Debt - external:$10 million (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$15.5 million largely from UK and Japan (1995)
Currency:Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.84 (2002), 1.93 (2001), 1.72(2000), 1.55 (1999), 1.59 (1998)
Fiscal year:NA
Communications Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use:3,800 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)note: Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean CooperativeTelecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)
Radios:17,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (not reported to be active) (2002)
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ki
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:1,000 (2000)
Transportation Kiribati
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 670 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands)
Ports and harbors:Banaba, Betio, English Harbour, Kanton
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWTships by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:20 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 4 (2002)
Military Kiribati
Military branches:no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out lawenforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police postsare on all islands)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Military - note:Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance isprovided by Australia and NZ
Transnational Issues Kiribati
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Korea, North
Introduction Korea, North
Background:Following World War II, Korea was split, with the northern halfcoming under Communist domination and the southern portion becomingWestern-oriented. KIM Chong-il has ruled North Korea since hisfather and the country's founder, president KIM Il-song, died in1994. After decades of mismanagement, the North relies heavily oninternational food aid to feed its population while continuing toexpend resources to maintain an army of about 1 million. NorthKorea's long-range missile development and research into nuclear,chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armedforces are of major concern to the international community. InDecember 2002, North Korea repudiated a 1994 agreement that shutdown its nuclear reactors and expelled UN monitors, further raisingfears it would produce nuclear weapons.
Geography Korea, North
Location:Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering theKorea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Geographic coordinates:40 00 N, 127 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 120,540 sq kmwater: 130 sq kmland: 120,410 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Mississippi
Land boundaries: total: 1,673 km border countries: China 1,416 km, South Korea 238 km, Russia 19 km
Coastline:2,495 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMnote: military boundary line 50 NM in the Sea of Japan and theexclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreignvessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Climate:temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
Terrain:mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys;coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 mhighest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m
Natural resources:coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper,gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 14.12% permanent crops: 2.49% other: 83.39% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:14,600 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasionaltyphoons during the early fall
Environment - current issues:water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; water-bornedisease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law ofthe Sea
Geography - note:strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia;mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated
People Korea, North
Population:22,466,481 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25% (male 2,845,727; female 2,763,800)15-64 years: 67.8% (male 7,485,310; female 7,746,603)65 years and over: 7.2% (male 541,155; female 1,083,886) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 31.1 yearsmale: 30 yearsfemale: 32.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:17.61 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.93 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 27.45 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.79 yearsmale: 68.1 yearsfemale: 73.61 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.25 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: Korean(s)adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a fewethnic Japanese
Religions:traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian andsyncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent;government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion ofreligious freedom
Languages:Korean
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write Koreantotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99%
Government Korea, North
Country name:conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Koreaconventional short form: North Korealocal short form: nonelocal long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguknote: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer totheir countryabbreviation: DPRK
Government type:authoritarian socialist; one-man dictatorship
Capital:Pyongyang
Administrative divisions:9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 special cities* (si,singular and plural); Chagang-do (Chagang Province), Hamgyong-bukto(North Hamgyong Province), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong Province),Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae Province), Hwanghae-namdo (SouthHwanghae Province), Kaesong-si* (Kaesong City), Kangwon-do (KangwonProvince), Najin Sonbong-si*, Namp'o-si* (Namp'o City),P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan Province), P'yongan-namdo (SouthP'yongan Province), P'yongyang-si* (Pyongyang City), Yanggang-do(Yanggang Province)
Independence:15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9September (1948)
Constitution:adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again inApril 1992 and September 1998
Legal system:based on German civil law system with Japanese influences andCommunist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: KIM Chong-il (since NA July 1994); note - on 3September 2003, KIM Chong-il was reelected Chairman of the NationalDefense Commission, a position accorded the nation's "highestadministrative authority"; KIM Yong-nam was reelected President ofthe Supreme People's Assembly Presidium and given the responsibilityof representing the state and receiving diplomatic credentialselections: premier elected by the Supreme People's Assembly;election last held NA September 1998 (next to be held NA)election results: HONG Song-nam elected premier; percent of SupremePeople's Assembly vote - NA%cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister ofPeople's Armed Forces, are appointed by the Supreme People's Assemblyhead of government: Premier PAK Pong-chu (since 3 September 2003);Vice Premiers KWAK Pom-ki (since 5 September 1998), CHON Sung-hun(since 3 September 2003), NO Tu-chol (since 3 September 2003)
