Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Djibouticonventional short form: Djiboutiformer: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Government type:republic
Capital:Djibouti
Administrative divisions:5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil,Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:based on French civil law system, traditional practices, andIslamic law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)head of government: Prime Minister DILEITA Mohamed Dileita (since 4March 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 9 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH elected president; percent ofvote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 74.4%, IDRIS Moussa Ahmed 25.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats;members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held NA January2008)election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats -RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; DemocraticRenewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti DevelopmentParty or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration del'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's ProgressAssembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; PeoplesSocial Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; RepublicanAlliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union forDemocracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD,PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (oppositioncoalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED]
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE OlhayeFAX: [1] (202) 331-0302telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald YAMAMOTO embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green witha white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a redfive-pointed star in the center
Economy Djibouti
Economy - overview:The economy is based on service activities connected with thecountry's strategic location and status as a free trade zone innortheast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capitalcity, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfalllimits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food mustbe imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port forthe region and an international transshipment and refueling center.It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is,therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help supportits balance of payments and to finance development projects. Anunemployment rate of 50% continues to be a major problem. Inflationis not a concern, however, because of the fixed tie of the franc tothe US dollar. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% overthe last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a highpopulation growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Facedwith a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallenin arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling tomeet the stipulations of foreign aid donors. Another factor limitinggrowth is the negative impact on port activity now that Ethiopia hasmore trade route options.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $619 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 15.8% services: 80.7% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:282,000
Labor force - by occupation:NA%
Unemployment rate:50% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $135 millionexpenditures: $182 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1999 est.)
Industries:construction, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:180 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:167.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Exports:$70 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:Somalia 56.7%, Yemen 24.4%, Pakistan 4.8%, Ethiopia 4.4%, UAE 4.1%(2002)
Imports:$255 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 18.2%, Ethiopia 10.5%, US 9.2%, France 8.6%, China8.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$366 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$36 million (2001)
Currency:Djiboutian franc (DJF)
Currency code:DJF
Exchange rates:Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.72 (2002), 177.72 (2001),177.72 (2000), 177.72 (1999), 177.72 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:10,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djiboutiare adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections tooutlying areas of the countrydomestic: microwave radio relay networkinternational: submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles,Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radiorelay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:52,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:28,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.dj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:3,300 (2002)
Transportation Djibouti
Railways:total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gaugenote: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2002)
Highways:total: 2,890 kmpaved: 364 kmunpaved: 2,526 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Djibouti
Airports:13 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 101,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Djibouti
Military branches:Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 107,050 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 63,459 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$26.53 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Djibouti
Disputes - international:Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with"Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties tovarious factions in Somalia including the Somali TransitionalNational Government in Mogadishu
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Dominica
Introduction Dominica
Background:Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized byEuropeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the nativeCaribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which madethe island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence,Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannicaladministration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, thefirst female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in officefor 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica arethe only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.
Geography Dominica
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad andTobago
Geographic coordinates:15 25 N, 61 20 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 754 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 754 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:148 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall
Terrain:rugged mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, arable land
Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 16% other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can beexpected during the late summer months
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to itsspectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protectedby an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of theLesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters andinclude Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake inthe world
People Dominica
Population:69,655 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.8% (male 9,807; female 9,571)15-64 years: 64.3% (male 23,024; female 21,768)65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,226; female 3,259) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 28.4 yearsmale: 28.1 yearsfemale: 28.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.63% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:16.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-16.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 20.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.12 yearsmale: 71.23 yearsfemale: 77.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:black, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian
Religions:Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%,Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), none 2%, other 6%
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 94%male: 94%female: 94% (2003 est.)
