Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanishand others 7%, black 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%
Languages:Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%male: 94%female: 91% (2003 est.)
Government Ecuador
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Ecuadorconventional short form: Ecuadorlocal short form: Ecuadorlocal long form: Republica del Ecuador
Government type:republic
Capital:Quito
Administrative divisions:22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:10 August 1998
Legal system:based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January 2003);Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentelections: the president and vice president are elected on the sameticket by popular vote for a four-year term (no immediatereelection); election last held 20 October 2002; runoff electionheld 24 November 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)head of government: President Lucio GUTIERREZ (since 15 January2003); Vice President Alfredo PALACIO (since 15 January 2003); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelection results: results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election -Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats;members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held NA October2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD5, DP 4, PS-FA 3, independents 7; note - defections by members ofNational Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes inthe numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema; note - per the Constitution, newjustices are elected by the full Supreme Court; In December 2004,however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via asimple-majority resolution
Political parties and leaders:Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM];Democratic Left or ID [Guillermo LANDAZURI]; National ActionInstitutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; PachakutikMovement [Gilberto TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [LucioGUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan ManuelFUERTES]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta];Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; RoldosistParty or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social ChristianParty or PSC [Leon FEBRES CORDERO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front orPS-FA [Victor GRANDA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE[Luis MACAS, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F.Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador orFEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of IndigenousAfro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ,president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]
International organization participation:CAN, FAO, 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, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS,OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 667-3482telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEYembassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quitomailing address: APO AA 34039telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description:three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and redwith the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag;similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not beara coat of arms
Economy Ecuador
Economy - overview:Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources, which have accountedfor 40% of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of publicsector revenues in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in worldmarket prices can have a substantial domestic impact. In the late1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with naturaldisasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices drivingEcuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDP contracted bymore than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly. The bankingsystem also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debtlater that year. The currency depreciated by some 70% in 1999, and,on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD government announced itwould dollarize the economy. A coup, however, ousted MAHAUD fromoffice in January 2000, and after a short-lived junta failed togarner military support, Vice President Gustavo NOBOA took over thepresidency. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structuralreforms that also provided the framework for the adoption of the USdollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, andgrowth returned to its pre-crisis levels in the years that followed.Under the administration of Lucio GUTIERREZ, who took office inJanuary 2003, Ecuador benefited from higher world petroleum prices,but the government has made little progress on fiscal reforms andreforms of state-owned enterprises necessary to reduce Ecuador'svulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $45.65 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.7% industry: 29.7% services: 61.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:65% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 33.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:43.7 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.9% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.36 million (urban) (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.8%; note - underemployment of 47% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.908 billionexpenditures: planned $6.594 billion, including capital expendituresof $1.6 billion (2003)
Public debt:53.7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca),plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairyproducts; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Industries:petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:5.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:421,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.358 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:106.5 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-117 million (2003)
Exports:$6.073 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp
Exports - partners:US 42.4%, Colombia 5.7%, Germany 5.6% (2003)
Imports:$6.22 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, industrial raw materials, capital goods
Imports - partners:US 23.9%, Colombia 12.8%, Venezuela 7.1%, Brazil 6.1%, Chile 4.8%,Japan 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.161 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$15.69 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$120 million (2001)
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:Ecuador formally adopted the US dollar as legal tender in March 2000
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:1.549 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,394,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally elementary but being expandeddomestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliableinternational: country code - 593; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Radios:5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:2.5 million (2001)
Internet country code:.ec
Internet hosts:3,188 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):31 (2001)
Internet users:569,700 (2003)
Transportation Ecuador
Railways: total: 966 km narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 43,197 km paved: 8,164 km unpaved: 35,033 km (2000)
Waterways:1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2003)
Pipelines:extra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products1,185 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar, SanLorenzo
Merchant marine:total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 241,403 GRT/391,898 DWTforeign-owned: Greece 1, Paraguay 1, Peru 1registered in other countries: 3 (2004 est.)by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 1, passenger 5,petroleum tanker 21, specialized tanker 1
Airports:205 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 62 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 143 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 113 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Ecuador
Military branches:Army, Navy (including Marines), Air Force, National Police
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,440,371 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,315,808 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 132,476 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$650 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.4% (2003)
Transnational Issues Ecuador
Disputes - international: the continuing civil disorder in Colombia has created a serious refugee crisis in neighboring states, especially Ecuador
Illicit drugs:significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia andPeru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicitnarcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drugtraffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weakanti-money-laundering regime, especially vulnerable along the borderwith Colombia; increased activity on the northern frontier bytrafficking groups and Colombian insurgents
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Egypt
Introduction Egypt
Background:The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupledwith semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west,allowed for the development of one of the world's greatcivilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C. and a seriesof dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The lastnative dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn werereplaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs whointroduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and whoruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, theMamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after theconquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following thecompletion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an importantworld transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control ofEgypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the OttomanEmpire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. Thecompletion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant LakeNasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in theagriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (thelargest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence onthe Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. Thegovernment has struggled to ready the economy for the new millenniumthrough economic reform and massive investment in communications andphysical infrastructure.
