GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.528 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $25,500 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 24.9% services: 73.7% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 17%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.7% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.8 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:29.7 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1%, industry 25%, services 74% (1999)
Unemployment rate:5.2% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $565 billionexpenditures: $540 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(FY 01)
Industries:machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment,railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles andparts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals,coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing,textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods
Industrial production growth rate:-3.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:360.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 73.8% hydro: 0.9% other: 1.6% (2001) nuclear: 23.7%
Electricity - consumption:346.1 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:264 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:10.66 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2.541 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.71 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:2.205 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:4.741 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:105.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:92.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:714.9 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish
Exports:$286.3 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:US 15.5%, Germany 11.2%, France 9.4%, Ireland 8%, Netherlands 7.1%,Belgium 5.2%, Italy 4.4%, Spain 4.3% (2002)
Imports:$330.1 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Germany 12.9%, US 11.9%, France 7.8%, Netherlands 6.3%, Belgium 5%,Italy 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $4.5 billion (2000)
Currency:British pound (GBP)
Currency code:GBP
Exchange rates:British pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66(2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications United Kingdom
Telephones - main lines in use:34.878 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:43.5 million (yearend 1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: technologically advanced domestic andinternational systemdomestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, andfiber-optic systemsinternational: 40 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations- 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat(Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 largeinternational switching centers
Radio broadcast stations:AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:84.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:30.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.uk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):more than 400 (2000)
Internet users:34.3 million (2002)
Transportation United Kingdom
Railways:total: 16,893 kmstandard gauge: 16,536 km 1.435-m gauge (4,928 km electrified)broad gauge: 357 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) (2002)
Highways:total: 371,913 kmpaved: 371,913 km (including 3,358 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:3,200 km
Pipelines:condensate 370 km; gas 21,263 km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil6,420 km; oil/gas/water 63 km; refined products 4,474 km; water 650km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Aberdeen, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff, Dover, Falmouth, Felixstowe,Glasgow, Grangemouth, Hull, Leith, Liverpool, London, Manchester,Peterhead, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Scapa Flow, Southampton, SullomVoe, Teesport, Tyne
Merchant marine:total: 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,752,179 GRT/6,963,112 DWTships by type: bulk 14, cargo 43, chemical tanker 19, combinationore/oil 1, container 95, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 1,passenger 18, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 50, refrigeratedcargo 3, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 8, specializedtanker 1note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Bermuda 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 21, Germany 6, Greece 3,Hong Kong 4, Italy 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 1, Norway 9, Russia 1,South Africa 2, Sweden 11, Taiwan 2, US 5 (2002 est.)
Airports:470 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 334 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 83 under 914 m: 59 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 136 2438 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 112 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 22
Heliports: 11 (2002)
Military United Kingdom
Military branches:Army, Royal Navy (including Royal Marines), Royal Air Force
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 14,877,666 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 12,353,942 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$31.7 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.32% (2002)
Transnational Issues United Kingdom
Disputes - international:Gibraltar residents vote overwhelmingly in referendum against"total shared sovereignty" arrangement worked out between Spain andUK to change 300-year rule over colony; Mauritius and Seychellesclaim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory) andits former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation sinceeviction in 1965; Argentina claims the Falkland Islands (IslasMalvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; Rockallcontinental shelf dispute involving Denmark and Iceland; territorialclaim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentineclaim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; disputes with Iceland,Denmark, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelfboundary outside 200 NM
Illicit drugs:gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the Europeanmarket; major consumer of synthetic drugs, producer of limitedamounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; majorconsumer of Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@United States
Introduction United States
Background:Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776and were recognized as the new nation of the United States ofAmerica following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as thenation expanded across the North American continent and acquired anumber of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiencesin the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the GreatDepression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and IIand the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's mostpowerful nation-state. The economy is marked by steady growth, lowunemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.
