Flag description:green with large white Arabic script (that may be translated asThere is no God but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God) above awhite horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); green isthe traditional color of Islam
Economy Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls overmajor economic activities. Saudi Arabia has the largest reserves ofpetroleum in the world (26% of the proved reserves), ranks as thelargest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. Thepetroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% ofGDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 25% of GDP comes from theprivate sector. Roughly 4 million foreign workers play an importantrole in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and servicesectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizingthe electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatizationof the telecommunications company. The government is supportingprivate sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil andincrease employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population.Priorities for government spending in the short term includeadditional funds for the water and sewage systems and for education.Water shortages and rapid population growth constrain thegovernment's efforts to increase self-sufficiency in agriculturalproducts.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $268.9 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5.2%industry: 51.2%services: 43.6% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 7 million note: 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:25% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $46 billionexpenditures: $56.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003 est.)
Industries:crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals,cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics
Industrial production growth rate:1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:122.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:113.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:8.711 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.452 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:261.7 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:53.69 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:6.339 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Exports:$71 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners:US 18.6%, Japan 15.6%, South Korea 10.1%, Singapore 5.1%, China4.6% (2002)
Imports:$39.5 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,textiles
Imports - partners:US 11.2%, Japan 8.8%, Germany 7.6%, UK 4.9%, France 4.9%, Italy4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$25.9 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon;since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistanceto the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development inAfghanistan
Currency:Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:SAR
Exchange rates:Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.75 (2002), 3.75 (2001), 3.75 (2000),3.75 (1999), 3.75 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:3.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.9 million (2002 est.)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern systemdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, andfiber-optic cable systemsinternational: microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait,Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan;submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earthstations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:6.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:117 (1997)
Televisions:5.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sa
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):22 (2003)
Internet users:1.453 million (2002)
Transportation Saudi Arabia
Railways:total: 1,392 kmstandard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines andsidings) (2002)
Highways:total: 151,470 kmpaved: 45,592 kmunpaved: 105,878 km (1999)
Waterways:none
Pipelines:condensate 212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil5,062 km; refined products 69 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Duba, Jiddah, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji,Mishab, Ras Tanura, Yanbu' al Bahr, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:total: 71 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,461,964 GRT/2,301,258 DWTships by type: cargo 9, chemical tanker 11, container 4, livestockcarrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 4,roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 8note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Egypt 3, Finland 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1,UK 3 (2002 est.)
Airports:209 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 71over 3,047 m: 312,438 to 3,047 m: 12914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 138under 914 m: 13 (2002)over 3047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 391,524 to 2,437 m: 79
Heliports:5 (2002)
Military Saudi Arabia
Military branches:Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, NationalGuard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military manpower - military age:17 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,123,784 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,431,281 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 253,685 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$18.3 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:13% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:nomadic groups on border region with Yemen resist demarcation ofboundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have been negotiating along-contested maritime boundary with Iran; because the treatieshave not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary withthe UAE is still unknown and labeled approximate
Illicit drugs:death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin,cocaine, and hashish
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Senegal
Introduction Senegal
Background:Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia toform the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, theenvisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out,and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southernseparatist group sporadically has clashed with government forcessince 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating ininternational peacekeeping.
