This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Netherlands Antilles
Introduction Netherlands Antilles
Background:Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacaowas hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity(and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20thcentury with the construction of oil refineries to service the newlydiscovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin isshared with France; its northern portion is named Saint-Martin andis part of Guadeloupe, and its southern portion is named SintMaarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles.
Geography Netherlands Antilles
Location:Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includesCuracao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of theVirgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 960 sq kmnote: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and SintMaarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)water: 0 sq kmland: 960 sq km
Area - comparative:more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
Coastline: 364 km
Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and arerarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius aresubject to hurricanes from July to October
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are dividedgeographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, SintEustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern)group (Bonaire and Curacao)
People Netherlands Antilles
Population:216,226 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.7% (male 27,383; female 26,122)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 69,233; female 75,956)65 years and over: 8.1% (male 7,244; female 10,288) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 31.8 yearsmale: 30.3 yearsfemale: 33.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.9% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:15.76 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 10.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 9.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 11.54 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.38 yearsmale: 73.16 yearsfemale: 77.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.04 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: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean
Ethnic groups:mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Religions:Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-Englishdialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.7%male: 96.7%female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
Government Netherlands Antilles
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Netherlands Antilleslocal long form: noneformer: Curacao and Dependencieslocal short form: Nederlandse Antillen
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internalaffairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defenseand foreign affairs
Government type:parliamentary
Capital:Willemstad
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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:29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, asamended
Legal system:based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common lawinfluence
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1July 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Mirna LOUISA-GODETT (since 11August 2003)elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed bythe monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime ministerby the Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be heldby NA 2006)note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNPcabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten
Legislative branch:unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -FOL 5, PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP-St.M 2, UPB 2, DP 1, MAN 1, PDB 1,WIPM 1note: the government of Prime Minister Mirna LOUISA-GODETT is acoalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3,FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
Judicial branch:Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93[Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; DemocraticParty of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; DemocraticParty of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS];Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [EricLODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA];National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; NewAntilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union ofBonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten orSPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; ProCuracao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic LaborMovement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St.Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious AlternativePeople's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS[Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [WillJOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, RignaldLAK, Editha WRIGHT]note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO(associate), WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Consul General Deborah A. BOLTONconsulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacaomailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacaotelephone: [599] (9) 4613066FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
Flag description:white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed ona vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed starsare arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; thefive stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao,Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Economy Netherlands Antilles
Economy - overview:Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstaysof this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.Although GDP has declined or remained even in each of the past sixyears, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and awell-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in theregion. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the USand Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequatewater supplies hamper the development of agriculture.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 15%services: 84% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:89,000
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $710.8 millionexpenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(1997 est.)
Industries:tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.061 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:986.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Exports:$553 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:petroleum products
Exports - partners:US 20.9%, Guatemala 12%, Venezuela 10.5%, Guyana 6.6%, Singapore4.4%, Cuba 4% (2002)
Imports:$1.43 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:Venezuela 60.8%, Mexico 11.7%, US 9.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued itssupport with $40 million
Currency:Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code:ANG
Exchange rates:Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79(2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999), 1.79 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:76,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular:13,977 (1996)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally adequate facilitiesdomestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay linksinternational: submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:217,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997)
Televisions:69,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.an
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation Netherlands Antilles
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine:total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,122,189 GRT/1,398,649 DWTships by type: bulk 2, cargo 56, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk1, combination ore/oil 3, container 27, liquefied gas 5,multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 1, refrigeratedcargo 27, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 1note: includes foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belgium 3, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Monaco 8, Netherlands52, New Zealand 1, Norway 3, Peru 1, Spain 1, Sweden 3, UK 5 (2002est.)
Airports:5 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2038 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Netherlands Antilles
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy,Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, PoliceForce
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 55,155 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 30,840 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 1,643 (2003 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues Netherlands Antilles
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US andEurope; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@New Caledonia
Introduction New Caledonia
Background:Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. Itserved as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation forindependence during the 1980s and early 1990s seems to havedissipated.