Legislative branch:unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NA; the KWP approves a list of candidates who are elected withoutopposition; some seats are held by minor parties
Judicial branch:Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Chondoist Chongu Party [YU Mi-yong, chairwoman]; Social DemocraticParty [KIM Yong-tae, chairman]; major party - Korean Workers' Partyor KWP [KIM Chong-il, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ARF (dialogue partner), ESCAP, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS,IHO, IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none; note - North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in NewYork
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (Swedish Embassy in P'yongyang represents the US as consularprotecting power)
Flag description:three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band isa white disk with a red five-pointed star
Economy Korea, North
Economy - overview:North Korea, one of the world's most centrally planned and isolatedeconomies, faces desperate economic conditions. Industrial capitalstock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years ofunderinvestment and spare parts shortages. Industrial and poweroutput have declined in parallel. The nation has suffered its tenthyear of food shortages because of a lack of arable land; collectivefarming; weather-related problems, including major drought in 2000;and chronic shortages of fertilizer and fuel. Massive internationalfood aid deliveries have allowed the regime to escape massstarvation since 1995-96, but the population remains the victim ofprolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions.Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed forinvestment and civilian consumption. Recently, the regime has placedemphasis on earning hard currency, developing informationtechnology, addressing power shortages, and attracting foreign aid,but in no way at the expense of relinquishing central control overkey national assets or undergoing widespread market-orientedreforms. In 2003, heightened political tensions with key donorcountries and general donor fatigue have held down the flow ofdesperately needed food aid and have threatened fuel aid as well.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $22.26 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 30.4%industry: 32.3%services: 37.3% (2000 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:9.6 million
Labor force - by occupation:agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
Industries:military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals;mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, andprecious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:30.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29% hydro: 71% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:27.91 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:85,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs
Exports:$842 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (includingarmaments); textiles and fishery products
Exports - partners:China 23.5%, Japan 19.9%, Costa Rica 12.4%, Brazil 6.5% (2002)
Imports:$1.314 billion c.i.f. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain
Imports - partners:China 24.9%, Brazil 12.1%, India 9.2%, Thailand 9.2%, Germany 7.8%,Japan 7.1%, Singapore 4.5%, Qatar 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$12 billion (1996 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - nearly $300 million in food aid alone from US, SouthKorea, Japan, and EU in 2001 plus much additional aid from the UNand non-governmental organizations
Currency:North Korean won (KPW)
Currency code:KPW
Exchange rates:official: North Korean won per US dollar - 150 (December 2002),2.15 (December 2001), 2.15 (May 1994), 2.13 (May 1992), 2.14(September 1991), 2.1 (January 1990); market: North Korean won perUS dollar - 300-600 (December 2002), 200 (December 2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Korea, North
Telephones - main lines in use:1.1 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean region); other international connectionsthrough Moscow and Beijing
Radio broadcast stations:AM 16, FM 14, shortwave 12 (1999)
Radios:3.36 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:38 (1999)
Televisions:1.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:.kp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Korea, North
Railways:total: 5,214 kmstandard gauge: 4,549 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified)narrow gauge: 665 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 31,200 kmpaved: 1,997 kmunpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 2,253 km note: mostly navigable by small craft only
Pipelines:oil 136 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan
Merchant marine:total: 149 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 881,276 GRT/1,309,547 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Denmark 1, Greece 2, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 120, combination bulk 2, container 1,multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 4, short-sea passenger 2
Airports:72 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 38 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Military Korea, North
Military branches:Korean People's Army (includes Army, Navy, Air Force), CivilSecurity Forces
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,103,615 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,654,223 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 180,875 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$5,217.4 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:33.9% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Korea, North
Disputes - international:with China, certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers are inuncontested dispute; a section of boundary around Paektu-san(mountain) is indefinite; China objects to illegal migration ofNorth Koreans into northern China; Military Demarcation Line withinthe 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from SouthKorea since 1953
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Korea, South
Introduction Korea, South
Background:After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half ofthe Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government wasinstalled in the north. During the Korean War (1950-1953), US andother UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Koreanattacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953,splitting the Peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38thparallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growthwith per capita income rising to roughly 20 times the level of NorthKorea. South Korea has maintained its commitment to democratize itspolitical processes. In June 2000, a historic first North-Southsummit took place between the South's President KIM Dae-jung and theNorth's leader KIM Chong-il.
