Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; monsoonal; rainy season (November to February)
Terrain:sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs withphosphate plateau in center
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m
Natural resources:phosphates, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collectrainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalinationplant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainlyby a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% ofNauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in thePacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati andMakatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator
People Nauru
Population:12,570 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.9% (male 2,517; female 2,368)15-64 years: 59.3% (male 3,681; female 3,779)65 years and over: 1.8% (male 116; female 109) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 19.6 yearsmale: 19.3 yearsfemale: 20 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:26.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:7.08 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: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 10.33 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 13 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.95 yearsmale: 58.41 yearsfemale: 65.66 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.4 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: Nauruan(s)adjective: Nauruan
Ethnic groups:Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%
Religions:Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Languages:Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), Englishwidely understood, spoken, and used for most government andcommercial purposes
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Nauru
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nauruconventional short form: Nauruformer: Pleasant Island
Government type:republic
Capital:no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
Administrative divisions:14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada,Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren
Independence:31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UNtrusteeship)
National holiday:Independence Day, 31 January (1968)
Constitution:29 January 1968
Legal system:acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentelections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;election last held 29 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)note: Ludwig SCOTTY was removed from the presidency in ano-confidence vote 8 August 2003; Rene HARRIS became presidentelection results: Ludwig SCOTTY elected president 29 May 2003;Ludwig SCOTTY 10 parliamentary votes, Kinza CLODUMAR 7cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof Parliamenthead of government: President Rene HARRIS (since 8 August 2003) note- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve three-year terms)elections: last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May2006)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Nauru First Party3, independents 15
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; NauruParty (informal) [leader NA]; Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leaderNA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN officeat 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone:(212) 937-0074consulate(s): Hagatna (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fijiis accredited to Nauru
Flag description:blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center anda large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side;the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator(the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 originaltribes of Nauru
Economy Nauru
Economy - overview:Revenues of this tiny island have come from exports of phosphates,but reserves are expected to be exhausted within a few years.Phosphate production has declined since 1989, as demand has fallenin traditional markets and as the marginal cost of extracting theremaining phosphate increases, making it less internationallycompetitive. While phosphates have given Nauruans one of the highestper capita incomes in the Third World, few other resources existwith most necessities being imported, including fresh water fromAustralia. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement ofincome from phosphates are serious long-term problems. Inanticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits,substantial amounts of phosphate income have been invested in trustfunds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru'seconomic future. The government has been borrowing heavily from thetrusts to finance fiscal deficits. To cut costs the government hascalled for a freeze on wages, a reduction of over-staffed publicservice departments, privatization of numerous government agencies,and closure of some overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru hasencouraged the registration of offshore banks and corporations. Tensof billions of dollars have been channeled through their accounts.Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, withestimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $60 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%industry: NA%services: NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-3.6% (1993)
Labor force - by occupation: employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation
Unemployment rate:0%
Budget:revenues: $23.4 millionexpenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY 95/96)
Industries:phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:30 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:27.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:coconuts
Exports:$27 million f.o.b. (1995)
Exports - commodities:phosphates
Exports - partners:India 46.1%, South Korea 18.3%, Australia 10.6%, New Zealand 7.8%,Netherlands 5.6% (2002)
Imports:$33 million c.i.f. (1995)
Imports - commodities:food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery
Imports - partners:Australia 59.3%, US 10.1%, Ireland 7.6%, Malaysia 6% (2002)
Debt - external:$33.3 million
Economic aid - recipient:$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.)
Currency:Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2641 (2002) 1.9320 (2001),1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Nauru
Telephones - main lines in use:2,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:450 (1994)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephonecommunication provided via Australian facilitiesdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:7,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:500 (1997)
Internet country code:.nr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Nauru
Railways:total: 5 kmnote: gauge unknown; used to haul phosphates from the center of theisland to processing facilities on the southwest coast (2001)
Highways:total: 30 kmpaved: 24 kmunpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Nauru
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Nauru
Military branches:no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,190 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,762 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Military - note:Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement,defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Nauru
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:broad-based money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Navassa Island
Introduction Navassa Island
Background:This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for itsguano, and mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse,built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of NavassaIsland transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of theInterior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it asa unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year itbecame a National Wildlife Refuge.
