Merchant marine:total: 35 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 749,570 GRT/939,134 DWTships by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 9, liquefied gas 4,passenger 2, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 2, short-seapassenger 4note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: French Polynesia 2, Greece 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Sweden9 (2002 est.)
Airports:477 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 273 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 914 to 1,523 m: 80 under 914 m: 57 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 95
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 204 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 74 under 914 m: 128 (2002)
Heliports: 3 (2002)
Military France
Military branches:Army (includes marines), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force(includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 14,523,208 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 12,079,413 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 392,824 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$46.5 billion (2000)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.57% (2002)
Transnational Issues France
Disputes - international:Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands,and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claimsTromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and FrenchGuiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew andHunter Islands, east of New Caledonia, claimed by France and Vanuatu
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine,Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@French Guiana
Introduction French Guiana
Background:First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site ofnotorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agencylaunches its communication satellites from Kourou.
Geography French Guiana
Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenBrazil and Suriname
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 53 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 91,000 sq kmwater: 1,850 sq kmland: 89,150 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,183 km border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline: 378 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m
Natural resources:bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), cinnabar, kaolin, fish
Land use:arable land: 0.11% NEGLpermanent crops: 0.03%other: 99.86% (90% forest, 10% other) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion ofthe South American continent
People French Guiana
Population:186,917 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.9% (male 28,565; female 27,280)15-64 years: 64.4% (male 64,836; female 55,498)65 years and over: 5.7% (male 5,455; female 5,283) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 28.2 yearsmale: 29.2 yearsfemale: 27.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.4% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:21.33 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.8 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:7.49 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: 1.17 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.84 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 13.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.69 yearsmale: 73.36 yearsfemale: 80.18 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.09 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: French Guianese (singular and plural)adjective: French Guianese
Ethnic groups:black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian12%, other 10%
Religions:Roman Catholic
Languages:French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83%male: 84%female: 82% (1982 est.)
Government French Guiana
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Guianaconventional short form: French Guianalocal short form: Guyanelocal long form: none
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Cayenne
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France)
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French legal system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002)elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and RegionalCouncils are appointed by the members of those councilshead of government: President of the General Council JosephHO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional CouncilAntoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and aunicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to beheld NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next tobe held NA 2004)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7,other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%,various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, WalwariCommittee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6,independents 3, Walwari Committee 2note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998(next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the FrenchNational Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR1, Walwari Committee 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based inMartinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and FrenchGuiana)
Political parties and leaders:Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; GuyaneseSocialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana DemocraticForces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party orPNPG [Jose DORCY]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [RolandHO-WEN-SZE]; Socialist Party or PS [Pierre RIBARDIERE]; WalwariCommittee [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy French Guiana
Economy - overview:The economy is tied closely to the larger French economy throughsubsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou(which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the mostimportant economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of thecountry. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fullyexploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawnlogs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastalarea, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and maniocare the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on importsof food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularlyamong younger workers.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.26 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2000 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):1.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:58,800 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation: services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
Unemployment rate:22% (2001)
Budget:revenues: $225 millionexpenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105million (1996)
Industries:construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:455 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:423.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry
Exports:$155 million f.o.b.
Exports - commodities:shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
Exports - partners:France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2001)
Imports:$625 million c.i.f.
Imports - commodities:food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment,fuels and chemicals
Imports - partners:France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002)
Debt - external:$1.2 billion (1988)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency:euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)
Currency code:EUR; FRF
Exchange rates:Euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94(1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications French Guiana
Telephones - main lines in use:47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998)
Radios:104,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:30,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation French Guiana
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 722 kmpaved: NA kmunpaved: NA km (1996)
Waterways:3,300 km navigable by native craftnote: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal andriver steamers
Ports and harbors:Cayenne, Degrad des Cannes, Saint-Laurent du Maroni
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:11 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Military French Guiana
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 51,444 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 33,345 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Guiana
Disputes - international:Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini(both headwaters of the Lawa)
Illicit drugs:small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minortransshipment point to Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@French Polynesia
Introduction French Polynesia
Background:The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19thcentury. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests byresuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-yearmoratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
Geography French Polynesia
Location:Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half ofthe way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates:15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)water: 507 sq kmland: 3,660 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,525 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical, but moderate
Terrain:mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 6.01% other: 92.35% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea inFrench Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands inthe Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribatiand Nauru
People French Polynesia
Population:262,125 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.3% (male 37,804; female 36,249)15-64 years: 66.3% (male 90,421; female 83,304)65 years and over: 5.4% (male 7,226; female 7,121) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.7 yearsmale: 27.1 yearsfemale: 26.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.62% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:17.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:2.99 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: 1.09 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 10.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.45 yearsmale: 73.08 yearsfemale: 77.93 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.14 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: French Polynesian(s)adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups:Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions:Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Languages:French (official), Tahitian (official)
Literacy:definition: age 14 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1977 est.)