Geography Korea, South
Location:Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering theSea of Japan and the Yellow Sea
Geographic coordinates:37 00 N, 127 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 98,480 sq kmland: 98,190 sq kmwater: 290 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 238 km border countries: North Korea 238 km
Coastline:2,413 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the Korea Straitcontinental shelf: not specifiedexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter
Terrain:mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Natural resources: coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 17.44% permanent crops: 2.05% other: 80.51% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:11,590 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismicactivity common in southwest
Environment - current issues:air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from thedischarge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:strategic location on Korea Strait
People Korea, South
Population:48,289,037 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.6% (male 5,256,451; female 4,703,853)15-64 years: 71.5% (male 17,527,407; female 16,991,229)65 years and over: 7.9% (male 1,512,157; female 2,297,940) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 33.2 years male: 32.2 years female: 34.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.66% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:12.6 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.03 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 7.77 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.36 yearsmale: 71.73 yearsfemale: 79.32 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.56 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:4,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:220 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Korean(s) adjective: Korean
Ethnic groups:homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)
Religions:Christian 49%, Buddhist 47%, Confucianist 3%, Shamanist, Chondogyo(Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%
Languages:Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.1%male: 99.3%female: 97% (2003 est.)
Government Korea, South
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Koreaconventional short form: South Korealocal short form: nonenote: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer totheir countrylocal long form: Taehan-min'gukabbreviation: ROK
Government type:republic
Capital:Seoul
Administrative divisions:9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities*(gwangyoksi, singular and plural); Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto,Cholla-namdo, Ch'ungch'ong-bukto, Ch'ungch'ong-namdo,Inch'on-gwangyoksi*, Kangwon-do, Kwangju-gwangyoksi*, Kyonggi-do,Kyongsang-bukto, Kyongsang-namdo, Pusan-gwangyoksi*,Soul-t'ukpyolsi*, Taegu-gwangyoksi*, Taejon-gwangyoksi*,Ulsan-gwangyoksi*
Independence:15 August 1945 (from Japan)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)
Constitution:17 July 1948
Legal system:combines elements of continental European civil law systems,Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President NO Mu-hyun (ROH Moo-hyun) (since 25February 2003)head of government: Prime Minister KO Kun (KOH Kun) (since 27February 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Chin-p'yo (KIM Jin-pyo)(since 27 February 2003) and YUN Tok-hong (since 6 March 2003)cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the primeminister's recommendationelections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-yearterm; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held NADecember 2007); prime minister appointed by the president; deputyprime ministers appointed by the president on the prime minister'srecommendationelection results: results of the 19 December 2002 election - NOMuh-hyun elected president, took office 25 February 2003; percent ofvote - NO Muh-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; YI Hoe-ch'ang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (273 seats total - 227elected by direct, popular vote; members serve four-year terms);note - beginning in 2004, all members will be directly elected;possible redistricting before 2004 may affect the number of seats inthe National Assemblyelections: last held 13 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -GNP 133, MDP 115, ULD 17, other 8; note - the distribution of seatsas of April 2003 was: GNP 153, MDP 101, ULD 11, DPP 1, PPR 1,independents 5; one seat vacant
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (justices are appointed by the president with theconsent of the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic People's Party or DPP [leader NA]; Grand National Partyor GNP [CH'OE Pyong-ryol, chairman]; Millennium Democratic Party orMDP [CHO Sun-hyong, chairman]; United Liberal Democrats or ULD [KIMChong-p'il, president]; Uri Party [KIM Kun-t'ae, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean Trade Unions;Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National Council ofChurches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans' Association;National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic Alliance ofKorea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; NationalFederation of Student Associations
International organization participation:AfDB, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner),Australia Group, BIS, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest),NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG,UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador HAN Sung-chu (HAN Sung-joo)consulate(s): New York, Tamuning (Guam)consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston,Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and SeattleFAX: [1] (202) 387-0205telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. HUBBARD embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710 mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550 telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114 FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845
Flag description:white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center;there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book ofChanges) in each corner of the white field
Economy Korea, South