Geography Navassa Island
Location:Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, about one-fourth of the wayfrom Haiti to Jamaica
Geographic coordinates:18 25 N, 75 02 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 5.2 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 5.2 sq km
Area - comparative:about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:8 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:marine, tropical
Terrain:raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed byvertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m
Natural resources:guano
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at GuantanamoBay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock, but enough grassland to support goatherds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus
People Navassa Island
Population:uninhabitednote: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island(July 2003 est.)
Government Navassa Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Navassa Island
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior;in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenanceof Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southernside of the island; there has also been a private claim advancedagainst the island
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Navassa Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Navassa Island
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Military Navassa Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Navassa Island
Disputes - international: claimed by Haiti
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Nepal
Introduction Nepal
Background:In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of ruleby hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system ofgovernment. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracywithin the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoistinsurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threateningto bring down the regime. In 2001, the Crown Prince massacred tenmembers of the royal family, including the king and queen, and thentook his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the primeminister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved theparliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because ofthe ongoing insurgency. The country is now governed by the king andhis appointed cabinet, which has negotiated a cease-fire with theMaoist insurgents, until elections can be held at some unspecifiedfuture date.
Geography Nepal
Location:Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 140,800 sq kmwater: 4,000 sq kmland: 136,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries: total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropicalsummers and mild winters in south
Terrain:Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hillregion, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 mhighest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999)
Natural resources:quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits oflignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 20.27% permanent crops: 0.49% other: 79.24% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:11,350 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and faminedepending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summermonsoons
Environment - current issues:deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives);contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agriculturalrunoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicularemissions
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, OzoneLayer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location between China and India; containseight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - theworld's tallest - on the border with China
People Nepal
Population:26,469,569 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39.7% (male 5,424,396; female 5,080,171)15-64 years: 56.7% (male 7,692,134; female 7,320,059)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 468,697; female 484,112) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 19.7 yearsmale: 19.6 yearsfemale: 19.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.26% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:32.46 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.84 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: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 70.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 72.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 68.95 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 59 yearsmale: 59.36 yearsfemale: 58.63 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.39 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:58,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,400 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa,Tharu, and others (1995)
Religions:Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2%note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)
Languages:Nepali (official; spoken by 90% of the population), about a dozenother languages and about 30 major dialects; note - many ingovernment and business also speak English (1995)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 45.2%male: 62.7%female: 27.6% (2003 est.)
Government Nepal
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepalconventional short form: Nepal
Government type:parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
Capital:Kathmandu
Administrative divisions:14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri,Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali,Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence:1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)
National holiday:Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)
Constitution:9 November 1990
Legal system:based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to thethrone 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew, King DIPENDRABir Bikram Shah)head of government: Prime Minister Surya Bahadur THAPA (since 4 June2003); note - Prime Minister CHAND resigned 30 May 2003cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarchnote: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting atthe royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of mostof the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, isbelieved to have been responsible for the shootings before fatallywounding himself; immediately following the shootings and whilestill clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died threedays later and was succeeded by his uncle
Legislative branch:
: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) note: Nepal's Parliament was dissolved on 22 May 2002 election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%; seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1 elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999 (next election NA)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed bythe monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; theother judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation ofthe Judicial Council)
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [MadhavKumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP(also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Surya Bahadur THAPA,chairman]; National People's Front (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [ChitraBahadur, chairman]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP [BhadriPrasad MANDAL, acting party president]; Nepal Workers and PeasantsParty or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; NepaliCongress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president; SushilKOIRALA, general secretary]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [Lila ManiPOKHAREL, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL also known asPrahanda, chairman; and chief negotiator, Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI,from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist]; numerous small, left-leaningstudent groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepaleseantimonarchist groups
International organization participation:AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO(correspondent), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTSO,UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Jai Pratap RANAFAX: [1] (202) 667-5534consulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 667-4550chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. MALINOWSKIembassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandumailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [977] (1) 411179FAX: [977] (1) 419963
Flag description:red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlappingright triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylizedmoon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
Economy Nepal
Economy - overview:Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in theworld with 42% of its population living below the poverty line.Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihoodfor over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP.Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agriculturalproduce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Textile andcarpet production, accounting for about 80% of foreign exchangeearnings in recent years, contracted in 2001-02 due to the overallslowdown in the world economy and pressures by Maoist insurgents onfactory owners and workers. Security concerns in the wake of theMaoist conflict and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in theUS have led to a decrease in tourism, another key source of foreignexchange. Since 1991, the government has been moving forward witheconomic reforms, e.g., by reducing business licenses andregistration requirements to simplify investment procedures,reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying offcivil servants. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting itspotential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreigninvestment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment inother sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small sizeof the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, itslandlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to naturaldisaster. The international community's role of funding more than60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of totalbudgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient ofgrowth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $37.32 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 20% services: 40% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 42% (1995-96)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.7 (FY 95/96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 10 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 81%, services 16%, industry 3%
Unemployment rate:47% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $665 millionexpenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY 99/00 est.)
