Illicit drugs:increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrivein country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Italy
Introduction Italy
Background:Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of thepeninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under KingVictor EMMANUEL. An era of parliamentary government came to a closein the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascistdictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led toItaly's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced themonarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a chartermember of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It hasbeen at the forefront of European economic and politicalunification, joining the European Monetary Union in 1999. Persistentproblems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption,high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards ofsouthern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
Geography Italy
Location:Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the centralMediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 301,230 sq kmnote: includes Sardinia and Sicilywater: 7,210 sq kmland: 294,020 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:total: 1,932.2 kmborder countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (VaticanCity) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:7,600 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (asecondary peak of Mont Blanc)
Natural resources:mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, natural gas and crude oilreserves, fish, coal, arable land
Land use: arable land: 28.07% permanent crops: 9.25% other: 62.68% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:26,980 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches,earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-EnvironmentalProtocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well assouthern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
People Italy
Population:57,998,353 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14% (male 4,193,412; female 3,947,679)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 19,625,428; female 19,337,861)65 years and over: 18.8% (male 4,516,995; female 6,376,978) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 41 years male: 39.4 years female: 42.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.11% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:9.18 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.12 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.4 yearsmale: 76.47 yearsfemale: 82.52 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.26 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:100,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Italian(s)adjective: Italian
Ethnic groups:Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, andSlovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians andGreek-Italians in the south)
Religions:predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewishcommunities and a growing Muslim immigrant community
Languages:Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region arepredominantly German speaking), French (small French-speakingminority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speakingminority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99%female: 98.3% (2003 est.)
Government Italy
Country name:conventional long form: Italian Republicconventional short form: Italylocal long form: Repubblica Italianaformer: Kingdom of Italylocal short form: Italia
Government type:republic
Capital:Rome
Administrative divisions:20 regions (regioni, singular - regione); Abruzzi, Basilicata,Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio,Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna,Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta, Veneto
Independence:17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finallyunified until 1870)
National holiday:Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Constitution:1 January 1948
Legal system:based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials; judicialreview under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, whereminimum age is 25)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (since 13 May 1999)elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting ofboth houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for aseven-year term; election last held 13 May 1999 (next to be held NAMay 2006); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmedby Parliamenthead of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as thepresident of the Council of Ministers) Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 10June 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister andapproved by the presidentelection results: Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI elected president; percent ofelectoral college vote - 70%note: a five-party government coalition includes Forza Italia,National Alliance, Northern League, Democratic Christian Center,United Christian Democrats
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senatodella Repubblica (315 seats elected by popular vote of which 232 aredirectly elected and 83 are elected by regional proportionalrepresentation; in addition, there are a small number ofsenators-for-life including former presidents of the republic;members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Cameradei Deputati (630 seats; 475 are directly elected, 155 by regionalproportional representation; members serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006);Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - House of Liberties 177 (Forza Italia 82, National Alliance46, CCD-CDU 29, Northern League 17, others 3), Olive Tree 128(Democrats of the Left 62, Daisy Alliance 42, Sunflower Alliance 16,Italian Communist Party 3, independents 5), non-affiliated witheither coalition 10, senators for life 9; Chamber of Deputies -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - House of Liberties367 (Forza Italia 189, National Alliance 96, CCD-CDU 40, NorthernLeague 30, others 12), Olive Tree 248 (Democrats of the Left 138,Daisy Alliance 76, Sunflower Alliance 18, Italian Communist Party 9,independents 7), non-affiliated with either coalition 15
