Radio broadcast stations:AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)
Radios:415,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)
Televisions:38,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ht
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:30,000 (2002)
Transportation Haiti
Railways:total: 40 kmnarrow gauge: 40 km 0.760-m gauge; single-tracknote: privately owned industrial line; closed in early 1990s (2001est.)
Highways:total: 4,160 kmpaved: 1,011 kmunpaved: 3,149 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:NEGL; less than 100 km navigable
Ports and harbors:Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, Jacmel, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane,Port-au-Prince, Port-de-Paix, Saint-Marc
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:12 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 10914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Military Haiti
Military branches:Haitian National Police (HNP)note: the regular Haitian Army, Navy, and Air Force have beendemobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they areconstitutionally abolished
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,735,845 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 944,474 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 94,349 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$50 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Haiti
Disputes - international:despite efforts to control illegal migration, destitute Haitianscontinue to cross into Dominican Republic; claims US-administeredNavassa Island
Illicit drugs:major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the USand Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombiannarcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financialtransactions; pervasive corruption
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Introduction Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Background:These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferredfrom the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of sealand bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.
Geography Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Location:islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way fromMadagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 412 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 412 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:101.9 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:antarctic
Terrain:Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated bya large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak);McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:NA
People Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population: uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
Government Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonaldIslandsconventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by theAustralian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environmentand Heritage
Legal system:the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Economy - overview:No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Governmentallows limited fishing around the islands.
Communications Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Internet country code: .hm
Transportation Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Military Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conductsfisheries patrols
Transnational Issues Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Holy See (Vatican City)
Introduction Holy See (Vatican City)
Background:Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsulafor more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when manyof the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom ofItaly. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed whenRome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner"popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties,which established the independent state of Vatican City and grantedRoman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordatbetween the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earliertreaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as theItalian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include thefailing health of Pope John Paul II, interreligious dialogue andreconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era ofrapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwideprofess the Catholic faith.
Geography Holy See (Vatican City)
Location:Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates:41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 0.44 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 0.44 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, drysummers (May to September)
Terrain:low hill
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: none of the selected agreementssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state;outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo(the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
People Holy See (Vatican City)
Population:911 (July 2003 est.)
Population growth rate:0.01% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: noneadjective: none
Ethnic groups:Italians, Swiss, other
Religions:Roman Catholic
Languages:Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Holy See (Vatican City)
Country name:conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
Government type:ecclesiastical
Capital:Vatican City
Administrative divisions:none
Independence:11 February 1929 (from Italy)note: on 11 February 1929, three treaties were signed with Italywhich, among other things, recognized the full sovereignty of theVatican and established its territorial extent; however, the originof the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerablyin extent, may be traced back to the 8th century
National holiday:Coronation Day of Pope JOHN PAUL II, 22 October (1978)
Constitution:Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)
Legal system:based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
Suffrage:limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:chief of state: Pope JOHN PAUL II (since 16 October 1978)head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since2 December 1990)cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the popeelections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;election last held 16 October 1978 (next to be held after the deathof the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the popeelection results: Karol WOJTYLA elected pope
Legislative branch:unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch:there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminalmatters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issuespertaining to the Holy Seenote: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of PiusXII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation: CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WHO (observer), WIPO, WToO (observer), WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador R. James "Jim" NICHOLSON embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 5758346
Flag description:two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with thecrossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in thewhite band
Economy Holy See (Vatican City)
Economy - overview:This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by anannual tax on Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world, as wellas by special collections (known as Peter's Pence); the sale ofpostage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; fees foradmission to museums; and the sale of publications. Investments andreal estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue.The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable tothose of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:essentially services with a small amount of industry; note -dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers liveoutside the Vatican
Budget:revenues: $173.5 millionexpenditures: $176.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001)
Industries:printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps, a smallamount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking andfinancial activities
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - exports:0 kWh
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid - recipient:none
Currency:euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.1324 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854(2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Holy See (Vatican City)
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic exchangedomestic: tied into Italian systeminternational: uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:1 (1996)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.va
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Holy See (Vatican City)
Railways:total: 0.86 kmstandard gauge: 0.86 km 1.435-m gaugenote: a spur of the Italian Railways system, serving Rome's SaintPeter's station (2001 est.)
