Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp; beef, dairy products
Exports: $3 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners:US 63.3%, Guatemala 12%, Honduras 6.8%, Nicaragua 4.5% (2002)
Imports:$4.9 billion (2002)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:US 39%, Guatemala 10.1%, Mexico 7.2%, France 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$5.6 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:total $252 million; $57 million from US (1999 est.)
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:8.75 the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:380,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:40,163 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay systeminternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:2.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1997)
Televisions:600,000 (1990)
Internet country code:.sv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2000)
Internet users:40,000 (2000)
Transportation El Salvador
Railways:total: 283 kmnarrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gaugenote: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km bydisuse and lack of maintenance (2002)
Highways:total: 10,029 kmpaved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:Rio Lempa partially navigable
Ports and harbors:Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:82 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 78 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 61 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military El Salvador
Military branches:Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,536,230 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 973,884 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 69,534 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$112 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (FY99)
Transnational Issues El Salvador
Disputes - international:in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputedareas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, but they remainlargely undemarcated; in 2002, El Salvador filed an application tothe ICJ to revise the decision on a section of bolsones; the ICJalso advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in theGolfo de Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to thePacific; El Salvador claims tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned by theICJ, off Honduras in the Golfo de Fonseca
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuanaproduced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Equatorial Guinea
Introduction Equatorial Guinea
Background:Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years ofSpanish rule. President OBIANG NGUEM MBASOGO has ruled the tinycountry, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islandsand one of the smallest countries on the African continent, since heseized power in a coup in 1979. Although nominally a constitutionaldemocracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - aswell as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely seen as beingflawed.
Geography Equatorial Guinea
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon andGabon
Geographic coordinates:2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 28,051 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 28,051 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits of gold,manganese, uranium, titanium, iron ore
Land use:arable land: 4.63%permanent crops: 3.57%other: 91.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:violent windstorms, flash floods
Environment - current issues:tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, ShipPollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:insular and continental regions rather widely separated
People Equatorial Guinea
Population:510,473 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.2% (male 108,179; female 107,164)15-64 years: 54% (male 132,342; female 143,509)65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,576; female 10,703) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.7 yearsmale: 18 yearsfemale: 19.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:36.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:12.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 89.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 82.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 95.25 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 54.75 yearsmale: 52.63 yearsfemale: 56.93 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.75 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:370 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarilyFang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions:nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, paganpractices
Languages:Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi,Ibo
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.7%male: 93.3%female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Equatorial Guinea
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guineaconventional short form: Equatorial Guinealocal short form: Guinea Ecuatoriallocal long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorialformer: Spanish Guinea
Government type:republic
Capital:Malabo
Administrative divisions:7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, BiokoNorte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January1995
Legal system:partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMAMBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held NA December2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by thepresidentelection results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president;percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, CelestinoBonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraudcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Candido Muatetema RIVAS (since 26February 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG(since NA January 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Demetrio Elo NDONGNZE FUMU (since NA January 1998)
Legislative branch:unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara deRepresentantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1note: opposition parties have refused to take up their seats in theHouse to protest widespread irregularities in the 1999 legislativeelections
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKOAbogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (rulingparty) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress ofEquatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action ofEquatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP[Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP[Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI[Daniel OYONO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Teodoro Biyogo NSUEchancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassyclosed September 1995); the US ambassador to Cameroon is accreditedto Equatorial Guinea; the US State Department is considering openinga Consulate Agency in Malabo
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with ablue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of armscentered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellowsix-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshoreislands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and belowwhich is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity,Peace, Justice)