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected byParliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrativeSupreme Courts)
Political parties and leaders:Center-Left Olive Tree Coalition [Francesco RUTELLI] - Democrats ofthe Left, Daisy Alliance (including Italian Popular Party, ItalianRenewal, Union of Democrats for Europe, The Democrats), SunflowerAlliance (including Green Federation, Italian DemocraticSocialists), Italian Communist Party; Center-Right Freedom HouseCoalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI] (formerly House of Liberties andFreedom Alliance) - Forza Italia, National Alliance, The WhiteflowerAlliance (includes Christian Democratic Center, United ChristianDemocrats), Northern League; Christian Democratic Center or CCD[Marco FOLLINI]; Democrats of the Left or DS [Piero FASSINO]; ForzaItalia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI]; Green Federation [Alfonso PecoraroSCANIO]; Italian Communist Party or PdCI [Armando COSSUTTA]; ItalianPopular Party or PPI [Pierluigi CASTAGNETTI]; Italian Renewal or RI[Lamberto DINI]; Italian Social Democrats or SDI [Enrico BOSELLI];Socialist Movement-Tricolor Flame or MS-Fiamma [Pino RAUTI];National Alliance or AN [Gianfranco FINI]; Northern League or NL[Umberto BOSSI]; Southern Tyrols People's Party or SVP (Germanspeakers) [Siegfried BRUGGER]; Sunflower Alliance (includes GreenFederation, Italian Social Democrats); The Daisy Alliance (includesItalian Popular Party, Italian Renewal, Union of Democrats forEurope, The Democrats); The Democrats [Arturo PARISI]; The Radicals(formerly Pannella Reformers and Autonomous List) [Marco PANNELLA];The Whiteflower Alliance (includes Christian Democratic Center,United Christian Democrats); Union of Democrats for Europe or UDEUR[Clemente MASTELLA]; United Christian Democrats or CDU [RoccoBUTTIGLIONE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Italian manufacturers and merchants associations (Confindustria,Confcommercio); organized farm groups (Confcoltivatori,Confagricoltura); Roman Catholic Church; three major trade unionconfederations (Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL[Sergio COFFERATI] which is left wing, Confederazione Italiana deiSindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Savino PEZZOTTA], which is RomanCatholic centrist, and Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [PietroLARIZZA] which is lay centrist)
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CDB, CE, CEI,CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, G- 8,G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sergio VENTO consulate(s): Detroit consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151 telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400 chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 46741 FAX: [39] (06) 488-2672, 4674-2356 consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoistside), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Coted'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side),white, and greennote: inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in1797
Economy Italy
Economy - overview:Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the sametotal and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalisticeconomy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominatedby private companies, and a less developed, welfare-dependentagricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials neededby industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported.Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a tight fiscal policy inorder to meet the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Unionsand has benefited from lower interest and inflation rates. Thecurrent government has enacted numerous short-term reforms aimed atimproving competitiveness and long-term growth. Italy has movedslowly, however, on implementing needed structural reforms, such aslightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy's rigid labormarket and over-generous pension system, because of the currenteconomic slowdown and opposition from labor unions.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.455 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $25,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 2.4%industry: 30%services: 67.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.1% highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:27.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:23.6 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 63%, industry 32%, agriculture 5% (2001)
Unemployment rate:9.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $504 billionexpenditures: $517 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing,textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate:-2.8% (2002)
Electricity - production:258.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.6% hydro: 18.4% other: 3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:289.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:556 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:48.93 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:79,460 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.866 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:456,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.158 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:586.6 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:15.49 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:71.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:61 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:54.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:209.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish
Exports:$259.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery,motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages andtobacco; minerals and nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:Germany 13.7%, France 12.2%, US 9.8%, UK 6.9%, Spain 6.4% (2002)
Imports:$238.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energyproducts, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing;food, beverages and tobacco
Imports - partners:Germany 17.8%, France 11.3%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 5%, US 4.9%,Spain 4.6%, Belgium 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000), 0.94(1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Italy
Telephones - main lines in use:25 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:20.5 million (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern, well developed, fast; fully automatedtelephone, telex, and data servicesdomestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunksinternational: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a totalof 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarinecables
Radio broadcast stations:AM about 100, FM about 4,600, shortwave 9 (1998)
Radios:50.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:30.3 million (1997)
Internet country code:.it
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):93 (Italy and Holy See) (2000)
Internet users:19.25 million (2001)
Transportation Italy
Railways:total: 19,493 kmstandard gauge: 18,090 km 1.435-m gauge (11,375 km electrified)narrow gauge: 88 km 1.000-m gauge (88 km electrified); 1,315 km0.950-m gauge (189 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 479,688 kmpaved: 479,688 km (including 6,621 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:2,400 kmnote: serves various types of commercial traffic, although oflimited overall value (2002)
Pipelines:gas 17,448 km; oil 1,245 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Augusta (Sicily), Bagnoli, Bari, Brindisi, Gela, Genoa, La Spezia,Livorno, Milazzo, Naples, Porto Foxi, Porto Torres (Sardinia),Salerno, Savona, Taranto, Trieste, Venice (2001)
Merchant marine:total: 462 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 8,518,900 GRT/9,963,040 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Croatia 1, Denmark 4, France 1, Greece 3, Man, Isle of1, Monaco 7, Netherlands 6, Norway 1, Panama 2, Spain 1, Switzerland1, Taiwan 15, Turkey 1, UK 6, US 12 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 39, chemical tanker 98, combinationore/oil 5, container 28, liquefied gas 39, multi-functionallarge-load carrier 1, passenger 14, petroleum tanker 67,refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 60, short-sea passenger 32,specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 22
Airports:134 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 96 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 12 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Heliports: 4 (2002)
Military Italy
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Carabinieri
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 14,450,147 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 12,349,356 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 291,529 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$20.2 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.64% (2002)
Transnational Issues Italy
Disputes - international:Croatia and Italy continue to debate bilateral property and ethnicminority rights issues stemming from border changes after the SecondWorld War
Illicit drugs:important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine andSouthwest Asian heroin entering the European market; moneylaundering by organized crime and from smuggling
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Jamaica
Introduction Jamaica
Background:Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led torecurrent violence and a dropoff in tourism. Elections in 1980 sawthe democratic socialists voted out of office. Subsequentgovernments have been open market oriented. Political violencemarred elections during the 1990s.
Geography Jamaica
Location:Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:18 15 N, 77 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 10,991 sq kmland: 10,831 sq kmwater: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,022 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior
Terrain:mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone
Land use: arable land: 16.07% permanent crops: 9.23% other: 74.7% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hurricanes (especially July to November)
Environment - current issues: heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, themain sea lanes for the Panama Canal
People Jamaica
Population:2,695,867 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.6% (male 395,074; female 376,870)15-64 years: 64.5% (male 870,486; female 869,431)65 years and over: 6.8% (male 82,022; female 101,984) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.5 yearsmale: 25.8 yearsfemale: 27.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:17.35 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.42 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.26 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.85 yearsmale: 73.84 yearsfemale: 77.97 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.01 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:20,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:980 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Jamaican(s)adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups:black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed7.3%, other 0.1%
Religions:Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%,Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, UnitedChurch 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%),Roman Catholic 4%, other, including some spiritual cults 34.7%
Languages:English, patois English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 87.9%male: 84.1%female: 91.6% (2003 est.)