Highways:none; all city streets
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:none (2002)
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Holy See (Vatican City)
Military branches:Swiss Guards Corps (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Italy; Swiss Papal Guards areposted at entrances to the Vatican City to provide security andprotect the Pope
Transnational Issues Holy See (Vatican City)
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Honduras
Introduction Honduras
Background:Part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became anindependent nation in 1821. After two and one-half decades of mostlymilitary rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinistacontras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally toSalvadoran Government forces fighting against leftist guerrillas.The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killedabout 5,600 people and caused almost $1 billion in damage.
Geography Honduras
Location:Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala andNicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean),between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 112,090 sq kmland: 111,890 sq kmwater: 200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,520 kmborder countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua922 km
Coastline:820 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain:mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources:timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal,fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 15.15% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 81.72% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:760 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible todamaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Environment - current issues:urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging andthe clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further landdegradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled developmentand improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands;mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largestsource of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, withheavy metals
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline,including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
People Honduras
Population:6,669,789note: 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: 41.6% (male 1,414,791; female 1,357,537)15-64 years: 54.8% (male 1,811,757; female 1,843,456)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 114,791; female 127,457) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 18.8 yearsmale: 18.4 yearsfemale: 19.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.32% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:31.67 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 26.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 33.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 66.65 yearsmale: 65.31 yearsfemale: 68.06 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:57,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,300 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Honduran(s)adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black2%, white 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant minority
Languages:Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.2%male: 76.1%female: 76.3% (2003 est.)
Government Honduras
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Hondurasconventional short form: Honduraslocal short form: Honduraslocal long form: Republica de Honduras
Government type:democratic constitutional republic
Capital:Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions:18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida,Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, FranciscoMorazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz,Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995
Legal system:rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence ofEnglish common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoningNapoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system;accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZContreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto DIAZLobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the chiefof state and head of governmenthead of government: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DELOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice PresidentAlberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;election last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held NA November2005)election results: Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (PN) elected president -52.2%, Raphael PINEDA Ponce (PL) 44.3%, others 3.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats;members are elected proportionally to the number of votes theirparty's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held NA November2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PN61, PL 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU-SD 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges areelected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Dr. Hernan CORRALES Padilla];Democratic Unification Party or PUD [leader NA]; Liberal Party or PL[Roberto MICHELETTI Bain]; National Innovation and UnityParty-Social Democratic Party or PINU-SD [Olban F. VALLADARES];National Party of Honduras or PN [Raphael CALLEJAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH;Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating Committee ofPopular Organizations or CCOP; General Workers Confederation or CGT;Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP; NationalAssociation of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; National Union ofCampesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United Federation of HonduranWorkers or FUTH
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mario Miguel CANAHUATIhonorary consulate(s): Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Jacksonvilleconsulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico),TampaFAX: [1] (202) 966-9751telephone: [1] (202) 966-2604chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Leon PALMER embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 238-5114, 236-9320 FAX: [504] 236-9037
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withfive blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered inthe white band; the stars represent the members of the formerFederal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador,Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of ElSalvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the wordsREPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the whiteband; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features atriangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top andAMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy Honduras
Economy - overview:Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemispherewith an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income, is bankingon expanded trade privileges under the Enhanced Caribbean BasinInitiative and on debt relief under the Heavily Indebted PoorCountries (HIPC) initiative. While the country has met most of itsmacroeconomic targets, it failed to meet the IMF's goals toliberalize its energy and telecommunications sectors. Growth remainsdependent on the status of the US economy, its major tradingpartner, on commodity prices, particularly coffee, and on reductionof the high crime rate.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $16.29 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 32% services: 54% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 53% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 42.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:56.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:2.3 million (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:28% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $607 millionexpenditures: $411.9 million, including capital expenditures of $106million (1999 est.)
