Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judgesappointed for life by the president after consultation with ajudicial council
Political parties and leaders:Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [NikolaosKONSTANTOPOULOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA];New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS];Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Konstandinos SIMITIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU,EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH,UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Yeoryious SAVVAIDESconsulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleansconsulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, andSan FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 939-1324telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas J. MILLER embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 101 60 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description:nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; thereis a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a whitecross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the establishedreligion of the country
Economy Greece
Economy - overview:Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sectoraccounting for half of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of theleading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrantsmake up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs.Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of GDP.The economy has improved steadily with economic growth averaging 4%since 1997, exceeding EU growth by more than 1 percentage point.Remaining challenges include the reduction of the public debt,inflation, and unemployment; and further restructuring of theeconomy, including privatizing several state enterprises,undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing bureaucraticinefficiencies. The Olympic Games will be held in Athens in mid-2004.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $203.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $19,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 8.1%industry: 22.3%services: 69.3% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.7 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (2002 est.)
Labor force:4.37 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:industry 20%, agriculture 20%, services 59% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $45 billionexpenditures: $47.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries:tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metalproducts; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:7% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:49.79 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.5% hydro: 3.8% other: 1.7% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:48.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.062 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.562 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:84,720 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:468,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:4.5 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:35 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.021 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:254.9 million cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products
Exports: $12.6 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:Germany 10.4%, Italy 8.5%, UK 6.3%, Bulgaria 5.4%, US 5.3%, Cyprus4.7% (2002)
Imports:$31.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:Germany 12.2%, Italy 11.5%, Russia 7.4%, South Korea 6%, France5.7%, Netherlands 5.6%, US 4.7%, Belgium 4.3%, UK 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$63.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$5.4 billion from EU
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), 365.4 (2000),305.65 (1999), 295.53 (1998)note: in January 2001, the drachma became a participating currencywithin the Eurosystem, and the euro market rate became applicable toall transactions
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Greece
Telephones - main lines in use:5.431 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:937,700 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; goodmobile telephone and international servicedomestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wireconnections; submarine cable to offshore islandsinternational: tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:5.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the USArmed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Televisions:2.54 million (1997)
Internet country code:.gr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):27 (2000)
Internet users:1.4 million (2002)
Transportation Greece
Railways:total: 2,571 km (764 km electrified)standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gaugedual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three railsystem) (2002)
Highways:total: 117,000 kmpaved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:80 kmnote: system consists of three coastal canals including the CorinthCanal (6 km) which crosses the Isthmus of Corinth connecting theGulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf and shortens the sea voyagefrom the Adriatic to Peiraiefs (Piraeus) by 325 km; there are alsothree unconnected rivers
Pipelines:gas 1,531 km; oil 108 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra,Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus),Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine:total: 813 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,173,608 GRT/51,184,723 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Ireland 1, Japan 1, Liberia 1, Norway 1, Panama 2,Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 289, cargo 59, chemical tanker 32, combinationbulk 6, combination ore/oil 4, container 47, liquefied gas 7,passenger 14, petroleum tanker 281, refrigerated cargo 1, rollon/roll off 18, short-sea passenger 49, specialized tanker 4,vehicle carrier 2
Airports:79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 9 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Heliports: 7 (2002)
Military Greece
Military branches:Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, Police, NationalGuard
Military manpower - military age:21 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,662,208 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,026,409 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 74,650 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$6.12 billion (FY99/00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.91% (FY99/00 est.)
Transnational Issues Greece
Disputes - international:Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to resolve their complexmaritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea;Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia over its name
Illicit drugs:a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroinfrom the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursorchemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or isconsumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking andorganized crime
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Greenland
Introduction Greenland
Background:The world's largest non-continental island, about 81% ice-capped,Greenland was granted self-government in 1978 by the Danishparliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmarkcontinues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.
Geography Greenland
Location:Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates:72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 2,166,086 sq kmland: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq kmice-covered) (2000 est.)
