Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Faroe Islands
Disputes - international:Faroese are considering proposals for full independence; Denmarkdispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands fisheries median lineboundary of 200 NM; Denmark disputes with Iceland, the UK, andIreland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside200 NM
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Fiji
Introduction Fiji
Background:Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as aBritish colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two militarycoups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived asdominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborersbrought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led toheavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economicdifficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable.Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led byan Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged periodof political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave amandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
Geography Fiji
Location:Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirdsof the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 18,270 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 18,270 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,129 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;rectilinear shelf claim added
Climate:tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 10.95% permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.4% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
People Fiji
Population:868,531 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32% (male 141,979; female 136,378)15-64 years: 64.1% (male 278,759; female 278,150)65 years and over: 3.8% (male 15,329; female 17,936) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 23.7 yearsmale: 23.3 yearsfemale: 24.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.41% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:23.06 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 14.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 68.88 yearsmale: 66.43 yearsfemale: 71.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.81 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Fijian(s)adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture),Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, andother 5% (1998 est.)
Religions:Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim8%, other 2%note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there isa Muslim minority (1986)
Languages:English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.7%male: 95.5%female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Government Fiji
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islandsconventional short form: Fiji
Government type:republicnote: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formallydeclared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:Suva
Administrative divisions:4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*,Western
Independence:10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allownonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multipartygovernment mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - theMay 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution andintroduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the firsttime at the national level
Legal system:based on British system
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since NA2000); Vice President Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10September 2000)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among themembers of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - thereis also a Presidential Council that advises the president on mattersof national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consistsof the highest ranking members of the traditional chief systemelections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for afive-year term; prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected presidentby the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointedby the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, andone appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House ofRepresentatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups,one reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing thewhole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1September, 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later thanSeptember 2006)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - FLP 34.8%, SDL 26%, NFP 10.1%, MV 9.9%, independents 2.7%,other 16.5%; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court ofAppeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; ConservativeAlliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE];Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji DemocraticParty or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian DemocratAlliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party orFAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarilyFijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [TupeniBABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General VotersParty or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party);Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Partyor AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA];National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party ofNational Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT[leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua orSDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis MickBEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(subscriber), ITU, OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anare JALE FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996 telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320 chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYONembassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suvamailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suvatelephone: [679] 331-4466FAX: [679] 330-0081
Flag description:light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrantand the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; theshield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by thecross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,bananas, and a white dove
Economy Fiji
Economy - overview:Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one ofthe most developed of the Pacific island economies, though stillwith a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing touristindustry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the majorsources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third ofindustrial activity. Long-term problems include low investment,uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability tomanage its budget.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $4.822 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 25% services: 58% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:25.5% (1990-91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:137,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.6% (1999)
Budget:revenues: $427.9 millionexpenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, smallcottage industries
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:520.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 18.5% hydro: 81.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:483.7 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Exports:$442 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil
Exports - partners:US 25.1%, Australia 19.5%, UK 10.6%, Japan 6.3%, Samoa 5.5% (2002)
Imports:$642 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleumproducts, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:Australia 37.3%, New Zealand 17.2%, Singapore 16.1%, Japan 4.2%,China 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$135.9 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$40.3 million (1995)
Currency:Fijian dollar (FJD)
Currency code:FJD
Exchange rates:Fijian dollars per US dollar - 2.19 (2002), 2.28 (2001), 2.13(2000), 1.97 (1999), 1.99 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Fiji
Telephones - main lines in use:80,901 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5,200 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international(wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone,telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communicationscenterdomestic: NAinternational: access to important cable links between US and Canadaas well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:541,476 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:88,110 (1999)
Internet country code:.fj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:15,000 (2002)
Transportation Fiji
Railways:total: 597 kmnarrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gaugenote: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; usedto haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to September) (2002)
Highways: total: 3,440 km paved: 1,692 km unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 203 km note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
Ports and harbors:Lambasa, Lautoka, Levuka, Malau, Savusavu, Suva, Vuda
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,870 GRT/14,787 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Australia 1, Singapore 4 (2002 est.)ships by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1,roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:27 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Military Fiji
Military branches:Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), includes ground forces,naval division
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 235,546 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 129,432 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 9,359 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$39.21 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Fiji
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Finland
Introduction Finland
Background:Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russiaafter 1809. It finally won its complete independence in 1917. DuringWorld War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom andresist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss ofterritory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made aremarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to adiversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now onpar with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finlandwas the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiationin January 1999.
