Death rate:8.82 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:1.37 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: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.36 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.99 yearsmale: 77.11 yearsfemale: 83.02 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.48 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:19,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swiss (singular and plural)adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Languages:German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian(official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male:female:
Government Switzerland
Country name:conventional long form: Swiss Confederationconventional short form: Switzerlandlocal short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera(Italian)local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Bern
Administrative divisions:26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular- cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau,Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura,Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen,Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence:1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:18 December 1998
Legal system:civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of generalobligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2003);Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January2003); Vice President Ruth METZLER (since 1 January 2003); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the FederalAssembly usually from among its own members for a four-year termelections: president and vice president elected by the FederalAssembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-yearterms that run concurrently; election last held NA December 2002(next to be held NA December 2003)election results: Pascal COUCHEPIN elected president; percent ofFederal Assembly vote - NA%; Ruth METZLER elected vice president;percent of legislative vote - NA%
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German),Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian)consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseildes Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats- members serve four-year terms) and the National Council orNationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), ConsiglioNazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popularvote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-yearterms)elections: Council of States - last held NA 1999 (each cantondetermines when the next election will be held); National Council -last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held NA October 2007)election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - FDP 18, CVP 15, SVP 7, SPS 6; National Council- percent of vote by party - SVP 27.7%, SPS 24.2%, FDP 16%, CVP12.9%, Greens 7.7%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party- SVP 55, SPS 52, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other smallparties 16
Judicial branch:Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by theFederal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic People's Party (ChristichdemokratischeVolkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse orPDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, PartidaCristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Philipp STAEHELIN,president]; Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, PartiEcologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or IVerdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER andPatrice MUGNY, co-presidents]; Radical Free Democratic Party(Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, PartiRadical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-RadicaleSvizzero or PLR) [Christiane LANGENBERGER, president]; SocialDemocratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS,Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS,Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Christiane BRUNNER,president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP,Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro orUDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president];and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNU, UPU,WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFERconsulate(s): Bostonconsulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, NewYork, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 387-2564telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mercer REYNOLDS III embassy: Jubilaeumsstrasse 93, 3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Flag description:red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center thatdoes not extend to the edges of the flag
Economy Switzerland
Economy - overview:Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy withlow unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDPlarger than that of the big western European economies. The Swiss inrecent years have brought their economic practices largely intoconformity with the EU's to enhance their internationalcompetitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors,because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept upthe franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economicconditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $233.4 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.1% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $32,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 2%industry: 34%services: 64% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.1 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:4 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:services 69.1%, industry 26.3%, agriculture 4.6% (1998)
Unemployment rate:1.9% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $30 billionexpenditures: $30 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2001 est.)
Industries:machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate:3.2% (2001)
Electricity - production:68.68 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 59.5% other: 2% (2001) nuclear: 37.1%
Electricity - consumption:53.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:34.54 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:24.1 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:290,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Exports:$100.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:Germany 19.2%, US 10.2%, Italy 9.6%, France 8.9%, UK 7.7% (2002)
Imports:$94.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,textiles
Imports - partners:Germany 27.4%, France 11.4%, Italy 9.7%, US 8.5%, Russia 5.8%, UK5.4%, Austria 4.6%, Netherlands 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency:Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:CHF
Exchange rates:Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.56 (2002), 1.69 (2001), 1.69 (2000),1.5 (1999), 1.45 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:4.82 million (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.967 million (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networksinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Oceanand Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ch
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Internet users:3.85 million (2002)
Transportation Switzerland
Railways:total: 4,511 kmstandard gauge: 3,483 km 1.435-m gauge (3,472 km electrified)narrow gauge: 982 km 1.000-m gauge (975 km electrified); 46 km0.800-m gauge (46 km electrified) (2002)
Highways:total: 71,011 kmpaved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:65 kmnote: The Rhine carries heavy traffic on the Basel-Rheinfelden andSchaffhausen-Bodensee stretches; there are also 12 navigable lakes
Pipelines:gas 1,831 km; oil 212 km; refined products 7 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Basel
Merchant marine:total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 597,049 GRT/1,051,380 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: UK 6, US 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 16, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 2,passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, specialized tanker 1
Airports:66 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 41 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 14 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 1524 to 2437 m: 1 under 914 m: 24 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Switzerland
Military branches:Army, Air Force, Frontier Guards, Fortification Guards
Military manpower - military age:20 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,834,638 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,552,728 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 42,761 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Switzerland
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:because of more stringent government regulations, usedsignificantly less as a money-laundering center; transit country forand consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Syria
Introduction Syria
Background:Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. Inthe 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel.Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensiblyin a peacekeeping capacity. In recent years, Syria and Israel haveheld occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.
