Infant mortality rate:total: 3.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 4.32 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.78 yearsmale: 72.52 yearsfemale: 79.24 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.18 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:500 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 10 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Czech(s)adjective: Czech
Ethnic groups:Czech 81.2%, Moravian 13.2%, Slovak 3.1%, Polish 0.6%, German 0.5%,Silesian 0.4%, Roma 0.3%, Hungarian 0.2%, other 0.5% (1991)
Religions:Roman Catholic 39.2%, Protestant 4.6%, Orthodox 3%, other 13.4%,atheist 39.8%
Languages:Czech
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 99.9% (1999 est.) male: NA female: NA
Government Czech Republic
Country name:conventional long form: Czech Republicconventional short form: Czech Republiclocal short form: Ceska Republikalocal long form: Ceska Republika
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Prague
Administrative divisions:13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavnimesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj,Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj,Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha*, StredoceskyKraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj
Independence:1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic andSlovakia)
National holiday:Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)
Constitution:ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993
Legal system:civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in linewith Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)note: the Czech Republic's first president Vaclav HAVEL stepped downfrom office on 2 February 2003 having served exactly 10 years;parliament finally elected a successor on 28 February 2003 after twoinconclusive elections in January 2003head of government: Prime Minister Stanislav GROSS (since 26 July2004), Deputy Prime Ministers Zdenek SKROMACH (since 4 August 2004),Martin JAHN (since 4 August 2004), Pavel NEMEC (since 4 August2004); Milan SIMONOVSKY (since 4 August 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelection results: Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round;combined votes of both chambers of parliament)elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;last successful election held 28 February 2003 (after earlierelections held 15 and 24 January 2003 were inconclusive; nextelection to be held NA January 2008); prime minister appointed bythe president
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat(81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-yearterms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber ofDeputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - ODS 26, KDU-CSL 15, Open Democracy 15, CSSD 9, Caucus"Independent" 5, US-DEU 1, European Democrats 1, Greens 1, KSCM 1,independents 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -CSSD 30.2%, ODS 24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%,other minor 12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 58, KSCM 41,KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU 10elections: Senate - last held in two rounds 5-6 November and 12-13November 2004 (next to be held NA November 2006); Chamber ofDeputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by NA June2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmenare appointed by the president for a 10-year term
Political parties and leaders:Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party orKDU-CSL [Miroslav KALOUSEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance orODA [Jirina NOVAKOVA, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS[Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moraviaor KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party ofCzechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech NationalSocial Party of CSNS [Jaroslav ROVNY, chairman]; Czech SocialDemocratic Party or CSSD [Stanislav GROSS, acting chairman];European Democrats [Jan KASL]; Freedom Union-Democratic Union orUS-DEU [Pavel NEMEC, chairman]; Green Party; Open Democracy
Political pressure groups and leaders:Bohemian and Moravian Trade Union Confederation [Milan STECH]
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR,UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Martin PALOUSchancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 966-8540telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William J. CABANISSembassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663FAX: [420] (2) 5753-0583
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blueisosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag ofthe former Czechoslovakia)
Economy Czech Republic
Economy - overview:One of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states,the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession sincemid-1999. Growth in 2000-03 was supported by exports to the EU,primarily to Germany, and a near doubling of foreign directinvestment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important rolein underpinning growth as interest rates drop and the availabilityof credit cards and mortgages increases. High current accountdeficits - averaging around 5% of GDP in the last several years -could be a persistent problem. Inflation is under control. The EUput the Czech Republic just behind Poland and Hungary inpreparations for accession, which will give further impetus anddirection to structural reform. Moves to complete banking,telecommunications, and energy privatization will encourageadditional foreign investment, while intensified restructuring amonglarge enterprises and banks, and improvements in the financialsector, should strengthen output growth. Nonetheless, revival in theEuropean economies remains essential to stepped-up growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $161.1 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $15,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 35.5% services: 61.4% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):26% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.3% highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:25.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:5.25 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 5%, industry 35%, services 60% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.9% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $33.25 billionexpenditures: $38.88 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:29.7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry
Industries:metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass,armaments
Industrial production growth rate:3.3% (2003)
Electricity - production:70.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:55.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:18.92 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:9.38 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:7,419 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:175,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:26,670 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:192,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:17.25 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.892 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:1 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:9.521 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.057 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-5.57 billion (2003)
Exports:$46.77 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 44%, intermediate manufactures25%, chemicals 7%, raw materials and fuel 7% (2000)
Exports - partners:Germany 37.1%, Slovakia 8%, Austria 6.3%, UK 5.4%, Poland 4.8%,France 4.7%, Italy 4.5%, Netherlands 4.1% (2003)
Imports:$50.4 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 40%, intermediate manufactures21%, raw materials and fuels 13%, chemicals 11% (2000)
Imports - partners:Germany 32.6%, Italy 5.3%, China 5.2%, Slovakia 5.2%, France 4.9%,Russia 4.6%, Austria 4.3%, Poland 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$26.8 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$28 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$108 million; EU structural adjustment funds (2002)
Currency:Czech koruna (CZK)
Currency code:CZK
Exchange rates:koruny per US dollar - 28.209 (2003), 32.7385 (2002), 38.0353(2001), 38.5984 (2000), 34.5692 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Czech Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:3.626 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9,708,700 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czechtelecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily;growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularlyvigorousdomestic: 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscribersystems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line(ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals;trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 2Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar
Radio broadcast stations:AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)
Radios:3,159,134 (December 2000)
Television broadcast stations:150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:3,405,834 (December 2000)
Internet country code:.cz
Internet hosts:295,677 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):more than 300 (2000)
Internet users:2.7 million (2003)
Transportation Czech Republic
Railways:total: 9,520 kmstandard gauge: 9,421 km 1.435-m gauge (2,893 km electrified)narrow gauge: 99 km 0.760-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 55,408 kmpaved: 55,408 km (including 499 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:664 km (on Elbe, Vlatava, and Oder rivers) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem
Airports:120 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 76 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 48 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2003 est.)
