direct dial telephone call placed from the US to Madrid, Spain, would be as follows:
011 [34] (1) 577-xxxx, where011 is the international access code for station-to-station calls;01 is for calls other than station-to-station calls,[34] is the country code for Spain,(1) is the city code for Madrid,577 is the local exchange, andxxxx is the local telephone number.
An international direct dial telephone call placed from another countryto the US would be as follows:international access code + [1] (202) 939-xxxx, where[1] is the country code for the US,(202) is the area code for Washington, DC,939 is the local exchange, andxxxx is the local telephone number.
Telephone system This entry includes a brief characterization of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Africa ONE - a fiber-optic submarine cable link encircling the continent of Africa. Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense). CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications. cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its own private radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone signal is fed to a telephone exchange. Central American Microwave System - a trunk microwave radio relay system that links the countries of Central America and Mexico with each other. coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable consisting of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of telephone channels can be made available within the insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier frequencies. Comsat - Communications Satellite Corporation (US). DSN - Defense Switched Network (formerly Automatic Voice Network or Autovon); basic general-purpose, switched voice network of the Defense Communications System (US Department of Defense). Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris). fiber-optic cable - a multichannel communications cable using a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a coded pulse of light. GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications (CEPT) in 1982. HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000- kHz range. Inmarsat - International Mobile Satellite Organization (London); provider of global mobile satellite communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications at sea, in the air, and on land. Intelsat - International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Washington, DC). Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications (Moscow); first established in the former Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia. landline - communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground. Marecs - Maritime European Communications Satellite used in the Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency. Marisat - satellites of the Comsat Corporation that participate in the Inmarsat system. Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network. microwave radio relay - transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path. NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular telephone system that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden). Orbita - a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet-switched digital telephone network. radiotelephone communications - the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets. PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT). satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide long distance transmission of voice, data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system. satellite earth station - a communications facility with a microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna and required receiving and transmitting equipment for communicating with satellites. satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station permitting communication between them, either one-way (down link from satellite to earth station - television receive-only transmission) or two-way (telephone channels). SHF - super high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-MHz range. shortwave - radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall above the commercial broadcast band and are used for communication over long distances. Solidaridad - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere. Statsionar - Russia's geostationary system for satellite telecommunications. submarine cable - a cable designed for service under water. TAT - Trans-Atlantic Telephone; any of a number of high-capacity submarine coaxial telephone cables linking Europe with North America. telefax - facsimile service between subscriber stations via the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network. telegraph - a telecommunications system designed for unmodulated electric impulse transmission. telex - a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges. tropospheric scatter - a form of microwave radio transmission in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth; powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit and receive the microwave signals; reliable over-the-horizon communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this system for very long distances. trunk network - a network of switching centers, connected by multichannel trunk lines. UHF - ultra high frequency; any radio frequency in the 300- to 3,000-MHz range. VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to 300- MHz range.
Telephones - main lines in useThis entry gives the total number of main telephone lines in use.
Telephones - mobile cellularThis entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephones in use.
Television - broadcast stations This entry gives the total number of separate broadcast stations plus any repeater stations.
Terminology Due to the highly structured nature of the Factbook database, some collective generic terms have to be used. For example, the word Country in the Country name entry refers to a wide variety of dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, uninhabited islands, and other entities in addition to the traditional countries or independent states. Military is also used as an umbrella term for various civil defense, security, and defense activities in many entries. The Independence entry includes the usual colonial independence dates and former ruling states as well as other significant nationhood dates such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession that are not strictly independence dates. Dependent areas have the nature of their dependency status noted in this same entry.
TerrainThis entry contains a brief description of the topography.
Total fertility rate This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population growth in the country. High rates will also place some limits on the labor force participation rates for women. Large numbers of children born to women indicate large family sizes that might limit the ability of the families to feed and educate their children.
Transnational Issues This category includes only two entries at the present time - Disputes - international and Illicit drugs - that deal with current issues going beyond national boundaries.
Transportation This category includes the entries dealing with the means for movement of people and goods.
Transportation - note This entry includes miscellaneous transportation information of significance not included elsewhere.
Unemployment rate This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
Waterways This entry gives the total length and individual names of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.
