Agriculture - products: coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Exports: $8 million (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities: coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports
Exports - partners:NA
Imports:$237 million (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:mainly food (2001)
Imports - partners:NA
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:IDR
Exchange rates:see US dollar
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications East Timor
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:NA
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.tp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation East Timor
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,800 km paved: 428 km unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Waterways:NA
Pipelines:NA
Ports and harbors:NA
Merchant marine: total: NA ships by type: NA
Airports:8 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,427 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military East Timor
Military branches:The East Timor Defense Force or FALINTIL-FDTL comprises alight-infantry Army and a small Naval component; note - plans are todevelop a force of 1,500 active personnel and 1,500 reservepersonnel over the next five years
Military manpower - military age:18-21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:NA
Military manpower - fit for military service:NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues East Timor
Disputes - international:East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee meets regularly to surveyand delimit the land boundary; some East Timor refugees delay returnfrom camps in Indonesia; maritime delimitation and resource-sharingagreements signed with Australia resolved dispute over "Timor Gap"hydrocarbon reserves, but maritime agreement with Indonesia awaitsfurther discussions
Illicit drugs:NA
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Ecuador
Introduction Ecuador
Background:The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries thatemerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others beingColombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lostterritories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A borderwar with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999.
Geography Ecuador
Location:Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator,between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates:2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 283,560 sq kmnote: includes Galapagos Islandswater: 6,720 sq kmland: 276,840 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline:2,237 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: claims continental shelf between mainland andGalapagos Islandsterritorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations;tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain:coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), andflat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources:petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.69% permanent crops: 5.15% other: 89.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:8,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
People Ecuador
Population:13,710,234 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34.9% (male 2,430,303; female 2,351,166)15-64 years: 60.6% (male 4,116,289; female 4,198,667)65 years and over: 4.5% (male 284,082; female 329,727) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 22.5 yearsmale: 22 yearsfemale: 23 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.91% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:24.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.29 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.52 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 31.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 26.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 37.28 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.89 yearsmale: 69.06 yearsfemale: 74.86 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.99 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,700 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Ecuadorian(s)adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanishand others 7%, black 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%male: 94%female: 91% (2003 est.)
Government Ecuador
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Ecuadorconventional short form: Ecuadorlocal short form: Ecuadorlocal long form: Republica del Ecuador
Government type:republic
Capital:Quito
Administrative divisions:22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:10 August 1998
Legal system:based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January 2003);Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentelections: the president and vice president are elected on the sameticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection); electionlast held 20 October 2002; runoff election held 24 November 2002(next to be held NA October 2006)head of government: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January2003); Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelection results: results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election -Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats;members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held NA October2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD5, DP 4, PS 3, independents 7; note - defections by members ofNational Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes inthe numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (new justices are elected by thefull Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM];Democratic Left or ID [Rodrigo BORJA Cevallos]; National ActionInstitutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [leader NA]; PachakutikMovement [Miguel LLUCO]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [leader NA];Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; PopularDemocratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical AlfaristaFront or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE[Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC[Pascual DEL CIOPPO]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE[Leonidas IZA, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS[F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists ofEcuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation ofIndigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LACRUZ, president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]
International organization participation:CAN, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Raul GANGOTENA Rivadeneiraconsulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 667-3482telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEYembassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quitomailing address: APO AA 34039telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description:three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and redwith the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag;similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not beara coat of arms
Economy Ecuador
Economy - overview:Ecuador has substantial oil resources and rich agricultural areas.Because the country exports primary products such as oil, bananas,and shrimp, fluctuations in world market prices can have asubstantial domestic impact. Ecuador joined the World TradeOrganization (WTrO) in 1996, but has failed to comply with many ofits accession commitments. The aftermath of El Nino and depressedoil market of 1997-98 drove Ecuador's economy into a free-fall in1999. The beginning of 1999 saw the banking sector collapse, whichhelped precipitate an unprecedented default on external loans laterthat year. Continued economic instability drove a 70% depreciationof the currency throughout 1999, which forced a desperate governmentto "dollarize" the currency regime in 2000. The move stabilized thecurrency, but did not stave off the ouster of the government.Gustavo NOBOA, who assumed the presidency in January 2000, hasmanaged to pass substantial economic reforms and mend relations withinternational financial institutions. Ecuador completed its firststandby agreement since 1986 when the IMF Board approved a 10December 2001 disbursement of $96 million, the final installment ofa $300 million standby credit agreement. In February 2003, newlyinstalled president Lucio GUTIERREZ faced a budget gap and massiveforeign debt. He has pledged to use oil revenues to pay off debt andis seeking additional IMF support.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $42.65 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11% industry: 33% services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 70% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 33.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:43.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):12.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:3.7 million (urban)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.7%; note - widespread underemployment (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.6 billionexpenditures: planned $5.6 billion, including capital expendituresof $NA (2001 est.)