Economy - overview:As one of the Four Tigers of East Asia, South Korea has achieved anincredible record of growth and integration into the high-techmodern world economy. Three decades ago GDP per capita wascomparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia.Today its GDP per capita is 18 times North Korea's and equal to thelesser economies of the European Union. This success through thelate 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/businessties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship ofspecific industries, and a strong labor effort. The governmentpromoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expenseof consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment overconsumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-99 exposedlongstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model,including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and anundisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged to a negative 6.6% in1998, then strongly recovered to 10.8% in 1999 and 9.2% in 2000.Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing globaleconomy, falling exports, and the perception that much-neededcorporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumerspending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 6.2%, despiteanemic global growth, followed by moderate 2.8% growth in 2003. In2003 the six-day work week was reduced to five days.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $941.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $19,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.4% industry: 41.6% services: 54% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 4% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 24.8% (1998 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.6 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:22 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:services 69%, industry 21.5%, agriculture 9.5% (2001)
Unemployment rate:3.1% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $118.1 billionexpenditures: $95.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $22.6billion (2000)
Industries:electronics, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel,textiles, clothing, footwear, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:6.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:290.7 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 0.8% other: 0.2% (2001) nuclear: 36.6%
Electricity - consumption:270.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.14 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:804,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.965 million bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:20.92 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:21.11 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $162.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities: electronic products, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, steel, ships; textiles, clothing, footwear; fish
Exports - partners:US 20.4%, China 14.7%, Japan 9.4%, Hong Kong 6.3% (2002)
Imports:$148.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,transport equipment, textiles, organic chemicals, grains
Imports - partners:Japan 19.6%, US 15.2%, China 11.4%, Saudi Arabia 5% (2002)
Debt - external:$135.2 billion (yearend 2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA $200 million
Currency:South Korean won (KRW)
Currency code:KRW
Exchange rates:South Korean won per US dollar - 1,251.09 (2002), 1,290.99 (2001),1,130.96 (2000), 1,188.82 (1999), 1,401.44 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Korea, South
Telephones - main lines in use:24 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:28 million (September 2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: NAinternational: fiber-optic submarine cable to China; theRussia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat(Pacific Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 104, FM 136, shortwave 5 (2001)
Radios:47.5 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations:121 (plus 850 repeater stations and the eight-channel AmericanForces Korea Network) (1999)
Televisions:15.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:.kr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2000)
Internet users:25.6 million (2002)
Transportation Korea, South
Railways: total: 3,125 km standard gauge: 3,125 km 1.435-m gauge (661 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 86,990 kmpaved: 64,808 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)unpaved: 22,182 km (1999 est.)
Waterways: 1,609 km note: restricted to small native craft
Pipelines:gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Chinhae, Inch'on, Kunsan, Masan, Mokp'o, P'ohang, Pusan,Tonghae-hang, Ulsan, Yosu
Merchant marine:total: 541 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,490,521 GRT/10,602,751 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Australia 1, Bulgaria 1, China 1, Greece 1, Japan 1,Malaysia 1, Norway 1, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1,UK 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 114, cargo 174, chemical tanker 63, combinationbulk 9, container 52, liquefied gas 17, passenger 3, petroleumtanker 69, refrigerated cargo 21, roll on/roll off 6, short-seapassenger 2, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier 5
Airports:102 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 21 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Heliports: 204 (2002)
Military Korea, South
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police(Coast Guard)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 14,252,851 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 8,994,941 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 345,331 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$13,094.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.8% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Korea, South
Disputes - international:Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zonehas separated North from South Korea since 1953; Liancourt Rocks(Take-shima/Tok-do) are disputed with Japan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Kuwait
Introduction Kuwait
Background:Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the rulingKuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961.Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Followingseveral weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began aground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in fourdays. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructuredamaged during 1990-91.