Industries:sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate:4% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:3.778 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50.2% hydro: 49.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:3.822 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:308 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Exports:$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster, meat; zinc, lumber (2000)
Exports - partners:US 69.5%, El Salvador 3%, Guatemala 2% (2002)
Imports:$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials,chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)
Imports - partners:US 55.3%, El Salvador 4.3%, Mexico 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$5.4 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$557.8 million (1999)
Currency:lempira (HNL)
Currency code:HNL
Exchange rates:lempiras per US dollar - 16.43 (2002), 15.47 (2001), 14.84 (2000),14.21 (1999), 13.39 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Honduras
Telephones - main lines in use:234,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:14,427 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate systemdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); connected to Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
Radios:2.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:570,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.hn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:40,000 (2000)
Transportation Honduras
Railways: total: 699 km narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 13,603 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,828 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:465 km (navigable by small craft)
Ports and harbors:La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela, PuertoLempira
Merchant marine:total: 250 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 680,784 GRT/765,815 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Argentina 1, Bahrain 1, Belize 1, British VirginIslands 1, Bulgaria 1, China 8, Costa Rica 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt 6, ElSalvador 1, Germany 1, Greece 18, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Italy 1,Japan 7, Lebanon 4, Liberia 4, Maldives 2, Marshall Islands 1,Mexico 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 1, Panama 14, Philippines 1, Romania 2,Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1, Singapore 24, South Korea 12, Spain 1, Syria 1, Taiwan 4,Tanzania 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 2, Turks and CaicosIslands 1, United Arab Emirates 6, UK 1, US 5, Vanuatu 1, Vietnam 1,Virgin Islands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 18, cargo 140, chemical tanker 4, container 7,livestock carrier 2, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleumtanker 55, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 4, short-seapassenger 4, specialized tanker 1
Airports:115 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 103 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 83 (2002)
Military Honduras
Military branches:Army, Navy (including marines), Air Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,594,266 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 948,957 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 74,895 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$35 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Honduras
Disputes - international:in 1992, ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputedareas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border, but they still remainlargely undemarcated; in 2002, El Salvador filed an application tothe ICJ to revise the decision on a section of bolsones; the ICJalso advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in theGolfo de Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to thePacific; El Salvador claims tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned by theICJ, off Honduras in the Golfo de Fonseca; Honduras claims SapodillaCays off the coast of Belize but agreed to creation of a jointecological park and Guatemalan corridor in the Caribbean in the 2002Belize-Guatemala Differendum; Nicaragua filed a claim againstHonduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over acomplex maritime dispute in the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer ofcannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for localconsumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-launderingactivity
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Hong Kong
Introduction Hong Kong
Background:Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by Chinathe following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong SpecialAdministrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In thisagreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, twosystems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not beimposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree ofautonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for thenext 50 years.
Geography Hong Kong
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 1,092 sq kmwater: 50 sq kmland: 1,042 sq km
Area - comparative:six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 30 km border countries: China 30 km
Coastline:733 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 NM
Climate:tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy fromspring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain:hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources:outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use:arable land: 5.05%other: 93.94% (1998 est.)permanent crops: 1.01%
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements: party to: Marine Dumping (associate member), Ship Pollution (associate member)
Geography - note: more than 200 islands
People Hong Kong
Population:7,394,170 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.3% (male 680,973; female 599,309)15-64 years: 71.7% (male 2,619,929; female 2,679,430)65 years and over: 11% (male 375,058; female 439,471) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 37.5 yearsmale: 37.1 yearsfemale: 37.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.22% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.71 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:7.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.93 yearsmale: 77.23 yearsfemale: 82.83 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.32 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,600 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chineseadjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions:eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 94%male: 97.1%female: 90.5% (2003 est.)
