Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or parlament consists of the Federal Assemblyor Bundestag (603 seats; elected by popular vote under a systemcombining direct and proportional representation; a party must win5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gainrepresentation; members serve four-year terms) and the FederalCouncil or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directlyrepresented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on populationand are required to vote as a block)elections: Federal Assembly - last held 22 September 2002 (next tobe held NA September 2006); note - there are no elections for theBundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of thestate-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has thepotential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an electionelection results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - SPD38.5%, CDU/CSU 38.5%, Alliance '90/Greens 8.6%, FDP 7.4%, PDS 4%;seats by party - SPD 251, CDU/CSU 248, Alliance '90/Greens 55, FDP47, PDS 2; Federal Council - current composition - NA
Judicial branch:Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half thejudges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance '90/Greens [Angelika BEER and Reinhard BUETIKOFER];Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian SocialUnion or CSU [Edmund STOIBER, chairman]; Free Democratic Party orFDP [Guido WESTERWELLE, chairman]; Party of Democratic Socialism orPDS [Lothar BISKY]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [GerhardSCHROEDER, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:employers' organizations; expellee, refugee, trade unions, andveterans groups
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS,CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, 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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU,WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wolfgang Friedrich ISCHINGER consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249 telephone: [1] (202) 298-8140 chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel R. COATS embassy: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin; note - a new embassy will be built near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265 telephone: [49] (30) 238-5174 FAX: [49] (30) 238-6290 consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
Economy Germany
Economy - overview:Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy has turnedin a weak performance throughout much of the 1990s and early 2000s.The modernization and integration of the eastern German economycontinues to be a costly long-term problem, with annual transfersfrom west to east amounting to roughly $70 billion. Germany's ageingpopulation, combined with high unemployment, has pushed socialsecurity outlays to a level exceeding contributions from workers.Structural rigidities in the labor market - including strictregulations on laying off workers and the setting of wages on anational basis - have made unemployment a chronic problem. Growth in2002 and 2003 fell short of 1%. Corporate restructuring and growingcapital markets are setting the foundations that could allow Germanyto meet the long-term challenges of European economic integrationand globalization, particularly if labor market rigidities arefurther addressed. In the short run, however, the fall in governmentrevenues and the rise in expenditures have raised the deficit abovethe EU's 3% debt limit.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.16 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $26,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 31%services: 68% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 25.1% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:30 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:41.9 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:industry 33.4%, agriculture 2.8%, services 63.8% (1999)
Unemployment rate:9.8% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $802 billionexpenditures: $825 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:among the world's largest and most technologically advancedproducers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery,vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages;shipbuilding; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:-2.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:544.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.8% hydro: 4.2% other: 4.1% (2001) nuclear: 29.9%
Electricity - consumption:506.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:43.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:44 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:85,860 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.813 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:404,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:3.081 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:327.3 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:22.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:94.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:6.674 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:78.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:298.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry
Exports: $608 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:France 10.7%, US 10.3%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.3%, Netherlands 6.1%,Austria 5.1%, Belgium 4.8%, Spain 4.6%, Switzerland 4.2% (2002)
Imports:$487.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals
Imports - partners:France 9.5%, Netherlands 8.2%, US 7.7%, UK 6.5%, Italy 6.4%,Belgium 5.2%, Austria 4%, China 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $5.6 billion (1998)
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), 1.76 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Germany
Telephones - main lines in use:50.9 million (March 2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:55.3 million (June 2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: Germany has one of the world's mosttechnologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result ofintensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerlybackward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back toWorld War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of thewestern partdomestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatictelephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-opticcable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domesticsatellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available,expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreigncountriesinternational: Germany's international service is excellentworldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cablefacilities as well as earth stations in the INMARSAT, INTELSAT,EUTELSAT, and INTERSPUTNIK satellite systems (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:77.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:51.4 million (1998)
Internet country code:.de
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):200 (2001)
Internet users:32.1 million (2002)
Transportation Germany
Railways:total: 45,514 km (21,000 km electrified)standard gauge: 45,276 km 1.435-m gauge (20,084 km electrified)narrow gauge: 214 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km0.750-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 230,735 kmpaved: 230,735 km (including 11,515 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:7,500 kmnote: major rivers include the Rhine and Elbe; Kiel Canal is animportant connection between the Baltic Sea and North Sea (1999)
Pipelines:condensate 325 km; gas 25,289 km; oil 3,743 km; refined products3,827 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden,Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Luebeck, Magdeburg,Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