Geography Finland
Location:Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, andGulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates:64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 337,030 sq kmwater: 31,560 sq kmland: 305,470 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries: total: 2,628 km border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
Coastline:1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 12 NM; extends to continental shelf boundarywith Swedenterritorial sea: 12 NM (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 NM)
Climate:cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mildbecause of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current,Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Terrain:mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and lowhills
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 mhighest point: Halti 1,328 m
Natural resources:timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land use: arable land: 6.98% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 93.01% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:640 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing toacid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agriculturalchemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost nationalcapital on European continent; population concentrated on smallsouthwestern coastal plain
People Finland
Population:5,190,785 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.7% (male 468,077; female 450,785)15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,753,760; female 1,719,253)65 years and over: 15.4% (male 312,883; female 486,027) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 40.3 yearsmale: 38.8 yearsfemale: 41.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.14% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.92 yearsmale: 74.28 yearsfemale: 81.68 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Finn(s)adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Russian Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%
Languages:Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Sami- andRussian-speaking minorities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100% (1980 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government Finland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Finlandconventional short form: Finlandlocal short form: Suomilocal long form: Suomen Tasavalta
Government type:republic
Capital:Helsinki
Administrative divisions:6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani,Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani
Independence:6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution:1 March 2000
Legal system:civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may requestlegislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Antti KALLIOMAKI (since 17 April2003); note - former Prime Minister Anneli JAATTEENMAKI resignedcabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by thepresident, responsible to Parliamentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to beheld NA February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime ministerappointed from the majority party by the president afterparliamentary electionsnote: government coalition - KESK, SDP, and SFPelection results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote -Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are electedby popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%,Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party -Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD[Bjarne KALLIS]; Green League or VIHR [Osmo SOININVAARA]; LeftAlliance or VAS (Communist) composed of People's Democratic Leagueand Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition(conservative) Party or Kok [Ville ITALA]; Social Democratic Partyor SDP [Paavo LIPPONEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-ErikENESTAM]
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNTSO,UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARIconsulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 298-6030telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bonnie McELVEEN-HUNTERembassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinkimailing address: APO AE 09723telephone: [358] (9) 616250FAX: [358] (9) 174681
Flag description:white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; thevertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the styleof the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Finland
Economy - overview:Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy,with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, andItaly. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally thewood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronicsindustries. Trade is important, with exports equaling almostone-third of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finlanddepends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components formanufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural developmentis limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products.Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondaryoccupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integrationwith Western Europe - Finland was one of the 11 countries joiningthe European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on 1 January 1999 -will dominate the economic picture over the next several years.Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown but will pick upin 2004 provided the world economy suffers no further blows.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $133.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $25,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 4%industry: 34%services: 62% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:25.6 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:2.6 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: public services 32%, industry 22%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, agriculture and forestry 8%, transport and communications 8%, construction 6%
Unemployment rate:8.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $36.1 billionexpenditures: $31 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:metal products, electronics, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copperrefining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:71.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 39% hydro: 18.7% other: 11.8% (2001) nuclear: 30.4%
Electricity - consumption:76.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.81 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:11.77 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:101,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:318,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Exports:$40.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp(1999)
Exports - partners:Germany 11.8%, UK 9.6%, US 9%, Sweden 8.5%, Russia 6.6%,Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.5% (2002)
Imports:$31.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transportequipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,grains (1999)
Imports - partners:Germany 14.5%, Sweden 10.9%, Russia 9.9%, UK 5.7%, France 4.3%,Denmark 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$30 billion (December 1993)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $379 million (2001)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94(1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Finland