Government Dominica
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominicaconventional short form: Dominica
Government type:parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth
Capital:Roseau
Administrative divisions:10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John,Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul,Saint Peter
Independence:3 November 1978 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 November (1978)
Constitution:3 November 1978
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nicholas LIVERPOOL (since 10 November2003)elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be heldNA October 2008); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent oflegislative vote - NA%cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of theprime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES (since 1 October2000); note - assumed post after death of Prime Minister RooseveltDOUGLAS
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 31 January 2000 (next to be held by 17 July2005) note - tradition dictates that the election will be heldwithin five years of the last election, but technically it is fiveyears from the first seating of parliament (17 April 2000) plus a 90day grace periodelection results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party-DLP 10, UWP 9, DFP 2
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appealand the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judgesmust reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of SummaryJurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica LaborParty or DLP [Pierre CHARLES]; United Workers Party or UWP [EdisonJAMES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Swinburne LESTRADE chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; US interests are served by the embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados
Flag description:green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the verticalpart is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontalpart is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the centerof the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars representthe 10 administrative divisions (parishes)
Economy Dominica
Economy - overview:The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas,and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions andinternational economic developments. Hurricane Luis devastated thecountry's banana crop in 1995 after tropical storms wiped out aquarter of the 1994 crop. The economy subsequently has been fueledby increases in construction, soap production, and tourist arrivals.Development of the tourism industry remains difficult however,because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence ofan international airport. Economic growth is sluggish, andunemployment is greater than 20%. The government has been attemptingto develop an offshore financial sector in order to diversify theisland's production base.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $380 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:25,000
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%
Unemployment rate:23% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $73.9 millionexpenditures: $84.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001)
Industries:soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes
Industrial production growth rate:-10% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:72.41 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.1% hydro: 52.9% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:67.35 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Exports:$50 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Exports - partners:UK 36.1%, Jamaica 18%, US 7.5%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.4%, Guyana5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$135 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:China 23.9%, US 23.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.9%, South Korea 7.6%,UK 7.3%, Japan 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:$161.5 million (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$24.4 million (1995)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Dominica
Telephones - main lines in use:19,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:461 (1996)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: fully automatic networkinternational: microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links toMartinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to SaintLucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:46,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:0 (however, there is one cable television company) (1997)
Televisions:6,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.dm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation Dominica
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Portsmouth, Roseau
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Military Dominica
Military branches:Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (including Special ServiceUnit, Coast Guard)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Dominica
Disputes - international:protests Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island,which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over alarge portion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe;minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak,making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Dominican Republic
Introduction Dominican Republic
Background:Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, theisland of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest ofthe Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognizedFrench dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as SantoDomingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but wasconquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finallyattained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. A legacy ofunsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of itssubsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when JoaquinBALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power formost of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawedelections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then,regular competitive elections have been held in which oppositioncandidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has hadone of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the pastdecade.
Geography Dominican Republic
Location:Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, betweenthe Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Geographic coordinates:19 00 N, 70 40 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 48,730 sq kmland: 48,380 sq kmwater: 350 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Haiti 360 km
Coastline:1,288 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 6 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonalvariation in rainfall
Terrain:rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver
Land use: arable land: 21.08% permanent crops: 9.92% other: 69% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:2,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severestorms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs;deforestation; Hurricane Georges damage
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti (eastern two-thirds is theDominican Republic, western one-third is Haiti)
People Dominican Republic
Population:8,715,602 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,497,777; female 1,431,104)15-64 years: 61.2% (male 2,719,505; female 2,614,495)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 212,045; female 240,676) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 23.5 yearsmale: 23.3 yearsfemale: 23.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.36% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:23.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.43 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: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 34.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 31.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 36.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 67.96 yearsmale: 66.41 yearsfemale: 69.58 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.92 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:7,800 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican
Ethnic groups:white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 84.7%male: 84.6%female: 84.8% (2003 est.)
Government Dominican Republic
Country name:conventional long form: Dominican Republicconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Republica Dominicanalocal short form: none
Government type:representative democracy
Capital:Santo Domingo
Administrative divisions:29 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*(distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia,La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, MonsenorNouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata,Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Juan, San Pedrode Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Independence:27 February 1844 (from Haiti)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 February (1844)
Constitution:28 November 1966
Legal system:based on French civil codes
Suffrage:18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married personsregardless of agenote: members of the armed forces and police cannot vote
Executive branch:chief of state: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmentcabinet: Cabinet nominated by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2000(next to be held NA May 2004)election results: Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez electedpresident; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD)49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of theSenate or Senado (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara deDiputados (149 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held NA May2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be heldNA May 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - PRD 24, PLD 3, PRSC 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of voteby party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 83, PLD 49, PRSC 17
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are elected by a Councilmade up of members of the legislative and executive branches withthe president presiding)
Political parties and leaders:Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna];Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Hatuey DE CAMPS]; SocialChristian Reformist Party or PRSC [Eduardo ESTRELLA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Collective of Popular Organizations or COP
International organization participation:ACP, Caricom (observer), ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA(observer), NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo GUILIANI Cury consulate(s): Mobile and Ponce (Puerto Rico) consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico) FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437
Flag description:a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flaginto four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red,and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat ofarms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and apalm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shielda blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God,Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANAappears on a red ribbon
Economy Dominican Republic
Economy - overview:The Dominican Republic's economy experienced dramatic growth overthe last decade, even though the economy was hit hard by HurricaneGeorges in 1998. Although the country has long been viewed primarilyas an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years theservice sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largestemployer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The countrysuffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of thepopulation receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest10% enjoy nearly 40% of national income. Growth probably will slowin 2003 with reduced tourism and expected low growth in the USeconomy, the source of 87% of export revenues.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $53.78 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 34% services: 55% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:47.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:2.3 million - 2.6 million
Labor force - by occupation: services and government 58.7%, industry 24.3%, agriculture 17% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:14.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.9 billionexpenditures: $3.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1billion (2001 est.)
