Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (93 seats;members are elected by proportional representation to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November2006)election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance(ruling party - includes PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN36.55%, PCCN 3.73%, PCN 2.12%, MRS 1.33%; seats by party - LiberalAlliance 42, FSLN 36, PCCN 4, PCN 3, PRONAL 2, MRS 1, PRN 1, PC 1,PLI 1, AU 1, UNO-96 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-yearterms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Dr. Fernando AGUERO Rocha];Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Virgilio GODOY]; Liberal Alliance(ruling alliance including Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC, NewLiberal Party or PALI, Independent Liberal Party for National Unityor PLIUN, and Central American Unionist Party or PUCA) [leader NA];National Conservative Party or PC [Pedro SOLARZANO, Noel VIDAURRE];National Project or PRONAL [Benjamin LANZAS]; Nicaraguan Party ofthe Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO, Roberto RODRIGUEZ];Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; SandinistaNational Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra];Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [Sergio RAMIREZ]; UnityAlliance or AU [Alejandro SERRANO]; Union Nacional Opositora 96 orUNO-96 [Alfredo CESAR Aguirre]
Political pressure groups and leaders:National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group ofeight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC,Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and MartyrsConfederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, NationalAssociation of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union ofEmployees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists ofNicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is anumbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation ofLabor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Laboror CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; NicaraguanWorkers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; SuperiorCouncil of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation ofbusiness groups
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December2003)consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, NewYorkFAX: [1] (202) 939-6542telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE embassy: Apartado Postal 327, Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] 266-6010, 266-2298, 266-6013 FAX: [505] 266-9074
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DENICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar tothe flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled bythe words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered inthe white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has fiveblue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy Nicaragua
Economy - overview:Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low percapita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge externaldebt. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on theglobe. While the country has made progress toward macroeconomicstability over the past few years, a banking crisis and scandal hasshaken the economy. Nicaragua will continue to be dependent oninternational aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted PoorCountries (HIPC) initiative. Donors have made aid conditional on theopenness of government financial operation, poverty alleviation, andhuman rights. Nicaragua met the conditions for additional debtservice relief in December 2000. Growth should move up moderately in2003 because of increased private investment and exports.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $11.16 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 26% services: 44% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 48.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:60.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.7 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:services 43%, agriculture 42%, industry 15% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:24% plus considerable underemployment (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $726 millionexpenditures: $908 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,wood
Industrial production growth rate:4.4% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:2.549 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% other: 8.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:2.388 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:17 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:24,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Exports:$637 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, bananas, beef, sugar,gold
Exports - partners:US 59.4%, El Salvador 7.5%, Honduras 4.8% (2002)
Imports:$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products,consumer goods
Imports - partners:US 23.7%, Costa Rica 10.3%, Venezuela 10.1%, Guatemala 7.8%, Mexico6.7%, El Salvador 6%, South Korea 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:$5.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:Substantial foreign support
Currency:gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code:NIO
Exchange rates:gold cordobas per US dollar - 14.25 (2002), 13.37 (2001), 12.68(2000), 11.81 (1999), 10.58 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:140,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,911 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreigninvestmentdomestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system beingexpanded; connected to Central American Microwave Systeminternational: satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (AtlanticOcean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:320,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ni
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2000)
Transportation Nicaragua
Railways: total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 19,032 km paved: 2,094 km unpaved: 16,938 km (2000)
Waterways:2,220 km (including 2 large lakes)
Pipelines:oil 54 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff, Puerto Cabezas, Puerto Sandino,Rama, San Juan del Sur
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:176 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 141 (2002)
Military Nicaragua
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,347,033 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 825,906 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 59,903 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$26 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Nicaragua
Disputes - international:territorial disputes with Colombia over the Archipelago de SanAndres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank region; with respect tothe maritime boundary question in the Golfo de Fonseca, the ICJreferred to the line determined by the 1900 Honduras-Nicaragua MixedBoundary Commission and advised that some tripartite resolutionamong El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua likely would be required;legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on borderwith Costa Rica
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US andtransshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Niger
Introduction Niger
Background:Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Nigerhold it's first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended afive-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Councilthat effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999.
Geography Niger
Location:Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.267 million sq kmwater: 300 sq kmland: 1,266,700 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,697 kmborder countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plainsin south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Niger River 200 mhighest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 3.94% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.06% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:660 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world: northernfour-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable forlivestock and limited agriculture
People Niger
Population:11,058,590 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47.6% (male 2,686,169; female 2,581,785)15-64 years: 50.2% (male 2,710,554; female 2,842,319)65 years and over: 2.2% (male 125,505; female 112,258) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 16.1 yearsmale: 15.6 yearsfemale: 16.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.71% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:49.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:21.71 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 123.64 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 119.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 127.99 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 42.21 yearsmale: 42.29 yearsfemale: 42.12 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.91 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:6,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nigerien(s)adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri)4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 Frenchexpatriates
Religions:Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian
Languages:French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 17.6%male: 25.8%female: 9.7% (2003 est.)
