Airports:38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Military Estonia
Military branches:Estonia Defense Forces (including Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force),Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), VolunteerDefense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guardnote: Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part ofthe Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard issubordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the EstonianNavy in wartime
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 360,440 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 283,278 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 11,123 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$155 million (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Estonia
Disputes - international:Russia continues to reject signing and ratifying the joint December1996 technical border agreement with Estonia
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asiaand the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to WesternEurope and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe toScandinavia; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possibleprecursor manufacturing and/or trafficking
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Ethiopia
Introduction Ethiopia
Background:Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchymaintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being theItalian occupation of 1936-41. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg,deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) andestablished a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings,wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime wasfinally toppled by a coalition of rebel forces, the EthiopianPeople's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. Aconstitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multipartyelections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war withEritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Finaldemarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopianobjections to an international commission's finding requiring it tosurrender sensitive territory.
Geography Ethiopia
Location:Eastern Africa, west of Somalia
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,127,127 sq kmwater: 7,444 sq kmland: 1,119,683 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,328 kmborder countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km,Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation
Terrain:high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great RiftValley
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 mhighest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m
Natural resources:small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas,hydropower
Land use: arable land: 9.9% permanent crops: 0.65% other: 89.45% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:1,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes,volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with thede jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, thechief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk(Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed tohave originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean
People Ethiopia
Population:66,557,553note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.8% (male 14,944,168; female 14,871,164)15-64 years: 52.4% (male 17,474,403; female 17,384,817)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 840,057; female 1,042,944) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 17.3 yearsfemale: 17.4 years (2002)male: 17.3 years
Population growth rate:1.96% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:39.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:20.17 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge fromwar and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for severalyears; some Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia fromthe fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return totheir homes (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 103.22 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 92.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 113.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 41.24 yearsmale: 40.39 yearsfemale: 42.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.55 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:6.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2.1 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:160,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Ethiopian(s)adjective: Ethiopian
Ethnic groups:Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%
Religions:Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%
Languages:Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, otherlocal languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 42.7%male: 50.3%female: 35.1% (2003 est.)
Government Ethiopia
Country name:conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopiaconventional short form: Ethiopialocal short form: Ityop'iyaformer: Abyssinia, Italian East Africalocal long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblikabbreviation: FDRE
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Addis Ababa
Administrative divisions:9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular -astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara),Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples),Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali),Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations,Nationalities and Peoples)
Independence:oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in theworld - at least 2,000 years
National holiday:National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Constitution:ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995
Legal system:currently transitional mix of national and regional courts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August1995)cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister andapproved by the House of People's Representativeselections: president elected by the House of People'sRepresentatives for a six-year term; election last held 8 October2001 (next to be held NA October 2007); prime minister designated bythe party in power following legislative electionselection results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent ofvote by the House of People's Representatives - 100%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation or upperchamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to servefive-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives or lowerchamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular votefrom single-member districts to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 14 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)note: irregularities and violence at a number of polling stationsnecessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies;voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe droughtelection results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - OPDO 177,ANDM 134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10,ANDP 8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regionalpolitical groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed
Judicial branch:Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of theFederal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister andappointed by the House of People's Representatives; for otherfederal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People'sRepresentatives for appointment candidates selected by the FederalJudicial Administrative Council)
Political parties and leaders:Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [leader NA]; Amhara NationalDemocratic Movement or ANDM [ADDISU Legesse]; Bench Madji People'sDemocratic Organization or BMPDO [leader NA]; Benishangul GumuzPeople's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [leader NA]; EthiopianPeople's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (analliance of ANDM, OPDO, SEPDF, and TPLF); Gedeyo People'sRevolutionary Democratic Front or GPRDF [leader NA]; GurageNationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM [leader NA]; Kafa ShakaPeople's Democratic Organization or KSPDO [leader NA]; Kembata,Alabaa and Tembaro or KAT [leader NA]; Oromo People's DemocraticOrganization or OPDO [JUNEDI Sado]; Sidamo People's DemocraticOrganization or SPDO [leader NA]; South Omo People's DemocraticMovement or SOPDM [leader NA]; Tigrayan People's Liberation Front orTPLF [MELES Zenawi]; Walayta, Gamo, Gofa, Dawro, and Konta People'sDemocratic Organization or WGGPDO [leader NA]; dozens of smallparties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front or ARDUF [leader NA];Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia orCAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People's DemocraticCoalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO,ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNU, UPU,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador KASSAHUN Ayele chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles consulate(s): New York FAX: [1] (202) 686-9551 telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia A. BRAZEAL embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] (1) 550666 FAX: [251] (1) 551328
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with ayellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the anglesbetween the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands;Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the threemain colors of her flag were so often adopted by other Africancountries upon independence that they became known as thepan-African colors
Economy Ethiopia
Economy - overview:Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, whichaccounts for half of GDP, 85% of exports, and 80% of totalemployment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent droughtand poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopianeconomy with exports of some $270 million in 2000/01, buthistorically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat tosupplement their income. The war with Eritrea in 1999-2000 andrecurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffeeproduction. In November 2001 Ethiopia qualified for debt relief fromthe Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. UnderEthiopia's land tenure system, the government owns all land andprovides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues tohamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unableto use land as collateral for loans. Strong growth in 2002 resultedfrom good rainfall early in the year, the cessation of hostilities,and renewed foreign aid and debt relief. But drought struck againlate in 2002, and the World Food Program (WFP) estimates 14 millionEthiopians need food immediately to survive into 2003. Thegovernment estimates than annual growth of 7% is needed to reducepoverty, yet the maintenance of 5% in 2003 will be quite difficult(one estimate is for 1.5% growth).