Geography Syria
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 185,180 sq kmnote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territorywater: 1,130 sq kmland: 184,050 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,253 kmborder countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:193 km
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 41 NMterritorial sea: 35 NM
Climate:mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild,rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather withsnow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 mhighest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, ironore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 25.96% permanent crops: 4.08% other: 69.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:12,130 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; waterpollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequatepotable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, HazardousWastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in theIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.)
People Syria
Population:17,585,540 (July 2002 est.)note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupiedGolan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) andabout 20,000 Israeli settlers (February 2003 est.) (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.6% (male 3,494,473; female 3,290,699)15-64 years: 58.2% (male 5,238,026; female 4,991,588)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 274,744; female 296,010) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 19.7 yearsmale: 19.6 yearsfemale: 19.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:2.45% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:29.54 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:5.04 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 31.67 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 31.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 31.89 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.39 yearsmale: 68.18 yearsfemale: 70.67 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Syrian(s)adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus,Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages:Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widelyunderstood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.9%male: 89.7%female: 64% (2003 est.)
Government Syria
Country name:conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republicconventional short form: Syrialocal short form: Suriyahformer: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
Government type:republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital:Damascus
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, AlLadhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr azZawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence:17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Frenchadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution:13 March 1973
Legal system:based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religiouscourts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); VicePresidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) andMuhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10September 2003), Deputy Prime Ministers Lt. Gen. Mustafa TALAS(since 11 March 1984), Farouk al-SHARA (since 13 December 2001), Dr.Muhammad al-HUSAYN (since 13 December 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death ofPresident Hafez al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be heldNA 2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime ministerand deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentnote: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June 2000, the Ba'thParty nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his nameto the People's Council on 25 June 2000election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote- Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - theconstitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPFalliance) receives one-half of the seatselections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-yearterms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation;State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:National Progressive Front or NPF (includes Arab SocialistRenaissance (Ba'th) Party (governing party) [President Basharal-ASAD, secretary general], Socialist Unionist Democratic Party[Ahmad al ASAD], Syrian Communist Party [leader NA], UnionistSocialist Party [leader NA], Arab Socialist Party [Abd al-GhaniQANNUT], and Arab Socialist Unionist Movement [Sami SUFAN])[President Bashar al-ASAD, chairman]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party orASP [Safwan QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party or SCP [Yusuf FAYSAL];Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:conservative religious leaders; Muslim Brotherhood (operates inexile in Jordan and Yemen); non-Ba'th parties have little effectivepolitical influence
International organization participation:AFESD, AL, AMF, CAEU, ESCWA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UN SecurityCouncil (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (acting) Imad MUSTAFA chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548 telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Theodore H. KATTOUF embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342 FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, withtwo small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered inthe white band; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plainwhite band, and of Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabicinscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; alsosimilar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered inthe white band
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:Syria's predominantly statist economy has been growing, on average,more slowly than its 2.4% annual population growth rate, causing apersistent decline in per capita GDP. Recent legislation allowsprivate banks to operate in Syria, although a private banking sectorwill take years and further government cooperation to develop.External factors such as the international war on terrorism, theIsraeli-Palestinian conflict, and the war between the US-ledcoalition and Iraq probably will drive real annual GDP growth levelsback below their 3.5% spike in 2002. A long-run economic constraintis the pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth,industrial expansion, and increased water pollution.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $63.48 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.6% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 23% services: 50% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:15%-25%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.9% (2002 est.)
