Total fertility rate:3.49 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:7,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Libyan(s)adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages:Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the majorcities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.6%male: 92.4%female: 72% (2003 est.)
Government Libya
Country name:conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan ArabJamahiriyaconventional short form: Libyalocal short form: nonelocal long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyahal Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
Government type:Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by thepopulace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:Tripoli
Administrative divisions:25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, AlKufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence:24 December 1951 (from Italy)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separatereligious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review oflegislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyaral-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,but is de facto chief of stateelections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy ofpeople's committees; head of government elected by the GeneralPeople's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be heldNA)election results: Mubarak al-SHAMEKH elected premier; percent ofGeneral People's Congress vote - NA%cabinet: General People's Committee established by the GeneralPeople's Congresshead of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee(Premier) Mubarak al-SHAMEKH (since 2 March 2000)
Legislative branch:unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members electedindirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligiblememberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as someIslamic elements
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CAEU, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:Libya does not have an embassy in the US
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli on 2 May 1980
Flag description:plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the statereligion)
Economy Libya
Economy - overview:The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues fromthe oil sector, which contribute practically all export earnings andabout one-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and a small populationgive Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but littleof this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Importrestrictions and inefficient resource allocations have led toperiodic shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs. The nonoilmanufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20%of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural productsto include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, andaluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limitagricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food. Higheroil prices in the last three years led to an increase in exportrevenues, which has improved macroeconomic balances but has donelittle to stimulate broad-based economic growth. Libya is makingslow progress toward economic liberalization and the upgrading ofeconomic infrastructure, but truly market-based reforms will be slowin coming.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $33.36 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 9%industry: 45%services: 46% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2001 est.)
Labor force:1.5 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 54%, industry 29%, agriculture 17% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:30% (2001)
Budget:revenues: $13.7 billionexpenditures: $8.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:petroleum, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:20.18 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:18.77 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:1.429 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:216,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:29.75 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:6.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:770 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.321 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle
Exports:$11.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, refined petroleum products (1999)
Exports - partners:Italy 42.6%, Germany 14.1%, Spain 13.6%, Turkey 6.9%, Switzerland4.4% (2002)
Imports:$6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport equipment, food, manufactured goods (1999)
Imports - partners:Italy 25.6%, Germany 9.8%, South Korea 6.6%, UK 6.6%, Tunisia 6.5%,Japan 6.4%, France 5.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$4.4 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$15 million (2000)
Currency:Libyan dinar (LYD)
Currency code:LYD
Exchange rates:Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.2 (2003), 0.6 (2002), 0.51 (2001),0.5 (2000), 0.39 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:500,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:20,000 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earthstationsinternational: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat,and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwaveradio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece;participant in Medarabtel (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:1.35 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Televisions:730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ly
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:20,000 (2001)
Transportation Libya
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 83,200 km paved: 47,590 km unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:condensate 225 km; gas 3,196 km; oil 6,872 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Al Khums, Banghazi, Darnah, Marsa al Burayqah, Misratah, Ra'sLanuf, Tobruk, Tripoli, Zuwarah
Merchant marine:total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 130,081 GRT/115,480 DWTships by type: cargo 9, liquefied gas 3, petroleum tanker 1, rollon/roll off 4, short-sea passenger 4note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Algeria 1, Kuwait 1, UAE 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:136 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 58over 3,047 m: 232,438 to 3,047 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 2 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 78under 914 m: 18 (2002)over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 391,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Libya
Military branches:Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air and Air Defense Command(includes Air Force)
Military manpower - military age:17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,546,432 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 914,649 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 61,511 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Libya
Disputes - international:Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeriaand about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Liechtenstein
Introduction Liechtenstein
Background:The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the HolyRoman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until theend of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economicdevastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enterinto a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World WarII (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's lowtaxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. However,shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted inconcerns about the use of the financial institutions for moneylaundering.
Geography Liechtenstein
Location:Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 160 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; coolto moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, AirPollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countriesin the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People Liechtenstein
Population:33,145 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.1% (male 2,979; female 3,008)15-64 years: 70.6% (male 11,646; female 11,740)65 years and over: 11.3% (male 1,538; female 2,234) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 38.3 yearsmale: 37.9 yearsfemale: 38.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.25 yearsmale: 75.63 yearsfemale: 82.87 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.5 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: Liechtensteiner(s)adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Religions:Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%(June 2002)
Languages:German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (1981 est.)
Government Liechtenstein
Country name:conventional long form: Principality of Liechtensteinconventional short form: Liechtensteinlocal short form: Liechtensteinlocal long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
Government type:hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic andparliamentary basis
Capital:Vaduz
Administrative divisions:11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established;12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire
National holiday:Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:5 October 1921
Legal system:local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent PrinceALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usuallyappointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader ofthe largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed thedeputy head of government by the monarchcabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarchhead of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April2001)
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected bydirect, popular vote under proportional representation to servefour-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%,FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1elections: last held 11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal orObergericht
Political parties and leaders:Fatherland Union or VU [Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Partyor FBP [Ernst WALCH]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, KarinJENNY, Rene HASLER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU,OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460 FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the USAmbassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crownon the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtensteinhas developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector andliving standards on a par with its large European neighbors. TheLiechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number ofsmall businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-calledletter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in acustoms union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as itsnational currency. It imports more than 90% of its energyrequirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the EuropeanEconomic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between theEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.The government is working to harmonize its economic policies withthose of an integrated Europe.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%industry: 40%services: NA% (1999)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2001)
Labor force:29,000 of which 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria,Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (37256)
Labor force - by occupation:industry 47.4%, services 51.3%, agriculture 1.3% (37256 est.)