GDP:purchasing power parity - $48.53 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 52% industry: 11% services: 37% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:45% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 33.7% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (2003 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, government and services 12%,industry and construction 8% (1985)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $1.8 billionexpenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $600million (2002 est.)
Industries:food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing,cement
Industrial production growth rate:6.7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:1.713 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 97.6% other: 1.2% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.594 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:214,000 bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:12.46 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat; hides, cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:$433 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
Exports - partners:UK 16.2%, Djibouti 10.9%, Germany 7.6%, Italy 7.2%, Japan 6.7%,Saudi Arabia 6.5%, US 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$1.63 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 28.7%, China 6%, Italy 5.9%, India 4.8%, Germany 4.1%(2002)
Debt - external:$5.3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$308 million (FY00/01)
Currency:birr (ETB)
Currency code:ETB
Exchange rates:birr per US dollar - NA (2002), 8.46 (2001), 8.22 (2000), 7.94(1999), 7.12 (1998)note: since 24 October 2001 exchange rates are determined on a dailybasis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank
Fiscal year:8 July - 7 July
Communications Ethiopia
Telephones - main lines in use:231,900 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:17,800 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: open-wire and microwave radio relay system;adequate for government usedomestic: open-wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication inthe HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites providethe national trunk serviceinternational: open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radiorelay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat(1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:15.2 million (2002)
Television broadcast stations:1 plus 24 repeaters (2002)
Televisions:682,000 (2002)
Internet country code:.et
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:20,000 (2002)
Transportation Ethiopia
Railways:total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djiboutirailroad)narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gaugenote: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2002)
Highways: total: 31,571 km paved: 3,789 km unpaved: 27,782 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; Ethiopia is landlocked and was by agreement with Eritreausing the ports of Assab and Massawa; since the border dispute withEritrea flared, Ethiopia has used the port of Djibouti for nearlyall of its imports
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 81,933 GRT/101,287 DWTships by type: cargo 5, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, rollon/roll off 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:83 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 32 under 914 m: 21 (2002)
Military Ethiopia
Military branches:Ethiopian National Defense Force (Ground Forces, Air Force,militia, police)note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following thesecession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained inEritrean possession
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 15,388,318 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 8,040,381 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 714,165 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$800 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:12.6% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Ethiopia
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; Ethiopia maintainsonly an administrative line and no international border with theOromo region of southern Somalia and maintains alliances with localclans in opposition to the Transitional National Government inMogadishu; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities andtrade ties to land-locked Ethiopia; efforts to demarcate the porousboundary with Sudan have been delayed by civil war there
Illicit drugs:transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asiaand destined for Europe and North America as well as cocainedestined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) forlocal use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia(legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developedfinancial system limits the country's utility as a money-launderingcenter
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Europa Island
Introduction Europa Island
Background:A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it isthe site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.
Geography Europa Island
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-halfof the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:22 20 S, 40 22 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 28 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 28 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:22.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low and flat
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 24 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:wildlife sanctuary
People Europa Island
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: there is a small French military garrison and a fewmeteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Europa Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Europa Islandlocal short form: Ile Europalocal long form: none
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of theRepublic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Europa Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Europa Island
Communications - note: 1 meteorological station
Transportation Europa Island
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Europa Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Europa Island
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Introduction Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Background:Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the firstlanding (English) did not occur until almost a century later in1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and theislands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, firstbetween Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. TheUK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a navalgarrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landedseven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentinesurrender on 14 June 1982.