Years All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as fiscal year (FY). The calendar year is an accounting period of 12 months from 1 January to 31 December. The fiscal year is an accounting period of 12 months other than 1 January to 31 December.
Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence Community estimates.
This page was last updated on 23 October, 2003
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A Brief History of Basic Intelligence and The World Factbook
The Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information is acquired, converted into intelligence, and made available to policymakers. Information is raw data from any source, data that may be fragmentary, contradictory, unreliable, ambiguous, deceptive, or wrong. Intelligence is information that has been collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finished intelligence is the final product of the Intelligence Cycle ready to be delivered to the policymaker.
The three types of finished intelligence are: basic, current, and estimative. Basic intelligence provides the fundamental and factual reference material on a country or issue. Current intelligence reports on new developments. Estimative intelligence judges probable outcomes. The three are mutually supportive: basic intelligence is the foundation on which the other two are constructed; current intelligence continually updates the inventory of knowledge; and estimative intelligence revises overall interpretations of country and issue prospects for guidance of basic and current intelligence. The World Factbook, The President's Daily Brief, and the National Intelligence Estimates are examples of the three types of finished intelligence.
The United States has carried on foreign intelligence activities since the days of George Washington but only since World War II have they been coordinated on a government-wide basis. Three programs have highlighted the development of coordinated basic intelligence since that time: (1) the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS), (2) the National Intelligence Survey (NIS), and (3) The World Factbook.
During World War II, intelligence consumers realized that the production of basic intelligence by different components of the US Government resulted in a great duplication of effort and conflicting information. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 brought home to leaders in Congress and the executive branch the need for integrating departmental reports to national policymakers. Detailed and coordinated information was needed not only on such major powers as Germany and Japan, but also on places of little previous interest. In the Pacific Theater, for example, the Navy and Marines had to launch amphibious operations against many islands about which information was unconfirmed or nonexistent. Intelligence authorities resolved that the United States should never again be caught unprepared.
In 1943, Gen. George B. Strong (G-2), Adm. H. C. Train (Office of Naval Intelligence - ONI), and Gen. William J. Donovan (Director of the Office of Strategic Services - OSS) decided that a joint effort should be initiated. A steering committee was appointed on 27 April 1943 that recommended the formation of a Joint Intelligence Study Publishing Board to assemble, edit, coordinate, and publish the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS). JANIS was the first interdepartmental basic intelligence program to fulfill the needs of the US Government for an authoritative and coordinated appraisal of strategic basic intelligence. Between April 1943 and July 1947, the board published 34 JANIS studies. JANIS performed well in the war effort, and numerous letters of commendation were received, including a statement from Adm. Forrest Sherman, Chief of Staff, Pacific Ocean Areas, which said, "JANIS has become the indispensable reference work for the shore-based planners."
The need for more comprehensive basic intelligence in the postwar world was well expressed in 1946 by George S. Pettee, a noted author on national security. He wrote in The Future of American Secret Intelligence (Infantry Journal Press, 1946, page 46) that world leadership in peace requires even more elaborate intelligence than in war. "The conduct of peace involves all countries, all human activities - not just the enemy and his war production."
The Central Intelligence Agency was established on 26 July 1947 and officially began operating on 18 September 1947. Effective 1 October 1947, the Director of Central Intelligence assumed operational responsibility for JANIS. On 13 January 1948, the National Security Council issued Intelligence Directive (NSCID) No. 3, which authorized the National Intelligence Survey (NIS) program as a peacetime replacement for the wartime JANIS program. Before adequate NIS country sections could be produced, government agencies had to develop more comprehensive gazetteers and better maps. The US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) compiled the names; the Department of the Interior produced the gazetteers; and CIA produced the maps.
The Hoover Commission's Clark Committee, set up in 1954 to study the structure and administration of the CIA, reported to Congress in 1955 that: "The National Intelligence Survey is an invaluable publication which provides the essential elements of basic intelligence on all areas of the world. There will always be a continuing requirement for keeping the Survey up-to-date." The Factbook was created as an annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971. The NIS program was terminated in 1973 except for the Factbook, map, and gazetteer components. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO). The Factbook was first made available on the Internet in June 1997. The year 2003 marks the 56th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency and the 60th year of continuous basic intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and its two predecessor programs.