Geography New Caledonia
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 19,060 sq kmwater: 485 sq kmland: 18,575 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,254 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use: arable land: 0.38% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 99.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:160 sq km (1991)
Natural hazards:cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Environment - current issues:erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Geography - note:consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest inthe Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numeroussmall, sparsely populated islands and atolls
People New Caledonia
Population:210,798 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.7% (male 31,990; female 30,695)15-64 years: 64.2% (male 68,093; female 67,205)65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,016; female 6,799) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.9 yearsmale: 26.7 yearsfemale: 27.2 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.38% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:19.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.63 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: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.06 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 8.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.52 yearsmale: 70.57 yearsfemale: 76.62 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.39 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: New Caledonian(s)adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups:Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91%male: 92%female: 90% (1976 est.)
Government New Caledonia
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependenciesconventional short form: New Caledonialocal short form: Nouvelle-Caledonielocal long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
Dependency status:overseas territory of France since 1956
Government type:NA
Capital:Noumea
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Independence:none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum onindependence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum isscheduled for 2014
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to theislands; formerly under French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner Daniel CONSTANTIN (since 3July 2002)elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; high commissioner appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of thegovernment elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note- last election held 28 November 2002 when Pierre FROGIER wasreelectedhead of government: President of the Government Pierre FROGIER(since 5 April 2001)cabinet: Consultative Committee
Legislative branch:unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats;members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or AssembleesProvinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 9 May 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RPCR 24, FLNKS 12, UNI 6, FCCI 4, FN 4, Alliance pour la Caledonie3, LKS 1note: New Caledonia elects 1 seat to the French Senate; electionslast held 24 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; NewCaledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly;elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to be held by June2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UMP 2
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint CommerceTribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders:Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Federation desComites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [FrancoisBURCK]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de LiberationKanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for NationalLiberation or FLNKS [leader NA] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM);Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and EliePOIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (anti independent) orRPCR [Jacques LAFLEUR]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI[Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINEhas since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA;Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ESCAP (associate), FZ, ICFTU, SPC, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy New Caledonia
Economy - overview:New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources.Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, andfood accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,substantial financial support from France - equal to more thanone-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of theeconomy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combinedwith the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economicoutlook for the next several years.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $14,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5%industry: 30%services: 65% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force:79,395 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:19% (1996)
Budget:revenues: $861.3 millionexpenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52million (1996 est.)
Industries:nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate:-0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production:1.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.3% hydro: 23.7% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Exports:$400 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:Japan 20.6%, France 20.4%, Taiwan 16.3%, South Africa 11.3%, Spain7.7%, South Korea 5.4%, Australia 5.4%, Italy 5.3% (2002)
Imports:$1 billion f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 52.8%, Australia 12.7%, Singapore 9.8% (2002)
Debt - external:$79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$880 million annual subsidy from France
Currency:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt theeuro in 2003
Currency code:XPF
Exchange rates:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 135.04(January 2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999), 107.25(1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:47,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:13,040 (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.nc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:24,000 (2001)
Transportation New Caledonia
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 4,825 km paved: 2,287 km unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWTships by type: cargo 1note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Malaysia 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 9 (2002)
Heliports: 5 (2002)
Military New Caledonia
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces(including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$192.3 million (FY96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.3% (FY96)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues New Caledonia
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@New Zealand
Introduction New Zealand
Background:The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, theTreaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to QueenVictoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, theBritish began the first organized colonial settlement. A series ofland wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the nativepeoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independentdominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense allianceslapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought toaddress longstanding Maori grievances.