Military Czech Republic
Military branches:Czech Army: Ground Forces, Air Forces, Special Forces
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18-50 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; service obligation - 12 months; conscription due to end by 2005 (January 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,623,386 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,003,748 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 67,195 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1,190.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Czech Republic
Disputes - international:Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km ofland in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918; individual SudetenGermans seek restitution for property confiscated in connection withtheir expulsion after World War II; Austria has minor dispute withCzech Republic over the Temelin Nuclear Power Plant
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transitpoint for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer ofsynthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to moneylaundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Denmark
Introduction Denmark
Background:Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north Europeanpower, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that isparticipating in the general political and economic integration ofEurope. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973.However, the country has opted out of certain elements of theEuropean Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economicand Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issuesconcerning certain justice and home affairs.
Geography Denmark
Location:Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on apeninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two majorislands (Sjaelland and Fyn)
Geographic coordinates:56 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 43,094 sq kmwater: 700 sq kmnote: includes the island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea and the restof metropolitan Denmark (the Jutland Peninsula, and the majorislands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands andGreenlandland: 42,394 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 68 km border countries: Germany 68 km
Coastline: 7,314 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers
Terrain:low and flat to gently rolling plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lammefjord -7 mhighest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, graveland sand
Land use: arable land: 54.02% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 45.79% (2001)
Irrigated land:4,760 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts ofJutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that areprotected from the sea by a system of dikes
Environment - current issues:air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions;nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking andsurface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic andNorth Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greaterCopenhagen
People Denmark
Population:5,413,392 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.9% (male 523,888; female 497,420)15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,808,376; female 1,774,388)65 years and over: 15% (male 344,113; female 465,207) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 39.2 yearsmale: 38.3 yearsfemale: 40.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.35% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:11.59 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.53 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.44 yearsmale: 75.17 yearsfemale: 79.83 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Dane(s)adjective: Danish
Ethnic groups:Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%,Muslim 2%
Languages:Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (smallminority)note: English is the predominant second language
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: NAfemale: NA
Government Denmark
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmarkconventional short form: Denmarklocal short form: Danmarklocal long form: Kongeriget Danmark
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Copenhagen
Administrative divisions:metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskommune); Arhus, Bornholm,Frederiksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavns*,Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom,Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborgnote: see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland,which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governingoverseas administrative divisions
Independence:first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 becamea constitutional monarchy
National holiday:none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June is generally viewed asthe National Day
Constitution:5 June 1849 adoption of original constitution; a major overhaul of5 June 1953 allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chiefof state
Legal system:civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); HeirApparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26May 1968)head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27November 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved byParliamentelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Folketing (179 seats, including 2 fromGreenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected bypopular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February2005)election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 31%,Social Democrats 29%, Danish People's Party 12%, Conservative Party9%, Socialist People's Party 6%, Social Liberal Party 5%, ChristianPeople's Party (now Christian Democrats) 2%, Unity List 2%; seats byparty - Liberal Party 56, Social Democrats 52, Danish People's Party22, Conservative Party 16, Socialist People's Party 12, SocialLiberal Party 9, Christian People's Party (now Christian Democrats)4, Unity List 4; note - does not include the 2 seats from Greenlandand the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)
Political parties and leaders:Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian Democrats (wasChristian People's Party) [Marianne KARLSMOSE]; Conservative Party(sometimes known as Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN];Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders FoghRASMUSSEN]; Social Democratic Party [Mogens LYKKETOFT]; SocialLiberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED,leader; Soren BALD, chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Holger K.NIELSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party,Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collectiveleadership]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council(temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer),WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ulrik Andreas FEDERSPIEL consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300 chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Stuart A. BERNSTEIN; note - will leave15 January 2005embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagenmailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716telephone: [45] 35 55 31 44FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23
Flag description:red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; thevertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and thatdesign element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequentlyadopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway,and Sweden
Economy Denmark
Economy - overview:This thoroughly modern market economy features high-techagriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry,extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards,a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark isa net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balanceof payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining thebureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. Thegovernment has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, theeconomic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase(a common European currency) of the European Economic and MonetaryUnion (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU membersin the euro; even so, the Danish Krone remains pegged to the euro.Given the sluggish state of the European economy, growth in 2003 wasa mere 0.3%.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $167.2 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $31,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 22.1% services: 75.9% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:24.7 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:2.863 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 4%, industry 17%, services 79% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.1% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $118.5 billionexpenditures: $116 billion, including capital expenditures of $500million (2003 est.)