This page was last updated on 23 October, 2003
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Contributors and Copyright Information
In general, information available as of 1 January 2003 was used in the preparation of this edition.
The World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. Information is provided by Antarctic Information Program (National Science Foundation), Bureau of the Census (Department of Commerce), Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor), Central Intelligence Agency, Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, Defense Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Department of State, Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation), National Imagery and Mapping Agency (Department of Defense), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Department of Defense), Office of Insular Affairs (Department of the Interior), Office of Naval Intelligence (Department of Defense), US Board on Geographic Names (Department of the Interior), US Transportation Command (Department of Defense), and other public and private sources.
The Factbook is in the public domain. Accordingly, it may be copied freely without permission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The official seal of the CIA, however, may NOT be copied without permission as required by the CIA Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. section 403m). Misuse of the official seal of the CIA could result in civil and criminal penalties.
Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:
Central Intelligence AgencyAttn.: Office of Public AffairsWashington, DC 20505Telephone: [1] (703) 482-0623FAX: [1] (703) 482-1739
This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003
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Purchasing Information
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) publishes The World Factbook in printed and Internet versions. US Government officials may obtain information about availability of the Factbook from their organizations or through liaison channels to the CIA. Other users may obtain sales information about printed copies from the following:
Superintendent of DocumentsP. O. Box 371954Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800; toll free: [1] (866) 512-1800FAX: [1] (202) 512-2250http://bookstore.gpo.gov/
National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 Telephone: [1] (800) 553-6847 (only in the US); [1] (703) 605-6000 (for outside US) FAX: [1] (703) 605-6900 http://www.ntis.gov/
The World Factbook can be accessed on the Internet at: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
This page was last updated on 11 August, 2003
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The World Factbook staff thanks you for your comments, suggestions, updates, kudos, and corrections over the past years. The willingness of readers from around the world to share their observations and specialized knowledge is very helpful as we try to produce the best possible publications. Please feel free to continue to write and e-mail us. At least two Factbook staffers review every item. The sheer volume of correspondence precludes detailed personal replies, but we sincerely appreciate your time and interest in the Factbook. If you include your e-mail address we will at least acknowledge your note. Thank you again.
Answers to many frequently asked questions (FAQs) are explained in the Notes and Definitions section in The World Factbook. Please review this section to see if your question is already answered there. In addition, we have compiled the following list of FAQs to answer other common questions. Select from the following categories to narrow your search:
GeneralGeographySpelling and PronunciationPolicies and ProceduresTechnical
General
Can you provide additional information for a specific country?
The staff cannot provide data beyond what appears in The World Factbook. The format and information in the Factbook are tailored to the specific requirements of US Government officials and content is focused on their current and anticipated needs. The staff welcomes suggestions for new entries.
How often is The World Factbook updated?
Formerly our Web site (and the published Factbook) were only updated annually. Beginning in November 2001 we instituted a new system of more frequent online updates.
The annual printed version of the Factbook is usually released about midyear. US Government officials may obtain information about Factbook availability from their own organizations or through liaison channels to the CIA. Other users may obtain sales information through the following channels:
Superintendent of DocumentsP. O. Box 371954 Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800FAX: [1] (202) 512-2250http://www.bookstore.gpo.gov
National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 Telephone: [1] (800) 553-6847 (only in the US); [1] (703) 605-6000 (for outside US) FAX: [1] (703) 605-6900 http://www.ntis.gov
Can I use some or all of The World Factbook for my Web site (book, research project, homework, etc.)?
The World Factbook is in the public domain and may be used freely by anyone at anytime without seeking permission. However, US Code prohibits use of the CIA seal in a manner which implies that the CIA approved, endorsed, or authorized such use. If you have any questions about your intended use, you should consult with legal counsel. Further information on The World Factbook's use is described on the Contributors and Copyright Information page. As a courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used.
Why doesn't The World Factbook include information on states, departments, provinces, the European Union, etc., in the country format?
The World Factbook provides national-level information on countries, territories, and dependencies, but not on subnational administrative units within a country or supranational entities like the European Union. A good encyclopedia should provide state/province-level information.
Is it possible to access older editions of The World Factbook to do comparative research and trend analysis?