Industries:petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products,wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:5.1% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:421,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.358 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:160 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:106.5 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca),plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairyproducts; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Exports:$4.9 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, bananas, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, cut flowers, fish
Exports - partners:US 39%, Colombia 5.6%, South Korea 5.1%, Germany 5%, Italy 4.4%(2002)
Imports:$6 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, fuels; consumergoods
Imports - partners:US 28.6%, Colombia 14.4%, Japan 6%, Chile 4.5%, Brazil 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$14.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$120 million (2001)
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:sucres per US dollar - 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001), 24,988.4(2000), 11,786.8 (1999), 5,446.57 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:1,115,272 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:384,000 (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally elementary but being expandeddomestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliableinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Radios:5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:2.5 million (2001)
Internet country code:.ec
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):31 (2001)
Internet users:328,000 (2002)
Transportation Ecuador
Railways: total: 966 km narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 43,197 km paved: 8,164 km unpaved: 35,033 km (2000)
Waterways:1,500 km
Pipelines:gas 71 km; oil 1,575 km; refined products 1,185 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, SanLorenzo
Merchant marine:total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 239,276 GRT/392,048 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Chile 1, Greece 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, liquefied gas 1,passenger 3, petroleum tanker 23, specialized tanker 1
Airports:205 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 61 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 18 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 144 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 113 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Ecuador
Military branches:Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,555,068 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,395,178 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 137,433 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$720 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.4% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Ecuador
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia andPeru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicitnarcotics; dollarization may raise the volume of money-launderingactivity, especially along the border with Colombia; increasedactivity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups andColombian insurgents
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Egypt
Introduction Egypt
Background:The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupledwith semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west,allowed for the development of one of the world's greatcivilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C. and a seriesof dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The lastnative dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn werereplaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs whointroduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and whoruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, theMamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after theconquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following thecompletion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an importantworld transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control ofEgypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the OttomanEmpire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. Thecompletion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant LakeNasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in theagriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (thelargest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence onthe Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. Thegovernment has struggled to ready the economy for the new millenniumthrough economic reform and massive investment in communications andphysical infrastructure.