Merchant marine:total: 337 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,036,397 GRT/7,334,067 DWTships by type: cargo 94, chemical tanker 15, container 203,liquefied gas 3, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 5, railcar carrier 2,refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 7note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Chile 1, Finland 5, Iceland 1, Netherlands 3,Switzerland 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:551 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 328 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 54 914 to 1,523 m: 69 under 914 m: 131 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 63
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 223 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 189 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 31
Heliports: 40 (2002)
Military Germany
Military branches:Army, Navy (including naval air arm), Air Force, Medical Corps,Joint Support Service
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 20,509,838 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 17,399,936 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 472,946 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$38.8 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.38% (2002)
Transnational Issues Germany
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaineprocessors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asianheroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Ghana
Introduction Ghana
Background:Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast andthe Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first countryin colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coupsresulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and thebanning of political parties. A new constitution, restoringmultiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, headof state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996,but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in2000. He was succeeded by John KUFUOR, who defeated former VicePresident Atta MILLS in a free and fair election.
Geography Ghana
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoireand Togo
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 239,460 sq kmland: 230,940 sq kmwater: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:total: 2,094 kmborder countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo877 km
Coastline:539 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot andhumid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources:gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish,rubber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 15.82% permanent crops: 7.47% other: 76.71% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:110 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January toMarch; droughts
Environment - current issues: recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
People Ghana
Population:20,467,747note: 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: 38.9% (male 4,021,570; female 3,938,454)15-64 years: 57.5% (male 5,859,940; female 5,909,910)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 350,045; female 387,828) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 19.8 yearsmale: 19.5 yearsfemale: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.45% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:25.84 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.53 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 53.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 49.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 55.97 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 56.53 yearsmale: 55.66 yearsfemale: 57.43 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:360,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:28,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Ghanaian(s)adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups:black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%,Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998)
Religions:indigenous beliefs 21%, Muslim 16%, Christian 63%
Languages:English (official), African languages (including Akan,Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writefemale: 67.1% (2003 est.)male: 82.7%total population: 74.8%
People - note:there are 9,500 Liberians, 2,000 Sierra Leoneans, and 1,000Togolese refugees residing in Ghana (2002)
Government Ghana
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Ghanaconventional short form: Ghanaformer: Gold Coast
Government type:constitutional democracy
Capital:Accra
Administrative divisions:10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra,Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution:approved 28 April 1992
Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subjectto approval by Parliamentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 and 28December 2000 (next to be held NA December 2004)election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR elected president in runoffelection; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 56.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct,popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 7 December 2000 (next to be held NA December2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NPP 100, NDC 92, PNC 3, CPP 1, independents 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, generalsecretary]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA,chairman]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY];National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; NationalDemocratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary];New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People'sConvention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman];People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE];People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]; Reform Party[Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS(observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNU, UPU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. KYEREMATENconsulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 686-4527telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATESembassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accramailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accratelephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348FAX: [233] (21) 701-813
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with alarge black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses thepopular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag ofBolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
Economy Ghana
Economy - overview:Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice theper capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so,Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial andtechnical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are majorsources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues torevolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 36% ofGDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders.Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country(HIPC) program in 2002. Policy priorities include tighter monetaryand fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement ofsocial services.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $41.25 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 36% industry: 25% services: 39% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 31.4% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40.7 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):14.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:9 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.603 billionexpenditures: $1.975 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, foodprocessing