Geography Senegal
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates:14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 196,190 sq kmland: 192,000 sq kmwater: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,640 kmborder countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:531 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strongsoutheast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot,dry, harmattan wind
Terrain:generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 11.58% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 88.23% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:710 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note:westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almostan enclave of Senegal
People Senegal
Population:10,580,307 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,330,395; female 2,289,706)15-64 years: 53.3% (male 2,707,195; female 2,929,998)65 years and over: 3% (male 156,514; female 166,499) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 17.8 yearsmale: 17.2 yearsfemale: 18.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.56% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:36.23 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.88 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 57.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 53.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 61.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 56.37 yearsmale: 54.83 yearsfemale: 57.95 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.93 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:2,500 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups:Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%,Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions:Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly RomanCatholic)
Languages:French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 40.2%male: 50%female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
Government Senegal
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Senegalconventional short form: Senegallocal short form: Senegallocal long form: Republique du Senegal
Government type:republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:Dakar
Administrative divisions:10 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick,Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchornote: there may be another region called Matam
Independence:4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upondissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001
Legal system:based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits thegovernment's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Idrissa SECK (since 4 November2002)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister inconsultation with the presidentelection results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of votein the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, AbdouDIOUF (PS) 41.51%elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year termunder new constitution; election last held 27 February and 19 March2000 (next to be held 27 February 2005); prime minister appointed bythe president
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001,had 140 seats
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals orCour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note - the judicial system wasreformed in 1992
Political parties and leaders:African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known asPADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party ofIndependence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP[Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (alsoknown as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-LaborParty Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front forSocialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; GaindeCentrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Partyor PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [MadierDIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition (acoalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE]; Union for DemocraticRenewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOVIC, UPU, WADB(regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BAFAX: [1] (202) 332-6315consulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 234-0540chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Harriet L. ELAM-THOMASembassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakarmailing address: B. P. 49, Dakartelephone: [221] 823-4296FAX: [221] 822-2991
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and redwith a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Senegal
Economy - overview:In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economicreform program with the support of the international donorcommunity. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal'scurrency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to theFrench franc. Government price controls and subsidies have beensteadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reformprogram, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually during1995-2002. Annual inflation had been pushed down to less than 1%,but rose to an estimated 3.3% in 2001 and 3.0% in 2002. Investmentrose steadily from 13.8% of GDP in 1993 to 16.5% in 1997. As amember of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU),Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with aunified external tariff. Senegal also realized full Internetconnectivity in 1996, creating a miniboom in informationtechnology-based services. Private activity now accounts for 82% ofGDP. In 2003, GDP will probably again grow at about 5%. On thenegative side, Senegal faces deep-seated urban problems of chronicunemployment, trade union militancy, juvenile delinquency, and drugaddiction.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $15.64 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 27% services: 55% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: 54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:41.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2002 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%
Unemployment rate:48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.373 billionexpenditures: $1.373 billion, including capital expenditures of $357million (2002 est.)
Industries:agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizerproduction, petroleum refining, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:8.1% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:1.518 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:1.412 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products: peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Exports:$1.15 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:India 20.7%, France 13%, Mali 8.9%, Greece 7.7%, Italy 4.4% (2002)