Only the current version is available for browsing on the CIA Web site. The year 2000 and 2001 editions are available for download. In the future, the staff hopes to post electronic versions of The World Factbook as far back as 1986. Hardcopy editions for earlier years are available from libraries.
Would it be possible to set up a partnership or collaboration between the producers of The World Factbook and other organizations or individuals?
The World Factbook does not partner with other organizations or individuals, but we do welcome comments and suggestions that such groups or persons choose to provide.
Geography
I can't find a geographic name for a particular country. Why not?
The World Factbook is not a gazetteer (a dictionary or index of places, usually with descriptive or statistical information) and cannot provide more than the names of the administrative divisions (in the Government category) and major cities/towns (on the country maps). Our expanded Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names, however, includes many of the world's major geographic features as well as historic (former) names of countries and cities mentioned in The World Factbook.
Why is Taiwan listed out of alphabetical order at the end of theFactbook entries?
Taiwan is listed after the regular entries because even though the mainland People's Republic of China claims Taiwan, elected Taiwanese authorities de facto administer the island and reject mainland sovereignty claims. With the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, the US Government recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, acknowledging the Chinese position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.
Since we have an ambassador who represents the US at the Vatican, why is this entity not listed in the Factbook?
Vatican City is found under Holy See. The term "Holy See" refers to the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisors to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. The Holy See has a legal personality that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic representatives. Vatican City, created in 1929 to administer properties belonging to the Holy See in Rome, is recognized under international law as a sovereign state, but it does not send or receive diplomatic representatives. Consequently, Holy See is included as a Factbook entry, with Vatican City cross-referenced in the Geographic Names appendix.
Why are the Golan Heights not shown as part of Israel or NorthernCyprus with Turkey?
Territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United StatesGovernment are not shown on US Government maps.
Why don't you include information on entities such as Tibet, Kashmir, or Kosovo?
The World Factbook provides information on the administrative divisions of a country as recommended by the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is a component of the US Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features.
Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands). Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries are not covered.
Spelling and Pronunciation
Why is the spelling of proper names such as rulers, presidents, and prime ministers in The World Factbook different than their spelling in my country?
The Factbook staff applies the names and spellings from the Chiefs of State link on the CIA Web site. The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings. Surnames are always spelled with capital letters; they may appear first in some cultures.
The spelling of geographic names, features, cities, administrative divisions, etc. in the Factbook differs from those used in my country. Why is this?
The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) recommends and approves names and spellings. The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names— domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to use uniform names of geographic features. (A note is usually included where changes may have occurred but have not yet been approved by the BGN). The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings.
Why doesn't The World Factbook include pronunciations of country or leader names?
There are too many variations in pronunciation among English-speaking countries, not to mention English renditions of non-English names, for pronunciations to be included. American English pronunciations are included for some countries like Qatar and Kiribati.
Why is the name of the Labour party misspelled?When American and British spellings of common English words differ, TheWorld Factbook always uses the American spelling, even when thesecommon words form part of a proper name in British English.
Policies and Procedures
What is The World Factbook's source for a specific subject field?
The Factbook staff uses many different sources to publish what we judge are the most reliable and consistent data for any particular category. Space considerations preclude a listing of these various sources.
The names of some geographic features provided in the Factbook differ from those used in other publications. For example, in Asia the Factbook has Burma as the country name, but in other publications Myanmar is used; also, the Factbook uses Sea of Japan whereas other publications label it East Sea. What is you policy on naming geographic features?
The Factbook staff follows the guidance of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features. The position of the BGN is that the names Burma and Sea of Japan be used in official US Government maps and publications.
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This page was last updated on 21 October, 2003
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@Afghanistan
Introduction Afghanistan
Background:Afghanistan's recent history is characterized by war and civilunrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to withdraw10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces supplied andtrained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fightingsubsequently continued among the various mujahidin factions, givingrise to a state of warlordism that eventually spawned the Taliban.Backed by foreign sponsors, the Taliban developed as a politicalforce and eventually seized power. The Taliban were able to capturemost of the country, aside from Northern Alliance strongholdsprimarily in the northeast, until US and allied military action insupport of the opposition following the 11 September 2001 terroristattacks forced the group's downfall. In late 2001, major leadersfrom the Afghan opposition groups and diaspora met in Bonn, Germany,and agreed on a plan for the formulation of a new governmentstructure that resulted in the inauguration of Hamid KARZAI asChairman of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001.The AIA held a nationwide Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002,and KARZAI was elected President by secret ballot of theTransitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). The TransitionalAuthority has an 18-month mandate to hold a nationwide Loya Jirga toadopt a constitution and a 24-month mandate to hold nationwideelections. In December 2002, the TISA marked the one-yearanniversary of the fall of the Taliban. In addition to occasionallyviolent political jockeying and ongoing military action to root outremaining terrorists and Taliban elements, the country suffers fromenormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread landmines.
