Radio broadcast stations:AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:2.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:18 (plus three stations of the US Armed Forces Radio and TelevisionService) (1997)
Televisions:1.021 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):76 (2000)
Internet users:600,000 (2002)
Transportation Puerto Rico
Railways: total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 14,400 km paved: 14,400 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Aguadilla, Arecibo, Fajardo, Guanica, Guayanilla, Guayama,Mayaguez, Playa de Ponce, San Juan
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 19,203 GRT/20,904 DWTships by type: container 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:31 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 5 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Military Puerto Rico
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,Police Force
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Puerto Rico
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Qatar
Introduction Qatar
Background:Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformeditself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearlinginto an independent state with significant oil and natural gasrevenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economywas crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues bythe amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. He was overthrown byhis son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, in a bloodlesscoup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding borderdisputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gasrevenues enable Qatar to have a per capita income not far below theleading industrial countries of Western Europe.
Geography Qatar
Location:Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 11,437 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 11,437 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline: 563 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1.27% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.46% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:130 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleumdeposits
People Qatar
Population:817,052 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.7% (male 102,938; female 98,934)15-64 years: 72.4% (male 415,302; female 176,183)65 years and over: 2.9% (male 17,199; female 6,496) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 31.2 yearsmale: 36.4 yearsfemale: 21.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.87% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:15.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.43 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:17.48 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: 2.36 male(s)/female65 years and over: 2.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.9 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 20.03 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 16.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 23.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.14 yearsmale: 70.65 yearsfemale: 75.76 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Qatari(s)adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:Muslim 95%
Languages:Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.5%male: 81.4%female: 85% (2003 est.)
Government Qatar
Country name:conventional long form: State of Qatarconventional short form: Qatarlocal short form: Qatarnote: closest approximation of the native pronunciation fallsbetween cutter and gutter, but not like guitarlocal long form: Dawlat Qatar
Government type:traditional monarchy
Capital:Doha
Administrative divisions:10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, AlGhuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayanal Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal
Independence:3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 AmirHAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanentconstitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatarivoters approved the new constitution
Legal system:discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civilcodes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family andpersonal matters
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June 1995when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin HamadAl Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince JASIM bin Hamad binKhalifa Al Thani, third son of the monarch (selected crown prince bythe monarch 22 October 1996); note - Amir HAMAD also holds thepositions of minister of defense and commander-in-chief of the armedforceshead of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa Al Thani,brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy PrimeMinister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, brother of the monarch(since 20 January 1998)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditarynote: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-memberCentral Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimedat improving the provision of municipal services; the first electionfor the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative branch:unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; membersappointed)note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when therewere partial elections to the body; Council members have had theirterms extended every four years since; the new constitution providesfor a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the publicwould elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir wouldappoint the remaining members
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer),OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Badr Umar al-DAFAtelephone: [1] (202) 274-1600consulate(s) general: HoustonFAX: [1] (202) 237-0061chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Maureen E. QUINNembassy: Al-Luqtas District, 22 February Road, Dohamailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Dohatelephone: [974] 488 4101FAX: [974] 488 4298
Flag description:maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on thehoist side
Economy Qatar
Economy - overview:Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of exportearnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have givenQatar a per capita GDP comparable to that of the leading WestEuropean industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 14.5 billionbarrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23years. Production and export of natural gas are becomingincreasingly important to the economy. Qatar's proved reserves ofnatural gas exceed 17.9 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of theworld total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals featurethe development of offshore natural gas reserves. Since 2000, Qatarhas consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oilprices and increased natural gas exports, and Qatar's economy isexpected to receive an added boost as it begins to increase liquidnatural gas exports.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $15.91 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $20,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 0.4%industry: 67.6%services: 32% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2002)
Labor force:280,122 (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.7% (2001)
Budget:revenues: $5 billionexpenditures: $5.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2billion (FY 02/03 est.)