Geography Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Location:Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, eastof southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates:51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 12,173 sq kmnote: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland andabout 200 small islandswater: 0 sq kmland: 12,173 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,288 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 NMexclusive fishing zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs onmore than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inchesin Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January andFebruary, but does not accumulate
Terrain:rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment - current issues:overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer wereintroduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this isthe only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by theChornobyl disaster
Geography - note:deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growingseason
People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Population: 2,967 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Population growth rate:2.44% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate:total: NA%male: NA%female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NA yearsmale: NA yearsfemale: NA years
Total fertility rate:NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Falkland Islander(s)adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups:British
Religions:primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, EvangelistChurch, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:English
Government Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Government type:NA
Capital:Stanley
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Legal system:English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarchhead of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002);Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); FinancialSecretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the LegislativeCouncil, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financialsecretary), and the governor
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 electedby popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over bythe governorelections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November2005)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8;note - 71% voter turnout
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court(senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions);Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of theflag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is themajor economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crewdiscovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing themotto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Economy Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Economy - overview:The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheepfarming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economicactivity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses toforeign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishingzone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, whichgoes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system.Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supportsdomestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports featureshipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postagestamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except fordefense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oilexploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismicsurveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. Anagreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuselicensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreigninterest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especiallyeco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money thegovernment has in the bank. The British military presence alsoprovides a sizeable economic boost.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $75 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%industry: NA%services: NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (1998)
Labor force:1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Unemployment rate:full employment; labor shortage
Budget:revenues: $66.2 millionexpenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2million (FY98/99 est.)
Industries:fish and wool processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:16.33 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:15.19 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Exports:$7.6 million (1995)
Exports - commodities:wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners:Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)
Imports:$24.7 million (1995)
Imports - commodities:fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners:UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:none
Currency:Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code:FKP
Exchange rates:Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66(2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at parwith the British pound
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CBradiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost allpoints on both islandsinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)with links through London to other countries
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.fk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA; however one-half of all households are reported to haveinternet access (2002)
Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2002)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Stanleynote: the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and knownlocally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); thefacility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Military branches:British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous militaryforces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), PoliceForce
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Disputes - international: claimed by Argentina whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Faroe Islands
Introduction Faroe Islands
Background:The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended fromViking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands havebeen connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A highdegree of self-government was attained in 1948.
Geography Faroe Islands
Location:Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland toNorway
Geographic coordinates:62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 1,399 sq kmwater: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)land: 1,399 sq km
Area - comparative:eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,117 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median lineexclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median lineterritorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.14% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, anda few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sealanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limitshabitation to small coastal lowlands
People Faroe Islands
Population:46,345 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (male 5,103; female 5,077)15-64 years: 64.4% (male 15,822; female 14,002)65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,842; female 3,499) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 35.1 yearsmale: 34.5 yearsfemale: 35.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:13.81 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.9 yearsmale: 75.44 yearsfemale: 82.36 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.24 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: Faroese (singular and plural)adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups:Scandinavian
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper
Government Faroe Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Faroe Islandslocal short form: Foroyarlocal long form: none
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type:NA
Capital:Torshavn
Administrative divisions:none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 49 municipalities
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark)
National holiday:Olaifest, 29 July
Constitution:5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:Danish
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chiefadministrative officer (since 1 November 2001)election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percentof parliamentary vote - 52.8%note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party, Home RuleParty, and Center Partyelections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyelected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than April 2006)head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May1998)cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members areelected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the sevenconstituencies to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 26%,Republican Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 20.9%, People's Party 20.8%Home Rule Party 4.4%, Center Party 4.2%; seats by party - UnionParty 8, Republican Party 8, Social Democrats 7, People's Party 7,Home Rule Party 1, Center Party 1note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than November 2005);results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RepublicanParty 1, Union Party 1elections: last held 30 April 2002 (next to be held no later thanApril 2006)
Judicial branch:none
Political parties and leaders:Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam aNEYSTABO]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party[Finnabogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD];Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:IMO (associate), NC, NIB
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges ofthe flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoistside in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Faroe Islands
Economy - overview:The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostlyas a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable exportprices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of laborshortages in several sectors. The positive economic development hashelped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budgetsurpluses, which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, mostof it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishingmakes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the presentfishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level offishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area givehope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which mayeventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thuslessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by asubstantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroesehave a standard of living not far below the Danes and otherScandinavians.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:10% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 27%industry: 11%services: 62% (1999)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.1% (1999)
Labor force:24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation: fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Unemployment rate:1% (October 2000)
Budget:revenues: $488 millionexpenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21million (1999)
Industries:fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:160.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:149.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Exports:$418 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners:Denmark 39.9%, UK 32.1%, Norway 7.4%, Netherlands 6.1% (2002)
Imports:$469 million c.i.f. (1999)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, rawmaterials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners:Denmark 53.8%, Norway 24.2%, Iceland 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$64 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:$55 million (annual subsidy from Denmark)
Currency:Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:DKK
Exchange rates:Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.89 (2002), 8.32 (2001), 8.08(2000), 6.98 (1999), 6.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Faroe Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:24,851 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:10,761 (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: good international communications; gooddomestic facilitiesdomestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog)and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installedinternational: satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-opticsubmarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islandswith Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection toCanada-Europe cable
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:26,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:15,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.fo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:3,000 (2000)
Transportation Faroe Islands
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 100,951 GRT/139,396 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Denmark 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1,roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Faroe Islands
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; small Police Force and CoastGuard are maintained
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%