Television broadcast stations:0 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.pn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Pitcairn Islands
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Merchant marine:none (2002 est.)
Airports:none (2002)
Military Pitcairn Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Pitcairn Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Poland
Introduction Poland
Background:Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived around the middle ofthe 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century.During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry andinternal disorders weakened the nation, until an agreement in 1772between Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland. Polandregained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany andthe Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite statefollowing the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant andprogressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of theindependent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became apolitical force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections andthe presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990senabled the country to transform its economy into one of the mostrobust in Central Europe, but Poland currently suffers low GDPgrowth and high unemployment. Solidarity suffered a major defeat inthe 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a singledeputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of theSolidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the TradeUnion's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and is scheduledto accede to the European Union along with nine other states on 1May 2004.
Geography Poland
Location:Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 312,685 sq kmwater: 8,220 sq kmland: 304,465 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,788 kmborder countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia444 km, Ukraine 526 km
Coastline:491 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: defined by international treatiesterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters withfrequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers andthundershowers
Terrain:mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 mhighest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources:coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber,arable land
Land use: arable land: 45.81% permanent crops: 1.23% other: 52.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:1,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industryand increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments;air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxideemissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rainhas caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial andmunicipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardouswastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrialestablishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, butat substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and thelack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
People Poland
Population:38,622,660 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.5% (male 3,458,844; female 3,284,995)15-64 years: 69.8% (male 13,407,012; female 13,547,728)65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,879,445; female 3,044,636) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 36 years male: 34.1 years female: 38 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.47 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:9.96 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 10.04 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.91 yearsmale: 69.77 yearsfemale: 78.28 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Pole(s)adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups:Polish 97.6%, German 1.3%, Ukrainian 0.6%, Belarusian 0.5% (1990est.)
Religions:Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox,Protestant, and other 5%
Languages:Polish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%male: 99.8%female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Government Poland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Polandconventional short form: Polandlocal short form: Polskalocal long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
Government type:republic
Capital:Warsaw
Administrative divisions:16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie,Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie,Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie,Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie,Zachodniopomorskie
Independence:11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution:16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997;passed by national referendum 23 May 1997
Legal system:mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdoverCommunist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as partof broader democratization process; limited judicial review oflegislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal arefinal; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court ofJustice in Strasbourg
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December1995)elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2005);prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentand confirmed by the Sejmhead of government: Prime Minister Leszek MILLER (SLD) (since 19October 2001), Deputy Prime Ministers Marek POL (since 19 October2001), Jerzy HAUSNER (since 11 June 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister andthe Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, andthe Sejm approves the Council of Ministerselection results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI reelected president;percent of popular vote - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 53.9%, AndrzejOLECHOWSKI 17.3%, Marian KRZAKLEWSKI 15.6%, Lech WALESA 1%
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe consists ofthe Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system ofproportional representation to serve four-year terms) and the Senateor Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on aprovincial basis to serve four-year terms)elections: Sejm elections last held 23 September 2001 (next to beheld by September 2005); Senate - last held 23 September 2001 (nextto be held by September 2005)election results: Sejm - percent of vote by party - SLD-UP 41%, PO12.7%, Samoobrona 10.2%, PiS 9.5%, PSL 9%, LPR 7.9%, AWSP 5.6% UW3.1%, other 1%; seats by party (as of 25 April 2003) - SLD 193, PO57, Samoobrona 39, PiS 43, PSL 39, LPR 28, UP 16, SKL 8, PLD 6, PBL5, RKN 5, PP 3, ROP 3, German minorities 2, independents 13; note -SLD and UP ran together on electoral lists in the 2001 elections,but constitute separate parliamentary clubs in the Sejm; severalother deputies have left their parties and set up otherparliamentary factions; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - SLD-UP 75, AWSP (an electoral alliance of some 36parties) 15, PSL 4, Samoobrona 2, LPR 2, independents 2note: two seats are assigned to ethnic minority parties
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on therecommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for anindefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen bythe Sejm for nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Catholic-National Movement or RKN [Antoni MACIEREWICZ]; CitizensPlatform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Conservative Peasants Party or SKL-RNP[Artur BALAZS]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Leszek MILLER];Freedom Union or UW [Wladyslaw FRASYNIUK]; German Minority of LowerSilesia or MNSO [Henryk KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [JaroslawKACZYNSKI]; League of Polish Families or LPR [Marek KOTLINOWSKI];Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI];Peasant-Democratic Party or PLD [Roman JAGIELINSKI]; Polish Accordor PP [Jan LOPUSZANSKI]; Polish Peasant Bloc or PBL [WojciechMOJZESOWICZ]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Jaroslaw KALINOWSKI];Samoobrona [Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Movement or RS [KrzysztofPIESIEWICZ]; Union of Labor or UP [Marek POL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [MaciejMANICKI]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; SolidarityTrade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CE,CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest),NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK,UNMOP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Przemyslaw GRUDZINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6270 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw P1 mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 FAX: [48] (22) 504-2951 consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to theflags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Economy Poland
