Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph servicedomestic: in 1997, telecommunications links were established betweenMazar-e Sharif, Herat, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Kabul throughsatellite and microwave systemsinternational: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)linked only to Iran and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);commercial satellite telephone center in Ghazni
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7 (6 are inactive; the active station is in Kabul), FM 1,shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian (Dari), Urdu, andEnglish) (1999)
Radios:167,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations: at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32 provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998)
Televisions:100,000 (1999)
Internet country code:.af
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Afghanistan
Railways:total: 24.6 kmbroad gauge: 9.6 km 1.524-m gauge from Gushgy (Turkmenistan) toTowraghondi; 15 km 1.524-m gauge from Termiz (Uzbekistan) toKheyrabad transshipment point on south bank of Amu Darya (2001)
Highways: total: 21,000 km paved: 2,793 km unpaved: 18,207 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 1,200 km note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2001)
Pipelines:gas 651 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Kheyrabad, Shir Khan
Airports:47 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 37 under 914 m: 11 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Heliports: 5 (2002)
Military Afghanistan
Military branches:NA; note - the December 2001 Bonn Agreement called for all militiaforces to come under the authority of the central government, butregional leaders have continued to retain their militias and theformation of a nation army will be a gradual process; Afghanistan'sforces continue to be factionalized, largely along ethnic lines
Military manpower - military age:22 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 7,160,603 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,837,646 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 275,223 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$525.2 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:7.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Afghanistan
Disputes - international:thousands of Afghan refugees still reside in Iran and Pakistan;isolating terrain and close ties among Pashtuns in Pakistan makecross-border activities difficult to control; prolonged regionaldrought strains water-sharing arrangements for Amu Darya and HelmandRiver states
Illicit drugs:world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy -used to make heroin - expanded to 30,750 hectares in 2002, despiteeradication; potential opium production of 1,278 metric tons; sourceof hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country;drug trade source of instability and some government groups profitfrom the trade; 80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes fromAfghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through thehawala system
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Albania
Introduction Albania
Background:Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobicCommunist rule and established a multiparty democracy. Thetransition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried todeal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure,widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents.International observers judged legislative elections in 2001 to beacceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identifiedserious deficiencies that should be addressed through reforms in theAlbanian electoral code.
Geography Albania
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea,between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro
Geographic coordinates:41 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 28,748 sq kmwater: 1,350 sq kmland: 27,398 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 720 kmborder countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km
Coastline:362 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers;interior is cooler and wetter
Terrain:mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel,hydropower
Land use: arable land: 21.09% permanent crops: 4.45% other: 74.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:3,400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast;floods; drought
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial anddomestic effluents
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea toIonian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
People Albania
Population:3,582,205 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.1% (male 520,714; female 486,911)15-64 years: 64.6% (male 1,115,887; female 1,196,477)65 years and over: 7.3% (male 115,754; female 146,462) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.5 yearsmale: 24.8 yearsfemale: 28.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:18.2 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 37.28 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 34.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 39.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.37 yearsmale: 69.53 yearsfemale: 75.42 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.22 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: Albanian(s)adjective: Albanian
Ethnic groups:Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, andBulgarian) (1989 est.)note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)
Religions:Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religiousobservances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowingprivate religious practice
Languages:Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek
Literacy:definition: age 9 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.5%male: 93.3%female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
Government Albania
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Albaniaconventional short form: Albanialocal short form: Shqiperiaformer: People's Socialist Republic of Albanialocal long form: Republika e Shqiperise
Government type:emerging democracy
Capital:Tirana
Administrative divisions:12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku iDibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku iGjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarkui Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores
Independence:28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution:a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote
Legal system:has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24July 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister andapproved by the presidentelections: president elected by the People's Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held NAJune 2007); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assemblyvote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote forfour-year terms)elections: last held 24 June 2001 with subsequent rounds on 8 July,22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD andcoalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH 2.6%,PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6,PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for afour-year term)
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Party of Albania or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI]; ChristianDemocratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Communist Party of Albania orPKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan CEKA];Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party orPLL [Guri DUROLLARI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK[Abaz ERMENJI]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI];Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy or DS[Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI];Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [FatosNANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Omonia [Vangjel DULES]
International organization participation:ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Fatos TARIFA FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James F. JEFFREY embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Washington, DC 20521-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 232222
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy Albania
Economy - overview:Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making thedifficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Thegovernment has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spureconomic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittancesfrom abroad of $400-$600 million annually, mostly from Greece andItaly; this helps offset the sizable trade deficit. Agriculture,which accounts for half of GDP, is held back because of frequentdrought and the need to modernize equipment and consolidate smallplots of land. Severe energy shortages are forcing small firms outof business, increasing unemployment, scaring off foreign investors,and spurring inflation. The government plans to boost energy importsto relieve the shortages. In addition, the government is moving toimprove the poor national road network, a long-standing barrier tosustained economic growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $15.69 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 27% services: 24% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.283 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000domestically unemployed) (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%
Unemployment rate:17% officially; may be as high as 30% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $697 millionexpenditures: $1.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $368million (2002 est.)
