Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:NA (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NA yearsfemale: NA years (2004 est.)male: NA years
Total fertility rate:NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Christmas Islander(s)adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups:Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%note: no indigenous population (2001)
Religions:Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages:English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy:NA
People - note:The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1508 asof the 2001 Census
Government Christmas Island
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Islandconventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Departmentof Transport and Regional Services
Government type:NA
Capital:The Settlement
Administrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)
Independence:none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:NA
Legal system:under the authority of the governor general of Australia andAustralian law
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by the Australian governor generalhead of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November2003)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch andAustralia
Legislative branch:unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the ChristmasIsland Assembly held a design competition for an island flag,however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as theofficial flag of the territory
Economy Christmas Island
Economy - overview:Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity,but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a$34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. TheAustralian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of acommercial space-launching site on the island, projected to beginoperations in mid-2004
GDP:purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:NA
Budget:revenues: NAexpenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:NA
Industries:tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:phosphate
Exports - partners:Australia, NZ
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:consumer goods
Imports - partners:principally Australia
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002),1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: service provided by the Australian networkdomestic: only analog mobile telephone service is availableinternational: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - oneIntelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:600 (1997)
Internet country code:.cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Christmas Island
Highways: total: 240 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Flying Fish Cove
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Christmas Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Clipperton Island
Introduction Clipperton Island
Background:This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate whomade it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventuallyawarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.
Geography Clipperton Island
Location:Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 kmsouthwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates:10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 6 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 6 sq km
Area - comparative:about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:11.1 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rainsMay-October
Terrain:coral atoll
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:reef 12 km in circumference
People Clipperton Island
Population: uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
Government Clipperton Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Clipperton Islandlocal short form: Ile Clippertonlocal long form: noneformer: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesiaby a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Clipperton Island
Economy - overview:Although 115 species of fish have been identified in theterritorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activityis tuna fishing.
Transportation Clipperton Island
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Clipperton Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Clipperton Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Introduction Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Background:There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELINGdiscovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited untilthe 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferredto the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the twoinhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans onWest Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Geography Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwestof Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates:12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 14 sq kmnote: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Islandwater: 0 sq kmland: 14 sq km
Area - comparative:about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:26 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade windsfor about nine months of the year
Terrain:flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:cyclone season is October to April
Environment - current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Geography - note: islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
People Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Population: 629 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.002% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NA yearsmale: NA yearsfemale: NA years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:NA children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Cocos Islander(s)adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups:Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religions:Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Languages:Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Government Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islandsconventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by theAustralian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:NA
Capital:West Island
Administrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)
Independence:none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955
Legal system:based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage:NA
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by the Australian governor generalelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch andAustraliahead of government: Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since1 November 2003)cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Economy - overview:Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop.Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, butadditional food and most other necessities must be imported fromAustralia. There is a small tourist industry.
GDP:purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Unemployment rate: 60% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: NA expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries:copra products and tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:copra
Exports - partners:Australia
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Australia
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.5419 (2003), 1.9354 (2002),1.9320 (2001), 1.7173 (2000), 1.5497 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:287 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular:note - analog cellular service available
Telephone system:general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunicationsystemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 61-891; telephone, telex, andfacsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite;1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:300 (1992)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.cc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Highways: total: 15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2003)
Ports and harbors:none; lagoon anchorage only
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does havea five-person police force
Transnational Issues Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Colombia
Introduction Colombia
Background:Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from thecollapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador andVenezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the ColombianGovernment escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by fundsfrom the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and largeswaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, themovement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary tooverthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitarieshas grown to be several thousand strong in recent years, challengingthe insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and alsothe government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas.While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government controlthroughout the country, neighboring countries worry about theviolence spilling over their borders.
Geography Colombia
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panamaand Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenEcuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,138,910 sq kmland: 1,038,700 sq kmnote: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, andSerranilla Bankwater: 100,210 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:total: 6,004 kmborder countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains,eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 mnote: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper,emeralds, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.42% other: 95.91% (2001) permanent crops: 1.67%
Irrigated land:8,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes;periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:only South American country with coastlines on both North PacificOcean and Caribbean Sea
People Colombia
Population:42,310,775 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31% (male 6,644,080; female 6,489,677)15-64 years: 63.9% (male 13,171,416; female 13,879,115)65 years and over: 5% (male 940,762; female 1,185,725) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 25.8 yearsmale: 24.9 yearsfemale: 26.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.53% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:21.19 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.61 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 21.72 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 17.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 25.69 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.43 yearsmale: 67.58 yearsfemale: 75.41 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.59 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:190,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,600 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Colombian(s)adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups:mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixedblack-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%male: 92.4%female: 92.6% (2003 est.)