Economy Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves havecontributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry,farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistencefarming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guineacounted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglectof the rural economy under successive regimes has diminishedpotential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated itsintention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A numberof aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have beencut off since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement. Nolonger eligible for concessional financing because of large oilrevenues, the government has been unsuccessfully trying to agree ona "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF.Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials andtheir family members. Undeveloped natural resources includetitanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growthwill remain strong in 2003, led by oil.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:20% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 20%industry: 60%services: 20% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:30% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $200 millionexpenditures: $158 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:30% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:23.56 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.3% hydro: 5.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:21.91 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:181,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:563.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:20 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:20 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:68.53 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Exports:$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:US 28.3%, Spain 25.3%, China 17.4%, Canada 10.6%, France 4.9% (2002)
Imports:$562 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:US 29.1%, Spain 15.9%, UK 14.8%, France 10.4%, Norway 7.2%,Netherlands 4.8%, Italy 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$248 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$33.8 million (1995)
Currency:Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 696.99(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 January - 31 December
Communications Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:6,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:300 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor system with adequate government servicesdomestic: NAinternational: international communications from Bata and Malabo toAfrican and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:180,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:900 (2002)
Transportation Equatorial Guinea
Railways:total: 0 km
Highways:total: 2,880 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km(2003)
Ports and harbors:Bata, Luba, Malabo
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,571 GRT/9,670 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National Police
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 116,496 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 59,110 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$30 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Equatorial Guinea
Disputes - international:in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement ofCameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf ofGuinea, but states have not yet agreed to abide by the decision;creation of a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay withGabon is hampered by dispute over small islets on Mbane/Mbagne bank,administered and occupied by Gabon since the 1970s
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Eritrea
Introduction Eritrea
Background:Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation.Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years latersparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 withEritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence wasoverwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-yearborder war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UNauspices on 12 December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UNpeacekeeping operation that is monitoring the border region. Aninternational commission, organized to resolve the border dispute,posted its findings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due toEthiopian objections.
Geography Eritrea
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 121,320 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 121,320 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 1,626 kmborder countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline:2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea1,083 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in thecentral highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid inwestern hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-Septemberexcept in coastal desert
Terrain:dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwestto hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 mhighest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources:gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 3.87% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 96.11% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent droughts; locust swarms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss ofinfrastructure from civil warfare
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpeciessigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shippinglanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along theRed Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993
People Eritrea
Population:4,362,254 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.7% (male 977,447; female 972,068)15-64 years: 52% (male 1,121,077; female 1,147,109)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 71,620; female 72,933) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 17.6 yearsmale: 17.4 yearsfemale: 17.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.28% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:39.44 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:13.23 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-13.38 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean refugees fromSudan in 2001 following the restoration of diplomatic relationsbetween the two countries in 2000 (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 76.32 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 83.78 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 53.18 yearsmale: 51.48 yearsfemale: 54.92 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.74 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:55,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:350 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Eritrean(s)adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups:ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Seacoast dwellers) 3%, other 3%
Religions:Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
Government Eritrea
Country name:conventional long form: State of Eritreaconventional short form: Eritrealocal long form: Hagere Ertraformer: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopialocal short form: Ertra
Government type:transitional governmentnote: following a successful referendum on independence for theAutonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a NationalAssembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy andJustice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; aConstitutional Commission was also established to draft aconstitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by thetransitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997,did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidentialelections; parliamentary elections had been scheduled to take placein December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently thesole legal party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice(PFDJ)
Capital:Asmara (formerly Asmera)
Administrative divisions:6 regions (regions, singular - region); Central, Anelba, SouthernRed Sea, Northern Red Sea, Southern, Gash-Barka
Independence:24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday:Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
Constitution:the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replacedby a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented
Legal system:primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with revisions;new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet beenpromulgated; also relies on customary and post-independence-enactedlaws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentand is head of the State Council and National Assemblyhead of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment and is head of the State Council and National Assemblycabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority;members appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly; election lastheld 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the NationalAssembly did not hold a presidential election in December 2001 asanticipated)election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits notestablished)elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the newconstitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the oldCentral Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-memberConstituent Assembly, that had been established in 1997 to discussand ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreansliving abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly toserve as the country's legislative body until countrywide electionsto a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members ofthe Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitutionstipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of theNational Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligiblevoters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 werepostponed indefinitely
Judicial branch:or High Court, regional, subregional, and village courts; also havemilitary and special courts
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki]; note - a National Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January 2001, but the full National Assembly has not yet debated or voted on it
Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also including Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel Movement) [leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also known as the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions) [HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmeromtelephone: [1] (202) 319-1991consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Donald J. McCONNELLembassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmaramailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmaratelephone: [291] (1) 120004FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag description:red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flaginto two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower oneis blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered onthe hoist side of the red triangle
Economy Eritrea
Economy - overview:Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has facedthe economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. Like theeconomies of many African nations, the economy is largely based onsubsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved infarming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severelyhurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to -1%in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northern Eritreacaused some $600 million in property damage and loss, includinglosses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000 homes. The attackprevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most productive region,causing food production to drop by 62%. Even during the war, Eritreadeveloped its transportation infrastructure, asphalting new roads,improving its ports, and repairing war damaged roads and bridges.Since the war ended, the government has maintained a firm grip onthe economy, expanding the use of the military and party-ownedbusinesses to complete Eritrea's development agenda. Erraticrainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from themilitary kept cereal production well below normal, holding downgrowth in 2002. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its abilityto master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and lowskills, and to open its economy to private enterprise so thediaspora's money and expertise can foster economic growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 29% services: 54% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:53% (1993/94)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15% (2001)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $206.4 millionexpenditures: $615.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:220.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:205.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh NA kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh NA kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish
Exports:$20 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)
Exports - partners:Italy 36.9%, Germany 16.7%, France 10.3%, US 5.4%, Netherlands 5.2%(2002)
Imports:$500 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)
Imports - partners:Italy 27.1%, US 15.7%, Germany 7.2%, Ukraine 5.8%, Turkey 5.5%,France 4.5%, Netherlands 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$311 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$77 million (1999)
Currency:nakfa (ERN)
Currency code:ERN
Exchange rates:nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 9.5 (January 2000), 7.6 (January 1999),7.2 (March 1998 est.)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Eritrea
Telephones - main lines in use:30,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA; note - mobile cellular service was introduced in May 2001
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequatedomestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; governmentis seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002)international: NA; note - international connections exist
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
Radios:345,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2000)
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.er
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
Transportation Eritrea
Railways:total: 306 kmnarrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gaugenote: railway is being rebuilt (2002)
Highways:total: 4,010 kmpaved: 874 kmunpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Assab (Aseb), Massawa (Mits'iwa)
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,100 GRT/23,399 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 2, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1,roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:18 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Eritrea
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$95.75 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:12% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Eritrea
Disputes - international:Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 independent boundarycommission delimitation decision, but demarcation, scheduled tobegin in 2003, has been hampered by technical delays and Ethiopianconcerns that the decision ignored "human geography" and awardedBadme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war, to Eritrea, demarcation ofthe boundary has been postponed indefinately; UN PeacekeepingMission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) monitors a 25 km wideTemporary Security Zone in Eritrea until the demarcation; Sudanaccuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Eritreaprotests Yemeni fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded to Eritreaby the ICJ in 1999
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Estonia
Introduction Estonia
Background:After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule,Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated intothe USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapseof the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994,Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties withWestern Europe. Estonia received invitations to join NATO and the EUin 2002.