Telephones - main lines in use:2,847,900 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,728,600 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system with excellent servicedomestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellularnet provide domestic needsinternational: 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - accessto Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earthstation, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note -Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordiccountries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:7.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:3.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:.fi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2002)
Internet users:2.69 million (2002)
Transportation Finland
Railways: total: 5,850 km broad gauge: 5,850 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 77,943 kmpaved: 50,305 km (including 750 km of expressways)unpaved: 27,688 km (2001)
Waterways: 6,675 km note: includes Saimaa Canal; 3,700 km suitable for large ships
Pipelines:gas 694 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma,Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus
Merchant marine:total: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,687 GRT/1,185,653 DWTships by type: bulk 9, cargo 24, chemical tanker 5, container 1,passenger 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 32, short-seapassenger 9note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Germany 1, Sweden 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:150 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 74 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 76 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 72 (2002)
Military Finland
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (including Sea Guard)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,230,934 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,016,693 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 31,926 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.8 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues Finland
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@France
Introduction France
Background:Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, Francesuffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rankas a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of themost modern countries in the world and is a leader among Europeannations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracyresistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentarydemocracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperationwith Germany have proved central to the economic integration ofEurope, including the introduction of the euro in January 2002. Atpresent, France is at the forefront of European states seeking toexploit the momentum of monetary union to advance the creation of amore unified and capable European defense and security apparatus.
Geography France
Location:Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel,between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering theMediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
Geographic coordinates:46 00 N, 2 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 547,030 sq kmland: 545,630 sq kmnote: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseasadministrative divisionswater: 1,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 2,889 kmborder countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,Switzerland 573 km
Coastline:3,427 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 (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
Climate:generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hotsummers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry,north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
Terrain:mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west;remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 mhighest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 33.3% permanent crops: 2.11% other: 64.59% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:20,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest firesin south near the Mediterranean
Environment - current issues: some forest damage from acid rain (major forest damage occurred as a result of severe December 1999 windstorm); air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:largest West European nation
People France
Population:60,180,529 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.6% (male 5,725,170; female 5,449,991)15-64 years: 65.1% (male 19,619,994; female 19,583,850)65 years and over: 16.3% (male 4,006,857; female 5,794,667) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 38.3 years male: 36.8 years female: 39.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.42% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:12.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.66 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 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.28 yearsmale: 75.63 yearsfemale: 83.11 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.85 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:100,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:800 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)adjective: French
Ethnic groups:Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese,Basque minorities
Religions:Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%,unaffiliated 4%
Languages:French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages(Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (1980 est.)
Government France
Country name:conventional long form: French Republicconventional short form: Francelocal long form: Republique Francaiselocal short form: France
Government type:republic
Capital:Paris
Administrative divisions:22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre,Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie,Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine,Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie,Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpesnote: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdividedinto 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseasdepartments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and theoverseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre andMiquelon)
Dependent areas:Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, FrenchPolynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands,Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis andFutunanote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:486 (unified by Clovis)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in1962, amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC MaastrichtTreaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice; amended totighten immigration laws 1993
Legal system:civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrativebut not legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN (since 7 May2002)elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(changed from seven-year term in 2001); election last held 21 Apriland 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round NA April 2007, secondround NA May 2007); prime minister nominated by the NationalAssembly majority and appointed by the presidentelection results: Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent ofvote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN(FN) 18.04%cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on thesuggestion of the prime minister
