Geography Gambia, The
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 11,300 sq kmland: 10,000 sq kmwater: 1,300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 18 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season(November to May)
Terrain:flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 19.5% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 80% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent ofAfrica
People Gambia, The
Population:1,501,050 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.9% (male 338,497; female 335,503)15-64 years: 52.4% (male 390,150; female 396,763)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 20,836; female 19,301) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 17.4 yearsmale: 17.3 yearsfemale: 17.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:3.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:40.77 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:12.35 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:1.89 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 74.93 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 81.67 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 54.38 yearsmale: 52.39 yearsfemale: 56.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.53 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:8,400 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:400 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Gambian(s)adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Religions:Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenousvernaculars
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 40.1%male: 47.8%female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
Government Gambia, The
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of The Gambiaconventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:Banjul
Administrative divisions:5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, NorthBank, Upper River, Western
Independence:18 February 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved bynational referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997
Legal system:based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, andcustomary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Junta); VicePresident Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he Chairman of theJunta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 18 October2001 (next to be held NA October 2006)election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percentof vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote,five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA January2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC[Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People'sParty-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [OusainouDARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; NationalReconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's DemocraticOrganization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowedthe reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties bannedsince 1996
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE,UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Lena MangaSagnia SECKchancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson McDONALDembassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjulmailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjultelephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971FAX: [220] 392475
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,and green
Economy Gambia, The
Economy - overview:The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources andhas a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population dependson crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturingactivity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides.Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economicactivity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan,and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some ofthe reexport trade away from The Gambia. The government's 1998seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largestpurchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasonshave seen substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourismin 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemploymentrates are extremely high. Shortrun economic progress remains highlydependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, onresponsible government economic management as forwarded by IMFtechnical help and advice, and on expected growth in theconstruction sector.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.582 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 33%industry: 13%services: 54% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:400,000
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $90.5 millionexpenditures: $80.9 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1million (2001 est.)
Industries:processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages;agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:85.33 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:79.36 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:$138 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:France 21.9%, UK 19.1%, Malaysia 11.8%, Italy 11.1%, Germany 7.3%,Belgium 6.3%, South Africa 4.2% (2002)
Imports:$225 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:China 21.8%, Senegal 8.9%, Brazil 7.8%, UK 6.5%, Netherlands 5.4%,India 4.9%, Belgium 4.5%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$476 million (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$45.4 million (1995)
Currency:dalasi (GMD)
Currency code:GMD
Exchange rates:dalasi per US dollar - NA (2002), 15.69 (2001), 12.79 (2000), 11.4(1999), 10.64 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:31,900 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5,624 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network isavailabledomestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wireinternational: microwave radio relay links to Senegal andGuinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:196,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (government-owned) (1997)
Televisions:5,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.gm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2001)
Internet users:5,000 (2001)
Transportation Gambia, The
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 2,700 km paved: 956 km unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)
Waterways:400 km
Ports and harbors:Banjul
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Military Gambia, The
Military branches:Gambian National Army (GNA) (includes marine unit), NationalPolice, Presidential Guard
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 338,800 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 170,904 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.2 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.3% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Gambia, The
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Gaza Strip
Introduction Gaza Strip
Background:The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-GovernmentArrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years ofPalestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the WestBank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers andresponsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes thePalestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part ofthe interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and GazaStrip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Stripand Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 CairoAgreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additionalareas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 ProtocolConcerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-SheikhAgreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibilityduring the transitional period for external and internal securityand for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Directnegotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bankhad begun in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but have beenderailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. Theresulting widespread violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,Israel's military response, and instability within the PalestinianAuthority continue to undermine progress toward a permanentagreement.
Geography Gaza Strip
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt andIsrael
Geographic coordinates:31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 360 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 360 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 62 km border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:40 km
Maritime claims:Israeli-occupied with current status subject to theIsraeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to bedetermined through further negotiation
Climate:temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources:arable land, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 26.32%permanent crops: 39.47%other: 34.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts
Environment - current issues:desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment;water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contaminationof underground water resources
Geography - note:there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in theGaza Strip (February 2002 est.)