Industrial production growth rate:3.8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:8.801 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 5% hydro: 95% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:8.835 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:950 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:7,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:8.255 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - proved reserves:11.89 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber
Exports: $2.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,diamonds
Exports - partners:Netherlands 14.8%, UK 9.9%, US 7%, Germany 6.6%, France 5.8%,Nigeria 4.8%, Belgium 4.4%, Italy 4.2% (2002)
Imports:$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Nigeria 21.3%, UK 7.2%, US 6.6%, China 6.2%, Italy 6.1%, Coted'Ivoire 6.1%, Germany 4.7%, Netherlands 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$7.2 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$6.9 billion (1999)
Currency:cedi (GHC)
Currency code:GHC
Exchange rates:cedis per US dollar - NA (2002), 7,170.76 (2001), 5,455.06 (2000),2,669.3 (1999), 2,314.15 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Ghana
Telephones - main lines in use:240,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:150,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor to fair system; Internet accessible; manyrural communities not yet connected; expansion of services isunderwaydomestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop hasbeen installedinternational: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghanato its neighbors
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:12.5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:10 (2001)
Televisions:1.9 million (2001)
Internet country code:.gh
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):12 (2000)
Internet users:200,000 (2002)
Transportation Ghana
Railways: total: 953 km narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 39,409 km paved: 11,665 km unpaved: 27,744 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:1,293 kmnote: Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennialnavigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 kmof arterial and feeder waterways
Pipelines:refined products 74 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,559 GRT/27,531 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Brazil 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 1(2002 est.)ships by type: petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 6
Airports:12 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Ghana
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 5,240,557 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,911,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 239,742 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$36.01 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.6% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Ghana
Disputes - international:Ghana has received many refugees and returning nationals escapingrebel fighting in Cote d'Ivoire
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to alesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and theUS; widespread crime and corruption have made money laundering aproblem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructurelimits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Gibraltar
Introduction Gibraltar
Background:Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain bySpain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison wasformally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and votedoverwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.
Geography Gibraltar
Location:Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which linksthe Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southerncoast of Spain
Geographic coordinates:36 8 N, 5 21 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 6.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 6.5 sq km
Area - comparative:about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:12 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or naturalrock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinkingwater) and adequate desalination plant
Geography - note:strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the NorthAtlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
People Gibraltar
Population:27,776 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.3% (male 2,593; female 2,482)15-64 years: 66.3% (male 9,458; female 8,946)65 years and over: 15.4% (male 1,873; female 2,424) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 38.8 yearsmale: 38.6 yearsfemale: 39 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.22% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:11.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.93 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 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: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 5.92 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.38 yearsmale: 76.51 yearsfemale: 82.4 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.65 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: Gibraltarian(s)adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups:Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese
Religions:Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England 6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish2.3%, none or other 7% (1991)
Languages:English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish,Italian, Portuguese
Literacy: definition: NA total population: above 80% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Gibraltar
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:NA
Capital:Gibraltar
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the nationalreferendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Constitution:30 May 1969
Legal system:English law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have beenresidents six months or more
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief Sir Francis RICHARDS(since 27 May 2003)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyappointed chief minister by the governorhead of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 15 electedmembers of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultationwith the chief minister
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popularvote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officio members;members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 27 November 2003 (next to be held not laterthan NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 58%, GSLP 41%;seats by party - GSD 8, GSLP 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democratsor GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP[Joseph John BOSSANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization;Women's Association
International organization participation:Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with athree-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hangingfrom the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
Economy Gibraltar
Economy - overview:Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshorebanking, and its position as an international conference center. TheBritish military presence has been sharply reduced and nowcontributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods alsogenerate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, andtourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accountsfor another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen majorstructural change from a public to a private sector economy, butchanges in government spending still have a major impact on thelevel of employment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $500 million (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,500 (1997 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% (1998)
Labor force:14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
Labor force - by occupation:services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL%
Unemployment rate:2% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $307 millionexpenditures: $284 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY 00/01 est.)