Public debt:45% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish
Industries:food processing, machinery and equipment, textiles and clothing,chemical products, electronics, construction, furniture and otherwood products, shipbuilding, windmills
Industrial production growth rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:35.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:32.41 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:8.775 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:8.199 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:346,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:218,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:332,100 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:195,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.23 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:8.38 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:3.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:81.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$6.397 billion (2003)
Exports:$64.16 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products,fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills
Exports - partners:Germany 18.7%, Sweden 12.6%, UK 8.5%, US 6.2%, Norway 5.7%, France5.1%, Netherlands 4.7% (2003)
Imports:$54.47 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures forindustry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:Germany 23.1%, Sweden 13%, UK 7%, Netherlands 6.9%, France 4.9%,Norway 4.5%, Italy 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$37.98 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$21.7 billion (2000)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.63 billion (1999)
Currency:Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:DKK
Exchange rates:Danish kroner per US dollar - 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228(2001), 8.0831 (2000), 6.9762 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Denmark
Telephones - main lines in use:3,610,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4,785,300 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph servicesdomestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay formtrunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systemsinternational: country code - 45; 18 submarine fiber-optic cableslinking Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland,Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earthstations - 6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat(Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark,Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth stationand the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (1997)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:6.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:3.121 million (1997)
Internet country code:.dk
Internet hosts:1,219,925 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):13 (2000)
Internet users:2.756 million (2002)
Transportation Denmark
Railways: total: 3,002 km standard gauge: 3,002 km 1.435-m gauge (595 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 71,591 kmpaved: 71,591 km (including 880 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:417 km (2001)
Pipelines:condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km;unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Aabenraa, Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen, Esbjerg, Fredericia,Frederikshavn, Hirtshals, Kolding, Odense, Roenne (Bornholm), Vejle
Merchant marine:total: 276 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,952,473 GRT/9,030,444 DWTregistered in other countries: 284 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Germany 1, Greece 1, Indonesia 2, Norway 5by type: bulk 4, cargo 77, chemical tanker 36, container 83,liquefied gas 15, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 27, rail carcarrier 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 11,short-sea/passenger 5, specialized tanker 4
Airports:99 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 63 (2004 est.)
Military Denmark
Military branches:Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, HomeGuard
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to mobilization units following completion of their conscript service (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,276,087 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,088,751 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 30,333 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3,271.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Denmark
Disputes - international:Rockall continental shelf dispute involving Denmark, Iceland, andthe UK (Ireland and the UK have signed a boundary agreement in theRockall area) remains dormant; dispute with Iceland over the FaroeIslands' fisheries median line boundary within 200 nm; disputes withIceland, the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continentalshelf boundary outside 200 nm; Faroese continue to study proposalsfor full independence; uncontested dispute with Canada over HansIsland sovereignty in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Islandand Greenland
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Dhekelia
Introduction Dhekelia
Background:By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created theindependent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovreignty andjurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers intotal: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these of these is theDhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as theEastern Sovereign Base Area.
Geography Dhekelia
Location:on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Geographic coordinates:34 59 N, 33 45 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 130.8 sq kmnote: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative:about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Climate:temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring andautumn
Geography - note:British extraterritorial rights also extended to several smalloff-post sites scattered across Cyprus
People Dhekelia
Population:no indigenous personnelnote: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; thereare another 5,000 British citizens who are families of militarypersonnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri andDhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there
Government Dhekelia
Country name:conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areaconventional short form: Dhekelia
Dependency status:overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who isalso the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:Episkopi; located in Akrotiri
Legal system:the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator isappointed by the monarchhead of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas ClaytonPEARSON (since 9 May 2003) note - reports to the British Ministry ofDefence
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:the flag of the UK is used
Economy Dhekelia
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to providing services to the militaryand their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufacturedgoods must be imported.