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:44,087 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median lineexclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median lineterritorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources:zinc, lead, iron ore, coal, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium,fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Environment - current issues:protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuittraditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Geography - note:dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, butclose to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;world's second largest ice cap
People Greenland
Population:56,385 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.9% (male 7,463; female 7,161)15-64 years: 68.3% (male 20,885; female 17,605)65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,508; female 1,763) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 33.1 yearsmale: 34.3 yearsfemale: 31.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:16.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:7.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.19 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 18.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69 yearsmale: 65.44 yearsfemale: 72.65 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.43 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:100 (1999)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Greenlander(s)adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups:Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish andothers 12% (January 2000)
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper
Government Greenland
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Greenlandlocal short form: Kalaallit Nunaatlocal long form: none
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type:parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Capital:Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu(Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark since 1979)note: foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, butGreenland actively participates in international agreements relatingto Greenland
National holiday:June 21 (longest day)
Constitution:5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:Danish
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January1972), represented by High Commissioner Gunnar MARTENS (since NA1995)note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiitelection results: Hans ENOKSEN elected prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December2002)cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament(Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of partieselections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointedby the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually theleader of the majority party); election last held 3 December 2002(next to be held NA December 2006)
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are electedby popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefour-year terms)note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament orFolketing on 20 November 2001 (next to be held no later thanNovember 2005); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 28.7%, InuitAtaqatigiit 25.5%, Atassut Party 20.4%, Demokratiit 15.6%,Katusseqatigiit 5.3%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit8, Atassut 7, Demokratiit 5, Katusseqatigiit 1elections: last held on 3 December 2002 (next to be held by NADecember 2006)
Judicial branch:High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsretor Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
Political parties and leaders:Akulliit Party [Bjarne KREUTZMANN]; Atassut Party (Solidarity, aconservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark)[Augusta SALLING]; Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiitor IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring completeindependence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT];Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit(Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with noofficial platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a socialdemocratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity andgreater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:NC, NIB
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large diskslightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk isred, the bottom half is white
Economy Greenland
Economy - overview:The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish andsubstantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies abouthalf of government revenues. The public sector, including publiclyowned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role inthe economy. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and mineralsexploration activities, it will take several years before productioncan materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-termpotential, and even this is limited due to a short season and highcosts.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2001 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):1.6% (1999 est.)
Labor force:24,500 (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:10% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $646 millionexpenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85million (1999)
Industries:fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts,hides and skins, small shipyards, mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:245 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:fossil fuel: 100%note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossilfuel to hydropower production (2001)hydro: 0%other: 0%nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:227.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish
Exports:$364 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)
Exports - partners:Denmark 60.3%, Japan 15.5%, US 6%, Thailand 5%, Germany 4% (2002)
Imports:$403 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,petroleum products
Imports - partners:Denmark 74.6%, Norway 14.2%, Russia 2.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$25 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:$380 million subsidy from Denmark
Currency:Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:DKK
Exchange rates:Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.8947 (2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083(2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Greenland
Telephones - main lines in use:25,617 (yearend 1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:12,676 (yearend 1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate domestic and international serviceprovided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totallydigitalized in 1995domestic: microwave radio relay and satelliteinternational: satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:30,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations:1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and threeAFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)
Televisions:30,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:.gl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2002)
Transportation Greenland
Railways:0 km
Highways:total: NA (there are no roads between towns) (2003)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Aasiaat (Egedesminde), Ilulissat (Jakobshavn), Kangerlussuaq,Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Qaqortoq (Julianehab),Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Tasiilaq (March 2001)
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,593 GRT/3,640 DWTships by type: cargo 2, passenger 1note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Denmark 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:14 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Greenland
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Greenland
Disputes - international: uncontested dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Grenada
Introduction Grenada
Background:One of the smallest independent countries in the westernhemisphere, Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces andthose of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured theringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free electionswere reinstituted the following year.
Geography Grenada
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean,north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 344 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 344 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:121 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain:volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use: arable land: 5.88% permanent crops: 26.47% other: 67.65% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June toNovember
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group isdivided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People Grenada
Population:89,258 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35.1% (male 15,840; female 15,492)15-64 years: 61.3% (male 28,941; female 25,735)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 1,502; female 1,748) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 20.5 yearsmale: 21 yearsfemale: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.08% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:22.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:7.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-14.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.52 yearsmale: 62.74 yearsfemale: 66.31 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.45 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: Grenadian(s)adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups:black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian5% , and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
Religions:Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government Grenada
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada
Government type:constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament
Capital:Saint George's
Administrative divisions:6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*,Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark,Saint Patrick
Independence:7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution:19 December 1973
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June1995)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10appointed by the government and three by the leader of theopposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 27 November 2003 (next to be held by NANovember 2008)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7
Judicial branch:West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judgeresides in Grenada)