Geography Egypt
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya andthe Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes theAsian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,001,450 sq kmland: 995,450 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,665 kmborder countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km,Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline:2,450 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain:vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 mhighest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone,gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.68% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:33,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides;hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms,sandstorms
Environment - current issues:agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands;increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification;oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, andindustrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resourcesaway from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapidgrowth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa andremainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea linkbetween Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtapositionto Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics;dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues;prone to influxes of refugees
People Egypt
Population:74,718,797 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.9% (male 12,964,852; female 12,346,808)15-64 years: 61.9% (male 23,375,037; female 22,865,190)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 1,359,685; female 1,807,225) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 23.1 years male: 22.8 years female: 23.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.88% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:24.36 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.23 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: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 35.26 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 34.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 36.02 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.41 yearsmale: 67.94 yearsfemale: 73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:8,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Egyptian(s)adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups:Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%,Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian andFrench) 1%
Religions:Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
Languages:Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educatedclasses
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 57.7%male: 68.3%female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Egypt
Country name:conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egyptconventional short form: Egyptlocal short form: Misrformer: United Arab Republic (with Syria)local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
Government type:republic
Capital:Cairo
Administrative divisions:26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah,Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, AlIskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, AlQahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways,Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ashShaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence:28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:11 September 1971
Legal system:based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (overseesvalidity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October1981)head of government: Prime Minister Atef Mohammed ABEID (since 5October 1999)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for asix-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999(next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK'snomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term
Legislative branch:bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlisal-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed bythe president; members serve five-year terms) and the AdvisoryCouncil or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultativerole (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by thepresident; members serve NA-year terms)elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NA November2005); Advisory Council - last held 7 June 1995 (next to be held NA)election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NDP88%, independents 8%, opposition 4%; seats by party - NDP 398, NWP7, Tagammu 6, Nasserists 2, LSP 1, independents 38, undecided 2;Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NDP 99%, independents1%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders: Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK] - governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Khalid MUHI AL-DIN]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; Socialist Liberal Party or LSP [leader NA] note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government
Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACC, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BSEC (observer), CAEU,EBRD, ECA, ESCWA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC,OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNRWA,UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMYchancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 244-4319telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCHembassy: 5 Latin America St., Garden City, Cairomailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black withthe national emblem (a shield superimposed on a golden eagle facingthe hoist side above a scroll bearing the name of the country inArabic) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Yemen,which has a plain white band; also similar to the flag of Syria,which has two green stars, and to the flag of Iraq, which has threegreen stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal linecentered in the white band
Economy Egypt
Economy - overview:Egypt improved its macroeconomic performance throughout most of thelast decade by following IMF advice on fiscal, monetary, andstructural reform policies. As a result, Egypt managed to tameinflation, slash budget deficits, and attract more foreigninvestment. In the past four years, however, the pace of reform hasslackened, and excessive spending on national infrastructureprojects has widened budget deficits again. Lower foreign exchangeearnings since 1998 resulted in pressure on the Egyptian pound andperiodic dollar shortages. Monetary pressures have increased since11 September 2001 because of declines in tourism and Suez Canaltolls, and Egypt has devalued the pound several times in the pastyear. The development of a gas export market is a major bright spotfor future growth prospects. In the short term, regional tensionswill continue to affect tourism and hold back prospects for economicexpansion.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $289.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 34% services: 49% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 22.9% (FY 95/96 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:28.9 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:20.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 29%, industry 22%, services 49% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:12% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $21.5 billionexpenditures: $26.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9billion (2001)
Industries:textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons,construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate:2.2% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:3.308 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.264 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats
Exports:$7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,chemicals
Exports - partners:US 18.3%, Italy 13.7%, UK 8.4% (2002)
Imports:$15.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:US 16.9%, Germany 7.9%, Italy 6.7%, France 6.5%, China 5%, UK 4.1%(2002)
Debt - external:$30.5 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $2.25 billion (1999)
Currency:Egyptian pound (EGP)
Currency code:EGP
Exchange rates:Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 4.5 (2002), 3.97 (2001), 3.47(2000), 3.4 (1999), 3.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:3,971,500 (December 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:380,000 (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgradingduring 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellularservice are availabledomestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable andmicrowave radio relayinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Oceanand Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarinecables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan; microwave radio relay toIsrael; a participant in Medarabtel and a signatory to ProjectOxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cable system)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:98 (September 1995)
Televisions:7.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.eg
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:600,000 (2002)
Transportation Egypt
Railways: total: 5,105 km standard gauge: 5,105 km 1.435-m gauge (42 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:3,500 kmnote: includes the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, andnumerous smaller canals in the delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km includingapproaches), used by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 16.1 m of water
Pipelines:condensate 327 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,145 km; liquidpetroleum gas 382 km; oil 5,726 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; water 62 km(2003)
Ports and harbors:Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta,Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine:total: 170 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,284,197 GRT/1,907,734 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Denmark 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 3, Monaco 1,Ukraine 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 20, cargo 50, container 5, liquefied gas 1,passenger 63, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 13, short-seapassenger 3
Airports:89 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 71over 3,047 m: 132,438 to 3,047 m: 38under 914 m: 3 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 18under 914 m: 9 (2002)2,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 6
Heliports:2 (2002)
Military Egypt
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 19,895,370 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 12,867,160 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 743,305 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.04 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Egypt
Disputes - international:Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the triangular areasthat extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence - Egypt iseconomically developing the "Hala'ib triangle" north of the Treatyline
Illicit drugs:transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin andopium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop forNigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to laxbanking regulations
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@El Salvador
Introduction El Salvador
Background:El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from theCentral American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which costabout 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when thegovernment and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided formilitary and political reforms.