Industries:tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:100 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:93 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:42,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:none
Exports:$81.1 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%,other 8%
Exports - partners:UK 27.7%, Switzerland 14.3%, Germany 12%, France 6.9%, Spain 6.1%,Turkmenistan 5%, Ukraine 4.6% (2002)
Imports:$492 million c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Germany 27.3%, Spain 21.8%, UK 12.1%, Italy 8% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - if an agreement between Spain and the UK is reached,could receive 50 million euros from the EU
Currency:Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Currency code:GIP
Exchange rates:Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001),0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); note - the Gibraltarpound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Gibraltar
Telephones - main lines in use:19,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,620 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system andadequate international facilitiesdomestic: automatic exchange facilitiesinternational: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Gibraltar
Highways: total: 29 km paved: 29 km unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:0 km
Ports and harbors:Gibraltar
Merchant marine:total: 114 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,008,140 GRT/1,435,595 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, France 2, Germany 55, Greece 6,Ireland 1, Monaco 2, Norway 3, United Kingdom 13 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 58, chemical tanker 14, container 20,multi-functional large-load carrier 3, passenger 2, petroleum tanker13, roll on/roll off 2
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Gibraltar
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; British Army, Royal Navy,Royal Air Force
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Gibraltar
Disputes - international:Gibraltar residents vote overwhelmingly in referendum against"total shared sovereignty" arrangement worked out between Spain andUK to change 300-year rule over colony
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Glorioso Islands
Introduction Glorioso Islands
Background:A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composedof two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys)and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather andradio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Geography Glorioso Islands
Location:Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest ofMadagascar
Geographic coordinates:11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 5 sq kmnote: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,and South Rockwater: 0 sq kmland: 5 sq km
Area - comparative:about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:35.2 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low and flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources: guano, coconuts
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system
People Glorioso Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: there is a small French military garrison along with a fewmeteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2003 est.)
Government Glorioso Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Glorioso Islandslocal short form: Iles Glorieuseslocal long form: none
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of theRepublic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (possession of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Glorioso Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Glorioso Islands
Communications - note: 1 meteorological station
Transportation Glorioso Islands
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Glorioso Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Glorioso Islands
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Greece
Introduction Greece
Background:Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829.During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands andterritories, most with Greek-speaking populations. Following thedefeat of Communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. Amilitary dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many politicalliberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted sevenyears. Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created aparliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy; Greece joined theEuropean Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992).
Geography Greece
Location:Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and theMediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 131,940 sq kmwater: 1,140 sq kmland: 130,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:total: 1,228 kmborder countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:13,676 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 6 NM
Climate:temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulasor chains of islands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources:bauxite, lignite, magnesite, petroleum, marble, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 22.12% permanent crops: 8.47% other: 69.41% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:14,220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, AntarcticTreaty, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approachto Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelagoof about 2,000 islands
People Greece
Population:10,665,989 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.7% (male 811,080; female 761,728)15-64 years: 67% (male 3,578,320; female 3,557,800)65 years and over: 18.3% (male 866,425; female 1,090,636) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 39.8 yearsmale: 38.6 yearsfemale: 41 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.19% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:9.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:1.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.12 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 6.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.89 yearsmale: 76.32 yearsfemale: 81.65 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.35 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:8,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Greek(s)adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:Greek 98%, other 2%note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions inGreece
Religions:Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:Greek 99% (official), English, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.5%male: 98.6%female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Government Greece
Country name:conventional long form: Hellenic Republicconventional short form: Greecelocal short form: Ellas or Elladaformer: Kingdom of Greecelocal long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
Government type:parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December1974
Capital:Athens
Administrative divisions:51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos)and 1 autonomous region*;Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis,Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos,Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis,Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria,Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades,Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella,Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia,Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
Independence:1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system:based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS(since 10 March 1995)elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by NA February2005); prime minister appointed by the presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19January 1996)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelection results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president;percent of Parliament vote - 90%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members areelected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: elections last held 9 April 2000 (next to be held by NAMay 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - PASOK 43.8%, ND 42.7%,KKE 5.5%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 3.2%; seats by party -PASOK 158, ND 125, KKE 11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6;note - seats by party as of January 2002 - PASOK 156, ND 122, KKE11, Coalition of the Left and Progress 6, independents 5