Government Hong Kong
Country name:conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Hong Konglocal short form: Xiangganglocal long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengquabbreviation: HK
Dependency status:special administrative region of China
Government type:limited democracy
Administrative divisions:none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republicof China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated asHong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's National People'sCongress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residentsliving in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;indirect election limited to about 100,000 members of functionalconstituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broadregional groupings, municipal organizations, and central governmentbodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex-officio members and10 appointed members; ex-officio members are: Chief Secretary DonaldTSANG Yam-kuen (since 1 May 2001), Financial Secretary Antony LEUNG(since 1 May 2001), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1July 1997)elections: TUNG Chee-Hwa was elected to a second term in March 2002by an 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces;the next election is scheduled to be held in 2007
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; 30 indirectlyelected by functional constituencies, 24 elected by popular vote,and 6 elected by an 800-member election committee; members servefour-year terms)elections: last held 10 September 2000 (next to be held in September2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Democratic Party 12, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of HongKong 10, Liberal Party 7, Frontier Party 5, Hong Kong ProgressiveAlliance 4, New Century Forum 2, Hong Kong Association for Democracyand People's Livelihood 1, independents 19
Judicial branch:Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood [Frederick FUNGKin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; DemocraticAlliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong [Jasper TSANG Yok-sing,chairman]; Democratic Party [Martin LEE Chu-ming, chairman];Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Hong KongAssociation for Democracy and People's Livelihood [leader NA]; HongKong Progressive Alliance [Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen]; Liberal Party[James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman]; New Century Forum [NQ Ching-fai,chairman]note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association forDemocracy and People's Livelihood, Citizens Party, Democratic Party,Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Bettermentof Hong Kong, Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party, NewCentury Forum
Political pressure groups and leaders:Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); ChineseManufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of TradeUnions (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan,general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federationof Trade Unions (pro-China) [LEE Chark-tim, president]; Hong KongAlliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China[Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council(pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong KongProfessional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; LiberalDemocratic Federation [HU Fa-kuang, chairman]
International organization participation:APEC, AsDB, BIS, ESCAP (associate), ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMO(associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), WCL,WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James KEITH consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2524-0860
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
Economy Hong Kong
Economy - overview:Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent oninternational trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and rawmaterials must be imported. Imports and exports, includingreexports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kongreverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensivetrade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been furtherintegrating its economy with China because China's growing opennessto the world economy has increased competitive pressure on HongKong's service industries, and Hong Kong's re-export business fromChina is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP compares with thelevel in the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growthaveraged a strong 5% in 1989-1997, but Hong Kong suffered tworecessions in the past 6 years because of the Asian financial crisisin 1998 and the global downturn of 2001-2002. The Severe AcuteRespiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak has also battered Hong Kong'seconomy but the resumption of strong growth began in 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $198.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 0.1%industry: 13.4%services: 86.5% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:3.52 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 31%, financing,insurance, and real estate 13%, community and social services 12%,manufacturing 6%, transport and communications 6%, construction 5%,other 25% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $22.8 billionexpenditures: $30.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY02/03)
Industries:textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics,plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate:-9.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:30.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:37.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.581 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:10.36 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:257,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:fresh vegetables; poultry, fish, pork
Exports:$200.3 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear,watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones
Exports - partners:China 34%, US 19.5%, UK 5.5%, Japan 4.8% (2002)
Imports:$208.1 billion (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures,petroleum, plastics, machinery, electrical equipment; a large shareis reexported
Imports - partners:China 37.5%, Japan 12.2%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 6.2%, Singapore 5.3%,South Korea 5% (2002)
Debt - external:$49.5 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Currency code:HKD
Exchange rates:Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.8 (2002), 7.8 (2001), 7.79(2000), 7.76 (1999), 7.75 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:3.839 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3.7 million (December 1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domesticand international servicesdomestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-opticnetworkinternational: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 PacificOcean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; accessto 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEANmember nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and WesternEurope
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:1.84 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:4.35 million (2002)
Transportation Hong Kong
Railways:total: 34 kmstandard gauge: 34 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified and double-tracked)note: connects to China railway system at Hong Kong-China border(2001)
Highways: total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Hong Kong
Merchant marine:total: 549 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,176,728 GRT/27,119,764 DWTships by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 315, cargo 66, chemical tanker15, combination bulk 2, container 86, liquefied gas 16,multi-functional large-load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 40,refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2, short-sea passenger 1,vehicle carrier 2, includes some foreign-owned ships registered hereas a flag of convenience: Belgium 5, Belize 1, British VirginIslands 1, China 115, Denmark 2, Germany 19, Greece 2, India 8,Japan 8, Liberia 1, Malaysia 7, Norway 1, Panama 2, Philippines 5,Singapore 7, South Korea 2, Taiwan 1, UK 27, Virgin Islands (UK) 1note: (2002 est.)
Airports:3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports: 2 (2002)
Military Hong Kong
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison ofChina's People's Liberation Army (PLA) including elements of the PLAGround Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are underthe direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijingand under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou MilitaryRegion
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,033,716 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,524,903 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 47,477 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA% (FY02)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:Makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces seriouschallenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine toregional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduitfor money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,especially among young people
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Howland Island
Introduction Howland Island
Background:Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island wasofficially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companiesmined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon nearthe middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed duringWorld War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory ofthe famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by theUS Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.