Imports:$1.46 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foods and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:France 25.6%, Nigeria 8.7%, Thailand 7.2%, US 5.4%, Germany 5.4%,Italy 4.5%, Spain 4% (2002)
Debt - external:$3.1 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$362.6 million (2002 est.)
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 Senegal
Telephones - main lines in use:234,916 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:373,965 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: good systemdomestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxialcable and fiber-optic cable in trunk systeminternational: 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:361,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:100,000 (2002)
Transportation Senegal
Railways: total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 14,576 kmpaved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expresswaysunpaved: 10,305 km (2000)
Waterways: 897 km note: 785 km on the Senegal river, and 112 km on the Saloum river
Pipelines:gas 564 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Dakar, Kaolack, Matam, Podor, Richard Toll, Saint-Louis, Ziguinchor
Airports:20 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 9over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 111,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Military Senegal
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police(Surete Nationale)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,404,838 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,256,973 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 116,688 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$68.6 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Senegal
Disputes - international:separatist war in Casamance region results in refugees andcross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, andpolitical instability in Guinea-Bissau
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin movingto Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Serbia and Montenegro
Introduction Serbia and Montenegro
Background:The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; itsname was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Occupation by Nazi Germanyin 1941 was resisted by various paramilitary bands that foughtthemselves as well as the invaders. The group headed by Marshal TITOtook full control upon German expulsion in 1945. Although Communist,his new government successfully steered its own path between theWarsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a halfdecades. In the early 1990s, post-TITO Yugoslavia began to unravelalong ethnic lines: Slovenia, Croatia, and The Former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia all declared their independence in 1991;Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbiaand Montenegro declared a new "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY)in 1992 and, under President Slobodan MILOSEVIC, Serbia led variousmilitary intervention efforts to unite Serbs in neighboringrepublics into a "Greater Serbia." All of these efforts wereultimately unsuccessful. In 1999, massive expulsions by FRY forcesand Serb paramilitaries of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovoprovoked an international response, including the NATO bombing ofSerbia and the stationing of NATO, Russian, and other peacekeepersin Kosovo. Federal elections in the fall of 2000, brought about theouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president.The arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001 allowed for his subsequent transferto the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia inThe Hague to be tried for crimes against humanity. In 2001, thecountry's suspension was lifted, and it was once more accepted intoUN organizations under the name of Yugoslavia. Kosovo has beengoverned by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)since June 1999, under the authority of UN Security CouncilResolution 1244. In 2002, the Serbian and Montenegrin components ofYugoslavia began negotiations to forge a looser relationship. Thesetalks became a reality in February 2003 when lawmakers restructuredthe country into a loose federation of two republics called Serbiaand Montenegro. An agreement was also reached to hold a referendumin each republic in three years on full independence.
Geography Serbia and Montenegro
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albaniaand Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates:44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 102,350 sq kmwater: 214 sq kmland: 102,136 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:total: 2,246 kmborder countries: Albania 287 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km,Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241 km, Croatia (south) 25 km,Hungary 151 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 221 km,Romania 476 km
Coastline:199 km
Maritime claims:NA
Climate:in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humidsummers with well distributed rainfall); central portion,continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriaticclimate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relativelycold winters with heavy snowfall inland
Terrain:extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains andhills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islandsoff the coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:oil, gas, coal, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, gold, pyrite,chrome, hydropower, arable land
Land use: arable land: 36.34% permanent crops: 3.44% other: 60.22% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:570 sq km
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially intourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgradeand other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastesdumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law ofthe Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography - note:controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkeyand the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People Serbia and Montenegro
Population: 10,655,774 note: a census was taken in Serbia 1-15 April 2002 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.3% (male 1,062,625; female 990,071)15-64 years: 65.4% (male 3,422,543; female 3,548,058)65 years and over: 15.3% (male 696,716; female 935,761) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 36.2 yearsmale: 34.3 yearsfemale: 37.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.07% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 16.9 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 18.57 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.97 yearsmale: 71.03 yearsfemale: 77.16 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.77 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:10,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:Serb 62.6%, Albanian 16.5%, Montenegrin 5%, Hungarian 3.3%, other12.6% (1991)