Geography Kuwait
Location:Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and SaudiArabia
Geographic coordinates:29 30 N, 45 45 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 17,820 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 17,820 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 462 km border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km
Coastline:499 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters
Terrain:flat to slightly undulating desert plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: unnamed location 306 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.34% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.6% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:60 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavyrain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust stormsoccur throughout the year, but are most common between March andAugust
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest andmost sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of thewater; air and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Climate Change, Desertification, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, MarineDumping
Geography - note:strategic location at head of Persian Gulf
People Kuwait
Population: 2,183,161 note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.9% (male 310,008; female 298,474)15-64 years: 69.5% (male 970,282; female 547,753)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 36,306; female 20,338) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 25.9 yearsmale: 28.4 yearsfemale: 21.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:3.34%note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration ofexpatriates (2003 est.)
Birth rate:21.83 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:2.45 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:14.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 10.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 11.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.65 yearsmale: 75.72 yearsfemale: 77.62 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.08 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Kuwaiti(s)adjective: Kuwaiti
Ethnic groups:Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions:Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, andother 15%
Languages:Arabic (official), English widely spoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.5%male: 85.1%female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Government Kuwait
Country name:conventional long form: State of Kuwaitconventional short form: Kuwaitlocal short form: Al Kuwaytlocal long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
Government type:nominal constitutional monarchy
Capital:Kuwait
Administrative divisions:5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, AlFarwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli
Independence:19 June 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:National Day, 25 February (1950)
Constitution:approved and promulgated 11 November 1962
Legal system:civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or haveresided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants atage 21note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996,naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification buthave been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for thefirst time
Executive branch:chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah (since 31December 1977)head of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir Al Sabah(since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister NAWWAF al-Ahmad AlSabah (since 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad AlSabah (since 2001) and Muhammad Dayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister andapproved by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister anddeputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Islamists 21,government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note -all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the NationalAssembly
Judicial branch:High Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:none; formation of political parties is illegal
Political pressure groups and leaders:several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins,merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists andnationalists
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sheikh SALIM al-Abdallah Jabir Al SabahFAX: [1] (202) 966-0517telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONESembassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayanpalace), Kuwait Citymailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat, 13001 Safat, Kuwait Unit 69000,APO AE 09880-9000telephone: [965] 539-5307, ext. 2240FAX: [965] 538-0282
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with ablack trapezoid based on the hoist side
Economy Kuwait
Economy - overview:Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crudeoil reserves of about 98 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves.Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues,and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agriculturaldevelopment. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it dependsalmost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must bedistilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreignoil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.Oil production declined by an estimated 8% in 2002 but is expectedto return to the 2001 level in 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $36.85 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 60%industry: 39.7%services: 0.3% (2000)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.3 millionnote: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force. (1998est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:7% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $11 billionexpenditures: $17.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY 02/03)
Industries:petroleum, petrochemicals, desalination, food processing,construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:-5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:31.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:29.29 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2.117 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:273,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:97.68 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:9.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.548 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:practically no crops; fish
Exports:$16 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and refined products, fertilizers
Exports - partners:Japan 24.4%, South Korea 12.9%, US 11.9%, Singapore 10.1%, Taiwan7%, Netherlands 4.5%, Pakistan 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$7.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing
Imports - partners:US 13.1%, Japan 11.1%, Germany 9.7%, Saudi Arabia 6.6%, UK 6%,Italy 5.4%, France 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$10.4 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:Kuwaiti dinar (KD)
Currency code:KWD
Exchange rates:Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.3 (2002), 0.31 (2001), 0.31(2000), 0.3 (1999), 0.3 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Kuwait
Telephones - main lines in use:412,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:210,000 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: the quality of service is excellentdomestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for newsubscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay,coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellulartelephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is wellsupplied with pay telephonesinternational: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to SaudiArabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG)cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.175 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)
Televisions:875,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:200,000 (2002)
Transportation Kuwait
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 4,450 km paved: 3,587 km unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Kuwait, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' alAhmadi, Mina' Su'ud
Merchant marine:total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,273,628 GRT/3,638,645 DWTships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 6,livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 19, roll on/roll off 1note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Monaco 1, Saudi Arabia 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:6 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3under 914 m: 2 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Heliports:3 (2002)
Military Kuwait
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force (including Air Defense Force), NationalPolice Force, National Guard, Coast Guard