Industries:food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement,chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate:9% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:5.289 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:5.898 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:221 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:5,952 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:22,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:185.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:30 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:30 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:3.316 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products
Exports: $340 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners:Italy 76.6%, Germany 5.6%, Greece 2.7% (2002)
Imports:$1.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners:Italy 39.4%, Greece 24.5%, Turkey 6%, Germany 5% (2002)
Debt - external:$784 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.)
Currency:lek (ALL)
Currency code:ALL
Exchange rates:leke per US dollar - NA (2002), 143.49 (2001), 143.71 (2000),137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Albania
Telephones - main lines in use:120,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:250,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone service inEurope with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it isdoubtful that every village has telephone servicedomestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone forevery village; in 1992, following the fall of the Communistgovernment, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and usedit to build fencesinternational: inadequate; international traffic carried bymicrowave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:1 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:700,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.al
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (2001)
Internet users:12,000 (2001)
Transportation Albania
Railways: total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 18,000 kmpaved: 5,400 kmunpaved: 12,600 km (2000)
Waterways:43 kmnote: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, andLake Prespa (1990)
Pipelines:gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Merchant marine:total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 21,954 GRT/34,412 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 11, roll on/roll off 1, includes someforeign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience:Croatia 1, Honduras 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:12 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 8914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 4 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 1over 3,047 m: 1
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Albania
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops,Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 906,168 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 742,837 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 36,985 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$56.5 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.49% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Albania
Disputes - international:the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights ofethnic Albanians outside its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbiaand Montenegro, and in the northern Former Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, while continuing to seek regional cooperation; someoutside ethnic Albanian groups voice union with Albania
Illicit drugs:increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asianopiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - toa far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined forWestern Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production;ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidlyexpanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated withregional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegalaliens
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Algeria
Introduction Algeria
Background:After a century of rule by France, Algeria became independent in1962. The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS(Islamic Salvation Front) party in the December 1991 ballotingcaused the army to intervene, crack down on the FIS, and postponethe subsequent elections. The fundamentalist response has resultedin a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular stateapparatus, which nonetheless has allowed elections featuringpro-government and moderate religious-based parties. The FIS's armedwing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000 and manyarmed militants of other groups surrendered under an amnesty programdesigned to promote national reconciliation. Nevertheless, smallnumbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forcesand carrying out isolated attacks on villages and other types ofterrorist attacks. Other concerns include Berber unrest, large-scaleunemployment, a shortage of housing, and the need to diversify thepetroleum-based economy.
Geography Algeria
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Moroccoand Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:28 00 N, 3 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,381,740 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 2,381,740 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 6,343 kmborder countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km,Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
Coastline:998 km
Maritime claims:exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers alongcoast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau;sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Terrain:mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 mhighest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 3.21% permanent crops: 0.21% other: 96.58% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:5,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides andfloods in rainy season
Environment - current issues:soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices;desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes,and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of riversand coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becomingpolluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff;inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
People Algeria
Population:32,818,500 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 32.8% (male 5,485,197; female 5,285,434)15-64 years: 63% (male 10,460,475; female 10,224,389)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 624,839; female 738,166) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 22.5 yearsmale: 22.3 yearsfemale: 22.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.65% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:21.94 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 37.74 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 35.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 40.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.54 yearsmale: 69.14 yearsfemale: 72.01 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.55 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Algerian(s)adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups:Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
Religions:Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages:Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70%male: 78.8%female: 61% (2003 est.)