Government Colombia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Colombiaconventional short form: Colombialocal short form: Colombialocal long form: Republica de Colombia
Government type:republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:Bogota
Administrative divisions:32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,Atlantico, Distrito Capital de Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas,Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca,Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Nortede Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres yProvidencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes,Vichada
Independence:20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution:5 July 1991
Legal system:based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after USprocedures was enacted in 1992-93; judicial review of executive andlegislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002);Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties- the PL and PSC - and independentselections: president and vice president elected by popular vote fora four-year term; election last held 26 May 2002 (next to be held NAMay 2006)election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez received 53% of thevote; Vice President Francisco SANTOS was elected on the same ticket
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado(102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms)elections: Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NAMarch 2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002(next to be held NA March 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (manyaligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percentof vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independentsand other parties 91
Judicial branch:four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court ofJustice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law;judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the SuperiorJudicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highestcourt of administrative law; judges are selected from the nomineesof the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms);Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of theconstitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to theconstitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council(administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolvesjurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members areelected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Conservative Party or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Liberal Party orPL [Camilo SANCHEZ]; Colombian Communist Party or PCC [JaimeCAICEDO]; Democratic Pole or PDI [Antonio NAVARRO Wolff]note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties,most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress
Political pressure groups and leaders:two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - RevolutionaryArmed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army orELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is UnitedSelf-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
International organization participation:BCIE, CAN, CDB, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate),MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejiachancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DCconsulate(s): AtlantaFAX: [1] (202) 232-8643telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, andred; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears theEcuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Economy Colombia
Economy - overview:Colombia's economy suffers from weak domestic and foreign demand,austere government budgets, and serious internal armed conflict, butseems poised for recovery. Other economic problems facing PresidentURIBE range from reforming the pension system to reducing highunemployment. Two of Colombia's leading exports, oil and coffee,face an uncertain future; new exploration is needed to offsetdeclining oil production, while coffee harvests and prices aredepressed. On the positive side, several international financialinstitutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE,which includes measures designed to reduce the public-sector deficitbelow 2.5% of GDP in 2004. The government's economic policy anddemocratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense ofconfidence in the economy, particularly within the business sector,and GDP growth in 2003 was among the highest in Latin America.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $263.2 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.7% industry: 32.1% services: 54.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:55% (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 1%highest 10%: 44% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:57.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:20.34 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 24%, services 46% (1990)
Unemployment rate:14.2% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $24 billionexpenditures: $25.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:51.9% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoabeans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Industries:textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:3.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:42.99 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:39.81 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:210 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:40 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:614,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:252,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.8 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:132 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-1.417 billion (2003)
Exports:$12.96 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:US 47.1%, Ecuador 6%, Venezuela 5.3% (2003)
Imports:$13.06 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:US 29.6%, Brazil 5.5%, Mexico 5.4%, Venezuela 5.2%, China 5%, Japan4.6%, Germany 4.4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$10.92 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$38.26 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:Colombian peso (COP)
Currency code:COP
Exchange rates:Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,877.65 (2003), 2,504.24 (2002),2,299.63 (2001), 2,087.9 (2000), 1,756.23 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:8,768,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,186,200 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system in many respectsdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domesticsatellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking50 citiesinternational: country code - 57; satellite earth stations - 6Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switchingcenters; 8 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Radios:21 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions:4.59 million (1997)
Internet country code:.co
Internet hosts:115,158 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):18 (2000)
Internet users:2,732,200 (2003)
Transportation Colombia
Railways:total: 3,304 kmstandard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 110,000 kmpaved: 26,000 kmunpaved: 84,000 km (2000)
Waterways:9,187 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bahia de Portete, Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Leticia,Puerto Bolivar, San Andres, Santa Marta, Tumaco, Turbo
Merchant marine:total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 35,427 GRT/46,301 DWTby type: bulk 4, cargo 5, container 1, liquefied gas 1, petroleumtanker 2registered in other countries: 16 (2004 est.)