Industries:crude oil production and refining, fertilizers, petrochemicals,steel reinforcing bars, cement
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:9.264 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:8.616 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:864,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:14.51 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:16.54 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:17.93 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Exports:$10.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners:Japan 40.1%, South Korea 16.6%, Singapore 8.2%, US 4.1% (2002)
Imports:$3.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:France 17.8%, Japan 10.1%, US 8.5%, UK 8.3%, Germany 8%, Italy6.7%, UAE 5.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, South Korea 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$15.4 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency:Qatari rial (QAR)
Currency code:QAR
Exchange rates:Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000),3.64 (1999), 3.64 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Qatar
Telephones - main lines in use:142,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:43,476 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system centered in Dohadomestic: NAinternational: tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radiorelay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 IndianOcean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:256,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:230,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.qa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:75,000 (2001)
Transportation Qatar
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,230 km paved: 1,107 km unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:condensate 90 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 902 km; liquidpetroleum gas 87 km; oil 722 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Doha, Halul Island, Umm Sa'id (Musay'id)
Merchant marine:total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 638,815 GRT/995,096 DWTships by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 2,container 7, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Kuwait 1, UAE 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 1 (2002)914 to 1,523 m: 1
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Qatar
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 320,835 note: includes non-nationals (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 168,416 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 7,192 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$723 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:10% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Qatar
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Reunion
Introduction Reunion
Background:The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented byinfluxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave theisland its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 costthe island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies traderoute.
Geography Reunion
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references:World
Area:total: 2,517 sq kmwater: 10 sq kmland: 2,507 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:207 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dryfrom May to November, hot and rainy from November to April
Terrain:mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.2% permanent crops: 2% other: 84.8% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:120 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de laFournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton dela Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis,which is the monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean
People Reunion
Population:755,171 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31.3% (male 121,119; female 115,501)15-64 years: 62.8% (male 233,607; female 240,502)65 years and over: 5.9% (male 18,036; female 26,406) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.4 yearsmale: 25.2 yearsfemale: 27.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.47% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:20.17 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.49 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: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.13 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 8.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.43 yearsmale: 70.03 yearsfemale: 77 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.53 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: Reunionese (singular and plural)adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups:French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)
Languages:French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.9%male: 87%female: 90.8% (2003 est.)
Government Reunion
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Reunionconventional short form: Reunionlocal short form: Ile de la Reunionlocal long form: noneformer: Bourbon Island
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Saint-Denis
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Gonthier FRIEDERICI (since NA)elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General andRegional Councils are elected by the members of those councilshead of government: President of the General Council Jean-LucPOUDROUX (since NA March 1998) and President of the Regional CouncilPaul VERGES (since NA March 1993)cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council (49 seats; members are elected bydirect, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameralRegional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popularvote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next tobe held NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (nextto be held NA 2004)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10,UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PCR 19, UDF 9, RPR8, various right-wing candidates 4, various left-wing candidates 5note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;elections last held NA 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); results -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Reunion alsoelects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections lastheld 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, UMP 1,PCR 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; Rally for theRepublic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS[Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [GilbertGERARD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:FZ, InOC, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Reunion
Economy - overview:The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, butservices now dominate. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for morethan a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports.The government has been pushing the development of a touristindustry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to one-third ofthe labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and thepoor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent socialtensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially betteroff than other segments of the population, often approachingEuropean standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty andunemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates theseriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being ofReunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance fromFrance.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $4.174 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 8%industry: 19%services: 73% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Labor force:309,900 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000)
Unemployment rate:36% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.26 billionexpenditures: $2.62 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1998)
Industries:sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.08 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 55.5% hydro: 44.5% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.005 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:18,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn
Exports:$214 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%,(1993)
Exports - partners:France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (2000)
Imports:$2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery andtransportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products
Imports - partners:France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (2000)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - substantial annual subsidies from France
Currency:euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 1.06 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854(2000), 0.9386 (1999); French francs per US dollar - 5.8995 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Reunion
Telephones - main lines in use:268,500 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:197,000 (September 2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denisdomestic: modern open-wire and microwave radio relay networkinternational: radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France,Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earthstation - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:173,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:127,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.re
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:10,000 (2000)
Transportation Reunion
Railways:0 km
Highways:total: 2,724 kmpaved: 1,300 km (including 73 km of four-lane road)unpaved: 1,424 km (1994)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Le Port, Pointe des Galets
Airports:2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Military Reunion
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French forces (includingArmy, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 198,341 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 101,116 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 6,795 (2003 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Reunion
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Romania
Introduction Romania
Background:Soviet occupation following World War II led to the formation of aCommunist "peoples republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king.The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took powerin 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasinglyoppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrownand executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated thegovernment until 1996, when they were swept from power by afractious coalition of centrist parties. Currently, the SocialDemocratic Party forms a nominally minority government, whichgoverns with the support of the opposition Democratic Union ofHungarians in Romania. Bucharest must address rampant corruption,while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms, beforeRomania can achieve its hope of joining the European Union.