Government Niger
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nigerconventional short form: Nigerlocal short form: Nigerlocal long form: Republique du Niger
Government type:republic
Capital:Niamey
Administrative divisions:7 departments (departements, singular - departement) and 1 capitaldistrict* (capitale district); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi,Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendumon 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 18 July 1999
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999);note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head ofgovernment; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) wasappointed by the president and shares some executiveresponsibilities with the presidentcabinet: 23-member Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); prime ministerappointed by the presidentelection results: TANDJA Mamadou elected president; percent of vote- TANDJA Mamadou 59.9%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 40.1%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (83 seats, members elected by popularvote for five-year terms)elections: last held 24 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -MNSD-Nassara 38, CDS-Rahama 17, PNDS-Tarayya 16, RDP-Jama'a 8,ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya 4
Judicial branch:State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [HamidALGABID]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama[Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a DevelopingSociety-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [Mamadou TANDJA, chairman]; NigerienAlliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya orANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party forDemocracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya [MahamadouISSOUFOU]; Union of Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua orUPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA FAX: [1] (202)483-3169 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227 chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64 FAX: [227] 73 31 67, 72-31-46
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green witha small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in the whiteband; similar to the flag of India, which has a blue spoked wheelcentered in the white band
Economy Niger
Economy - overview:Niger is a poor, landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economycenters on subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry, and reexporttrade, and increasingly less on uranium, because of declining worlddemand. The 50% devaluation of the West African franc in January1994 boosted exports of livestock, cowpeas, onions, and the productsof Niger's small cotton industry. The government relies on bilateraland multilateral aid - which was suspended following the April 1999coup d'etat - for operating expenses and public investment. In2000-01, the World Bank approved a structural adjustment loan of$105 million to help support fiscal reforms. However, reforms couldprove difficult given the government's bleak financial situation.The IMF approved a $73 million poverty reduction and growth facilityfor Niger in 2000 and announced $115 million in debt relief underthe Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Furtherdisbursements of aid occurred in 2002. Future growth may besustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineralresources.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $8.713 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 39% industry: 17% services: 44% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 63% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.5 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:70,000 receive regular wages or salaries
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign sourcesexpenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $178million (2002 est.)
Industries:uranium mining, cement, brick, textiles, food processing,chemicals, slaughterhouses
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:242 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:325.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:100 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry
Exports:$293 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions
Exports - partners:France 39%, Nigeria 33.2%, Japan 17.1% (2002)
Imports:$368 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals
Imports - partners:France 16.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 14.9%, China 9.8%, Nigeria 7.4%, US5.2%, Japan 4.6%, India 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:$1.6 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$341 million (1997)
Currency:Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 696.99(2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.7 (1999), 589.95 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Niger
Telephones - main lines in use:20,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,700 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephonecommunications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in thesouthwestern area of Nigerdomestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radiorelay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 plannedinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:125,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ne
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:12,000 (2002)
Transportation Niger
Railways: 0 km
Highways:total: 10,100 kmpaved: 798 kmunpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:300 kmnote: the Niger River is navigable from Niamey to Gaya on the Beninfrontier from mid-December through March
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:27 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 6under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 181,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 14under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Military Niger
Military branches:Army, Air Force, Gendarmerie, National Intervention and SecurityForce
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,379,485 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,288,396 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 119,367 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$20.54 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Niger
Disputes - international:Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute;much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria,remains undemarcated but states accept 2001 arbitration overdisputed Niger River islands; Lake Chad Commission continues to urgesignatories Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria to ratifydelimitation treaty over the lake region, which remains the site ofarmed clashes among local populations and militias
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Nigeria
Introduction Nigeria
Background:Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution wasadopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian governmentwas completed. The president faces the daunting task of rebuilding apetroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered throughcorruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. Inaddition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstandingethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundationfor economic growth and political stability. Despite someirregularities the April 2003 elections marked the first civiliantransfer of power in Nigeria's history.