Industries:tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseedmills; cigarette; cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:8.7% (FY 99/00)
Electricity - production:1.755 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.5% hydro: 91.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.764 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:95 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:227 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Exports:$720 million f.o.b., but does not include unrecorded border tradewith India (2001 est.)
Exports - commodities:carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners:India 47.5%, US 27.6%, Germany 7.5% (2002)
Imports:$1.6 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners:India 21.2%, China 13%, UAE 11.1%, Singapore 8.5%, Hong Kong 5.9%,Saudi Arabia 4.9%, Kuwait 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$2.55 billion (FY 00/01)
Economic aid - recipient:$424 million (FY 00/01)
Currency:Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code:NPR
Exchange rates:Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 77.88 (2002), 74.95 (2001), 71.09(2000), 68.24 (1999), 65.98 (1998)
Fiscal year:16 July - 15 July
Communications Nepal
Telephones - main lines in use:236,816 (January 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fairradiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephonenetworkdomestic: NAinternational: radiotelephone communications; microwave landline toIndia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)
Radios:840,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:130,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.np
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:60,000 (2002)
Transportation Nepal
Railways: total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 13,223 km paved: 4,073 km unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 9over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 361,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 28 (2002)
Military Nepal
Military branches:Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service),Nepalese Police Force
Military manpower - military age:17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,674,014 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,467,511 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 303,222 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$57.22 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Nepal
Disputes - international:joint border commission continues to work on small disputedsections of boundary with India; India has instituted a stricterborder regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and internationaldrug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to theWest
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Netherlands
Introduction Netherlands
Background:The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgiumseceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remainedneutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation byGermany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, theNetherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. Thecountry was a founding member of NATO and the EC (now the EU), andparticipated in the introduction of the Economic and Monetary Union(EMU) in 1999.
Geography Netherlands
Location:Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates:52 30 N, 5 45 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 41,526 sq kmwater: 7,643 sq kmland: 33,883 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain:mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills insoutheast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 mhighest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, arable land
Land use:arable land: 26.53%other: 72.44% (1998 est.)permanent crops: 1.03%
Irrigated land:5,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, andnutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution fromvehicles and refining activities; acid rain
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,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas orMeuse, and Schelde)
People Netherlands
Population:16,150,511 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.2% (male 1,501,127; female 1,436,453)15-64 years: 67.9% (male 5,576,141; female 5,389,764)65 years and over: 13.9% (male 929,087; female 1,317,939) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 38.6 yearsmale: 37.7 yearsfemale: 39.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:11.31 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.66 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.74 yearsmale: 75.85 yearsfemale: 81.76 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.65 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:110 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups:Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-western origin mainlyTurks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese and Indonesians) (1999 est.)