Geography Romania
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria andUkraine
Geographic coordinates:46 00 N, 25 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 237,500 sq kmland: 230,340 sq kmwater: 7,160 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:total: 2,508 kmborder countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km,Serbia and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east)169 km
Coastline:225 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:temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunnysummers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain:central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldaviaon the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from theWalachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Black Sea 0 mhighest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural resources:petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, ironore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 40.57% permanent crops: 2.4% other: 57.03% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:28,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structureand climate promote landslides
Environment - current issues:soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution insouth from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube deltawetlands
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
Geography - note:controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans,Moldova, and Ukraine
People Romania
Population:22,271,839 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.9% (male 1,932,204; female 1,838,240)15-64 years: 69% (male 7,634,481; female 7,739,232)65 years and over: 14% (male 1,290,343; female 1,837,339) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 35.4 yearsmale: 34 yearsfemale: 37.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:-0.21% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:10.79 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.6 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: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 16.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 20.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.62 yearsmale: 66.88 yearsfemale: 74.59 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.36 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:350 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Romanian(s)adjective: Romanian
Ethnic groups:Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002)
Religions:Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%, unaffiliated 0.2%(2002)
Languages:Romanian (official), Hungarian, German
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%male: 99.1%female: 97.7% (2003 est.)
Government Romania
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Romania local short form: Romania local long form: none
Government type:republic
Capital:Bucharest
Administrative divisions:41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality*(municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud,Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi,Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati,Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov,Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare,Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence:9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from Turkey; independencerecognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
National holiday:Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)
Constitution:8 December 1991
Legal system:former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; isnow based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ion ILIESCU (since 20 December 2000)elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;election last held 26 November 2000, with runoff between the top twocandidates held 10 December 2000 (next to be held NANovember/December 2004); prime minister appointed by the presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Adrian NASTASE (since 29 December2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime ministerelection results: percent of vote - Ion ILIESCU 66.84%, CorneliuVadim TUDOR 33.16%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat(140 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on aproportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and theChamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (345 seats; members areelected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representationbasis to serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held inthe fall of 2004); Chamber of Deputies - last held 26 November 2000(next to be held in the fall of 2004)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDSR (now PSD)37.1%, PRM 21.0%, PD 7.6%, PNL 7.5%, UDMR 6.9%; seats by party - PSD65, PRM 36, PNL 13, UDMR 12, PD 9, independents 5; Chamber ofDeputies - percent of vote by party - PDSR (now PSD) 36.6%, PRM19.5%, PD 7.0%, PNL, 6.9%, UDMR 6.8%; seats by party - PSD 171, PRM69, PD 29, PNL 27, UDMR 27, ethnic minorities 18, independents 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the president onthe recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party or PD [Traian BASESCU]; Democratic Union ofHungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Partyor PNL [Theodor STOLOJAN]; Romania Mare Party (Greater RomanianParty) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD[Adrian NASTASE], formerly known as the Party of Social Democracy inRomania or PDSR
Political pressure groups and leaders:various human rights and professional associations
International organization participation:ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU(applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW,OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH,UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748 telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851 chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael E. GUEST embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: [40] (21) 210-4042 FAX: [40] (21) 210-0395 branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellowband has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, alsoresembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Economy Romania
Economy - overview:Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largelyobsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to thecountry's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishingthree-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets.Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity inconstruction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above4%. An IMF Standby Agreement, signed in 2001, has been accompaniedby slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, andthe curbing of inflation. Nonetheless, recent macroeconomic gainshave done little to address Romania's widespread poverty, whilecorruption and red tape hinder foreign investment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $169.3 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 35% services: 50% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 44.5% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 25% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):22.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:9.9 million (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 40%, industry 25%, services 35% (1998)
Unemployment rate:8.3% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $11.7 billionexpenditures: $12.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1999 est.)