Geography Afghanistan
Location:Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran
Geographic coordinates:33 00 N, 65 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 647,500 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 647,500 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,529 kmborder countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km,Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers
Terrain:mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Amu Darya 258 mhighest point: Nowshak 7,485 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites,sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones
Land use: arable land: 12.13% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 87.65% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:23,860 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding;droughts
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies ofpotable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much ofthe remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and buildingmaterials); desertification; air and water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Bansigned, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Climate Change, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast tosouthwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of thecountry; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (WakhanCorridor)
People Afghanistan
Population:28,717,213 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.8% (male 6,123,971; female 5,868,013)15-64 years: 55.4% (male 8,240,743; female 7,671,242)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 427,710; female 385,534) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.9 yearsmale: 19.1 yearsfemale: 18.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:3.38%note: this rate does not take into consideration the recent war andits continuing impact (2003 est.)
Birth rate:40.63 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:17.15 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:10.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 142.48 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 138.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 145.99 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 46.97 yearsmale: 47.67 yearsfemale: 46.23 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.64 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Afghan(s)adjective: Afghan
Ethnic groups:Pashtun 44%, Tajik 25%, Hazara 10%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks,Turkmen, Baloch, and others) 13%, Uzbek 8%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1%
Languages:Pashtu 35%, Afghan Persian (Dari) 50%, Turkic languages (primarilyUzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi andPashai) 4%, much bilingualism
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writefemale: 21% (1999 est.)total population: 36%male: 51%
People - note:large numbers of Afghan refugees create burdens on neighboringstates
Government Afghanistan
Country name:conventional long form: Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistanconventional short form: Afghanistanlocal short form: Afghanestanformer: Republic of Afghanistanlocal long form: Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan
Government type:transitional
Capital:Kabul
Administrative divisions:32 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis,Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand,Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz,Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia,Paktika, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and Zabol
Independence:19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)
National holiday:Independence Day, 19 August (1919)
Constitution:the Bonn Agreement called for a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) to beconvened within 18 months of the establishment of the TransitionalAuthority to draft a new constitution for the country; the basis forthe next constitution is the 1964 Constitution, according to theBonn Agreement
Legal system:the Bonn Agreement calls for a judicial commission to rebuild thejustice system in accordance with Islamic principles, internationalstandards, the rule of law, and Afghan legal traditions
Suffrage:NA; previously males 15-50 years of age
Executive branch:note: following the Taliban's refusal to hand over Usama bin LADINto the US for his suspected involvement in the 11 September 2001terrorist attacks in the US, a US-led international coalition wasformed; after several weeks of aerial bombardment by coalitionforces and military action on the ground, including Afghanopposition forces, the Taliban was ousted from power on 17 November2001; in December 2001, a number of prominent Afghans met under UNauspices in Bonn, Germany, to decide on a plan for governing thecountry; as a result, the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) - made upof 30 members, headed by a chairman - was inaugurated on 22 December2001 with a six-month mandate to be followed by a two-yearTransitional Authority (TA), after which elections are to be held;the structure of the follow-on TA was announced on 10 June 2002,when the Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) convened establishing theTransitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA), which has 18months to hold a Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and 24 months tohold nationwide electionschief of state: President of the TISA, Hamid KARZAI (since 10 June2002); note - presently the president and head of governmenthead of government: President of the TISA, Hamid KARZAI (since 10June 2002); note - presently the president and head of governmentcabinet: the 30-member TISAelections: nationwide elections are to be held by June 2004,according to the Bonn Agreement