People Gaza Strip
Population:1,274,868 (July 2002 est.)note: in addition, there are more than 5,000 Israeli settlers in theGaza Strip (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 49.4% (male 322,658; female 307,026)15-64 years: 47.9% (male 310,910; female 299,724)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 14,645; female 19,905) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 15.3 yearsmale: 15.1 yearsfemale: 15.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:3.89% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:41.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:1.66 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: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.15 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 25.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.4 yearsmale: 70.13 yearsfemale: 72.73 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.17 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: NAadjective: NA
Ethnic groups:Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions:Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%
Languages:Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),English (widely understood)
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Gaza Strip
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Economy Gaza Strip
Economy - overview:Economic output in the Gaza Strip - under the responsibility of thePalestinian Authority since the Cairo Agreement of May 1994 -declined by about one-third between 1992 and 1996. The downturn waslargely the result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition ofgeneralized border closures in response to security incidents inIsrael - which disrupted previously established labor and commoditymarket relationships between Israel and the WBGS (West Bank and GazaStrip). The most serious negative social effect of this downturn wasthe emergence of high unemployment; unemployment in the WBGS duringthe 1980s was generally under 5%; by 1995 it had risen to over 20%.Israel's use of comprehensive closures decreased during the next fewyears and, in 1998, Israel implemented new policies to reduce theimpact of closures and other security procedures on the movement ofPalestinian goods and labor. These changes fueled an almostthree-year-long economic recovery in the West Bank and Gaza Strip;real GDP grew by 5% in 1998 and 6% in 1999. Recovery was upended inthe last quarter of 2000 with the outbreak of violence, triggeringtight Israeli closures of Palestinian self-rule areas and a severedisruption of trade and labor movements. In 2001, and even moreseverely in 2002, Israeli military measures in Palestinian Authorityareas resulted in the destruction of capital plant andadministrative structure, widespread business closures, and a sharpdrop in GDP. Another major loss has been the decline in incomeearned by Palestinian workers in Israel. International aid of $2billion in 2001-02 to the Gaza Strip and West Bank have preventedthe complete collapse of the economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $735 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-15% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 28% services: 63% (includes West Bank)
Population below poverty line:60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.2% (includes West Bank) (2001 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:services 66%, industry 21%, agriculture 13% (1996)
Unemployment rate:50% (includes West Bank) (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $930 millionexpenditures: $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $15million (includes West Bank) (2000 est.)
Industries:generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap,olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelishave established some small-scale modern industries in an industrialcenter
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel (2001)
Agriculture - products:olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Exports:$603 million f.o.b., includes West Bank
Exports - commodities:citrus, flowers
Exports - partners:Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Imports:$1.9 billion c.i.f., includes West Bank
Imports - commodities:food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners:Israel, Egypt, West Bank
Debt - external:$108 million (includes West Bank) (1997 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$800 million (includes West Bank) (2001 est.)
Currency:new Israeli shekel (ILS)
Currency code:ILS
Exchange rates:new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001),4.0773 (2000), 4.1397 (1999), 3.8001 (1998), 3.4494 (1997)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Gaza Strip
Telephones - main lines in use:95,729 (total for Gaza Strip and West Bank) (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: rudimentary telephone services provided by an open-wiresysteminternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations:2 (operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation) (1997)
Televisions:NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (1999)
Internet users:60,000 (includes West Bank) (2001)
Transportation Gaza Strip
Railways:total: NA km; note - one line, abandoned and in disrepair, littletrackage remains (2001 est.)
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km note: small, poorly developed road network
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Gaza
Airports:2 (2001)note: includes Gaza International Airport (GIA), inaugurated on 24November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the September 1995Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum; GIA hasbeen largely closed since October 2000 by Israeli orders and itsrunway was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001(2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Gaza Strip
Military branches:in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authorityis not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, aPublic Security Force and a civil Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Gaza Strip
Disputes - international:West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current statussubject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanentstatus to be determined through further negotiation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Georgia
Introduction Georgia
Background:Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century.Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russianrevolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until theSoviet Union dissolved in 1991. Ethnic separation in Abkhazia andSouth Ossetia, poor governance, and Russian military bases deny thegovernment effective control over the entirety of the state'sinternationally recognized territory. Despite myriad problems, someprogress on market reforms and democratization has been made. Anattempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections inNovember 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to theresignation of President Eduard SHEVARDNADZE.