Airports:980 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 101 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 12 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 879 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 under 914 m: 572 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 272
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Colombia
Military branches:Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, including NavalAviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza AereaColombiana)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 11,252,027 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 7,495,462 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 392,656 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.3 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.4% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Colombia
Disputes - international:Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and againstColombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundaryinvolving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including theArchipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank;maritime boundary dispute with Venezuela in the Gulf of Venezuela;Colombian drug activities penetrate Peruvian border area; thecontinuing civil disorder in Colombia has created a serious refugeecrisis in neighboring states, especially Ecuador
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 2,730,000 - 3,100,000 (conflict between government and FARC;drug wars) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world'sleading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2002 was 144,450hectares, a 15% decline since 2001); potential production of opiumbetween 2001 and 2002 declined by 25% to 91 metric tons; potentialproduction of heroin declined to 11.3 metric tons; the world'slargest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier ofabout 90% of the cocaine to the US market and the great majority ofcocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier ofheroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program; asignificant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are eitherlaundered or invested in Colombia through the black market pesoexchange
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Comoros
Introduction Comoros
Background:Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups sincegaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands ofAnjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolvethe secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a newconstitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and anew union president was sworn in on 26 May 2002.
Geography Comoros
Location:Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of theMozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northernMadagascar and northern Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:12 10 S, 44 15 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,170 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 2,170 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:340 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain:volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 35.87%permanent crops: 23.32%other: 40.81% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); LeKartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation onslopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel
People Comoros
Population:651,901 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.8% (male 140,083; female 139,245)15-64 years: 54.2% (male 174,216; female 179,050)65 years and over: 3% (male 9,136; female 10,171) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.6 yearsmale: 18.3 yearsfemale: 18.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.94% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:38 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.63 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 77.22 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 85.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.57 yearsmale: 59.29 yearsfemale: 63.91 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.15 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.12% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Comoran(s)adjective: Comoran
Ethnic groups:Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava
Religions:Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%
Languages:Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahiliand Arabic)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 56.5%male: 63.6%female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Government Comoros
Country name:conventional long form: Union of the Comorosconventional short form: Comoroslocal short form: Comoreslocal long form: Union des Comores
Government type:independent republic
Capital:Moroni
Administrative divisions:3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli(Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni,Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou
Independence:6 July 1975 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 July (1975)
Constitution:23 December 2001note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; theGUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002
Legal system:French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note- following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO wasappointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense andTerritorial Security; the president is both the chief of state andthe head of governmentelection results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with75% of the voteelections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidencyrotates every four years among the elected presidents from the threemain islands in the Union; election last held 14 April 2002 (next tobe held NA April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president;note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworninto office in May 2002head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002);note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; inJanuary 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO wasappointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense andTerritorial Security; the president is both the chief of state andthe head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Union (30 seats; half the deputies areselected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the otherhalf by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years); note -elections for the former legislature, the Federal Assembly(dissolved in 1999) were held on 1 and 8 December 1996; the nextelections for the Assembly of the Union were scheduled to be held on18 and 25 April 2004
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by thepresident, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one electedby the Council of each island, and others are former presidents ofthe republic)
Political parties and leaders:Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. AbdourazakABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; FrontNational pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [AhmedRACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [MahamoudMRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatistmovement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progressor MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et laDemocratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; PartiComorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE];Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of thegovernment) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF,IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the USand Canada and permanent representative to the UN)chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Union ofthe Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York,NY 10022telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador toMauritius is accredited to Comoros
Flag description:four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and bluewith a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered withinthe triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing thehoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a linebetween the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and thefour stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago -Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity ofFrance, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and colorgreen are traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Comoros
Economy - overview:One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of threeislands that have inadequate transportation links, a young andrapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The loweducational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistencelevel of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavydependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture,including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP,employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports.The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, themain staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government -which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling toupgrade education and technical training, to privatize commercialand industrial enterprises, to improve health services, to diversifyexports, to promote tourism, and to reduce the high populationgrowth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comoransabroad help supplement GDP.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $441 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40% industry: 4% services: 56% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:60% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force:144,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80%
Unemployment rate:20% (1996 est.)
Budget:revenues: $27.6 millionexpenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas,cassava (tapioca)
Industries:tourism, perfume distillation
Industrial production growth rate:-2% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:21.27 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:19.78 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)