Geography El Salvador
Location:Middle America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenGuatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 21,040 sq kmwater: 320 sq kmland: 20,720 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:307 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November toApril); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:arable land: 27.27%permanent crops: 12.11%other: 60.62% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:360 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes verydestructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptibleto hurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:smallest Central American country and only one without a coastlineon Caribbean Sea
People El Salvador
Population:6,470,379 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.1% (male 1,224,024; female 1,173,667)15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,777,522; female 1,966,064)65 years and over: 5.1% (male 147,482; female 181,620) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 21.1 yearsmale: 20 yearsfemale: 22.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.81% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:27.9 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.01 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.81 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: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 26.75 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 29.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.62 yearsmale: 67.02 yearsfemale: 74.4 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:24,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,100 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%
Religions:Roman Catholic 83%note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughoutthe country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 millionProtestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 80.2%male: 82.8%female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Government El Salvador
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of El Salvadorconventional short form: El Salvadorlocal short form: El Salvadorlocal long form: Republica de El Salvador
Government type:republic
Capital:San Salvador
Administrative divisions:14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente,Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:23 December 1983
Legal system:based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 7 March 1999(next to be held NA March 2004)election results: Francisco FLORES Perez elected president; percentof vote - Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%, Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN) 29%,Ruben ZAMORA (CD) 7.5%, other (no individual above 3%) 11.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-yearterms)elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -FMLN 31, ARENA 27, PCN 16, PDC 5, CD 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by theLegislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; DemocraticConvergence or CD [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general] (includes SocialDemocratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO, leader); Democratic Party orPD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front orFMLN [Fabio CASTILLO]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio WaldoSALGADO, president]; National Action Party or PAN [Gustavo RogelioSALINAS, secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN[Ciro CRUZ Zepeda, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA[Walter ARAUJO]; Social Christian Union or USC (formed by the mergerof Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC and Unity Movement or MU)[Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES,LAIA (observer), MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguezconsulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles,Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DCFAX: [1] (202) 234-3834telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rose M. LIKINSembassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, LaLibertad, San Salvadormailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023telephone: [503] 278-4444FAX: [503] 278-6011
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE ELSALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua,which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - itfeatures a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA ontop and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag ofHonduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X patterncentered in the white band
Economy El Salvador
Economy - overview:In recent years, this Central American economy has been sufferingfrom a weak tax collection system, factory closings, the aftermathsof Hurricane Mitch of 1998 and the devastating earthquakes of early2001, and weak world coffee prices. On the bright side, inflationhas fallen to single digit levels, and total exports have grownsubstantially. The trade deficit has been offset by annualremittances of almost $2 billion from Salvadorans living abroad andby external aid. The US dollar is now the legal tender. Becausecompetitor countries have fluctuating exchange rates, El Salvadormust face the challenge of raising productivity and lowering costs.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $29.41 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 30% services: 60% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 48% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:52.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:2.35 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:10% - but the economy has much underemployment. (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.1 billionexpenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:3.729 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44% hydro: 30.9% other: 25.1% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:3.777 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:44 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:353 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)