Labor force:5.2 million (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture, industry, services NA (2002)
Unemployment rate:20% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6 billionexpenditures: $7 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.6billion (2002 est.)
Industries:petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphaterock mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:23.26 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.6% hydro: 42.4% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:21.63 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:522,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:265,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.4 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.84 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:240.7 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Exports: $6.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil 70%, petroleum products 7%, fruits and vegetables 5%,cotton fiber 4%, clothing 3%, meat and live animals 2% (2000 est.)
Exports - partners:Germany 19.1%, Italy 17.5%, Turkey 7.8%, France 7.5%, Lebanon 5.2%(2002)
Imports:$4.9 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 21%, food and livestock 18%,metal and metal products 15%, chemicals and chemical products 10%(2000 est.)
Imports - partners:Italy 8.3%, Germany 7.4%, China 5.7%, South Korea 4.8%, France4.6%, US 4.4%, Turkey 4.1% (2002)
Debt - external:$22 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$199 million (1997 est.)
Currency:Syrian pound (SYP)
Currency code:SYP
Exchange rates:Syrian pounds per US dollar - (Official rate): 11.23 (2002), 11.23(2001), 11.23 (2000), 11.23 (1999), 11.23 (1998), (Free marketrate): 49.65 (2001), 49.4 (2000), 51.7 (1999), 52 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Syria
Telephones - main lines in use:1.313 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significantimprovement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technologydomestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay networkinternational: satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable;coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:60,000 (2002)
Transportation Syria
Railways:total: 2,743 kmstandard gauge: 2,425 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 318 km 1.050-m gauge (2002)
Highways:total: 43,381 kmpaved: 10,021 km (including 877 km of expressways)unpaved: 33,360 km (1999)
Waterways:870 km (minimal economic importance)
Pipelines:gas 2,300 km; oil 2,183 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine:total: 129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 450,135 GRT/645,296 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Egypt 1, Greece 2, Italy 1, Lebanon 10 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 13, cargo 109, container 2, livestock carrier 3,refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
Airports:92 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 under 914 m: 1 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 68 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 55 (2002)
Heliports: 7 (2002)
Military Syria
Military branches:Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includesAir Defense Forces), Police and Security Force
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,715,386 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,629,148 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 210,941 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $858 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.9% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Syria
Disputes - international:Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied; Lebanon claims Shaba'a farms inGolan Heights; Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon sinceOctober 1976; Syria protests Turkish hydrological projectsregulating upper Euphrates waters; Turkey is quick to rebuff anyperceived Syrian claim to Hatay province
Illicit drugs:a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional andWestern markets
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Taiwan
Introduction Taiwan
Background:In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. Itreverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following theCommunist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalistsfled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1947constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades,the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated thenative population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwanunderwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalistto the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, theisland prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers."The dominant political issues continue to be the relationshipbetween Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventualunification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.