Geography Nigeria
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin andCameroon
Geographic coordinates:10 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 923,768 sq kmwater: 13,000 sq kmland: 910,768 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 4,047 kmborder countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger1,497 km
Coastline:853 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north
Terrain:southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountainsin southeast, plains in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, tin, columbite, iron ore, coal, limestone,lead, zinc, arable land
Land use: arable land: 30.96% permanent crops: 2.79% other: 66.25% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:2,330 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; flooding
Environment - current issues:soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and waterpollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil;has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land;rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southwardthrough tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf ofGuinea
People Nigeria
Population:133,881,703note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.6% (male 29,322,774; female 28,990,702)15-64 years: 53.6% (male 36,513,700; female 35,254,333)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 1,890,043; female 1,910,151) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 18 years male: 18.1 years female: 17.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.53% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:38.75 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 71.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 74.44 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 51.01 yearsmale: 50.89 yearsfemale: 51.14 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.4 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:5.8% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3.5 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:170,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nigerian(s)adjective: Nigerian
Ethnic groups:Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is composed ofmore than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous andpolitically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo(Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%
Religions:Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%
Languages:English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 68%male: 75.7%female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
Government Nigeria
Country name:conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeriaconventional short form: Nigeria
Government type:republic transitioning from military to civilian rule
Capital:Abuja; note - on 12 December 1991 the capital was officiallytransferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government officeshave now made the move to Abuja
Administrative divisions:36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Federal Capital Territory*,Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, CrossRiver, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun,Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara
Independence:1 October 1960 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)
Constitution:new constitution adopted May 1999
Legal system:based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (only in somenorthern states), and traditional law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Federal Executive Councilelections: president is elected by popular vote for no more than twofour-year terms; election last held 19 April 2003 (next to be heldNA 2007)election results: Olusegun OBASANJO elected president; percent ofvote - Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) 61.9%, Muhammadu BUHARI (ANPP) 31.2%,Chukwuemeka Odumegwu OJUKWU (APGA) 3.3%, other 3.6%
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (107 seats, threefrom each state and one from the Federal Capital Territory; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House ofRepresentatives (346 seats, members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held NA2007); House of Representatives - last held 12 April 2003 (next tobe held NA 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.6%,ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%; seats by party - PDP 73, ANPP 28, AD 6; Houseof Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP27.4%, AD 9.3%, other 8.8%; seats by party - PDP 213, ANPP 95, AD31, other 7; note - two constituencies are not reported
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the President); Federal Court ofAppeal (judges are appointed by the federal government on the adviceof the Advisory Judicial Committee)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy or AD [Alhaji Adamu ABDULKADIR]; All NigeriaPeoples' Party or ANPP [Don ETIEBET]; All Progressives GrandAlliance or APGA [Chekwas OKORIE]; National Democratic Party or NDP[Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Audu OGBEH];Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; PeoplesSalvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United Nigeria PeoplesParty or UNPP [Saleh JAMBO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC [Adams OSHIOMOLE]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC,OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM,UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNMOVIC, UNU, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jibril Muhammad AMINUconsulate(s) general: Atlanta and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 775-1385telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Howard Franklin JETERembassy: 7 Mambilla Drive, Abujamailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagostelephone: [234] (9) 523-0916/0906/5857/2235/2205FAX: [234] (9) 523-0353
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green
Economy Nigeria
Economy - overview:The oil-rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by politicalinstability, corruption, and poor macroeconomic management, isundergoing substantial reform under the new civilian administration.Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economyaway from overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, whichprovides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65%of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sectorhas failed to keep up with rapid population growth, and Nigeria,once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Followingthe signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000, Nigeriareceived a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a $1billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms.The agreement was allowed to expire by the IMF in November 2001,however, and Nigeria apparently received much less multilateralassistance than expected in 2002. Nonetheless, increases in foreignoil investment and oil production kept growth at 3% in 2002. Thegovernment lacks the strength to implement the market-orientedreforms urged by the IMF, such as modernization of the bankingsystem; to curb inflation by blocking excessive wage demands; and toresolve regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from theoil industry. When the uncertainties in the global economy are addedin, estimates of Nigeria's prospects for 2003 must have a widemargin of error.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $112.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45% industry: 20% services: 35% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 60% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.6 (1996-97)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):14.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:66 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%, industry 10%, services 20% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:28% (1992 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.4 billionexpenditures: $3.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber,wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other constructionmaterials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing,ceramics, steel
Industrial production growth rate:0.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:15.67 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:14.55 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:20 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2.256 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:27 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:15.68 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:7.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:7.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:4.007 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish
Exports:$17.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber
Exports - partners:US 32.3%, Brazil 8.3%, Spain 7.2%, Indonesia 5.9%, France 5.6%,India 4.6% (2002)
Imports:$13.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodand live animals
Imports - partners:UK 9.6%, US 9.4%, China 9.3%, France 8.7%, Germany 6.8%, SouthKorea 6.1%, Netherlands 5.2%, Italy 4.7% (2002)