Religions:Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other11%
Languages:Serbian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93%male: 97.2%female: 88.9% (1991)
Government Serbia and Montenegro
Country name:conventional long form: Serbia and Montenegroconventional short form: nonelocal short form: nonelocal long form: Srbija i Crna Gora
Government type:republic
Capital:Belgrade; note - Podgorica is the judicial capital
Administrative divisions:2 republics (republike, singular - republika); and 2 nominallyautonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular - autonomnapokrajina); Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence:27 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY formed asself-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic ofYugoslavia or SFRY)
National holiday:National Day, 27 April
Constitution:4 February 2003
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Svetozar MAROVIC (since 7 March 2003)head of government: Prime Minister Dragisa PESIC (since 24 July2001); Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub LABUS (since 25 January 2001)cabinet: Federal Ministries act as Cabinetelections: president elected by the Parliament for a four-year term;election last held 7 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: Svetozar MAROVIC elected president by theParliament; vote was Svetozar MAROVIC 65, other 47
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (126 seats - 91 Serbian, 35 Montenegrin -filled by nominees of the two state parliaments for the first twoyears, after which the president will call for public electionselections: last held 25 February 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -DOS 37, DLECG 19, DSS 17, ZP 14, SPS 12, SRS 8, SDP 5, SSJ 5, other 9
Judicial branch:Federal Court or Savezni Sud; Constitutional Court; judges for bothcourts are elected by the Federal Assembly for nine-year termsnote: after the promulgation of the new Constitution, the FederalCourt will have constitutional and administrative functions; it willhave an equal number of judges from each republic
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Opposition of Serbia or DOS (a coalition of many smallparties including DSS) [leader NA]; Alliance of Vojvodina Hungariansor SVM [Jozsef KASZA]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Dr.Ibrahim RUGOVA, president]; Democratic List for European Montenegroor DLECG [Milo DJUKANOVIC, Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Democratic Party or DS[collective interim leadership led by Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; DemocraticParty of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party ofSocialists of Montenegro or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]; Party of SerbUnity or SSJ [Borislav PELEVIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS[Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Socialist Party or SPS (former CommunistParty and party of Slobodan MILOSEVIC) [Zoran ANDJELKOVIC, generalsecretary]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Rasim LJAJIC]; Togetherfor Changes or ZP [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ];Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Ibrahim RUGOVA]; DemocraticParty of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Group of 17 IndependentEconomists or G-17 [leader NA]; National Movement for the Liberationof Kosovo or LKCK [Sabit GASHI]; Otpor Student Resistance Movement[leader NA]; Political Council for Presevo, Meveda and Bujanovac orPCPMB [leader NA]; The People's Movement for Kosovo or LPK [EmrushXHEMAJLI]
International organization participation:ABEDA, BIS, CE (guest), CEI, EBRD, FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACICchancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: ChicagoFAX: [1] (202) 332-3933telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William D. MONTGOMERYembassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrademailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red
Economy Serbia and Montenegro
Economy - overview:MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period ofeconomic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructureand industry during the war in Kosovo have left the economy onlyhalf the size it was in 1990. Since the ousting of former FederalYugoslav President MILOSEVIC in October 2000, the DemocraticOpposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government has implementedstabilization measures and embarked on an aggressive market reformprogram. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000,Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international communityby rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank forReconstruction and Development (EBRD). A World Bank-EuropeanCommission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised$1.3 billion for economic restructuring. An agreement reschedulingthe country's $4.5 billion Paris Club government debts was concludedin November 2001; it will write off 66% of the debt; a similar debtrelief agreement on its $2.8 billion London Club commercial debt isstill pending. The smaller republic of Montenegro severed itseconomy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVICera and continues to maintain its own central bank, uses the euroinstead of the Yugoslav dinar as official currency, collects customstariffs, and manages its own budget. Kosovo, while technically stillpart of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (now Serbia andMontenegro) according to United Nations Security Council Resolution1244, is moving toward local autonomy under United Nations InterimAdministration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and is dependent on theinternational community for financial and technical assistance. Theeuro and the Yugoslav dinar are official currencies, and UNMIKcollects taxes and manages the budget. The complexity of Serbia andMontenegro political relationships, slow progress in privatization,and stagnation in the European economy are holding back the economy.Arrangements with the IMF, especially requirements for fiscaldiscipline, are an important element in policy formation. Severeunemployment remains a key political economic problem.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $23.15 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 36% services: 38% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:30%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):19% (2002 est.)