Economy - overview:Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalizationthroughout the 1990s and today stands out as a success story amongtransition economies. Even so, much remains to be done. Theprivatization of small and medium state-owned companies and aliberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the developmentof the private business sector, but legal and bureaucratic obstaclesalongside persistent corruption are hampering its furtherdevelopment. Poland's agricultural sector remains handicapped bystructural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, andlack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitivesectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy), while recentlyinitiated, have stalled due to a lack of political will on the partof the government. Structural reforms in health care, education, thepension system, and state administration have resulted in largerthan expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public financedepends mainly on privatization of Poland's remaining state sector,the reduction of state employment, and an overhaul of the tax codeto incorporate the growing gray economy and farmers most of whom payno tax. The government's determination to enter the EU has shapedmost aspects of its economic policy and new legislation; in June2003, 77% of the voters approved membership, now scheduled for May2004. Improving Poland's export competitiveness and containing theinternal budget deficit are top priorities. Due to politicaluncertainty, the zloty has recently depreciated in relation to theeuro and the dollar while currencies of the other euro-zoneaspirants have been appreciating. GDP per capita equals that of the3 Baltic states.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $373.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $9,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 35% services: 61.2% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: 18.4% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 24.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.6 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:17.6 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:industry 22.1%, agriculture 27.5%, services 50.4% (1999)
Unemployment rate:18.1% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $49.6 billionexpenditures: $52.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1999)
Industries:machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:0.3% (2001)
Electricity - production:135 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.1% hydro: 1.5% other: 0.4% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:118.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:11.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:4.306 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:17,180 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:424,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:53,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:413,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:116.4 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:5.471 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:13.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:41 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:8.782 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:154.4 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork
Exports:$32.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 30.2%, intermediate manufacturedgoods 25.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 20.9%, food and liveanimals 8.5% (1999)
Exports - partners:Germany 33%, Italy 5.7%, France 5%, UK 4.8%, Czech Republic 4.3%(2002)
Imports:$43.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 38.2%, intermediate manufacturedgoods 20.8%, chemicals 14.3%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 9.5%(1999)
Imports - partners:Germany 29.9%, Italy 8.1%, Russia 7.4%, France 7.2%, Netherlands5.3% (2002)
Debt - external:$64 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:EU structural adjustment funds
Currency:zloty (PLN)
Currency code:PLN
Exchange rates:zlotych per US dollar - 3.99 (2002), 4.09 (2001), 4.35 (2000), 3.97(1999), 3.48 (1998)note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Poland
Telephones - main lines in use:8.07 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:13 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: underdeveloped and outmoded system in theprocess of being overhauled; partial privatization of thestate-owned telephone monopoly is underway; the long waiting listfor main line telephone service has resulted in a boom in mobilecellular telephone usedomestic: cable, open-wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellularnetworks; local exchanges 56.6% digitalinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik(Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:20.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:179 (plus 256 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:13.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pl
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):19 (2000)
Internet users:6.4 million (2001)
Transportation Poland
Railways:total: 23,420 kmbroad gauge: 646 km 1.524-m gaugestandard gauge: 21,639 km 1.435-m gauge (11,626 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,135 km various gauges including 1.000-m, 0.785-m,0.750-m, and 0.600-m (2002)
Highways:total: 364,656 kmpaved: 249,060 km (including 358 km of expressways)unpaved: 115,596 km (2000)
Waterways:3,812 km (navigable rivers and canals) (1996)
Pipelines:gas 12,901 km; oil 737 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie, Ustka,Warsaw, Wroclaw
Merchant marine:total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 199,186 GRT/275,476 DWTships by type: bulk 9, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, roll on/roll off1, short-sea passenger 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:150 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 88 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 9 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 62 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 under 914 m: 43 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 15
Heliports: 3 (2002)
Military Poland
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 10,354,978 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 8,077,706 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 343,500 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.5 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.71% (2002)
Transnational Issues Poland
Disputes - international:small boundary changes made with Slovakia in 2003
Illicit drugs:major illicit producer of amphetamine for the international market;minor transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugsto Western Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Portugal
Introduction Portugal
Background:Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16thcenturies, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with thedestruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during theNapoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony.A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next sixdecades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, aleft-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. Thefollowing year, Portugal granted independence to all of its Africancolonies. Portugal entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.