Geography Egypt
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya andthe Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes theAsian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,001,450 sq kmland: 995,450 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,665 kmborder countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km,Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline:2,450 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain:vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 mhighest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone,gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 2.87% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 96.65% (2001)
Irrigated land:33,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides;hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms,sandstorms
Environment - current issues:agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands;increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification;oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, andindustrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resourcesaway from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapidgrowth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa andremainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea linkbetween Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtapositionto Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics;dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues;prone to influxes of refugees
People Egypt
Population:76,117,421 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.4% (male 13,038,369; female 12,418,254)15-64 years: 62.2% (male 23,953,949; female 23,419,418)65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,407,248; female 1,880,183) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 23.4 years male: 23 years female: 23.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.83% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:23.84 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.3 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 33.9 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 33.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 34.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.71 yearsmale: 68.22 yearsfemale: 73.31 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.95 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:8,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:700 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Egyptian(s)adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups:Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%,Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian andFrench) 1%
Religions:Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
Languages:Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educatedclasses
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 57.7%male: 68.3%female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Egypt
Country name:conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egyptconventional short form: Egyptlocal short form: Misrformer: United Arab Republic (with Syria)local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
Government type:republic
Capital:Cairo
Administrative divisions:26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah,Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, AlIskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, AlQahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways,Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ashShaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence:28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:11 September 1971
Legal system:based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (overseesvalidity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October1981)head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for asix-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national,popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999(next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK'snomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term
Legislative branch:bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlisal-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed bythe president; members serve five-year terms) and the AdvisoryCouncil or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultativerole (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by thepresident; members serve six-year terms)elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held NAOctober-November 2005); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004(next to be held May-June 2007)election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - NA; Advisory Council - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD];National Democratic Party or NDP [President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK]- governing party; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu[Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMA]; SocialistLiberal Party or Al-Ahrar [Hilmi SALIM]; Tomorrow Party or Al-Ghad[Ayman NOUR]note: formation of political parties must be approved by thegovernment
Political pressure groups and leaders:despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, thetechnically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK'spotentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK toleratedlimited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first twoterms, but moved more aggressively since then to block itsinfluence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained inpractical terms; trade unions and professional associations areofficially sanctioned
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, EBRD,FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS(observer), OIC, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMYchancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 244-4319telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador C. David WELCHembassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairomailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; thenational emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side witha shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the nameof the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design isbased on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plusan Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the whiteband, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
Economy Egypt
Economy - overview:Lack of substantial progress on economic reform since the mid 1990shas limited foreign direct investment in Egypt and kept annual GDPgrowth in the range of 2-3 percent in 2001-03. Egyptian officials inlate 2003 and early 2004 proposed new privatization and customsreform measures, but the government is likely to pursue theseinitiatives cautiously and gradually to avoid a public backlash overpotential inflation or layoffs associated with the reforms. Monetarypressures on an overvalued Egyptian pound led the government tofloat the currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in itsvalue and consequent inflationary pressure. The existence of a blackmarket for hard currency is evidence that the government continuesto influence the official exchange rate offered in banks. InSeptember 2003, Egyptian officials increased subsidies on basicfoodstuffs, helping to calm a frustrated public but widening analready deep budget deficit. Egypt's balance-of-payments positionwas not hurt by the war in Iraq in 2003, as tourism and Suez Canalrevenues fared well. The development of an export market for naturalgas is a bright spot for future growth prospects, but improvement inthe capital-intensive hydrocarbons sector does little to reduceEgypt's persistent unemployment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $295.2 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17% industry: 33% services: 50% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):16.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:16.7% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 29.5% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:34.4 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:20.19 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.9% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $14.69 billionexpenditures: $19.03 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7billion (2003)
Public debt:101.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, waterbuffalo, sheep, goats
Industries:textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons,construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate:1.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:75.23 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:69.96 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:816,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:3.308 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:21.2 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:1.264 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$3.874 billion (2003)