Geography Taiwan
Location:Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea,South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, offthe southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates:23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 35,980 sq kmnote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoywater: 3,720 sq kmland: 32,260 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:exclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June toAugust); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rollingplains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Natural resources:small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 1%other: 75%
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:earthquakes and typhoons
Environment - current issues:air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, rawsewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade inendangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan'sinternational statussigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because ofTaiwan's international status
Geography - note:strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the LuzonStrait
People Taiwan
Population:22,603,001 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.1% (male 2,366,560; female 2,175,886)15-64 years: 70.6% (male 8,095,741; female 7,871,954)65 years and over: 9.3% (male 1,074,112; female 1,018,747) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 33.2 years male: 32.9 years female: 33.6 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.65% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:12.74 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 7.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.87 yearsmale: 74.12 yearsfemale: 79.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.57 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: Chinese/Taiwanese (singular and plural)adjective: Chinese/Taiwanese
Ethnic groups:Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions:mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%,other 2.5%
Languages:Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86%male: 93%female: 79% (1980)note: literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to94% (1998)
Government Taiwan
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local short form: T'ai-wan local long form: none former: Formosa
Government type:multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly-elected presidentand unicameral legislature
Capital:Taipei
Administrative divisions:the central administrative divisions include the provinces ofFu-chien (some 20 offshore islands of Fujian Province includingQuemoy and Matsu) and Taiwan (the island of Taiwan and thePescadores islands); Taiwan is further subdivided into 16 counties(hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities* (shih, singular andplural), and 2 special municipalities** (chuan-shih, singular andplural); Chang-hua, Chia-i, Chia-i*, Chi-lung*, Hsin-chu, Hsin-chu*,Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung, Kao-hsiung**, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou,P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-chung*, T'ai-nan, T'ai-nan*,T'ai-pei, T'ai-pei**, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin; theprovincial capital is at Chung-hsing-hsin-ts'unnote: Taiwan uses the Wade-Giles system for romanization
National holiday:Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October(1911)
Constitution:1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President CHEN Shui-bian (since 20 May 2000) andVice President Annette LU (LU Hsiu-lien) (since 20 May 2000)election results: CHEN Shui-bian elected president; percent of vote- CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 39.3%, James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu) (PFP)36.84%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 23.1%, HSU Hsin-liang (independent) 0.63%,LEE Ao (CNP) 0.13%elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 18 March2000 (next to be held NA March 2004); premier appointed by thepresident; vice premiers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the premierhead of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) YUShyi-kun (since 1 February 2002) and Vice Premier (Vice President ofthe Executive Yuan) LIN Hsin-yi (since 1 February 2002)cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popularvote, 41 elected on the basis of the proportion of islandwide votesreceived by participating political parties, eight elected fromoverseas Chinese constituencies on the basis of the proportion ofislandwide votes received by participating political parties, eightelected by popular vote among the aboriginal populations; membersserve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (300 seatnonstanding body; delegates nominated by parties and elected byproportional representation within three months of a LegislativeYuan call to amend the Constitution, impeach the president, orchange national borders)elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 8 December 2001 (next to beheld NA December 2004); note - the National Assembly is anonstanding body and is called into sessionelection results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - DPP39%, KMT 30%, PFP 20%, TSU 6%, independents and other parties 5%;seats by party - DPP 87, KMT 68, PFP 46, TSU 13, independents andother parties 11
Judicial branch:Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent ofthe National Assembly; note - beginning in 2003, justices will beappointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [CHEN Shui-bian, chairman];Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [LIEN Chan, chairman]; PeopleFirst Party or PFP [James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu), chairman]; TaiwanSolidarity Union or TSU [HUANG Chu-wen, chairman]; other minorparties including the Chinese New Party or CNP
Political pressure groups and leaders:Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmentalgroupsnote: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within themainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalizationand the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan'slegislature have opened public debate on the island's nationalidentity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwancurrently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimateoutcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan'speople must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwanindependence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unifywith mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movementinclude establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering theUN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include theWorld United Formosans for Independence and the Organization forTaiwan Nation Building
International organization participation:APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, ICFTU, IFRCS, IOC, WCL, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has offices in the US and Taiwan; US office located at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices located at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2709-2000, FAX: [886] (2) 2702-7675; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 224-0154 through 0157, FAX: [886] (7) 223-8237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2) 2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162
Flag description:red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side cornerbearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Economy Taiwan
Economy - overview:Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasingguidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities.In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks andindustrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided theprimary impetus for industrialization. The trade surplus issubstantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest.Agriculture contributes 2% to GDP, down from 32% in 1952. WhileTaiwan is a major investor throughout Southeast Asia, China hasbecome the largest destination for investment and has overtaken theUS to become Taiwan's largest export market. Because of itsconservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths,Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from theAsian financial crisis in 1998. The global economic downturn,combined with problems in policy coordination by the administrationand bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in2001, the first year of negative growth ever recorded. Unemploymentalso reached record levels. Output recovered moderately in 2002 inthe face of continued global slowdown, fragile consumer confidence,and bad bank loans. Growing economic ties with China are a dominantlong-term factor. Exports to China - mainly parts and equipment forthe assembly of goods for export to developed countries - droveTaiwan's economic recovery in 2002.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $406 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 31% services: 67% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 1% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 6.4% highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.6 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:10 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:services 58%, industry 35%, agriculture 7% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $36 billionexpenditures: $36.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2002 est.)