Geography New Zealand
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 268,680 sq kmnote: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islandswater: NA sq kmland: NA sq km
Area - comparative:about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:15,134 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold,limestone
Land use: arable land: 5.8% permanent crops: 6.44% other: 87.76% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:2,850 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit byspecies introduced from outside
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: Antarctic Seals, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is thesouthernmost national capital in the world
People New Zealand
Population:3,951,307 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.9% (male 443,837; female 423,118)15-64 years: 66.5% (male 1,318,751; female 1,307,796)65 years and over: 11.6% (male 199,722; female 258,083) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 33.1 yearsmale: 32.4 yearsfemale: 33.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.09% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:14.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:4.26 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.32 yearsmale: 75.34 yearsfemale: 81.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: New Zealander(s)adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%,Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions:Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%,Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages:English (official), Maori (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government New Zealand
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: New Zealandabbreviation: NZ
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Wellington
Administrative divisions:16 regions; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne, Hawke'sBay, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki,Tasman, Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday:Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereigntyover New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts ofthe UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986which is the principal formal charter
Legal system:based on English law, with special land legislation and land courtsfor the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4April 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament(120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-memberconstituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportionalseats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)elections: last held 27 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NZLP 52, NP 27, NZFP 13, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 9, UF 8,other 2
Judicial branch:High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:ACT New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE]; Alliance (a coalition of the NewLabor Party, Democratic Party, New Zealand Liberal Party, and ManaMotuhake) [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONSand Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH]; New Zealand FirstParty or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP[Helen CLARK]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August1986), APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner),Australia Group, C, CP, EBRD, ESCAP, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD,OPCW, PCA, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador L. John WOOD consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLSembassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellingtonmailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP96531-1034telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000FAX: [64] (4) 472-3478consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant withfour red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outerhalf of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Crossconstellation
Economy New Zealand
Economy - overview:Since 1984 the government has accomplished major economicrestructuring, transforming New Zealand from an agrarian economydependent on concessionary British market access to a moreindustrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. Thisdynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but left behind many at thebottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technologicalcapabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationarypressures. While per capita incomes have been rising, however, theyremain below the level of the four largest EU economies, and thereis some government concern that New Zealand is not closing the gap.New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly inagricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected bythe global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thusfar the New Zealand economy has been relatively resilient, althoughgrowth may slow to 2.5% in 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $78.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 8%industry: 23%services: 69% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.92 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:services 65%, industry 25%, agriculture 10% (1995)
Unemployment rate:5.3% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $29.2 billionexpenditures: $31.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2002)
Industries:food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:37.51 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.6% hydro: 57.8% other: 10.7% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:34.88 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:30,220 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:119,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:89.62 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.504 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:58.94 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, dairy products; fish
Exports:$15 billion (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:Australia 20.3%, US 15.5%, Japan 11.5%, UK 4.8%, China 4.6%, SouthKorea 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$12.5 billion (2001 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:Australia 22.1%, US 13.6%, Japan 12%, China 8%, Germany 5.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$33 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $99.7 million
Currency:New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 2.16 (2002), 2.38 (2001), 2.2(2000), 1.89 (1999), 1.87 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:1.92 million (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.2 million (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international systemsdomestic: NAinternational: submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:1.926 million (1997)
Internet country code:.nz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):36 (2000)
Internet users:2.06 million (2002)
Transportation New Zealand
Railways: total: 3,898 km narrow gauge: 3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 92,053 kmpaved: 57,809 km (including at least 190 km of expressways)unpaved: 34,244 km (2000)
Waterways:1,609 kmnote: of little importance in satisfying total transportationrequirements
Pipelines:gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refinedproducts 304 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 69,685 GRT/106,627 DWTnote: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Australia 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 2,roll on/roll off 1
Airports:113 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 5 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 67 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 26 under 914 m: 39 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military New Zealand
Military branches:New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand AirForce
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,021,770 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 859,505 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 26,803 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$605.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues New Zealand
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Nicaragua
Introduction Nicaragua
Background:The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony fromPanama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain wasdeclared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region insubsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulationand corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in ashort-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillasto power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvadorcaused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas throughmuch of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt itseconomy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in1998.
Geography Nicaragua
Location:Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the NorthPacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 129,494 sq kmwater: 9,240 sq kmland: 120,254 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: continental shelf: natural prolongation territorial sea: 200 NM
Climate:tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interiormountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources:gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 20.24% permanent crops: 2.38% other: 77.38% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:880 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremelysusceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwaterbody in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
People Nicaragua
Population:5,128,517 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.7% (male 984,719; female 949,282)15-64 years: 59.2% (male 1,510,352; female 1,527,991)65 years and over: 3% (male 68,332; female 87,841) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 20.4 yearsmale: 20 yearsfemale: 20.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.03% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:26.29 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.27 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 31.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 27.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 35.08 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.68 yearsmale: 67.68 yearsfemale: 71.79 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:400 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nicaraguan(s)adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,Amerindian 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages:Spanish (official)note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.5%male: 67.2%female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Government Nicaragua
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nicaraguaconventional short form: Nicaragualocal short form: Nicaragualocal long form: Republica de Nicaragua
Government type:republic
Capital:Managua
Administrative divisions:15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - regionautonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002);note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November2001 (next to be held by November 2006)election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president -56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PC)1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president