Government French Polynesia
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of French Polynesiaconventional short form: French Polynesialocal short form: Polynesie Francaiselocal long form: Territoire de la Polynesie Francaiseformer: French Colony of Oceania
Dependency status:overseas territory of France since 1946
Government type:NA
Capital:Papeete
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipeldes Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Ventnote: Clipperton Island is administered by France from FrenchPolynesia
Independence:none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:based on French system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic MichelMATHIEU (since 24 October 2001)head of government: President of the Territorial Government ofFrench Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President ofthe Territorial Assembly Lucette TAERO (since 17 May 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of membersof the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve asministerselections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; high commissioner appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of theTerritorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assemblyare elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (49 seats- changed from 41 seats for May 2001 election; members are electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 6 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006)note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on NA September 1998(next to be held NA September 2007); results - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to theFrench National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Independent Front forthe Liberation of Polynesia 13, New Fatherland Party 7, other 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance orTribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law orTribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (TaviniHuiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [EmileVERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR(Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api)[leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centeredon the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on thelower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; astylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; theFrench flag is used for official occasions
Economy French Polynesia
Economy - overview:Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region,French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economyto one in which a high proportion of the work force is eitheremployed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With thehalt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution tothe economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth ofGDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sourcesof income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. Thesmall manufacturing sector primarily processes agriculturalproducts. The territory benefits substantially from developmentagreements with France aimed principally at creating new businessesand strengthening social services.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6%industry: 18%services: 76% (1997)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5%
Labor force:70,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (1997)
Unemployment rate:11.8% (1994)
Budget:revenues: $1 billionexpenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185million (1996)
Industries:tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:428.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:fossil fuel: 60.7%hydro: 39.3%other: 0%; note - sun, wind, biomass (2001)nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:398.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee
Exports: $260 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities: cultured pearls 50%, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat (1997)
Exports - partners:France 37.4%, Japan 35.5%, US 17.5% (2002)
Imports:$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners:France 58.9%, Australia 12.2%, New Zealand 6.9%, US 6.6% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$367 million (1997)
Currency:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt theeuro in 2003
Currency code:XPF
Exchange rates:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 126.41(2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25 (1998)note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications French Polynesia
Telephones - main lines in use:52,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5,427 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:128,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:40,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.pf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:16,000 (2002)
Transportation French Polynesia
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Mataura, Papeete, Rikitea, Uturoa
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,679 GRT/13,915 DWTships by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 1,roll on/roll off 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 8914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Military French Polynesia
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces (includingArmy, Navy, Air Force), Gendarmerie
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Polynesia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Introduction French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Background:The Southern Lands consist of two archipelagos, Iles Crozet andIles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and IleSaint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visitedonly by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portionconsists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continentdiscovered and claimed by the French in 1840.
Geography French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Location:southeast of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, aboutequidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - FrenchSouthern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul,Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, alongwith the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the USdoes not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
Geographic coordinates:43 00 S, 67 00 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 7,829 sq kmnote: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and IlesKerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km inAntarctica that is not recognized by the USwater: 0 sq kmland: 7,829 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,232 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NM from Iles Kerguelen onlyterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:antarctic
Terrain:volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources: fish, crayfish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:islands component is widely scattered across remote locations inthe southern Indian Ocean
People French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Population:no indigenous inhabitants (July 2002 est.)note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary fromwinter (July) to summer (January) (July 2003 est.)
Government French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern andAntarctic Landsconventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Landslocal long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et AntarctiquesFrancaiseslocal short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Dependency status:overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris byAdministrateur Superieur Francois GARDE (since 24 May 2000),assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and IlesSaint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarcticathat is not recognized by the US
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological andgeophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets.The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships areexported to France and Reunion.
Communications French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Internet country code: .tf
Transportation French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,596,194 GRT/5,924,475 DWTships by type: bulk 4, cargo 4, chemical tanker 14, container 15,liquefied gas 5, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 17, roll on/roll off11, vehicle carrier 2note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belgium 2, France 62, Japan 3, Monaco 1, Norway 5,Sweden 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:none (2002)
Military French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Disputes - international:"Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica is not recognized by the US
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Gabon
Introduction Gabon
Background:Ruled by autocratic presidents since independence from France in1960, Gabon introduced a multiparty system and a new constitution inthe early 1990s that allowed for a more transparent electoralprocess and for reforms of governmental institutions. A smallpopulation, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreignsupport have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous blackAfrican countries.