Debt - external:$29.7 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $250 million (1998)
Currency:naira (NGN)
Currency code:NGN
Exchange rates:nairas per US dollar - NA (2002), 111.23 (2001), 101.7 (2000),92.34 (1999), 21.89 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Nigeria
Telephones - main lines in use:500,000 (2000 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:200,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: an inadequate system, further limited by poormaintenance; major expansion is required and a start has been madedomestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwaveradio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable; mobile cellularfacilities and the Internet are availableinternational: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean); coaxial submarine cable SAFE (SouthAfrican Far East)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)
Radios:23.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15 repeater stations) (2002)
Televisions:6.9 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ng
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):11 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2000)
Transportation Nigeria
Railways:total: 3,557 kmnarrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gaugestandard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 194,394 kmpaved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways)unpaved: 134,326 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:8,575 kmnote: consisting of the Niger and Benue rivers and smaller riversand creeks
Pipelines:condensate 105 km; gas 1,660 km; oil 3,634 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt, Sapele, Warri
Merchant marine:total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 327,689 GRT/607,560 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Bulgaria 1, Greece 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Togo 1, US1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, petroleum tanker29, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:70 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 3 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 18 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Nigeria
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 31,790,482 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 18,259,696 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 1,418,099 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$417.9 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Nigeria
Disputes - international:ICJ ruled in 2002 on the Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritimeboundary by awarding the potentially petroleum-rich BakassiPeninsula and offshore region to Cameroon; Nigeria rejected thecession of the peninsula but the parties formed a Joint BorderCommission to peaceably resolve the dispute and commence withdemarcation in other less-contested sections of the boundary;several villages along the Okpara River are in dispute with Benin;Lake Chad Commission continues to urge signatories Cameroon, Chad,Niger, and Nigeria to ratify delimitation treaty over lake region,which remains the site of armed clashes among local populations andmilitias; Nigeria agreed to ratify the treaty and relinquishsovereignty of disputed lands to Cameroon by December 2003
Illicit drugs:a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, EastAsian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigeriannarcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center;massive corruption and criminal activity, along with unwillingnessof the government to address the deficiencies in itsanti-money-laundering regime make money laundering a major problem
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
======================================================================
@Niue
Introduction Niue
Background:Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differencesbetween its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the CookIslands, have caused it to be separately administered. Thepopulation of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in1966 to about 2,100 in 2002), with substantial emigration to NewZealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.
Geography Niue
Location:Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga
Geographic coordinates:19 02 S, 169 52 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 260 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 260 sq km
Area - comparative:1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:64 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; modified by southeast trade winds
Terrain:steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land
Land use: arable land: 19.23% permanent crops: 7.69% other: 73.08% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:typhoons
Environment - current issues: increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: one of world's largest coral islands
People Niue
Population: 2,145 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.)
Population growth rate:0.01% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:NA (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: NA%male: NA%female: NA%
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NA yearsmale: NA yearsfemale: NA years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:NA 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: Niuean(s)adjective: Niuean
Ethnic groups:Polynesian (with some 200 Europeans, Samoans, and Tongans)
Religions:Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely relatedto the London Missionary Society) 75%, Latter-Day Saints 10%, other15% (mostly Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-DayAdventist)
Languages:Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan;English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Niue
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Niue former: Savage Island
Dependency status:self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retainsresponsibility for external affairs and defense; however, theseresponsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercisedat the request of the Government of Niue
Government type:self-governing parliamentary democracy
Capital:Alofi
Administrative divisions:none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions asdefined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at thesecond order
Independence:on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentarygovernment in free association with New Zealand
National holiday:Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereigntyover New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)
Legal system:English common lawnote: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UKand New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High CommissionerJohn BRYAN (since NA May 2000)election results: Young VIVIAN elected premier; percent ofLegislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 70%, HunukitamaHUNUKI (AI) 30%elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by theLegislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 1 May2002 (next to be held NA May 2005)head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly (20 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve three-year terms; six elected from a commonroll and 14 are village representatives)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NPP 9, independents 11; note - all 20 seats were reelectedelections: last held 21 March 2002 (next to be held in March 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue
Political parties and leaders:Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance ofIndependents or AI [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, ESCAP (associate), FAO, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UNESCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)
Flag description:yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant;the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a largeone on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm ofthe bold red cross
Economy Niue
Economy - overview:The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems ofgeographic isolation, few resources, and a small population.Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfallis made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that areused to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut governmentexpenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. Theagricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening,although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consistsprimarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil,honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreigncollectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recentyears has suffered a serious loss of population because of migrationof Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include thepromotion of tourism and a financial services industry, althoughPremier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut downthe offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002was about $2.6 million.