Legislative branch:nonfunctioning as of June 1993
Judicial branch:the Bonn Agreement called for the establishment of a Supreme Court;there is also a Minister of Justice
Political parties and leaders:NA; note - political parties in Afghanistan are in flux and manyprominent players have plans to create new parties; the TransitionalIslamic State of Afghanistan (TISA) is headed by President HamidKARZAI; the TISA is a coalition government formed of leaders fromacross the Afghan political spectrum; there are also severalpolitical factions not holding positions in the Transitionalgovernment that are forming new groups and parties in the hopes ofparticipating in 2004 elections
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA; note - ministries formed under the Transitional Islamic Stateof Afghanistan (TISA) include former influential Afghans, diasporamembers, and former political leaders
International organization participation:AsDB, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOM(observer), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: ambassador Seyyed Tayeb JAWADchancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: 202-483-6487consulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: 202-483-6410
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Patrick John FINN; note -embassy in Kabul reopened 16 December 2001, following closure inJanuary 1989embassy: Great Masood Road, Kabulmailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180telephone: [93] (2) 290002, 290005, 290154FAX: 00932290153
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with agold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features atemple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and rightand by a bold Islamic inscription above
Economy Afghanistan
Economy - overview:Afghanistan is an extremely poor, landlocked country, highlydependent on foreign aid, farming and livestock raising (sheep andgoats), and trade with neighboring countries. Economicconsiderations have played second fiddle to political and militaryupheavals during more than two decades of war, including the nearly10-year Soviet military occupation (which ended 15 February 1989).During that conflict, one-third of the population fled the country,with Pakistan and Iran sheltering a combined peak of 4 to 6 millionrefugees. Gross domestic product has fallen substantially over thepast 20 years because of the loss of labor and capital and thedisruption of trade and transport; severe drought added to thenation's difficulties in 1998-2002. The majority of the populationcontinues to suffer from insufficient food, clothing, housing, andmedical care, and a dearth of jobs, problems exacerbated bypolitical uncertainties and the general level of lawlessness.International efforts to rebuild Afghanistan were addressed at theTokyo Donors Conference for Afghan Reconstruction in January 2002,when $4.5 billion was pledged, $1.7 billion for 2002. Of thatapproximately $900 million was directed to humanitarian aid - food,clothing, and shelter - and another $90 million for the AfghanTransitional Authority. Further World Bank and other aid came in2003. Priority areas for reconstruction include upgrading education,health, and sanitation facilities; providing income generatingopportunities; enhancing administrative and security arrangements,especially in regional areas; developing the agricultural sector;rebuilding transportation, energy, and telecommunicationinfrastructure; and reabsorbing 2 million returning refugees. Thereplacement of the opium trade - which may account for one-third ofGDP - and the search for oil and gas resources in the northernregion are two major long-term issues.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $19 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 60%industry: 20%services: 20% (1990 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Labor force:10 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (1990 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $200 millionexpenditures: $550 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003 plan est.)
Industries:small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:334.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.3% hydro: 63.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:511.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:200 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:220 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:220 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:49.98 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:opium, wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins
Exports:$1.2 billion (not including illicit exports) (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides andpelts, precious and semi-precious gems
Exports - partners:Pakistan 26.8%, India 26.5%, Finland 5.8%, Germany 5.1%, UAE 4.4%,Belgium 4.3%, Russia 4.2%, US 4.2% (2002)
Imports:$1.3 billion (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products
Imports - partners:Pakistan 25.1%, South Korea 14.4%, Japan 9.4%, US 9%, Kenya 5.8%,Germany 5.4% (2002)
Debt - external:NA (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:international pledges made by more than 60 countries andinternational financial institutions at the Tokyo Donors Conferencefor Afghan reconstruction in January 2002 reached $4.5 billionthrough 2006, with $1.8 billion allocated for 2002; another $1.7billion was pledged for 2003.
Currency:afghani (AFA)
Currency code:AFA
Exchange rates:afghanis per US dollar - 3,000 (October-December 2002), 3,000(2001), 3,000 (2000), 3,000 (1999), 3,000 (1998), note: before 2002the market rate varied widely from the official rate; in 2002 theafghani was revalued and the currency stabilized
Fiscal year:21 March - 20 March
Communications Afghanistan
Telephones - main lines in use:29,000 (1998)