Military Dhekelia
Military - note:includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by aroadway
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Djibouti
Introduction Djibouti
Background:The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-partystate and proceeded to serve three consecutive six-year terms aspresident. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led tomulti-party elections resulting in President Ismail Omar GUELLEHattaining office in May 1999. A peace accord in 2001 ended the finalphases of a ten-year uprising by Afar rebels. Djibouti occupies avery strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea andserves as an important transshipment location for goods entering andleaving the east African highlands. GUELLEH favors close ties toFrance, which maintains a significant military presence in thecountry.
Geography Djibouti
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, betweenEritrea and Somalia
Geographic coordinates:11 30 N, 43 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 23,000 sq kmwater: 20 sq kmland: 22,980 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 516 km border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km
Coastline: 314 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:desert; torrid, dry
Terrain:coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m
Natural resources: geothermal areas
Land use: arable land: 0.04% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.96% (2001)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from theIndian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;desertification; endangered species
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close toArabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostlywasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa
People Djibouti
Population:466,900 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.2% (male 101,168; female 100,545)15-64 years: 53.7% (male 131,320; female 119,387)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 7,327; female 7,153) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.3 yearsmale: 18.8 yearsfemale: 17.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.1% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:40.39 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:19.42 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: 1.1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 105.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 97.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 113.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.12 yearsmale: 41.83 yearsfemale: 44.44 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.48 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:690 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malariaoverall degree of risk: high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Djiboutian(s)adjective: Djiboutian
Ethnic groups:Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%
Religions:Muslim 94%, Christian 6%
Languages:French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.9%male: 78%female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
Government Djibouti
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Djibouticonventional short form: Djiboutiformer: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland
Government type:republic
Capital:Djibouti
Administrative divisions:5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil,Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura
Independence:27 June 1977 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 June (1977)
Constitution:multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992
Legal system:based on French civil law system, traditional practices, andIslamic law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)head of government: Prime Minister DILEITA Mohamed Dileita (since 4March 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 9 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH elected president; percent ofvote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 74.4%, IDRIS Moussa Ahmed 25.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats;members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held NA January2008)election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats -RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; DemocraticRenewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti DevelopmentParty or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration del'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's ProgressAssembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; PeoplesSocial Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; RepublicanAlliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union forDemocracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD,PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (oppositioncoalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED]
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE OlhayeFAX: [1] (202) 331-0302telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marguerita RAGSDALE embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti telephone: [253] 35 39 95 FAX: [253] 35 39 40
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green witha white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a redfive-pointed star in the center
Economy Djibouti
Economy - overview:The economy is based on service activities connected with thecountry's strategic location and status as a free trade zone innortheast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capitalcity, the remainder being mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfalllimits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food mustbe imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port forthe region and an international transshipment and refueling center.It has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is,therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help supportits balance of payments and to finance development projects. Anunemployment rate of 50% continues to be a major problem. Inflationis not a concern, however, because of the fixed tie of the franc tothe US dollar. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% overthe last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a highpopulation growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Facedwith a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallenin arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling tomeet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $619 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 15.8% services: 80.7% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2002 est.)
Labor force:282,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:50% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $135 millionexpenditures: $182 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1999 est.)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels
Industries:construction, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production:180 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:167.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$155 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)
Exports - partners:Somalia 63.9%, Yemen 22.5%, Ethiopia 4.7% (2003)
Imports:$665 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 19.7%, Ethiopia 10.9%, China 9.2%, France 6.5%, UK5.1%, US 4.9% (2003)
Debt - external:$366 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$36 million (2001)
Currency:Djiboutian franc (DJF)
Currency code:DJF
Exchange rates:Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.721 (2003), 177.721 (2002),177.721 (2001), 177.721 (2000), 177.721 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Djibouti
Telephones - main lines in use:9,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:23,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djiboutiare adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections tooutlying areas of the countrydomestic: microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 253; submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez,Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations- 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regionalmicrowave radio relay telephone network
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:52,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:28,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.dj
Internet hosts:702 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:6,500 (2003)
Transportation Djibouti
Railways:total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gaugenote: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2003)
Highways:total: 2,890 kmpaved: 364 kmunpaved: 2,526 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Djibouti
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:13 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 101,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Djibouti
Military branches:Djibouti National Army (including Navy and Air Force)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 108,771 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 64,540 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$26.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.4% (2003)
Transnational Issues Djibouti
Disputes - international:Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with"Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties tovarious factions in Somalia including the Somali TransitionalNational Government in Mogadishu
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 25,474 (Somalia) (2004)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Dominica
Introduction Dominica
Background:Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized byEuropeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the nativeCaribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which madethe island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence,Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannicaladministration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, thefirst female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in officefor 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica arethe only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.