Government Jamaica
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica
Government type:constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:Kingston
Administrative divisions:14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland,Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, SaintJames, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
Independence:6 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, first Monday in August (1962)
Constitution:6 August 1962
Legal system:based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1August 1991)head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since30 March 1992)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the primeminister; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the Houseof Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governorgeneral; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the primeminister
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member bodyappointed by the governor general on the recommendations of theprime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party isallocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated eight seats) andthe House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held NA October2007)election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%;seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on theadvice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA]; National DemocraticMovement or NDM [Bruce GOLDING]; People's National Party or PNP[Percival James PATTERSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (blackreligious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-77, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM,OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Seymour MULLINGSconsulate(s) general: Miami and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 452-0081telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sue McCourt COBBembassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,Kingston 5mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001
Flag description:diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
Economy Jamaica
Economy - overview:The economy, which depends heavily on tourism and bauxite, has beenstagnant since 1995. After five years of recession, the economyinched ahead, by 0.8% in 2000, 1.7% in 2001, and 0.8% in 2002; theglobal economic slowdown, particularly in the United States afterthe 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, has stunted the economicrecovery. Serious problems include: high interest rates; increasedforeign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate;a widening merchandise trade deficit; and a growing internal debt,the result of government bailouts to various ailing sectors of theeconomy, particularly the financial sector. Depressed economicconditions have led to increased civil unrest, including seriousviolent crime. Jamaica's medium-term prospects will depend uponencouraging investment and tourism, maintaining a competitiveexchange rate, selling off reacquired firms, and implementing properfiscal and monetary policies.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $10.08 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 31% services: 63% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 34.2% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.9 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.13 million (1998)
Labor force - by occupation:services 60%, agriculture 21%, industry 19% (1998)
Unemployment rate:15.4% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.23 billionexpenditures: $2.56 billion, including capital expenditures of$232.5 million (FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:tourism, bauxite, textiles, food processing, light manufactures,rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products
Industrial production growth rate:-2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:6.272 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 96.8% hydro: 1.8% other: 1.5% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:5.833 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, potatoes, vegetables; poultry, goats, milk
Exports:$1.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:alumina, bauxite; sugar, bananas, rum
Exports - partners:US 28.1%, Canada 12.2%, Norway 10.7%, UK 10.5%, Germany 7%,Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Imports:$3.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, fuel,food, chemicals, fertilizers
Imports - partners:US 45%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$5.3 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:Jamaican dollar (JMD)
Currency code:JMD
Exchange rates:Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 48.42 (2002), 46 (2001), 42.7(2000), 39.04 (1999), 36.55 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Jamaica
Telephones - main lines in use:353,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:54,640 (1996)
Telephone system:general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone networkdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean); 3 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:1.215 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (1997)
Televisions:460,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.jm
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):21 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2002)
Transportation Jamaica
Railways:total: 272 kmstandard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gauge; note - 207 km, belonging tothe Jamaica Railway Corporation, were in common carrier service butare no longer operational; the remaining track is privately ownedand used to transport bauxite (2002)
Highways: total: 18,700 km paved: 13,109 km unpaved: 5,591 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:petroleum products 10 km
Ports and harbors:Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios,Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel (Longswharf)
Merchant marine:total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,536 GRT/62,868 DWTships by type: bulk 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,short-sea passenger 1note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Latvia 2, US 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:35 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Military Jamaica
Military branches:Jamaica Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, andAir Wing), Jamaica Constabulary Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 755,698 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 528,689 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 27,398 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$30 million (FY95/96 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Jamaica
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for cocaine from South America to NorthAmerica and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government hasan active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a majorconcern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcoticstraffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Jan Mayen
Introduction Jan Mayen
Background:This desolate, mountainous island was named after a Dutch whalingcaptain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims areinconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters andtrappers over the following centuries, the island came underNorwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Haakon VIIToppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is thenorthernmost active volcano on earth.
Geography Jan Mayen
Location:Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the NorwegianSea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates:71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 373 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 373 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:124.1 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 10 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 4 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanicactivity resumed in 1970
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
People Jan Mayen
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base andthe weather and coastal services radio station (July 2003 est.)
Government Jan Mayen
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Dependency status:territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslothrough the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however,authority has been delegated to a station commander of the NorwegianDefense Communication Service
Legal system:the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of Norway is used
Economy Jan Mayen
Economy - overview:Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable naturalresources. Economic activity is limited to providing services foremployees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations located onthe island.
Communications Jan Mayen
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)
Transportation Jan Mayen
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Jan Mayen
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Jan Mayen
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Japan
Introduction Japan
Background:While retaining its time-honored culture, Japan rapidly absorbedWestern technology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become aneconomic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperorretains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power restsin networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and businessexecutives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth.