Geography Georgia
Location:Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey andRussia
Geographic coordinates:42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 69,700 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 69,700 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 1,461 kmborder countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,Turkey 252 km
Coastline:310 km
Maritime claims:NA
Climate:warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north andLesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (KolkhidaLowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin inthe east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills ofKolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Black Sea 0 mhighest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources:forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minorcoal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for importanttea and citrus growth
Land use:arable land: 11.21%permanent crops: 4.09%other: 84.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:4,700 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of MtkvariRiver and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soilpollution from toxic chemicals
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls muchof the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
People Georgia
Population:4,934,413 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.6% (male 466,743; female 449,440)15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,628,757; female 1,744,922)65 years and over: 13% (male 252,031; female 392,520) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 34.8 yearsmale: 32.6 yearsfemale: 37 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.52% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:11.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:14.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 51.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 45.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 56.83 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.76 yearsmale: 61.33 yearsfemale: 68.36 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.51 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Georgian(s)adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri 5.7%, Ossetian3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, other 5%
Religions:Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%, ArmenianApostolic 8%, unknown 6%
Languages:Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 100%female: 98% (1999 est.)
Government Georgia
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Georgialocal short form: Sak'art'veloformer: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: none
Government type:republic
Capital:T'bilisi
Administrative divisions:9 regions, (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities* (k'alak'ebi,singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics** (avtomnoyrespubliki, singular - avtom respublika); Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'isAvtonomiuri Respublika** (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis AvtonomiuriRespublika** (Bat'umi), Chiat'ura*, Gori*, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti,K'ut'aisi*, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, P'ot'i*,Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Rust'avi*, Samegrelo and ZemoSvaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli, T'bilisi*, Tqibuli*,Tsqaltubo*, Zugdidi*note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics areshown in parentheses
Independence:9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date ofindependence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date ofindependence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:adopted 17 October 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nino BURJANADZE (acting president since23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumed thepresidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Nino BURJANADZE (acting presidentsince 23 November 2003; formerly parliamentary speaker, she assumedthe presidency upon the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet of Ministerselection results: Eduard SHEVARDNADZE reelected president; percentof vote - Eduard SHEVARDNADZE 80%; note - following the resignationof Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, Nino BURJANADZE became acting presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held 4 January 2004 toreplace Eduard SHEVARDNADZE)
Legislative branch:unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) orUmaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party (from earlier 1999elections) - CUG 41.7%, AGUR 25.2%, IWSG 7.1%, all other partiesreceived less than 7% each; seats by party - CUG 130, AGUR 64, IWSG15, Labor 2, Abkhaz (government-in-exile) deputies 12, independents12elections: last held 2 November 2003 but results were invalidated(next to be held spring 2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on thepresident's recommendation); Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:Citizen's Union of Georgia or CUG [Avtandil JORBENADZE]; GeorgianPeople's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party orUCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE];Industry Will Save Georgia or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party[Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [IrinaSARISHVILI-CHANTURIA]; New National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI];New Right [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican Party [DavidBERDZENISHVILI]; "Revival" Union Party or AGUR [Alsan ABASHIDZE];Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [AkakiASATIANI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile;separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA
International organization participation:BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZEchancery: Suite 300, 1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC20009FAX: [1] (202) 393-6060telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard M. MILESembassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 380026mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68FAX: [995] (32) 933-759
Flag description:maroon field with small rectangle in upper hoist side corner;rectangle divided horizontally with black on top, white below
Economy Georgia
Economy - overview:Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation ofagricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, andgrapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a smallindustrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk ofits energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its onlysizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severedamage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, withthe help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economicgains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailinginflation. However, the Georgian Government suffers from limitedresources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgiaalso suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisidistribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, makingthe venture unprofitable. The country is pinning its hopes forlong-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines andtrade. The start of construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oilpipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bringmuch-needed investment and job opportunities.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $16.05 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20% industry: 25% services: 55% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:2.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:industry 20%, agriculture 40%, services 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:17% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $499 millionexpenditures: $554 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining(manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2000)
Electricity - production:7.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.7% hydro: 80.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:7.611 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:850 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:citrus, grapes, tea, hazlenuts, vegetables; livestock
Exports:$515 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits,tea, wine
Exports - partners:Turkey 23%, Italy 12.1%, Russia 11.4%, Greece 8.5%, Netherlands7.5%, Spain 5.9%, Turkmenistan 4.7%, Ukraine 4.3% (2002)
Imports:$750 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and otherfoods, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:Turkey 15.6%, Azerbaijan 11.2%, US 9.9%, Russia 9.1%, Germany 7.2%,Italy 5.1%, Bulgaria 4.9%, Romania 4.3%, France 4.2%, Ukraine 4.1%(2002)
Debt - external:$1.7 billion (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $150 million (2000 est.)