Geography United States
Location:North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and theNorth Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic coordinates:38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map references:North America
Area:total: 9,629,091 sq kmland: 9,158,960 sq kmwater: 470,131 sq kmnote: includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area - comparative:about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size ofAfrica; about half the size of South America (or slightly largerthan Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and a half timesthe size of Western Europe
Land boundaries:total: 12,034 kmborder countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska),Mexico 3,141 kmnote: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US andthus remains part of Cuba; the base boundary is 29 km
Coastline:19,924 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 24 NM continental shelf: not specified exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic inAlaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River,and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low wintertemperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally inJanuary and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopesof the Rocky Mountains
Terrain:vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains ineast; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged,volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Death Valley -86 mhighest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural resources:coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold,iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum,natural gas, timber
Land use:arable land: 19.32%other: 80.46% (1998 est.)permanent crops: 0.22%
Irrigated land:214,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin;hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoesin the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest firesin the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a majorimpediment to development
Environment - current issues:air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; theUS is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burningof fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides andfertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much ofthe western part of the country require careful management;desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note:world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) andby population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest pointin North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent
People United States
Population:290,342,554 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.9% (male 31,098,473; female 29,675,712)15-64 years: 66.7% (male 96,628,469; female 97,061,559)65 years and over: 12.4% (male 14,888,185; female 20,990,156) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 35.8 years male: 34.5 years female: 37.1 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.92% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:14.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:3.52 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 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.75 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 7.46 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.14 yearsfemale: 80.05 years (2003 est.)male: 74.37 years
Total fertility rate:2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:900,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:15,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: American(s)adjective: American
Ethnic groups:white 77.1%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native1.5%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.3%, other 4%(2000)note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the USCensus Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin Americandescent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Ricanorigin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group(white, black, Asian, etc.)
Religions:Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10%(1989)
Languages:English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writefemale: 97% (1979 est.)total population: 97%male: 97%
People - note:data for the US are based on projections that do not take intoconsideration the results of the 2000 census
Government United States
Country name:conventional long form: United States of Americaconventional short form: United Statesabbreviation: US or USA
Government type:Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition
Capital:Washington, DC
Administrative divisions:50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*,Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, NewHampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, NorthDakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, SouthCarolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Dependent areas:American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island,Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island,Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, VirginIslands, Wake Islandnote: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administeredthe Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but recently enteredinto a new political relationship with all four political units: theNorthern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union withthe US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact ofFree Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994); theFederated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Associationwith the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of theMarshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US(effective 21 October 1986)
Independence:4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 July (1776)
Constitution:17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789
Legal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001)and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001)and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approvalelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby a college of representatives who are elected directly from eachstate; president and vice president serve four-year terms; electionlast held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004)election results: George W. BUSH elected president; percent ofpopular vote - George W. BUSH (Republican Party) 48%, Albert A.GORE, Jr. (Democratic Party) 48%, Ralph NADER (Green Party) 3%,other 1%
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third arerenewed every two years; two members are elected from each state bypopular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popularvote to serve two-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - Republican Party 51, Democratic Party 48, independent 1;House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - Republican Party 226, Democratic Party 204, independent 1,undecided 4elections: Senate - last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NANovember 2004); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2002(next to be held NA November 2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for life by thepresident with confirmation by the Senate); United States Courts ofAppeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party [Terence McAULIFFE]; Green Party [leader NA];Libertarian Party [Steve DASBACH]; Republican Party [Governor MarcRACICOT]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialoguepartner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, ESCAP, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,MINURSO, MIPONUH, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, SPC, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIKOM,UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA,UNTSO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Flag description:thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom)alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upperhoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed starsarranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top andbottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars representthe 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies;known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for anumber of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, andPuerto Rico
Economy United States
Economy - overview:The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy inthe world, with a per capita GDP of $37,600. In this market-orientedeconomy, private individuals and business firms make most of thedecisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goodsand services predominantly in the private marketplace. US businessfirms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterpartsin Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant,lay off surplus workers, and develop new products. At the same time,they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home marketsthan the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firmsare at or near the forefront in technological advances, especiallyin computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment,although their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II.The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development ofa "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack theeducation and the professional/technical skills of those at the topand, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, healthinsurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically allthe gains in household income have gone to the top 20% ofhouseholds. The years 1994-2000 witnessed solid increases in realoutput, low inflation rates, and a drop in unemployment to below 5%.The year 2001 saw the end of boom psychology and performance, withoutput increasing only 0.3% and unemployment and business failuresrising substantially. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy.Moderate recovery took place in 2002, with the GDP growth raterising to 2.45%. A major short-term problem in first half 2002 was asharp decline in the stock market, fueled in part by the exposure ofdubious accounting practices in some major corporations. The war inMarch/April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq shiftedresources to military industries and introduced uncertainties aboutinvestment and employment in other sectors of the economy. Long-termproblems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure,rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population,sizable trade deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lowereconomic groups.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $10.45 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $36,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 18% services: 80% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 12.7% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40.8 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (2002)
Labor force:141.8 million (includes unemployed) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: managerial and professional 31%, technical, sales and administrative support 28.9%, services 13.6%, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and crafts 24.1%, farming, forestry, and fishing 2.4% note: figures exclude the unemployed (2001)
Unemployment rate:5.8% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $1.946 trillionexpenditures: $2.052 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA(2002 est.)
Industries:leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified andtechnologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles,aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, foodprocessing, consumer goods, lumber, mining
Industrial production growth rate:-0.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:3.719 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 5.6% other: 2.3% (2001) nuclear: 20.7%
Electricity - consumption:3.602 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:18.17 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:38.48 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:8.054 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:19.65 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:22.45 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:548.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:640.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:11.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:114.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:5.195 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish
Exports:$687 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:capital goods, automobiles, industrial supplies and raw materials,consumer goods, agricultural products
Exports - partners:Canada 23.2%, Mexico 14.1%, Japan 7.4%, UK 4.8% (2002)
Imports:$1.165 trillion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude oil and refined petroleum products, machinery, automobiles,consumer goods, industrial raw materials, food and beverages
Imports - partners:Canada 17.8%, Mexico 11.3%, China 11.1%, Japan 10.4%, Germany 5.3%(2002)
Debt - external:$862 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:British pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596(2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), Canadian dollars per US dollar- 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000), 1.4857 (1999), 1.4835(1998), Japanese yen per US dollar - 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001),107.77 (2000), 113.91 (1999), 130.91 (1998), euros per US dollar -1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.08540 (2000), 0.93863 (1999)note: financial institutions in France, Italy, and Germany and eightother European countries started using the euro on 1 January 1999with the euro replacing the local currency in consenting countriesfor all transactions in 2002
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications United States
Telephones - main lines in use:194 million (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:69.209 million (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: a very large, technologically advanced,multipurpose communications systemdomestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radiorelay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form oftelephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobiletelephone traffic throughout the countryinternational: 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earthstations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific andAtlantic Ocean regions) (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4,762, FM 5,542, shortwave 18 (1998)
Radios:575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)
Televisions:219 million (1997)
Internet country code:.us
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):7,000 (2002 est.)
Internet users:165.75 million (2002)
Transportation United States
Railways:total: 194,731 km mainline routesstandard gauge: 194,731 km 1.435-m gaugenote: represents the aggregate length of roadway of all line-haulrailroads including an estimate for class II and III railroads;excludes 135,185 km of yard tracks, sidings, and parallel lines(2000)
Highways:total: 6,334,859 kmpaved: 3,737,567 km (including 89,426 km of expressways)unpaved: 2,597,292 km (2000)
Waterways: 41,009 km note: navigable inland channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes
Pipelines:petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Anchorage, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Chicago, Duluth, HamptonRoads, Honolulu, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New Orleans,New York, Philadelphia, Port Canaveral, Portland (Oregon), PrudhoeBay, San Francisco, Savannah, Seattle, Tampa, Toledo
Merchant marine:total: 348 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 9,414,676 GRT/12,207,346 DWTships by type: barge carrier 2, bulk 71, cargo 26, chemical tanker13, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 1, container 79,freighter 15, heavy lift carrier 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleumtanker 73, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 46, short-seapassenger 2, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 9note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Australia 1, Canada 4, Denmark 15, France 1, Germany 1,Netherlands 3, Norway 7, Puerto Rico 4, Singapore 11, Sweden 1,United Kingdom 3; also, the US owns 549 additional ships (1,000 GRTor over) totaling 29,616,347 DWT that operate under the registriesof Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda,Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Finland, Gibraltar, HongKong (China), Indonesia, Isle of Man, Italy, Liberia, Malta,Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Norway, Norway (NIS), Panama, Peru,Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Tonga, UK,Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna (2002 est.)
Airports:14,801 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 5,131over 3,047 m: 1852,438 to 3,047 m: 222914 to 1,523 m: 2,390under 914 m: 969 (2002)1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,365
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 9,670under 914 m: 7,802 (2002)over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 1,7021,524 to 2,437 m: 158
Heliports:149 (2002)
Military United States
Military branches:Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard (CoastGuard administered in peacetime by the Department of HomelandSecurity but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 73,597,731 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:NA
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 2,116,002 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$276.7 billion (FY99 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.2% (FY99 est.)
Military - note:note: 2002 estimates for military manpower are based on projectionsthat do not take into consideration the results of the 2000 census
Transnational Issues United States
Disputes - international:prolonged drought in the Mexico border region has strainedwater-sharing arrangements; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in theBering Sea awaits Russian Duma ratification; maritime boundarydisputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juande Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock;The Bahamas have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; USNaval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutualagreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease;Haiti claims Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim inAntarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does notrecognize the claims of any other state; Marshall Islands claimsWake Island
Illicit drugs:consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and theCaribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasinglymethamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality SoutheastAsian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants,stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-launderingcenter
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Uruguay
Introduction Uruguay
Background:A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launchedin the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to militarycontrol of his administration in 1973. By yearend, the rebels hadbeen crushed, but the military continued to expand its holdthroughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until1985. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freeston the continent.
Geography Uruguay
Location:Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, betweenArgentina and Brazil
Geographic coordinates:33 00 S, 56 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 176,220 sq kmland: 173,620 sq kmwater: 2,600 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the state of Washington
Land boundaries: total: 1,564 km border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km
Coastline: 660 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:warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown
Terrain:mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m
Natural resources: arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 7.21% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 92.52% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:1,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasionalviolent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts,floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weatherbarriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changesfrom weather fronts
Environment - current issues:water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequatesolid/hazardous waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation,Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note:second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most ofthe low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) isgrassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising
People Uruguay
Population:3,413,329 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.3% (male 425,642; female 404,987)15-64 years: 62.6% (male 1,057,187; female 1,079,549)65 years and over: 13.1% (male 182,696; female 263,268) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 31.8 yearsmale: 30.2 yearsfemale: 33.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:0.79% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:17.19 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.35 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 13.8 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 15.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.87 yearsmale: 72.54 yearsfemale: 79.38 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.35 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2001 est.)
Nationality: noun: Uruguayan(s) adjective: Uruguayan
Ethnic groups:white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian, practically nonexistent
Religions:Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attendschurch regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other31%
Languages:Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on theBrazilian frontier)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 97.6%female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
Government Uruguay
Country name:conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguayconventional short form: Uruguaylocal short form: Uruguayformer: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Provincelocal long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:Montevideo
Administrative divisions:19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas,Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida,Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera,Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres
Independence:25 August 1825 (from Brazil)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 August (1825)
Constitution:27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973,new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; twoconstitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7January 1997
Legal system:based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since 1 March 2000)and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Jorge BATLLE Ibanez (since 1 March2000) and Vice President Luis HIERRO (since 1 March 2000); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president withparliamentary approvalelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October1999, with runoff election on 28 November 1999 (next to be held NA2004)election results: Jorge BATLLE Ibanez elected president; percent ofvote - Jorge BATLLE Ibanez 52% in a runoff against Tabare VAZQUEZ 44%
Legislative branch:bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamberof Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber ofRepresentatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 1999 (next tobe held NA 2004); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October1999 (next to be held NA 2004)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - Encuentro Progresista 12, Colorado Party 10,Blanco 7, New Sector/Space Coalition 1; Chamber of Representatives -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - EncuentroProgresista 40, Colorado Party 33, Blanco 22, New Sector/SpaceCoalition 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and electedfor 10-year terms by the General Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez]; National Party or Blanco[Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space Coalition or NuevoEspacio [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad FrontCoalition or Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio [Tabare VAZQUEZ]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,LAIA, Mercosur, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMISET,UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo FERNANDEZ-FAINGOLDconsulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 331-8142telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEINembassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200mailing address: APO AA 34035telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611