Geography Gabon
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator,between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates:1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 267,667 sq kmwater: 10,000 sq kmland: 257,667 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 2,551 kmborder countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:885 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources: petroleum, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1.26% permanent crops: 0.66% other: 98.08% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabonbecome one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, thesecircumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve itspristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
People Gabon
Population:1,321,560note: 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: 42.3% (male 280,218; female 278,808)15-64 years: 53.5% (male 352,363; female 355,315)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 22,786; female 32,070) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.5 yearsmale: 18.3 yearsfemale: 18.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.54% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:36.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:11.17 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 55.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 44.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 65.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.12 yearsmale: 55.45 yearsfemale: 58.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.83 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:23,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups:Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou,Nzebi, Obamba), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Religions:Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Languages:French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 63.2%male: 73.7%female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Government Gabon
Country name:conventional long form: Gabonese Republicconventional short form: Gabonlocal short form: Gabonlocal long form: Republique Gabonaise
Government type:republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition partieslegalized in 1990)
Capital:Libreville
Administrative divisions:9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)
Constitution:adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial reviewof legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2 December 1967)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE(since 23 January 1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister inconsultation with the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percent ofvote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. PaulM'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; memberselected by members of municipal councils and departmentalassemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001(next to be held NA December 2006); Senate - last held 26 Januaryand 9 February 1997 (next to be held in January 2004)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP1, PSD 1, independents 13, others 3; Senate - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1,CLR 1, independents 9
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers -Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courtsof Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders:Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE];Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-NdingeDIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party[Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP[Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE,]; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rallyfor Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People'sUnity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy andProgress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD[Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJAconsulate(s): New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 332-0668telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kenneth P. MOOREFIELDembassy: Boulevard de la Mer, Librevillemailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Librevilletelephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
Economy Gabon
Economy - overview:Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most nations ofsub-Saharan Africa. This has supported a sharp decline in extremepoverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion ofthe population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganeseuntil oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sectornow accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuatingprices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite theabundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles theeconomy. Devaluation of its Francophone currency by 50% on 12January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the ratedropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standbyarrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility(EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-bycredit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandateprogress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France providedadditional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMFtargets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticizedthe government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowingfrom the central bank, and slipping on its schedule forprivatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil pricesin 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabonfrom fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signeda new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt.A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed inDecember 2001. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat worldeconomy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $8.354 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 15%industry: 60%services: 25% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:600,000
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 60%, services 25%, industry 15%
Unemployment rate:21% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.8 billionexpenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $310million (2002 est.)
Industries:petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining;chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering andplywood; cement.
Industrial production growth rate:1.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:798.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 34.5% hydro: 65.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:742.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:301,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.45 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:80 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:80 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:66.47 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Exports:$2.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners:US 46.5%, France 11.6%, China 6.5%, Netherlands Antilles 5.8% (2002)
Imports:$1.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, constructionmaterials
Imports - partners:France 50.7%, US 6.3%, Netherlands 3.6% (2002)
Debt - external:$3.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$331 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:calendar year
Communications Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:39,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:120,000 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate service by African standards andimproving with the help of the growing mobile cell systemdomestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and adomestic satellite system with 12 earth stationsinternational: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); fiber optic submarine cable to be in service in 2002
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:208,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ga
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2001)
Internet users:18,000 (2002)
Transportation Gabon
Railways: total: 814 km standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 8,464 km paved: 838 km unpaved: 7,626 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:1,600 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:gas 210 km; oil 1,426 km; water 3 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Cap Lopez, Kango, Lambarene, Libreville, Mayumba, Owendo,Port-Gentil
Airports:57 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 47 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Military Gabon
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential (Republican) Guard (chargedwith protecting the president and other senior officials), NationalGendarmerie, National Police
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 305,603 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 158,226 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 12,853 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$81.9 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Gabon
Disputes - international:creation of a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Baywith Equatorial Guinea is hampered by dispute over small islets onMbane/Mbagne bank, administered and occupied by Gabon since the 1970s
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Gambia, The
Introduction Gambia, The
Background:The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed ashort-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperationtreaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and bannedpolitical activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidentialelections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed anominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another roundof presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early2002.