Government Algeria
Country name:conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeriaconventional short form: Algerialocal short form: Al Jaza'irlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ashSha'biyah
Government type:republic
Capital:Algiers
Administrative divisions:48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, AinTemouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida,Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa,El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel,Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila,Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, SidiBel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret,Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
Independence:5 July 1962 (from France)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
Constitution:19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996
Legal system:socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review oflegislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed ofvarious public officials, including several Supreme Court justices;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 15 April 1999 (next to be held NA April 2004);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA elected president; percent ofvote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA over 70%; note - his six opposingcandidates withdrew on the eve of the election citing electoral fraud
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly orAl-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - changed from 380 seatsin the 2002 elections; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms) and the Council of Nations (144 seats; one-third ofthe members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected byindirect vote; members serve six-year terms; the constitutionrequires half the council to be renewed every three years)elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (nextto be held NA 2007); Council of Nations - last held 30 December 2000(next to be held NA 2003)election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, MRN 43, MSP 38, PT21, FNA 8, Nahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; Council ofNations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RND 79,FLN 12, FFS 4, MSP 1 (remaining 48 seats appointed by the president,party breakdown NA)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Democratic NationalRally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front orFIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI, RabehKEBIR (self-exile in Germany)]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP[Boujerra SOLTANI]; National Entente Movement or MEN [AliBOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Ali BENFLIS, secretarygeneral]; National Reform Movement or MRN [Abdellah DJABALLAH];National Renewal Party or PRA [leader NA]; Progressive RepublicanParty [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [SaidSAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement[Lahbib ADAMI]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL];Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general(self-exile in Switzerland)]; Union for Democracy and Liberty[Mouley BOUKHALAFA]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enactedin March 1997
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, ECA, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Idriss JAZAIRY chancery: 2137 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. ERDMAN (as of 10 July 2003) embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers mailing address: B. P. Box 549, Alger-Gare, 16000 Algiers telephone: [213] (21) 691-425/255/186 FAX: [213] (21) 69-39-79
Flag description:two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red,five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-colorboundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditionalsymbols of Islam (the state religion)
Economy Algeria
Economy - overview:The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accountingfor roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% ofexport earnings. Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of naturalgas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks14th in oil reserves. Algeria's financial and economic indicatorsimproved during the mid-1990s, in part because of policy reformssupported by the IMF and debt rescheduling from the Paris Club.Algeria's finances in 2000-03 benefited from substantial tradesurpluses, record foreign exchange reserves, and reductions inforeign debt. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output andincreased government spending. The government's continued efforts todiversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investmentoutside the energy sector, however, has had little success inreducing high unemployment and improving living standards.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $173.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 60% services: 32% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:9.4 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: government 29%, agriculture 25%, construction and public works 15%, industry 11%, other 20% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate:31% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $20.3 billionexpenditures: $18.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.8billion (2001 est.)
Industries:petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical,petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:24.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.7% hydro: 0.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:22.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:340 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:275 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:1.52 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:209,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:13.1 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:80.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:22.32 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:57.98 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:4.739 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Exports:$19.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - partners:Italy 18.9%, Spain 13.1%, France 13%, US 12.1%, Netherlands 6%,Brazil 5.9%, Canada 5.7%, Turkey 5.3%, Belgium 5.1% (2002)
Imports:$10.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:France 31%, Italy 10%, US 8.3%, Germany 6.6%, Spain 5.9%, Turkey4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$21.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$162 million (2000 est.)