Geography Estonia
Location:Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland,between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 45,226 sq kmnote: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Seawater: 2,015 sq kmland: 43,211 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Land boundaries: total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain:marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 mhighest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources:oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite,arable land, sea mud
Land use: arable land: 26.5% permanent crops: 0.35% other: 73.15% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:40 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Environment - current issues:air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning powerplants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted tothe air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% lessthan in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged towater bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; inconnection with the start-up of new water purification plants, thepollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agriculturalareas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certainlocations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshorelie more than 1,500 islands
People Estonia
Population:1,408,556 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.8% (male 113,239; female 108,876)15-64 years: 68.8% (male 467,041; female 501,805)65 years and over: 15.4% (male 71,512; female 146,083) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 38.1 yearsmale: 34.7 yearsfemale: 41.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.49% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:9.24 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:13.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.71 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: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.03 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 10.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 13.88 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.31 yearsmale: 64.36 yearsfemale: 76.57 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.27 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 7,700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Estonian(s)adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups:Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%,Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998)
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist,Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Wordof Life, Jewish
Languages:Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, Finnish, other
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%male: 99.8%female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Government Estonia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Estoniaconventional short form: Estonialocal short form: Eestiformer: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Eesti Vabariik
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:Tallinn
Administrative divisions:15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn),Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa(Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa(Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare),Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa(Voru)note: counties have the administrative center name following inparentheses
Independence:regained on 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 wasthe date of independence from Soviet Russia, 20 August 1991 was thedate of reindependence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system:based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch:chief of state: President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Juhan PARTS (since 10 April 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,approved by Parliamentelection results: Arnold RUUTEL elected president on 21 September2001 by a 367-member electoral assembly that convened followingParliament's failure in August to elect then-President MERI'ssuccessor; on the second ballot of voting, RUUTEL received 188 votesto Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's 155; the remaining 24 ballotswere either left blank or invalidelections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; ifhe or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three roundsof balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made upof Parliament plus members of local governments) elects thepresident, choosing between the two candidates with the largestpercentage of votes; election last held 21 September 2001 (next tobe held in the fall of 2006); prime minister nominated by thepresident and approved by Parliament
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, ResPublica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, ProPatria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%;seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19,Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, People's PartyMoodukad 6elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
Judicial branch:National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)
Political parties and leaders:Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman];Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN]; Estonian ReformParty (Reformierakond) [Siim KALLAS]; Estonian United RussianPeople's Party or EUVRP [leader NA]; Moderates (Moodukad) [IvariPADAR]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; ResPublica [Juhan PARTS]; Russian Baltic Party [Sergei IVANOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW,OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIKchancery: 1730 M Street NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20036consulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 588-0108telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. DeTHOMASembassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinnmailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [372] 668-8100FAX: [372] 668-8134
Flag description:pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equalhorizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
Economy Estonia
Economy - overview:Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization, issteadily moving toward a modern market economy with increasing tiesto the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. Theeconomy benefits from strong electronics and telecoms sectors. Amajor goal is accession to the EU, possibly by 2004. The economy isgreatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany,three major trading partners. The high current account deficitremains a concern.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $15.52 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5.8%industry: 28.6%services: 65.6% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:608,600 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.4% (2001)
Budget:revenues: $1.89 billionexpenditures: $1.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2002 est.)
Industries:engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile;information technology, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:7.937 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0.1% other: 0.2% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:6.192 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.19 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:5,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Exports:$3.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, foodproducts 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)
Exports - partners:Finland 19.2%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 10.6%, Latvia 7.4%, Germany 7.2%(2002)
Imports:$4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)
Imports - partners:Russia 26.6%, Finland 18.9%, Germany 9.2%, Sweden 8.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$3.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$108 million (2000)
Currency:Estonian kroon (EEK)
Currency code:EEK
Exchange rates:krooni per US dollar - 16.61 (2002), 17.56 (2001), 16.97 (2000),14.68 (1999), 14.07 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Estonia
Telephones - main lines in use:501,691 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:711,000 (yearend 2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: foreign investment in the form of jointbusiness ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantialfiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic inthe digital mode; internet services are available throughout most ofthe country - only about 11,000 subscriber requests were unfilled bySeptember 2000domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and internetservices is available throughout the countryinternational: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, andRussia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two internationalswitches are located in Tallinn (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:1.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (2001)
Televisions:605,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ee
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):38 (2001)
Internet users:429,700 (2002)
Transportation Estonia
Railways:total: 968 kmbroad gauge: 968 km 1.520-m/1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified)note:: gauge being increased from 1.520-m to 1.524-m to reduce wearon wheels and rail as lines are modernized (2002)
Highways:total: 51,411 kmpaved: 10,334 km (including 94 km of expressways)unpaved: 41,077 km (2000)
Waterways:320 km (perennially navigable) (2002)
Pipelines:gas 859 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine:total: 33 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 200,807 GRT/169,899 DWTnote: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Liberia 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 5, petroleum tanker 2,roll on/roll off 6, short-sea passenger 5