Political parties and leaders:Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Herbert PREUDHOMME]; NationalDemocratic Congress or NDC [leader vacant]; New National Party orNNP [George McGUIRE]; People Labor Movement or PLM [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory),UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: the ambassador to Barbados is accredited toGrenadaembassy: Point Salines, Saint George'smailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indiestelephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Flag description:a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top andbottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a redborder around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed starswith three centered in the top red border, three centered in thebottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the centerof the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-sidetriangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg,after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrativedivisions
Economy Grenada
Economy - overview:Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange,especially since the construction of an international airport in1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing,together with the development of an offshore financial industry,have also contributed to growth in national output.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $440 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.7% industry: 23.9% services: 68.4% (2000)
Population below poverty line:32% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:42,300 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:services 62%, agriculture 24%, industry 14% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.5% (2000)
Budget:revenues: $85.8 millionexpenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28million (1997)
Industries:food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism,construction
Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:138 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:128.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Exports:$78 million (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners:Germany 14%, US 13.6%, Bangladesh 9.7%, Netherlands 8.6%, SaintLucia 6.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.3%, France 4.1% (2002)
Imports:$270 million (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners:US 30.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 27.3%, UK 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:$196 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$8.3 million (1995)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7(2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Grenada
Telephones - main lines in use:27,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:976 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone systemdomestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone linksinternational: new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobagoand Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gd
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):14 (2000)
Internet users:5,200 (2002)
Transportation Grenada
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 638 km unpaved: 402 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Grenada
Military branches:Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Grenada
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point formarijuana and cocaine to US
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Guadeloupe
Introduction Guadeloupe
Background:Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island ofSaint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion isnamed Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and itsnorthern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe
Geography Guadeloupe
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 1,780 sq kmnote: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands,including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade,Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, andSaint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin)water: 74 sq kmland: 1,706 sq km
Area - comparative:10 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Terrain:Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains;Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven otherislands are volcanic in origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use: arable land: 10.65% permanent crops: 4.14% other: 85.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an activevolcano
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper intotwo islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller,eastern Grande-Terre
People Guadeloupe
Population:440,189 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.7% (male 55,521; female 53,137)15-64 years: 66.4% (male 144,764; female 147,449)65 years and over: 8.9% (male 16,443; female 22,875) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 31 yearsmale: 30.2 yearsfemale: 31.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:16.16 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.15 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 10.33 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.53 yearsmale: 74.37 yearsfemale: 80.84 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.92 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: Guadeloupian(s)adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups:black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese lessthan 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%
Languages:French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90%male: 90%female: 90% (1982 est.)
Government Guadeloupe
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupeconventional short form: Guadeloupelocal short form: Guadeloupelocal long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France)
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French legal system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since 6 August 2002)election results: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General andRegional Councils are elected by the members of those councilshead of government: President of the General Council Jacques GILLOT(since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council LucetteMICHAUX-CHEVRY (since 22 March 1992)cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and theunicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held 22 March 1998 (next to beheld by NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (nextto be held NA 2004)note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September2004); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1, FGPS1; Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French NationalAssembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be heldNA 2007); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 2, PS1, different right parties 1election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6,right-wing candidates 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council - percent ofvote by party - RPR 48.03%, PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 24.49%, PCG5.29%, diverse right parties 5.73%; seats by party - RPR 25,PS/PPDG/diverse left parties 12, PCG 2, diverse right parties 2
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe,French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Mona CADOCE]; FGPS [DominiqueLARIFLA]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Rallyfor the Republic or RPR (may have become UMP) [LucetteMICHAUX-CHEVRY]; Socialist Party or PS [Georges LOUISOR]; Union forFrench Democracy or UDF [Marcel ESDRAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG;General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General Union ofGuadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for Independent Guadeloupe orMPGI
International organization participation:FZ, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Guadeloupe
Economy - overview:The Caribbean economy depends on agriculture, tourism, lightindustry, and services. It also depends on France for largesubsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most touristsfrom the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit theislands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced byother crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of exportearnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root cropsare cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is stilldependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industryfeatures sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuelare imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.7 billion (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $9,000 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 15%industry: 17%services: 68% (1997 est.)
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:125,900 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:27.8% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $225 millionexpenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105million (1996)
Industries:construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.155 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.074 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Exports:$140 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:bananas, sugar, rum
Exports - partners:France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1999)
Imports:$1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods,construction materials
Imports - partners:France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%, Netherlands Antilles 2%(1999)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies
Currency:euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)
Currency code:EUR; FRF
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Guadeloupe
Telephones - main lines in use:171,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic facilities inadequatedomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, andMartinique
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:113,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:118,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:4,000 (2000)
Transportation Guadeloupe
Railways:NA km; privately owned, narrow-gauge plantation lines
Highways: total: 2,467 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1998)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy), Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,240 GRT/109 DWTships by type: passenger 1note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: France 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:9 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Guadeloupe
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Guadeloupe
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Guam
Introduction Guam
Background:Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanesein 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The militaryinstallation on the island is one of the most strategicallyimportant US bases in the Pacific.