Currency:Algerian dinar (DZD)
Currency code:DZD
Exchange rates:Algerian dinars per US dollar - 79.68 (2002), 77.22 (2001), 75.26(2000), 66.57 (1999), 58.74 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Algeria
Telephones - main lines in use:2.3 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:33,500 (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone density in Algeria is very low, notexceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed mainlines increased in the last few years to a little more than2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; muchof the infrastructure is outdated and inefficientdomestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domesticsatellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domesticearth stations are planned)international: 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy,France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco andTunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and1 Arabsat (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)
Radios:7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.dz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:180,000 (2001)
Transportation Algeria
Railways:total: 3,973 kmstandard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 104,000 kmpaved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)unpaved: 32,344 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:condensate 1,344 km; gas 87,347 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km;oil 6,496 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Beni Saf, Dellys, Djendjene,Ghazaouet, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda, Tenes
Merchant marine:total: 69 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 884,032 GRT/1,010,777 DWTships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas10, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 12, short-sea passenger 4,specialized tanker 1, includes some foreign-owned ships registeredhere as a flag of convenience: United Arab Emirates 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:136 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 54 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 82 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 under 914 m: 19 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 38
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Algeria
Military branches:People's National Army (ANP), Algerian National Navy (ANN), AirForce, Territorial Air Defense, National Gendarmerie
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 9,243,884 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,646,418 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 412,545 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.87 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.1% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Algeria
Disputes - international:Libya claims about 32,000 sq km in a dormant dispute stillreflected on its maps in southeastern Algeria; armed bandits basedin Mali attack southern Algerian towns; border with Morocco remainsclosed over mutual claims of harboring militants, arms smuggling;Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejectsMoroccan administration of Western Sahara
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@American Samoa
Introduction American Samoa
Background:Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by Europeanexplorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latterhalf of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in whichGermany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formallyoccupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with theexcellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
Geography American Samoa
Location:Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 199 sq kmnote: includes Rose Island and Swains Islandwater: 0 sq kmland: 199 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:116 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annualrainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April,dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains,two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Lata 966 m
Natural resources:pumice, pumicite
Land use:arable land: 5%permanent crops: 10%other: 85% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:typhoons common from December to March
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of thegovernment has spent substantial funds in the past few years toimprove water catchments and pipelines
Geography - note:Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in theSouth Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas andprotected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategiclocation in the South Pacific Ocean
People American Samoa
Population:70,260 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.5% (male 13,557; female 12,818)15-64 years: 57% (male 19,712; female 20,346)65 years and over: 5.4% (male 2,081; female 1,746) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 21.6 yearsmale: 21.1 yearsfemale: 22.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.22% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:23.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.38 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.19 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.82 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.75 yearsmale: 71.35 yearsfemale: 80.41 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.3 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: American Samoan(s)adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups:Samoan (Polynesian) 89%, Caucasian 2%, Tongan 4%, other 5%
Religions:Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant andother 30%
Languages:Samoan (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesianlanguages), Englishnote: most people are bilingual
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 98%female: 97% (1980 est.)
Government American Samoa
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of American Samoaconventional short form: American Samoaabbreviation: AS
Dependency status:unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered bythe Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:Pago Pago
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrativedivisions as defined by the US Government, but there are threedistricts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a,Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Independence:none (territory of the US)
National holiday:Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution:ratified 1966, in effect 1967
Legal system:NA
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January2001)election results: Tauese P. SUNIA reelected governor; percent ofvote - Tauese P. SUNIA (Democrat) 50.7%, Lealaifuaneva Peter REID(independent) 47.8%note: Togiola TULAFONO became acting governor 26 March 2003 upon thedeath of Governor Tauese P. SUNIAelections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor electedon the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; electionlast held 7 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)following the death of Governor Tauese P. SUNIA on 26 March 2003;TULAFONO had been the Lieutenant Governorcabinet: NA
Legislative branch:bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House ofRepresentatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular voteand 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island;members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members areelected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party- NA%; seats by party - independents 18note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the USHouse of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2002 (nextto be held NA November 2004); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA(Democrat) reelected as delegateelections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2002(next to be held NA November 2004); Senate - last held 7 November2000 (next to be held NA November 2004)
Judicial branch:High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed bythe US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party [leader NA]; Republican Party [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ESCAP (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, SPC
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)
Flag description:blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outerside and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American baldeagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditionalSamoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club
Economy American Samoa
Economy - overview:This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% ofthe land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linkedto the US, with which American Samoa conducts most of its foreigntrade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone ofthe private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfersfrom the US Government add substantially to American Samoa'seconomic well-being. Attempts by the government to develop a largerand broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, itslimited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism, adeveloping sector, has been held back by the recurring financialdifficulties in East Asia.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $500 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,000 (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):NA%
Labor force:14,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:government 33%, tuna canneries 34%, other 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate:6% (2000)
Budget:revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY96/97)
Industries:tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels),handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:130 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:120.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Exports:$345 million (1999)
Exports - commodities:canned tuna 93%
Exports - partners:Indonesia 71.1%, Japan 7.7%, Samoa 7.7%, Australia 6.7% (2002)
Imports:$452 million (1999)
Imports - commodities:materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%,machinery and parts 6%
Imports - partners:Australia 41%, New Zealand 23%, South Korea 18% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in1994
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications American Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:13,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,550 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephoneservices; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth stationinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:14,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.as
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation American Samoa
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 350 km paved: 150 km unpaved: 200 km
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Aunu'u (new construction), Auasi, Faleosao, Ofu, Pago Pago, Ta'u
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:3 (2002)