Geography Japan
Location:Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and theSea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 377,835 sq kmnote: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), andVolcano Islands (Kazan-retto)water: 3,091 sq kmland: 374,744 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:29,751 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the internationalstraits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern andWestern Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
Climate:varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use: arable land: 12.13% permanent crops: 1.01% other: 86.86% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:26,790 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismicoccurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
Environment - current issues:air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality andthreatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers offish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of theseresources in Asia and elsewhere
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:strategic location in northeast Asia
People Japan
Population:127,214,499 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.4% (male 9,368,132; female 8,906,024)15-64 years: 67% (male 42,852,204; female 42,368,109)65 years and over: 18.6% (male 9,945,638; female 13,774,392) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 42 years male: 40.3 years female: 43.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.11% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:9.61 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.55 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 3.56 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.93 yearsmale: 77.63 yearsfemale: 84.41 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:12,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:430 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Japanese (singular and plural)adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups:Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914) (2000)
Religions:observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (includingChristian 0.7%)
Languages:Japanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1995 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government Japan
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan
Government type:constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Capital:Tokyo
Administrative divisions:47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki,Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto,Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita,Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka,Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata,Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence:660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
National holiday:Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:3 May 1947
Legal system:modeled after European civil law system with English-Americaninfluence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)note: following the resignation of Prime Minister Yoshiro MORI,Junichiro KOIZUMI was elected as the new president of the majorityLiberal Democratic Party and soon thereafter designated by the Dietto become the next prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the Diet designates theprime minister; the constitution requires that the prime ministermust command a parliamentary majority; therefore, followinglegislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader ofa majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomesprime ministercabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI (since 26 April2001)
Legislative branch:bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors orSangi-in (247 seats - members elected for six-year terms; halfreelected every three years; 149 members in multi-seatconstituencies and 98 by proportional representation); House ofRepresentatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected forfour-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members byproportional representation in 11 regional blocs)election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - LDP 110, DPJ 59, Komeito 23, JCP 20, SDP 8,Liberal Party 8, Conservative Party 5, independents 14; distributionof seats as of July 2001 was: LDP 115, DPJ 60, Komeito 24, JCP 20,SDP 8, Liberal Party 8 (merged with DPJ in 2003), independents 6,others 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP49.38%, DPJ 36.88%, Komeito 7.09%, JCP 1.88%, SDP 1.25%, NCP .84%;seats by party - LDP 237, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, NCP 4,others 13; distribution of seats as of 13 November 2003 was: LDP244, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, others 10elections: House of Councillors - last held 29 July 2001 (next to beheld in July 2004); House of Representatives - last held 9 November2003 (next election has not been scheduled)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch afterdesignation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by thecabinet)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Naoto KAN, leader; Katsuya OKADA,secretary general]; Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII,chairman; Tadayoshi ICHIDA, secretary general]; Komeito [TakenoriKANZAKI, president; Tetsuzo FUYUSHIBA, secretary general]; LiberalDemocratic Party or LDP [Junichiro KOIZUMI, president; Shinzo ABE,secretary general]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [MizuhoFUKUSHIMA, chairperson; Seiji MATAICHI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialoguepartner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ryozo KATOFAX: [1] (202) 328-2187consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver,Detroit, Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Kansas City (Missouri),Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), SanFrancisco, and Seattlechancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. BAKER, Jr. embassy: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004 telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description:white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) inthe center
Economy Japan
Economy - overview:Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery ofhigh technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% ofGDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank ofsecond-most-technologically-powerful economy in the world after theUS and third-largest economy after the US and China. One notablecharacteristic of the economy is the working together ofmanufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groupscalled keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee oflifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban laborforce. Both features are now eroding. Industry, the most importantsector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported rawmaterials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highlysubsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in theworld. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50%of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintainsone of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economicgrowth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5%average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowedmarkedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of theaftereffects of overinvestment during the late 1980s andcontractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculativeexcesses from the stock and real estate markets. Government effortsto revive economic growth have met with little success and werefurther hampered in 2000-2003 by the slowing of the US, European,and Asian economies. Japan's huge government debt, which isapproaching 150% of GDP, and the ageing of the population are twomajor long-run problems. Robotics constitutes a key long-termeconomic strength with Japan possessing 410,000 of the world's720,000 "working robots." Internal conflict over the proper way toreform the ailing banking system continues.