Geography Portugal
Location:Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west ofSpain
Geographic coordinates:39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 92,391 sq kmland: 91,951 sq kmnote: includes Azores and Madeira Islandswater: 440 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier insouth
Terrain:mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico inthe Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources:fish, forests (cork), tungsten, iron ore, uranium ore, marble,arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 20.57% permanent crops: 7.74% other: 71.69% (1999 est.)
Irrigated land:6,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicleemissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, EnvironmentalModification, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along westernsea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People Portugal
Population:10,102,022 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.8% (male 874,198; female 825,742)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 3,326,957; female 3,461,425)65 years and over: 16% (male 651,697; female 962,003) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 37.6 yearsmale: 35.8 yearsfemale: 39.3 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.17% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:11.45 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.21 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.35 yearsmale: 72.86 yearsfemale: 80.07 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.49 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:27,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups:homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descentwho immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Religions:Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)
Languages:Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.3%male: 95.5%female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
Government Portugal
Country name:conventional long form: Portuguese Republicconventional short form: Portugallocal long form: Republica Portuguesalocal short form: Portugal
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Lisbon
Administrative divisions:18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomousregions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro,Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra,Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto,Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:1143 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910)
National holiday:Portugal Day, 10 June (1580)
Constitution:25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November1992, and 3 September 1997
Legal system:civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews theconstitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultativebody to the presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (since6 April 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA January2006); following legislative elections, the leader of the majorityparty or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed primeminister by the presidentelection results: Jorge SAMPAIO reelected president; percent of vote- Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral(Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 17 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - PSD 40.1%, PS 37.8%, PP8.7%, PCP/PEV 6.9%, The Left Bloc 2.7%; seats by party - PSD 105, PS96, PP 14, PCP/PEV 12, The Left Bloc 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed forlife by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:The Greens or PEV [no leader]; Popular Party or PP [Paulo PORTAS];Portuguese Communist Party/The Greens or PCP/PEV [Carlos CARVALHAS];Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Eduardo Ferro RODRIGUES]; SocialDemocratic Party or PSD [Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO]; UnitedDemocratic Coalition or CDU [Carlos CARVALHAS]; The Left Bloc [noleader]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC,EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO,NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Manuel Dos Reis Alves CATARINOconsulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence(Rhode Island)consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and SanFranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 462-3726telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John N. PALMER embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon mailing address: PSC 83, APO AE 09726 telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300 FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109 consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description:two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red(three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on thedividing line
Economy Portugal
Economy - overview:Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-basedeconomy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the pastdecade, successive governments have privatized many state-controlledfirms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including thefinancial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified forthe European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating theeuro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies.Economic growth has been above the EU average for much of the pastdecade, but fell back in 2001-03. GDP per capita stands at 70% ofthat of the leading EU economies. A poor educational system, inparticular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth.Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producersin Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign directinvestment. The coalition government faces tough choices in itsattempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness and to keepthe budget deficit within the 3% EU ceiling.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $195.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3.6%industry: 28.7%services: 67.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.6 (1994-95)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force:5.1 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:services 60%, industry 30%, agriculture 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.7% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $45 billionexpenditures: $48 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking;oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:1.5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:44.32 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 64.5% hydro: 31.3% other: 4.1% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:41.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:3.479 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.743 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:339,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:28,830 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:357,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.542 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.553 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products
Exports: $25.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paperproducts, hides
Exports - partners:Spain 20.3%, Germany 18.4%, France 12.6%, UK 10.5%, US 5.8%, Italy4.8%, Belgium 4.5% (2002)
Imports:$39 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles,agricultural products
Imports - partners:Spain 28.1%, Germany 15%, France 10.2%, Italy 6.5%, UK 5.2%,Netherlands 4.5% (2002)
Debt - external:$13.1 billion (1997 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $271 million (1995)
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 Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:5.3 million (yearend 1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,074,194 (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: undergoing rapid development in recent years,Portugal's telephone system, by the end of 1998, achieved astate-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities anda main line telephone density of 53%domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwaveradio relay, and domestic satellite earth stationsinternational: 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat;tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat(Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations:AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 62 (plus 166 repeaters) note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:4.4 million (2002)
Transportation Portugal
Railways:total: 2,850 kmbroad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 68,732 kmpaved: 59,110 km (including 1441 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,622 km (2000)
Waterways:820 kmnote: relatively unimportant to national economy, used byshallow-draft craft limited to 300 metric-ton or less cargo capacity
Pipelines:gas 482 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon,Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores), Setubal,Viana do Castelo