Flag description:nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternatingwith blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side cornerwith a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and16 rays alternately triangular and wavy
Economy Uruguay
Economy - overview:Uruguay's economy is characterized by an export-orientedagricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels ofsocial spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn,stemming largely from lower demand in Argentina and Brazil, whichtogether account for nearly half of Uruguay's exports. Total GDP inthese four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year.Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and theburden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF and the UShas limited the damage, which is still extensive. Moves toreschedule debt and promote economic recovery may help limit afurther decline in output in 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $26.82 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-10.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 27% services: 67% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 6% (1997)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:42.3 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):14.1% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.2 million (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%
Unemployment rate:19.4% (2002)
Budget:revenues: $3.7 billionexpenditures: $4.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $500million (2000)
Industries:food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment,petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:-12% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:7.963 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.7% hydro: 99.1% other: 0.3% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:6.152 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.377 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:123 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:41,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:40 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:40 million cu m (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish
Exports:$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:meat, rice, leather products, wool, vehicles, dairy products
Exports - partners:Brazil 21%, Argentina 15%, US 8.1%, Germany 5.1%, Italy 4% (2002)
Imports:$1.87 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum
Imports - partners:Argentina 25.6%, Brazil 22.7%, US 7.7%, Venezuela 6.2% (2002)
Debt - external:$11.8 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency:Uruguayan peso (UYU)
Currency code:UYU
Exchange rates:Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 21.26 (2002), 13.32 (2001), 12.1(2000), 11.34 (1999), 10.47 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Uruguay
Telephones - main lines in use:929,141 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:350,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: fully digitalizeddomestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; newnationwide microwave radio relay networkinternational: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)
Radios:1.97 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:20 (2001)
Televisions:782,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.uy
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):14 (2001)
Internet users:400,000 (2002)
Transportation Uruguay
Railways:total: 2,073 kmstandard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gaugenote: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are inpartial use (2002)
Highways: total: 8,983 km paved: 8,081 km unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:1,600 km (used by coastal and shallow-draft river craft)
Pipelines:gas 192 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Colonia, Fray Bentos, Juan La Caze, La Paloma, Montevideo, NuevaPalmira, Paysandu, Punta del Este, Piriapolis
Merchant marine:total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/9,775 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Argentina 4, Greece 1 (2002 est.)ships by type: chemical tanker 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1,roll on/roll off 1
Airports:64 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 49 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 31 (2002)
Military Uruguay
Military branches:Army, Navy (including Naval Air Arm, Coast Guard, Marines), AirForce, Police (Coracero Guard, Grenadier Guard)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 831,297 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 672,030 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$250 million (1999)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (2000)
Transnational Issues Uruguay
Disputes - international:uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in theQuarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint withArgentina
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Uzbekistan
Introduction Uzbekistan
Background:Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiffresistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventuallysuppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During theSoviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grainled to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies,which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certainrivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks togradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing itsmineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorismby Islamic militants, a nonconvertible currency, and the curtailmentof human rights and democratization.
Geography Uzbekistan
Location:Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates:41 00 N, 64 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 447,400 sq kmwater: 22,000 sq kmland: 425,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:total: 6,221 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km,Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline:0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southernportion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims:none (doubly landlocked)
Climate:mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters;semiarid grassland in east
Terrain:mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flatintensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, SyrDarya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surroundedby mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 mhighest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, leadand zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use: arable land: 10.8% permanent crops: 0.91% other: 88.29% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:42,810 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations ofchemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are thenblown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute todesertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and theheavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many humanhealth disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contaminationfrom buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, includingDDT
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlockedcountries in the world
People Uzbekistan
Population:25,981,647 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34.7% (male 4,594,721; female 4,431,653)15-64 years: 60.5% (male 7,781,739; female 7,945,641)65 years and over: 4.7% (male 497,692; female 730,201) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 21.8 yearsmale: 21.2 yearsfemale: 22.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.63% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:26.09 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:7.97 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.83 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 71.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 67.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 75.27 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64 yearsmale: 60.53 yearsfemale: 67.64 years (2003 est.)