Industries:textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining,timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, foodprocessing, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2002)
Electricity - production:50.86 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 9.9%
Electricity - consumption:46.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:400 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:127,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:215,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.055 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:14.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:19.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:5.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:111.1 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep
Exports: $13.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery andequipment, minerals and fuels
Exports - partners:Italy 24.4%, Germany 15.5%, France 7.7%, UK 5.4%, US 5%, Turkey4.4% (2002)
Imports:$16.7 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment 23%, fuels and minerals 12%, chemicals 9%,textile and products 19% (1999)
Imports - partners:Italy 20.2%, Germany 18.1%, France 6.6%, Russia 5.6%, Austria 4.9%,Hungary 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$13.7 billion (2002 est.)
Currency:leu (ROL)
Currency code:ROL
Exchange rates:lei per US dollar - 33,055.4 (2002), 29,060.8 (2001), 21,708.7(2000), 15,332.8 (1999), 8,875.58 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Romania
Telephones - main lines in use:3.777 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:645,500 (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor domestic service, but improvingdomestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network ismostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; aboutone-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villageshave no serviceinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digital,international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest; note -Romania is an active participant in several internationaltelecommunication network projects (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:7.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:5.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ro
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):38 (2000)
Internet users:1 million (2002)
Transportation Romania
Railways:total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified)standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2002)broad gage: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
Highways:total: 198,603 kmpaved: 98,308 km (including 113 km of expressways)unpaved: 100,295 km (2000)
Waterways:1,724 km (1984)
Pipelines:gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea
Merchant marine:total: 61 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 494,670 GRT/650,863 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Greece 1, Italy 5 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 39, container 1, passenger 1,passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, railcar carrier 2, rollon/roll off 4
Airports:65 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 26over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 39under 914 m: 25 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 12
Heliports:1 (2002)
Military Romania
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR), Paramilitary Forces,Civil Defense, Border Guards
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 5,912,284 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,974,240 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 157,840 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$985 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.47% (2002)
Transnational Issues Romania
Disputes - international:has not resolved claims to Ukrainian-administered Zmyinyy (Snake)Island and Black Sea maritime boundary despite ongoing talks basedon 1997 friendship treaty to find a solution in two years; jointboundary commission is rectifying boundary with Bulgaria based onshifts in Danube since last delimitation in 1920; Hungary has yet toamend status law extending special social and cultural benefits toethnic Hungarians in Romania, who protest the law
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting theBalkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound forWestern Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Russia
Introduction Russia
Background:Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I ledto widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire andto the overthrow in 1917 of the 300-year old Romanov Dynasty. TheCommunists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formedthe USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthenedRussian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millionsof lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the followingdecades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91)introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in anattempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertentlyreleased forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in itsefforts to build a democratic political system and market economy toreplace the strict social, political, and economic controls of theCommunist period. A determined guerrilla conflict still plaguesRussia in Chechnya.
Geography Russia
Location:Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included withEurope), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the NorthPacific Ocean
Geographic coordinates:60 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 17,075,200 sq kmwater: 79,400 sq kmland: 16,995,800 sq km
Area - comparative:approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 19,990 kmborder countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China(southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km,Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,485km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576km
Coastline:37,653 km
Maritime claims:continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in muchof European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in thepolar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigidin Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool alongArctic coast
Terrain:broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forestand tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern borderregions
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 mhighest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m
Natural resources:wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, naturalgas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timbernote: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinderexploitation of natural resources
Land use: arable land: 7.46% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 92.43% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:46,630 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment todevelopment; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes andearthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods andsummer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of EuropeanRussia
Environment - current issues:air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electricplants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal,and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts;deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improperapplication of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimesintense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination fromtoxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks ofobsolete pesticides