Merchant marine:total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 993,325 GRT/1,533,255 DWTships by type: bulk 11, cargo 62, chemical tanker 18, container 7,liquefied gas 8, multi-functional large-load carrier 1, passenger 4,petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 5,short-sea passenger 3, vehicle carrier 2note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark6, Germany 20, Greece 1, Iceland 1, Italy 16, Lebanon 1, Liberia 1,Monaco 2, Norway 5, Panama 5, Spain 22, Switzerland 8, UK 1, VirginIslands (UK) 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 40 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 7 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 25 (2002)
Military Portugal
Military branches:Army, Navy (PON) (includes Marines), Air Force, Republican Guard(includes Fiscal Guard)
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,520,852 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,017,678 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 67,816 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.286 billion (FY99/00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (FY99/00)
Transnational Issues Portugal
Disputes - international:Portugal has periodically reasserted claims to territories aroundthe town of Olivenza, Spain
Illicit drugs:gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asianheroin entering the European market; transshipment point for hashishfrom North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Puerto Rico
Introduction Puerto Rico
Background:Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island wasclaimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' secondvoyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rulethat saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and Africanslave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a resultof the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted UScitizenship in 1917 and popularly elected governors have servedsince 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing forinternal self-government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and1998 voters chose to retain commonwealth status.
Geography Puerto Rico
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 9,104 sq kmwater: 145 sq kmland: 8,959 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:501 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains, with coastal plain belt in north; mountainsprecipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastalareas
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: arable land: 3.72% permanent crops: 5.07% other: 91.21% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane tothe Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best naturalharbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high centralmountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry;fertile coastal plain belt in north
People Puerto Rico
Population:3,885,877 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22.9% (male 454,908; female 434,555)15-64 years: 65.2% (male 1,212,764; female 1,322,356)65 years and over: 11.9% (male 200,669; female 260,625) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 33.3 yearsmale: 31.6 yearsfemale: 34.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.58% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.54 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: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.38 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.26 yearsmale: 73.27 yearsfemale: 81.44 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%,Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:Spanish, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.8%male: 93.7%female: 94% (2001)
Government Puerto Rico
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Ricoconventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:commonwealth associated with the US
Government type:commonwealth
Capital:San Juan
Administrative divisions:none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, AguasBuenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, LasPiedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, SanGerman, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, ToaAlta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday:US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day,25 July (1952)
Constitution:ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952;effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system ofjustice
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizensbut do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January2001)election results: Sila M. CALDERON (PPD) elected governor; percentof vote - 48.6%note: residents of Puerto Rico do not vote for US president and vicepresidentelections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for afour-year term; election last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held2 November 2004)head of government: Governor Sila M. CALDERON (since 2 January 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of thelegislature
Legislative branch:bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (28 seats;members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members aredirectly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - PPD 19, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent ofvote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPD 30, PNP 20, PIP 1note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissionerto serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the USHouse of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections lastheld 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results -percent of vote by party - PPD 49.3%; seats by party - PPD 1; AnibalACEVEDO-VILA elected resident commissionerelections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000(next to be held 2 November 2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed oftwo sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices forall these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of theSenate)
Political parties and leaders:National Democratic Party [Celeste BENITEZ]; National RepublicanParty of Puerto Rico [Luis FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP(pro-US statehood) [Carlos PESQUERA]; Popular Democratic Party orPPD (pro-commonwealth) [Sila M. CALDERON]; Puerto Rican IndependenceParty or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces ofPopular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as theMacheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:Caricom (observer), ECLAC (associate), FAO (associate), ICFTU,Interpol (subbureau), IOC, WCL, WFTU, WHO (associate), WToO(associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternatingwith white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearsa large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initiallyinfluenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with thecolors of the bands and triangle reversed
Economy Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbeanregion. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture asthe primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged byduty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms haveinvested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wagelaws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production andother livestock products as the main source of income in theagricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an importantsource of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 milliontourists in 1999. Growth fell off in 2001-02, largely due to theslowdown in the US economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $43.01 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 45%services: 54% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:12% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $6.7 billionexpenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY 99/00)
Industries:pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:20.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.2% hydro: 0.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:19.44 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:190,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Exports: $46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities: chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners:US 88.2%, UK 1.5%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2001)
Imports:$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 53.5%, Ireland 16.3%, Japan 4.5% (2001)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:1.322 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:169,265 (1996)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system, integrated with that of the USby high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed datacapabilitydomestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone serviceinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; submarine cableto US