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat(321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseasdepartments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad;members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to servenine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years) and theNational Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members areelected by popular vote under a single-member majoritarian system toserve five-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - RPR 83, PS 68, UDF 37, DL 35, RDES 16, PCF 16, other 66;National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22elections: Senate - last held 23 September 2001 (next to be held NASeptember 2004); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (nextto be held NA June 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointedby the president from nominations of the High Council of theJudiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (threemembers appointed by the president, three appointed by the presidentof the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president ofthe Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat
Political parties and leaders:Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT];Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly RAD and PRG)[leader NA]; French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET];Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRSand the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; LiberalDemocracy or DL (originally Republican Party or PR; now merged intothe UMP) [Alain MADELIN]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DEVILLIERS]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Rally for theRepublic or RPR (merged into UMP) [Serge LEPELTIER]; Socialist Partyor PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Martine BILLARD, Denis BAUPIN,Stephane POCRAIN, Maryse ARDITI]; Union for French Democracy or UDF(coalition of DL, CDS, UDF, RP, and other parties) [FrancoisBAYROU]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, anda part of UDF) [Alain JUPPE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale duTravail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed);left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique duTravail) or CFDT, approximately 865,000 members (claimed, of which810,000 are actively employed); independent labor union(Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000members (est.); independent white-collar union (ConfederationGenerale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers'union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000companies as members (claimed)
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CDB(non-regional), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECA (associate), ECE, ECLAC,EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MIPONUH,MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC,UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTEchancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LosAngeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Franciscotelephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACHembassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red;known as the French Tricouleur (Tricolor); the design and/or colorsare similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium,Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; theofficial flag for all French dependent areas
Economy France
Economy - overview:France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do moderneconomy that has featured extensive government ownership andintervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. TheSocialist-led government has partially or fully privatized manylarge companies, banks, and insurers, but still retains controllingstakes in several leading firms, including Air France, FranceTelecom, Renault, and Thales, and remains dominant in some sectors,particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. Thetelecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition.France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which theymaintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and socialspending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free marketson public health and welfare. The current government has loweredincome taxes and introduced measures to boost employment. At the endof 2002 the government was focusing on the problems of the high costof labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hourworkweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The government was alsopushing for pension reforms and simplification of administrativeprocedures. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe. Thecurrent economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushedthe deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit. Business investmentremains listless because of low rates of capital utilization, highdebt, and the steep cost of capital.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.558 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $26,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 26% services: 71% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6.4% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:26.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 71%, industry 25%, agriculture 4% (1997)
Unemployment rate:9.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $286 billionexpenditures: $330 billion, including capital expenditures of $23billion (2002 est.)
Industries:machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft,electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:-0.3% (2002)
Electricity - production:520.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.2% hydro: 14% other: 0.7% (2001) nuclear: 77.1%
Electricity - consumption:415.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:72.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:4.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:34,920 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.026 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:409,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.281 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:144.3 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:12.86 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports: $307.8 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages
Exports - partners:Germany 15%, UK 9.8%, Spain 9%, Italy 9%, US 7.8%, Belgium 6.9%(2002)
Imports:$303.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,chemicals
Imports - partners:Germany 19.4%, Belgium 9.2%, Italy 8.8%, UK 7.3%, Netherlands 7%,US 6.8%, Spain 6.7% (2002)
Debt - external:NA (1998)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $6.3 billion (1997)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94(1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications France
Telephones - main lines in use:34.86 million (yearend 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:11.078 million (yearend 1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developeddomestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensiveintroduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite systeminternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NAEutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephonecommunications with more than 20 countries
Radio broadcast stations:AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includesmany repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:55.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:34.8 million (1997)
Internet country code:.fr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):62 (2000)
Internet users:16.97 million (2002)
Transportation France
Railways:total: 32,682 kmstandard gauge: 32,515 km 1.435-m gauge (14,104 km electrified)narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 894,000 kmpaved: 894,000 km (including 11,500 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:14,932 km (6,969 km heavily traveled)
Pipelines:gas 13,946 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bordeaux, Boulogne, Cherbourg, Dijon, Dunkerque, La Pallice, LeHavre, Lyon, Marseille, Mullhouse, Nates, Paris, Rouen, SaintNazaire, Saint Malo, Strasbourg