Unemployment rate:1.3% (37500)
Budget:revenues: $424.2 millionexpenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Industries:electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% other: 0% (2002) hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Exports:$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, partsfor motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners:EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
Imports:$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:EU, Switzerland
Debt - external:$0 (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:none
Currency:Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:CHF
Exchange rates:Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888(2000), 1.5022 (1999), 1.4498 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:20,072 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic telephone systemdomestic: NAinternational: linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radiorelay
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions:12,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.li
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Liechtenstein
Railways:total: 18.5 kmstandard gauge: 18.5 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)note: owned, operated, and included in statistics of AustrianFederal Railways (2002)
Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
Waterways:none
Pipelines:gas 20 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:none (2002)
Military Liechtenstein
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km ofland in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Illicit drugs:multilateral organizations engaged in issuing internationalguidelines for financial sector oversight found gaps inLiechtenstein's financial services controls that made it vulnerableto money laundering, but Liechtenstein has become less attractive asa haven for illicit funds, based on implementation in 2001 of newanti-money-laundering legislation and improved mutual legalassistance cooperation with other countries
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Lithuania
Introduction Lithuania
Background:Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed bythe USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first ofthe Soviet republics to declare its independence, but thisproclamation was not generally recognized until September of 1991(following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troopswithdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently has restructured itseconomy for eventual integration into Western European institutionsand was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Geography Lithuania
Location:Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 65,200 sq kmwater: NA sq kmland: NA sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,273 kmborder countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:99 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderatewinters and summers
Terrain:lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land
Land use: arable land: 45.46% permanent crops: 0.93% other: 53.61% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that areancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population:3,592,561 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.6% (male 323,776; female 310,087)15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,188,171; female 1,268,035)65 years and over: 14% (male 169,513; female 332,979) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 36.6 yearsmale: 33.9 yearsfemale: 39.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.23% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.48 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:12.89 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.14 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: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.17 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 16.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.6 yearsmale: 63.78 yearsfemale: 75.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.43 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 1,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lithuanian(s)adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Belarusian 1.6%, other2.1%
Religions:Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant,Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages:Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%male: 99.7%female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Lithuaniaconventional short form: Lithuanialocal short form: Lietuvaformer: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Vilnius
Administrative divisions:10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 isthe date of independence from German, Austrian, Prussian, andRussian occupation, 11 March 1990 is the date of independence fromthe Soviet Union
Constitution:adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to theconstitutional court
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Rolandas PAKSAS (since 26 February 2003)head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3July 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on thenomination of the premierelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 22 December 2002 and 5 January 2003 (next to beheld in late 2007); premier appointed by the president on theapproval of the Parliamentelection results: Rolandas PAKSAS elected president; percent of vote- Rolandas PAKSAS 54.9%, Valdas ADAMKUS 45.1%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directlyelected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportionalrepresentation; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2004)note: the voting results from the 2000 elections do not correspondto the make up of the Seimas, which has evolved into a number offactions, each made up of members of several partieselection results: percent of vote by party - Social DemocraticCoalition 31.1%, New Union-Social Liberals 19.6%, Liberal Union17.2%, TS 8.6%, remaining parties all less than 5%; seats by faction- Social Democratic Coalition 51, New Union-Social Liberals 25,United Political Group-Group of Liberals 24, Liberal Democrats 13,Conservatives 9, Farmers and New Democracy Parties 8, Mixed Group 6,independent 1 (four seats unfilled as of 1 June 2003)
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges forall courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders:Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI,chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [AndriusKUBILIUS, chairman]; Lithuanian Center Union or LCS [KestutisGLAVECKAS, chairman]; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [KazysBOBELIS]; Lithuanian Farmer's Party or LUP [Ramunas KARBAUSKIS,chairman]; Lithuanian Green Party [Rimantas BRAZIULIS]; LithuanianLiberal Youth [Neringa MOROZAITE]; Lithuanian National DemocraticParty [Vygintas GONTIS]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition[Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the LithuanianDemocratic Labor Party or LDDP, the Lithuanian Social DemocraticParty or LSDP, and New Democracy; Moderate Conservative Union[Gediminas VAGNORIUS]; Modern Christian Democratic Union [VytautasBOGUSIS, chairman]; New Democracy and Farmer's Union [KazimieraPRUNSKIENE, chairman]; New Union-Social Liberals [ArturasPAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Young Lithuania [Arnoldas PLATELIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant),FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UPU, WCL,WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKASchancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009consulate(s) general: Chicago and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 328-0466telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFTembassy: Akmenu 6, 2600 Vilniusmailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE09723telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview:Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade withRussia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.Unemployment remains high, still 10.7% in 2003, but is improving.Growing domestic consumption and increased investment have furtheredrecovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization andhas moved ahead with plans to join the EU. Privatization of thelarge, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, isnearing completion. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have beenprivatized. Foreign government and business support have helped inthe transition from the old command economy to a market economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $30.08 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.7% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 8%industry: 31%services: 61% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:34 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.8% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.5 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:industry 30%, agriculture 20%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.5% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.59 billionexpenditures: $1.77 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (smallships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:14.62 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 77.7%
Electricity - consumption:8.683 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:6.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish
Exports:$5.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery andequipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs5% (2001)
Exports - partners:Latvia 12.8%, Germany 12%, UK 7.6%, Poland 6.3%, US 5.9%, France5.8%, Russia 5.7%, Sweden 5%, Denmark 4.3% (2002)
Imports:$6.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transportequipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5%(2001)
Imports - partners:Russia 24.1%, Germany 20.3%, Italy 5.9%, Poland 4.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$5.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$228.5 million (1995)
Currency:litas (LTL)
Currency code:LTL
Exchange rates:litai per US dollar - 3.68 (2002), 4 (2001), 4 (2000), 4 (1999), 4(1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:1.142 million (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:500,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to providean improved international capability and better residential accessdomestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system isnearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internetis available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriberapplicationsinternational: landline connections to Latvia and Poland; majorinternational connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway bysubmarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:27note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but mayhave as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions:1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.lt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):32 (2001)
Internet users:341,000 (2001)
Transportation Lithuania
Railways:total: 1,998 kmbroad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (all service suspended) (2002)standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge
Highways:total: 75,243 kmpaved: 68,697 km (including 417 km of expressways)unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)
Waterways:600 km (perennially navigable)
Pipelines:gas 1,698 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:total: 51 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 303,910 GRT/328,380 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Denmark 13 (2002 est.)ships by type: cargo 23, combination bulk 8, petroleum tanker 2,refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 3, short-sea passenger 4
Airports:87 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 65 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 57 (2002)
Military Lithuania
Military branches:Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force, National VolunteerDefense Forces (SKAT)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 937,055 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 735,536 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 29,420 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:in May 2003, the Russian Parliament ratified a 1997 land andmaritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, which had ratified thetreaty in 1999, legalizing limits of former Soviet republic borders;the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundarytreaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oilexploration rights; discussions are still ongoing among Russia,Lithuania, and the EU concerning a simplified transit document forresidents of the Kaliningrad coastal exclave to transit throughLithuania to Russia
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs fromSouthwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europeand Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;susceptible to money laundering despite changes to bankinglegislation
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Luxembourg
Introduction Luxembourg
Background:Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and anindependent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half ofits territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure ofautonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germanyin both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it enteredinto the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the followingyear. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countriesof the European Economic Community (later the European Union) and in1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography Luxembourg
Location:Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 2,586 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 2,586 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplandsto slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselleflood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources:iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use:arable land: 25%other: 75% (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)permanent crops: 0%
Irrigated land:40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85,Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:454,157 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.9% (male 44,182; female 41,640)15-64 years: 66.9% (male 152,963; female 151,061)65 years and over: 14.2% (male 26,060; female 38,251) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 38.1 yearsmale: 37.2 yearsfemale: 38.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.23% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:11.92 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:9.14 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.66 yearsmale: 74.38 yearsfemale: 81.15 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.7 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Luxembourger(s)adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kososvo) and European (guestand resident workers)
Religions:87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Languages:Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrativelanguage), French (administrative language)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourgconventional short form: Luxembourglocal short form: Luxembourglocal long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Constitution:17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); HeirApparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Lydie POLFER (since 7 August1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister andappointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popularelections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majorityparty or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointedprime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister isappointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber ofDeputiesnote: government coalition - CSV and DP
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 13 June 1999 (next to be held by June 2004)note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisorybody to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 membersappointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime ministerelection results: percent of vote by party - CSV 29.79%, DP 21.58%,LSAP 23.75%, ADR 10.36%, Green Party 9.09%, the Left 3.77%; seats byparty - CSV 19, DP 15, LSAP 13, ADR 6, Green Party 5, the Left 2
Judicial branch:judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 districtcourts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts andtribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts andtribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts areappointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Robert MEHLEN];Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as ChristianSocial Party or PCS) [Erna HENNICOT-SCHOEPGES]; Democratic Party orDP [Lydie POLFER]; Green Party [Abbes JACOBY and Felix BRAS];Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Jean ASSELBORN];Marxist and Reformed Communist Party DEI LENK (the Left) [no formalleadership]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union);Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP(professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civilservice); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre desMetiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists);LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation:ACCT, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, EU,FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NATO, NEA, NSG,OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURDchancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: New York and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 328-8270telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr. embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel-Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX: [352] 46 14 01
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue andis shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:This stable, high-income economy features solid growth, lowinflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initiallydominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to includechemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financialsector, which now accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more thancompensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-ownedand have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on smallfamily-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-borderworkers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg,like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,the country has maintained a fairly strong growth rate and enjoys anextraordinarily high standard of living.