Currency:lari (GEL)
Currency code:GEL
Exchange rates:lari per US dollar - 2.2 (2002), 2.07 (2001), 1.98 (2000), 2.02(1999), 1.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Georgia
Telephones - main lines in use:620,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:185,500 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephonenetworks; urban telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; ruraltelephone density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilitiesinclude a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi;nationwide pager service is availableinternational: Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic linebetween P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service isavailable by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscowswitch; international electronic mail and telex service are available
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:2.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ge
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:25,000 (2002)
Transportation Georgia
Railways:total: 1,612 kmbroad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gaugenarrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 20,362 kmpaved: 19,038 kmunpaved: 1,325 km (2000)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:gas 1,495 km; oil 1,029 km; refined products 232 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
Merchant marine:total: 116 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 483,028 GRT/713,461 DWTships by type: bulk 16, cargo 72, chemical tanker 1, container 11,petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2,specialized tanker 1note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belize 1, Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 4,Gibraltar 1, Greece 5, Jordan 1, Latvia 1, Liberia 1, Malta 1,Panama 9, Romania 8, Russia 4, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, SaintVincent and the Grenadines 3, Saudi Arabia 2, Syria 5, Turkey 2,Ukraine 7, UAE 11, UK 1, US 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:40 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 under 914 m: 7 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 5
Transportation - note:transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnicconflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacksmaintenance and repair
Military Georgia
Military branches:Ground Forces (includes National Guard), combined Air and AirDefense Forces, Naval Forces, Republic Security and Police Forces(internal and border troops)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,302,815 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,028,913 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 43,359 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$23 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.59% (FY00)
Military - note:a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in theAbkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observergroup; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia
Transnational Issues Georgia
Disputes - international:boundary with Russia has been largely delimited, but not demarcatedwith several small, strategic segments remaining in dispute and OSCEobservers monitoring volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in theAkhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; Meshkheti Turksscattered throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return toGeorgia; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seekgreater autonomy, closer ties with Armenia
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly fordomestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates viaCentral Asia to Western Europe and Russia
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Germany
Introduction Germany
Background:As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germanyremains a key member of the continent's economic, political, anddefense organizations. European power struggles immersed the countryin two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th centuryand left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of theUS, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of theCold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western FederalRepublic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic(GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economicand security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO,while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-ledWarsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold Warallowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany hasexpended considerable funds to bring eastern productivity and wagesup to western standards. In January 2002, Germany and 11 other EUcountries introduced a common European currency, the euro.
Geography Germany
Location:Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, betweenthe Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates:51 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 357,021 sq kmwater: 7,798 sq kmland: 349,223 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:total: 3,621 kmborder countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline:2,389 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers;occasional warm foehn wind
Terrain:lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 mhighest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m
Natural resources:iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, naturalgas, salt, nickel, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33.88% permanent crops: 0.65% other: 65.47% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:4,850 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute toair pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions,is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage andindustrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous wastedisposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use ofnuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EUcommitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with theEU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive
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, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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:strategic location on North European Plain and along the entranceto the Baltic Sea
People Germany
Population:82,398,326 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.9% (male 6,312,614; female 5,988,681)15-64 years: 67.3% (male 28,213,316; female 27,240,648)65 years and over: 17.8% (male 5,842,457; female 8,800,610) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 41.3 years male: 39.9 years female: 42.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.04% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:8.6 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.34 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.23 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.42 yearsmale: 75.46 yearsfemale: 81.55 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:41,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:660 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: German(s)adjective: German
Ethnic groups:German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely ofSerbo-Croatian, Italian, Russian, Greek, Polish, Spanish)
Religions:Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated orother 28.3%
Languages:German
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1977 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government Germany
Country name:conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germanyconventional short form: Germanylocal short form: Deutschlandformer: German Empire, German Republic, German Reichlocal long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Berlin
Administrative divisions:16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern,Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen,Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt,Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen
Independence:18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into fourzones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or WestGermany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, andFrench zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany)proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone;unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991
National holiday:Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Constitution:23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the unitedGerman people 3 October 1990
Legal system:civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Johannes RAU (since 1 July 1999)elections: president elected for a five-year term by a FederalConvention including all members of the Federal Assembly and anequal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; electionlast held 23 May 1999 (next to be held 23 May 2004); chancellorelected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for afour-year term; election last held 22 September 2002 (next to beheld NA September 2006)head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October1998)cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed bythe president on the recommendation of the chancellorelection results: Johannes RAU elected president; percent of FederalConvention vote - 57.6%; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor;percent of Federal Assembly vote 50.7%