Industries:electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, textiles, iron andsteel, machinery, cement, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:6% (2002)
Electricity - production:151.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 6% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 22.6%
Electricity - consumption:140.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:1,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:988,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:750 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:410 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:6.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:38.23 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Exports:$130 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and electrical equipment 54%, metals, textiles, plastics,chemicals (2002)
Exports - partners:Hong Kong 23.9%, US 20.8%, Japan 9.3%, China 7.7% (2002)
Imports:$113 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precisioninstruments (2002)
Imports - partners:Japan 24.3%, US 16.1%, China 7.1%, South Korea 6.9% (2002)
Debt - external:$24.7 billion (2002)
Currency:new Taiwan dollar (TWD)
Currency code:TWD
Exchange rates:34.88 (2002), 34.74 (2001), 33.09 (2000), 31.6 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June (up to FY98/99); 1 July 1999 - 31 December 2000for FY00; calendar year (after FY00)
Communications Taiwan
Telephones - main lines in use:12.49 million (September 2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular:16 million (September 2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: provides telecommunications service for everybusiness and private needdomestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalizedinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 PacificOcean and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa),Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia,Middle East, and Western Europe (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)
Radios:16 million (1994)
Television broadcast stations:29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:8.8 million (1998)
Internet country code:.tw
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:11.6 million (2001)
Transportation Taiwan
Railways:total: 1,108 kmnarrow gauge: 1,108 km 1.067-m gauge (519 km electrified)note: there also are 1,255 km of 1.067-m gauge routes belonging tothe Taiwan Sugar Corporation and to the Taiwan Forestry Bureau usedto haul products and limited numbers of passengers (2002)
Highways:total: 35,931 kmpaved: 31,583 km (including 608 km of expressways)unpaved: 4,348 km (2000)
Waterways:NA
Pipelines:condensate 25 km; gas 435 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung
Merchant marine:total: 142 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,973,958 GRT/6,306,361 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Hong Kong 3, Japan 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 41, cargo 22, chemical tanker 2, combinationbulk 3, container 45, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 9,roll on/roll off 2
Airports:39 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports:3 (2002)
Military Taiwan
Military branches:Army, Navy (including Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast GuardAdministration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined ServiceForces Command
Military manpower - military age:19 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,583,604 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,019,268 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 189,967 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$7.574 billion (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.7% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Taiwan
Disputes - international:involved in complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China,Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; claimants inNovember 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fellshort of a legally binding "code of conduct"; Paracel Islandsoccupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; claimsJapanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), asdoes China
Illicit drugs:regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; majorproblem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Tajikistan
Introduction Tajikistan
Background:Tajikistan has experienced three changes in government and afive-year civil war since it gained independence in 1991 from theUSSR. A peace agreement among rival factions was signed in 1997, andimplemented in 2000. The central government's less than totalcontrol over some areas of the country has forced it to compromiseand forge alliances among factions. Attention by the internationalcommunity in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has broughtincreased economic development assistance, which could create jobsand increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the earlystages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joinedNATO's Partnership for Peace.
Geography Tajikistan
Location:Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 143,100 sq kmwater: 400 sq kmland: 142,700 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:total: 3,651 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid topolar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valleyin north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest