Total fertility rate:3 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 740 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Uzbek(s)adjective: Uzbek
Ethnic groups:Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%,Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions:Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages:Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.3%male: 99.6%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Uzbekistan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistanconventional short form: Uzbekistanlocal short form: Ozbekistonformer: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
Government type:republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little poweroutside the executive branch
Capital:Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomousrepublic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati,Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, NamanganViloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi),Qaraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, SirdaryoViloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), ToshkentShahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)note: administrative divisions have the same names as theiradministrative centers (exceptions have the administrative centername following in parentheses)
Independence:1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicialsystem
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, whenhe was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11December 2003)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president withapproval of the Supreme Assemblyelection results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote- Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutionalamendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000 (next to beheld NA December 2007); prime minister and deputy ministersappointed by the president
Legislative branch:unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - 2002amendment to the constitution creates a second chamber to beestablished via elections in 2004election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NDP 48, Self-Sacrificers Party 34, Fatherland Progress Party 20,Adolat Social Democratic Party 11, MTP 10, citizens' groups 16,local government 110, vacant 1note: not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election werecontested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support PresidentKARIMOVelections: last held 5 December and 19 December 1999 (next to beheld NA December 2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmedby the Supreme Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Anwar JURABAYEV, firstsecretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) orMTP [Aziz KAYUMOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP(formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALALOV, first secretary];Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party[Ahtam TURSUNOV, first secretary]; note - Fatherland Progress Partymerged with Self-Sacrificers Party
Political pressure groups and leaders:Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom)Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December1992; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman];Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Abduhoshim GHAFUROV,chairman]; Ezgulik [Vasilia INOYATOVA]
International organization participation:AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOVFAX: [1] (202) 293-6804consulate(s) general: New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 293-6803chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John Edward HERBSTembassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [998] (71) 120-5450FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and greenseparated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy Uzbekistan
Economy - overview:Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists ofintensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of itspopulation lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistanis now the world's second-largest cotton exporter, a large producerof gold and oil, and a regionally significant producer of chemicalsand machinery. Following independence in December 1991, thegovernment sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy withsubsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Uzbekistanresponded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asianand Russian financial crises by emphasizing import substituteindustrialization and by tightening export and currency controlswithin its already largely closed economy. The government, whileaware of the need to improve the investment climate, sponsorsmeasures that often increase, not decrease, the government's controlover business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality ofincome distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society sinceindependence.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $66.06 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 36%industry: 21%services: 43% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 32.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):26% (2001 est.)
Labor force:11.9 million (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate:10% plus another 20% underemployed (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4 billionexpenditures: $4.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(1999 est.)
Industries:textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, naturalgas, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:3.5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:44.49 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 88.2% hydro: 11.8% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:47.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:3.998 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:9.7 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:142,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:142,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:297 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:63.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:45.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:17.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:937.3 billion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products:cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Exports:$2.8 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers,ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998 est.)
Exports - partners:Russia 17.7%, Ukraine 11%, Italy 7.6%, Tajikistan 6.8%, Poland5.1%, South Korea 5%, Kazakhstan 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Imports:$2.5 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals(1998 est.)
Imports - partners:Russia 22.6%, Germany 9.8%, South Korea 9.4%, Kazakhstan 8.1%, US6.9%, Ukraine 6.8%, China 5.2%, Turkey 4.6% (2002)
Debt - external:$4.6 billion (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:approximately $150 million from the US (2001)
Currency:Uzbekistani sum (UZS)
Currency code:UZS
Exchange rates:Uzbekistani sums per US dollar - 970 (2002), 325 (2001), 236.61(2000), 124.63 (1999), 94.49 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Uzbekistan
Telephones - main lines in use:1.98 million (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular:130,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need ofmodernizationdomestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded andtechnologically improved, particularly in Tashkent (Toshkent) andSamarqand, under contracts with prominent companies inindustrialized countries; moreover, by 1998, six cellular networkshad been placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global Systemfor Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type (Digital Advanced MobilePhone System), and one AMPS type (Advanced Mobile Phone System)international: linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CISmember states and to other countries by leased connection via theMoscow international gateway switch; after the completion of theUzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable,Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities forinternational communications; Inmarsat also provides aninternational connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earthstations - NA (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)
Radios:10.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals (2003)
Televisions:6.4 million (1997)
Internet country code:.uz
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):42 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2002)
Transportation Uzbekistan
Railways: total: 3,950 km broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2002)
Highways: total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:1,100 km (1990)
Pipelines:gas 9,012 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Termiz (Amu Darya)
Airports:273 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 27 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,523 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 246 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 211 (2002)
Military Uzbekistan
Military branches:Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard, Security Forces(internal security and border troops)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,940,031 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,635,099 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 310,915 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$200 million (FY97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2% (FY97)
Transnational Issues Uzbekistan
Disputes - international:prolonged regional drought creates water-sharing difficulties forAmu Darya river states; delimitation with Kazakhstan complete withdemarcation underway; serious disputes with Kyrgyzstan around Uzbekenclaves mar progress on delimitation efforts; talks have begun withTajikistan to determine and delimit border
Illicit drugs:transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to alesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivationof cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domesticconsumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government croperadication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicalsbound for Afghanistan
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Vanuatu
Introduction Vanuatu
Background:The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19thcentury, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, whichadministered the islands until independence in 1980.
Geography Vanuatu
Location:Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, aboutthree-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:16 00 S, 167 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 12,200 sq kmland: 12,200 sq kmnote: includes more than 80 islandswater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,528 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesexclusive economic zone: 200 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 24 NM
Climate:tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds
Terrain:mostly mountains of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources: manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use: arable land: 2.46% permanent crops: 7.38% other: 90.16% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causesminor earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:a majority of the population does not have access to a potable andreliable supply of water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands;several of the islands have active volcanoes
People Vanuatu
Population:199,414 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34.8% (male 35,499; female 33,992)15-64 years: 61.8% (male 63,021; female 60,149)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 3,605; female 3,148) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 21.9 yearsmale: 22 yearsfemale: 21.8 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.61% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:24.26 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:8.13 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 58.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.71 yearsmale: 60.28 yearsfemale: 63.21 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.98 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: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups:indigenous Melanesian 98%, French, Vietnamese, Chinese, otherPacific Islanders
Religions:Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenousbeliefs 7.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6.2%, Church of Christ 3.8%,other 15.7% (including Jon Frum Cargo cult)
Languages:three official languages: English, French, pidgin (known as Bislamaor Bichelama), plus more than 100 local languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 53%male: 57%female: 48% (1979 est.)
Government Vanuatu
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatuconventional short form: Vanuatuformer: New Hebrides
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:Port-Vila
Administrative divisions:6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence:30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution:30 July 1980
Legal system:unified system being created from former dual French and Britishsystems
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Father John BANI (since 25 March 1999)elections: president elected for a four-year term by an electoralcollege consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regionalcouncils for a five-year term; election for president last held 25March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004); following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition isusually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members;election for prime minister last held 2 August 2002 (next to be heldNA 2003)election results: Father John BANI elected president on second vote(24 March 1999) after the first (17 March 1999) did not have anycandidate with the required two-thirds majority; percent ofelectoral college vote - NA%cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister,responsible to Parliamenthead of government: Prime Minister Edward Nipake NATAPEI (since 13April 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since NA)
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve four-year terms)elections: last held 2 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -UMP 15, VP 14, VRP 3, MPP 2, other and independent 18; note -political party associations are fluidnote: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of customand land
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president afterconsultation with the prime minister and the leader of theopposition, three other justices are appointed by the president onthe advice of the Judicial Service Commission)
Political parties and leaders:Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party orMPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [Dinh Van THAN];Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanuaaku Party (OurLand Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP[Maxime Carlot KORMAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, NAM, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIBH, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, havea Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to PapuaNew Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a blackisosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by ablack-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the twopoints of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossednamele leaves, all in yellow
Economy Vanuatu
Economy - overview:The economy is based primarily on subsistence or small-scaleagriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population.Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000visitors in 1997, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineraldeposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleumdeposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development ishindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from mainmarkets and between constituent islands. A severe earthquake inNovember 1999 followed by a tsunami, caused extensive damage to thenorthern island of Pentecote and left thousands homeless. Anotherpowerful earthquake in January 2002 caused extensive damage in thecapital, Port-Vila, and surrounding areas, and also was followed bya tsunami. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. Inresponse to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tightenregulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 thegovernment stepped up efforts to boost tourism. Australia and NewZealand are the main suppliers of foreign aid.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $563 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 26%industry: 12%services: 62% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (2001 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 65%, services 30%, industry 5% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Budget:revenues: $94.4 millionexpenditures: $99.8 million, including capital expenditures of $30.4million (1996 est.)