Religions:Roman Catholic 31%, Protestant 21%, Muslim 4.4%, other 3.6%,unaffiliated 40% (1998)
Languages:Dutch (official language), Frisian (official language)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (2000 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government Netherlands
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlandsconventional short form: Netherlandslocal long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlandenlocal short form: Nederland
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government
Administrative divisions:12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe,Flevoland, Friesland, Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant,Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland
Dependent areas:Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence:1579 (from Spain); note - the northern provinces of the Low Countryconcluded the Union of Utrecht, but it was 1648 before Spain finallyrecognized their independence
National holiday:Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accessionto the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution:adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983
Legal system:civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitutiondoes not permit judicial review of acts of the States General;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir ApparentWILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May2003) and Thom DE GRAAF (since 27 May 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following SecondChamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of amajority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by themonarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarchnote: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heirapparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the primeminister on legislative and administrative policy
Legislative branch:bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the FirstChamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by thecountry's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the SecondChamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held NAMay 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to beheld NA January 2007)election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, SocialistParty 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party -CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List PimFortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44,PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party8, D66 6, other 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by themonarch)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques MarcelVERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 orD66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party orPvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Mat HERBEN]; People's Party forFreedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Gerrit ZALM]; SocialistParty [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; a host of minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Federation of Netherlands Trade Union Movement (comprisingSocialist and Catholic trade unions) and a Protestant trade union;Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations;Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; thenondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, ESCAP, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAMconsulate(s): Bostonconsulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 362-3430telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBELembassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Haguemailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similarto the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer;one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with William I,Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century
Economy Netherlands
Economy - overview:The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy depending heavilyon foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrialrelations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable currentaccount surplus, and an important role as a European transportationhub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing,chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highlymechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the laborforce but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industryand for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners,began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The countrycontinues to be one of the leading European nations for attractingforeign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in2001-03, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the fouryears before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above theEU average. The government is wrestling with a deteriorating budgetposition, and is moving toward the EU 3% limit.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $437.8 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $27,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3.1%industry: 25.7%services: 71.2% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.6 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:7.2 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:services 73%, industry 23%, agriculture 4% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:3% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $134 billionexpenditures: $134 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electricalmachinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction,microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:88.32 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.9% hydro: 0.1% other: 5.7% (2001) nuclear: 4.3%
Electricity - consumption:99.42 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:4.209 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:21.49 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.284 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:88.06 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.693 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Exports:$243.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 25.1%, Belgium 12.7%, UK 10.7%, France 10.2%, Italy 6%, US4.6% (2002)
Imports:$201.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs,clothing
Imports - partners:Germany 17.8%, Belgium 9.7%, US 9.1%, UK 6.9%, France 5.5%, China5.1%, Japan 4% (2002)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $3.5 billion (2000 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 Netherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:9,132,400 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4,081,891 (April 1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed and well maintaineddomestic: the existing system of multi-conductor cables is graduallybeing replaced by fiber-optic cables; the density of cellulartelephone traffic is rapidly increasing and further modernization ofthe system is expected in 2001, with the introduction of the thirdgeneration of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)international: 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (1996)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 58, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:15.3 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations:21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:8.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.nl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):52 (2000)
Internet users:9.73 million (2002)
Transportation Netherlands
Railways: total: 2,808 km standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 116,500 kmpaved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)
Waterways:5,046 km (of which 3,745 km are canals)note: 47% of total route length is usable by craft of1,000-metric-ton capacity or larger
Pipelines:condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Amsterdam, Delfzijl, Dordrecht, Eemshaven, Groningen, Haarlem,IJmuiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Utrecht, Vlissingen
Merchant marine:total: 616 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,664,711 GRT/5,226,912 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belgium 1, Canada 1, Denmark 5, Finland 5, Germany 55,Ireland 12, Norway 12, Sweden 17, UK 33, US 12 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 371, chemical tanker 51, container 70,liquefied gas 13, livestock carrier 1, multi-functional large-loadcarrier 15, passenger 10, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo34, roll on/roll off 16, short-sea passenger 2, specialized tanker 6
Airports:28 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Netherlands
Military branches:Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (including Naval AirService and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force, RoyalConstabulary
Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age (note - age 17 for cadets and midshipmen) (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,071,891 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,536,586 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 94,034note: Netherlands has an all-volunteer, 74,100 force in 2001 (2003est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$6.5 billion (FY00/01 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (FY00/01 est.)
Transnational Issues Netherlands
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major European producer of illicit amphetamine and other syntheticdrugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish enteringEurope; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sectorvulnerable to money laundering