Labor force:3 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Unemployment rate:32% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.9 billionexpenditures: $4.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks andweapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy(steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth,cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore,limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs,appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, andpharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:1.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:31.71 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.9% hydro: 37.1% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:32.37 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:446 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.33 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:64,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:38.75 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:24.07 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Exports:$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials
Exports - partners:Italy 32%, Germany 19.5%, Greece 7%, Austria 6.1%, France 4.6%(2002)
Imports:$6.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants,manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
Imports - partners:Germany 19.4%, Italy 18%, Austria 8.5%, Slovenia 5.6%, Greece 4.4%,France 4.3%, Bulgaria 4.2%, Romania 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$9.2 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$2 billion pledged in 2001 (disbursements to follow for severalyears)
Currency:new Yugoslav dinar (YUM); note - in Montenegro the euro is legaltender; in Kosovo both the euro and the Yugoslav dinar are legal(2002)
Currency code:YUM
Exchange rates:new Yugoslav dinars per US dollar - official rate: 65 (2002), 10.0(December 1998); black market rate: 14.5 (December 1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Serbia and Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:2.017 million (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular:87,000 (1997)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 113, FM 194, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:3.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: more than 771 (including 86 strong stations and 685 low-power stations, plus 20 repeaters in the principal networks; also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)
Televisions:2.75 million (1997)
Internet country code:.yu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2000)
Internet users:400,000 (2001)
Transportation Serbia and Montenegro
Railways: total: 4,059 km standard gauge: 4,059 km 1.435-m gauge (1,364 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 49,805 kmpaved: 31,029 km (including 560 km of expressways)unpaved: 18,776 km (2000)
Waterways:587 kmnote: the Danube River, central Europe's connection to the BlackSea, runs through Serbia; since early 2000, a pontoon bridge,replacing a destroyed conventional bridge, has obstructed rivertraffic at Novi Sad; the obstruction is bypassed by a canal system,but the inadequate lock size limits the size of vessels which maypass; the pontoon bridge can be opened for large ships but hasslowed river traffic (2001)
Pipelines:gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Bar, Belgrade, Kotor, Novi Sad, Pancevo, Tivat, Zelenika
Airports:45 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Heliports: 4 (2002)
Military Serbia and Montenegro
Military branches:Army (VJ) (including ground forces with border troops, navalforces, air and air defense forces)
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,579,620 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,077,660 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 81,547 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$654 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Serbia and Montenegro
Disputes - international:the Albanian government calls for the protection of the rights ofethnic Albanians outside its borders in the Kosovo region of Serbiaand Montenegro while continuing to seek regional cooperation;several ethnic Albanian groups in Kosovo voice union with Albania;has delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia andHerzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute;in late 2002, Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia adopted an interimagreement to settle the disputed Prevlaka Peninsula, allowing thewithdrawal of the UN monitoring mission (UNMOP), but discussionscould be complicated by the inability of Serbia and Montenegro tocome to an agreement on the economic aspects of the new federal union
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to WesternEurope on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Seychelles
Introduction Seychelles
Background:A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islandsended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence camein 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a newconstitution and free elections in 1993. The most recentpresidential elections were held 31 August-2 September 2001.President RENE, who has served since 1977, was re-elected.
Geography Seychelles
Location:Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast ofMadagascar
Geographic coordinates:4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 455 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 455 sq km
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:491 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon(late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon(March to May)
Terrain:Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; othersare coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources:fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:arable land: 2.22%permanent crops: 13.33%other: 84.45% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; shortdroughts possible
Environment - current issues:water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
People Seychelles
Population:80,469 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.3% (male 11,116; female 10,844)15-64 years: 66.5% (male 26,068; female 27,425)65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,654; female 3,362) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 26.9 yearsmale: 25.8 yearsfemale: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.46% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:16.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 16.41 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.25 yearsmale: 65.78 yearsfemale: 76.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 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: Seychellois (singular and plural)adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups:mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions:Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other4.1%
Languages:English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 58%male: 56%female: 60% (1971 est.)
Government Seychelles
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Seychellesconventional short form: Seychelles
Government type:republic
Capital:Victoria
Administrative divisions:23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, AnseEtoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, BeauVallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe),Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, MontBuxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, SaintLouis, Takamaka
Independence:29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday:Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Constitution:18 June 1993
Legal system:based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA2006)election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent ofvote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO)44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time thatpresidential elections have been held separately from legislativeelectionscabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidenthead of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis toparties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next held by 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%,DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to thepercentage that each party won of the total vote
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts areappointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Daniel BELLE]; MouvementSeychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles NationalParty or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [WavelRAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [FranceAlbert RENE, James MICHEL] - the governing party