Industries:tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles,cement, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:2% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:9.186 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 7.6% other: 0.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:8.543 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs
Exports: $5.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods
Exports - partners:US 85%, Canada 1.6%, UK 1.6% (2002)
Imports:$8.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals andpharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:US 51.5%, Venezuela 9.6%, Mexico 5.1%, Spain 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$4.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$239.6 million (1995)
Currency:Dominican peso (DOP)
Currency code:DOP
Exchange rates:Dominican pesos per US dollar - 18.61 (2002), 16.95 (2001), 16.42(2000), 16.03 (1999), 15.27 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Dominican Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:709,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:130,149 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: relatively efficient system based on islandwide microwaveradio relay networkinternational: 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station -1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:1.44 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:25 (1997)
Televisions:770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.do
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):24 (2000)
Internet users:186,000 (2002)
Transportation Dominican Republic
Railways:total: 1,503 kmstandard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gaugenote:: 986 km also operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m, 0.889-m,and 0.762-m gauges (2002)narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge
Highways: total: 12,600 km paved: 6,224 km unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:crude oil 96 km; petroleum products 8 km
Ports and harbors:Barahona, La Romana, Manzanillo, Puerto Plata, San Pedro deMacoris, Santo Domingo
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWTships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Dominican Republic
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,319,419 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,453,705 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 89,073 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$180 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Dominican Republic
Disputes - international: despite efforts to control illegal migration, destitute Haitians continue to cross into the Dominican Republic
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from theNetherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantialmoney-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor theDominican Republic for illicit financial transactions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@East Timor
Introduction East Timor
Background:The Portuguese colony of Timor declared itself independent fromPortugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied byIndonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated intoIndonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. A campaign ofpacification followed over the next two decades, during which anestimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, the people ofEast Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. During 1999-2001,pro-integrationist militias - supported by Indonesia - conductedindiscriminate violence. On 20 May 2002, East Timor wasinternationally recognized as an independent state and the world'snewest democracy.
Geography East Timor
Location:Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser SundaIslands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, theOecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island ofTimor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates:8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 15,007 sq kmland: NA sq kmwater: NA sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline: 706 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: NA NM extended fishing zone: NA NM territorial sea: NA NM exclusive fishing zone: NA NM continental shelf: NA NM exclusive economic zone: NA NM
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use: arable land: NA% other: NA% permanent crops: NA%
Irrigated land:1,065 sq km (est.)
Natural hazards:floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropicalcyclones
Environment - current issues:widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led todeforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:NA
Geography - note:Timor comes from the Malay word for "Orient;" the island of Timoris part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmostof the Lesser Sunda Islands
People East Timor
Population:997,853note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (2002 est.) (July 2003est.)
Age structure:NA (2003 est.)
Median age: total: 19.7 years female: 19.6 years (2002) male: 19.8 years
Population growth rate:2.13% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:27.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.41 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: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 50.47 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 43.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 57.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.2 yearsfemale: 67.55 years (2003 est.)male: 62.97 years
Total fertility rate:3.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Timoreseadjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist,Animist (1992 est.)
Languages:Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, Englishnote: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole,Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 48% (2001)male: NA%female: NA%
Government East Timor
Country name:conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Lesteconventional short form: East Timorlocal short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]former: Portuguese Timorlocal long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum];Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
Government type:republic
Capital:Dili
Administrative divisions:13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro(Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos),Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence:28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence fromPortugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of internationalrecognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law (2002)
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jose Alexander GUSMAO (since 20 May2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but isable to veto some legislation; he often is referred to as XananaGUSMAOhead of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20May 2002)cabinet: Council of Stateelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2007);after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majorityparty was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting aprecedent for the futureelection results: Jose Alexander GUSMAO elected president; percentof vote - Jose Alexander GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL17.3%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimumrequirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term ofoffice, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on anexceptional basiselections: last held 30 August 2001 (next to be held NA August 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats byparty - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice, one judge appointed by the NationalParliament and the rest appointed by the Superior Council for theJudiciary
Political parties and leaders:Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier doAMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [AntonioXIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente daSilva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM[leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO];Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader NA]; Sons of the MountainWarriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA[Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [JoaoCARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA];Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese PopularDemocratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AsDB, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IMF, Interpol, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRESconsulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York)(2003)FAX: 202 965-1517telephone: 202 965-1515chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REESembassy: Vila 10, Avenida de Portugal, Farol, Dilimailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington,DC 20521-8250telephone: (670) 332-4684, 331-3205/3160/3472FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag description:red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends tothe center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of theblack triangle
Economy East Timor
Economy - overview:In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of EastTimor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independencemilitias, and 260,000 people fled westward. Over the next threeyears, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led tosubstantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. Bymid-2002, all but about 50,000 of the refugees had returned. Thecountry faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding ofinfrastructure and the strengthening of the infant civiladministration. One promising long-term project is the planneddevelopment of oil resources in nearby waters.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $440 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:18% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $500 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25.4% industry: 17.2% services: 57.4% (2001)
Population below poverty line:42% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:38 (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:50% (including underemployment)
Budget:revenues: $36 millionexpenditures: $97 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003 est.)
Industries:printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:8.5%
Electricity - production:NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)