Industries:food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate:1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:43.46 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:40.42 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Agriculture - products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Exports:$22 million f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners:India 32.5%, Thailand 22.8%, South Korea 10.5%, Indonesia 6.3%,Japan 4.9% (2002)
Imports:$93 million c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners:Australia 22.1%, Japan 19.2%, New Zealand 10.1%, Singapore 8.1%,Fiji 6.6%, Taiwan 5%, India 5% (2002)
Debt - external:$68.6 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$45.8 million (1995)
Currency:vatu (VUV)
Currency code:VUV
Exchange rates:vatu per US dollar - 139.2 (2002), 145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000),129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Vanuatu
Telephones - main lines in use:5,500 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:310 (2000)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 2, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:67,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:2,300 (1999)
Internet country code:.vu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:3,000 (2000)
Transportation Vanuatu
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:none
Ports and harbors:Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine:total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,181,463 GRT/1,552,813 DWTships by type: bulk 26, cargo 5, combination bulk 3, container 3,liquefied gas 2, multi-function large-load carrier 1, refrigeratedcargo 7, vehicle carrier 5note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Australia 3, Canada 2, China 1, Japan 25, Monaco 4,Netherlands 1, NZ 5, Panama 1, Poland 1, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 2,Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Airports:30 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1524 to 2437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 17 (2002)
Military Vanuatu
Military branches:no regular military forces; Vanuatu Police Force (VPF; includingthe paramilitary Mobile Force or VMF)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA%
Transnational Issues Vanuatu
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Venezuela
Introduction Venezuela
Background:Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapseof Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador).For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruledby generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oilindustry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically electedgovernments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: anembattled president who is losing his once solid support amongVenezuelans, a divided military, drug-related conflicts along theColombian border, increasing internal drug consumption,overdependence on the petroleum industry with its pricefluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that areendangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Geography Venezuela
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 912,050 sq kmland: 882,050 sq kmwater: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline: 2,800 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 15 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,hydropower, diamonds
Land use: arable land: 2.99% permanent crops: 0.96% other: 96.05% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:540 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping
Geography - note:on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; AngelFalls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
People Venezuela
Population:24,654,694 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (male 3,944,749; female 3,700,799)15-64 years: 64.1% (male 7,931,194; female 7,864,697)65 years and over: 4.9% (male 552,291; female 660,964) (2003 est.)
Median age:total: 24.8 yearsmale: 24.3 yearsfemale: 25.4 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.48% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:19.78 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.79 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 20.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 27.05 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.81 yearsmale: 70.78 yearsfemale: 77.07 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.36 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:62,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Venezuelan(s)adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups:Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenouspeople
Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages:Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.4%male: 93.8%female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Government Venezuela
Country name:conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelaconventional short form: Venezuelalocal short form: Venezuelalocal long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Caracas
Administrative divisions:23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 federal district*(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependenciafederal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, DistritoFederal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, NuevaEsparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulianote: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlledisland groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:30 December 1999
Legal system:based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial courtsystem; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent ofvote - 60%elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; threeseats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7),opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Action or AD [Claudio FERMIN]; Fifth Republic Movementor MVR [Garcia PONCE]; Homeland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNIZ];Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS[Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan JoseCALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Antonio HERRERA]; SocialChristian Party or COPEI [Oswaldo ALVAREZ Paz]; Venezuela Project orPV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
Political pressure groups and leaders:FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organizationdominated by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation:CAN, Caricom (observer), CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-19, G-24,G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNU, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZchancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Charles S. SHAPIROembassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de ValleArriba, Caracas 1080mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red withthe coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc ofseven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
Economy Venezuela
Economy - overview:Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector,which accounts for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of exportearnings, and more than half of government operating revenues.Despite higher oil prices at the end of 2002 and into 2003, domesticpolitical instability, culminating in a two-month national oilstrike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily haltedeconomic activity. The economy is likely to remain in a recession in2003, after sinking an estimated 8.9 percent in 2002.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $131.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-8.9% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 50% services: 45% (2001)
Population below poverty line: 47% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):31.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:9.9 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:services 64%, industry 23%, agriculture 13% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:17% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $21.5 billionexpenditures: $27 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Industries:petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, foodprocessing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate:-5.4% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:87.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.7% hydro: 68.3% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:81.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:3.08 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:505,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:63.95 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:31.71 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:4.202 trillion cu m (37257)
Agriculture - products: corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Exports: $28.6 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities: petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures
Exports - partners:US 53.4%, Netherlands Antilles 17.3%, Canada 2.9% (2002)
Imports:$18.8 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,construction materials
Imports - partners:US 27.5%, Colombia 6.9%, Brazil 5.7%, Mexico 4.4% (2002)
Debt - external:$38.2 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$74 million (2000)
Currency:bolivar (VEB)
Currency code:VEB
Exchange rates:bolivares per US dollar - 1,160.44 (2002), 723.67 (2001), 679.96(2000), 605.72 (1999), 547.56 (1998)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Venezuela
Telephones - main lines in use:2.6 million (however, 3,500,000 have been installed) (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2 million (1998)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern and expandingdomestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recentsubstantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable ofdigital multimedia servicesinternational: 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating withColombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of aninternational fiber-optic network
Radio broadcast stations:AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:10.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ve
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:1.3 million (2002)
Transportation Venezuela
Railways: total: 682 km standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)
Highways: total: 96,155 km paved: 32,308 km unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:7,100 kmnote: Rio Orinoco and Lago de Maracaibo accept oceangoing vessels
Pipelines:extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,484 km; refinedproducts 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo,Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz,Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine:total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 714,073 GRT/1,256,667 DWTnote: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag ofconvenience: Denmark 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, UK 1, US 2 (2002 est.)ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, container 1,liquefied gas 4, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 15, rollon/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 1
Airports:373 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 127 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 18 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 246 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 97 under 914 m: 139 (2002)
Heliports: 1 (2002)
Military Venezuela
Military branches:National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includesGround Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces(Fuerzas Navales or Armada - including marines and Coast Guard), AirForce (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation orNational Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age:18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,767,862 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,870,751 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 249,319 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$934 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Venezuela
Disputes - international:claims all of Guyana west of the Essequibo River; maritime boundarydispute with Colombia in the Gulf of Venezuela and the CaribbeanSea; US, France and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim togive full effect to Aves Island, which creates a VenezuelanEEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of theCaribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, andSaint Vincent and the Grenadines protest the claim and other states'recognition of it
Illicit drugs:small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processingof opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities ofcocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombiabound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-relatedmoney-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombiaand on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarilytargeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities byColombian insurgents on border
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Vietnam
Introduction Vietnam
Background:France occupied all of Vietnam by 1884. Independence was declaredafter World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 whenthey were defeated by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH, who tookcontrol of the North. US economic and military aid to South Vietnamgrew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, butUS armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South.Economic reconstruction of the reunited country has proven difficultas aging Communist Party leaders have only grudgingly initiatedreforms necessary for a free market.
Geography Vietnam
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,560 sq kmland: 325,360 sq kmwater: 4,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline:3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:contiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season(mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October tomid-March)
Terrain:low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Natural resources:phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil andgas deposits, forests, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 17.41% permanent crops: 4.71% other: 77.88% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:30,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,especially in the Mekong River delta
Environment - current issues:logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute todeforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishingthreaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limitspotable water supply; growing urban industrialization and populationmigration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi MinhCity
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, NuclearTest Ban
Geography - note:extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km acrossat its narrowest point
People Vietnam
Population:81,624,716 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.2% (male 12,699,002; female 11,967,674)15-64 years: 64.2% (male 25,776,600; female 26,599,005)65 years and over: 5.6% (male 1,902,464; female 2,679,971) (2003est.)
Median age: total: 24.5 years male: 23.6 years female: 25.5 years (2002)
Population growth rate:1.29% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:19.58 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:6.19 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 26.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)male: 34.71 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.05 yearsmale: 67.58 yearsfemale: 72.7 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.24 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:6,600 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups:Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, mountaingroups
Religions:Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly RomanCatholic, some Protestant), indigenous beliefs, Muslim
Languages:Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a secondlanguage), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94%male: 95.8%female: 92.3% (2003 est.)
Government Vietnam
Country name:conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnamconventional short form: Vietnamlocal short form: Viet Namabbreviation: SRVlocal long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
Government type:Communist state
Capital:Hanoi
Administrative divisions:58 provinces (tinh, singular and plural), and 3 municipalities*(thu do, singular and plural); An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, BacLieu, Bac Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong,Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Da Nang,Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Hai Phong*, HaNam, Ha Noi*, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hoa Binh, Ho Chi Minh*, Hung Yen,Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, LaoCai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, PhuYen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, SocTrang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, ThuaThien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc,Yen Bai