Exports:$8.759 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,chemicals
Exports - partners:US 13.3%, Italy 12.3%, UK 7.9%, France 4.7%, Germany 4.7%, India4.2% (2003)
Imports:$14.75 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:US 13.6%, Germany 7.4%, Italy 7%, France 6.6%, China 4.8%, SaudiArabia 4.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$14.22 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$30.34 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $1.2 billion (2001)
Currency:Egyptian pound (EGP)
Currency code:EGP
Exchange rates:Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002), 3.973(2001), 3.4721 (2000), 3.3953 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:8,735,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5,797,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgradingduring 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellularservice are availabledomestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable andmicrowave radio relayinternational: country code - 20; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan;microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel and asignatory to Project Oxygen (a global submarine fiber-optic cablesystem)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:98 (September 1995)
Televisions:7.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.eg
Internet hosts:3,401 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:2.7 million (2003)
Transportation Egypt
Railways: total: 5,063 km standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:3,500 kmnote: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway,and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km includingapproaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m(2004)
Pipelines:condensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquidpetroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refinedproducts 246 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Alexandria, Al Ghardaqah, Aswan, Asyut, Bur Safajah, Damietta,Marsa Matruh, Port Said, Suez
Merchant marine:total: 159 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,194,696 GRT/1,754,815 DWTforeign-owned: China 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2,Turkey 1registered in other countries: 50 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 18, cargo 41, container 5, passenger 64, petroleumtanker 14, roll on/roll off 13, short-sea/passenger 4
Airports:89 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 72over 3,047 m: 132,438 to 3,047 m: 38under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 15under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)2,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 5
Heliports:2 (2003 est.)
Military Egypt
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for conscript military service; 3-year service obligation (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 20,340,716 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 13,148,944 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 756,233 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2,443.2 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Egypt
Disputes - international:Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the triangular areasthat extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egypt iseconomically developing and effectively administers the "Hala'ibTriangle" north of the Treaty line
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 70,215 (Palestinian Territories)(2004)
Illicit drugs:transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin andopium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop forNigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to laxfinancial regulations and enforcement
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@El Salvador
Introduction El Salvador
Background:El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from theCentral American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which costabout 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when thegovernment and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided formilitary and political reforms.
Geography El Salvador
Location:Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenGuatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 21,040 sq kmwater: 320 sq kmland: 20,720 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:307 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November toApril); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:arable land: 31.85%permanent crops: 12.07%other: 56.08% (2001)
Irrigated land:360 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes verydestructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptibleto hurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:smallest Central American country and only one without a coastlineon Caribbean Sea
People El Salvador
Population:6,587,541 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.8% (male 1,237,262; female 1,185,750)15-64 years: 58.1% (male 1,819,035; female 2,009,032)65 years and over: 5.1% (male 150,221; female 186,241) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 21.4 yearsmale: 20.2 yearsfemale: 22.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.78% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:27.48 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.93 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.93 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 22.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 28.79 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.92 yearsmale: 67.31 yearsfemale: 74.7 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.2 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:29,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:mestizo 90%, Amerindian 1%, white 9%
Religions:Roman Catholic 83%note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughoutthe country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 millionProtestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 80.2%male: 82.8%female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Government El Salvador
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of El Salvadorconventional short form: El Salvadorlocal short form: El Salvadorlocal long form: Republica de El Salvador
Government type:republic
Capital:San Salvador
Administrative divisions:14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente,Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:23 December 1983
Legal system:based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA (since 1 June 2004);Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Elias Antonio SACA (since 1 June2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 21 March2004 (next to be held NA March 2009)election results: Elias Antonio SACA elected president; percent ofvote - Elias Antonio SACA (ARENA) 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL (FMLN)35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-yearterms)elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by theLegislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; UnitedDemocratic Center or CDU [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general];Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti NationalLiberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; Liberal DemocraticParty or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Action Partyor PAN [Gustavo Rogelio SALINAS, secretary general]; NationalConciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA, president]; NationalRepublican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio SACA]; Social ChristianUnion or USC (formed by the merger of Christian Social Renewal Partyor PRSC and Unity Movement or MU) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president];Social Democratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguezconsulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles,Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DCFAX: [1] (202) 234-3834telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAYembassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, LaLibertad, San Salvadormailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023telephone: [503] 278-4444FAX: [503] 278-5522
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE ELSALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua,which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - itfeatures a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA ontop and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag ofHonduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X patterncentered in the white band
Economy El Salvador
Economy - overview:With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency, El Salvador haslost control over monetary policy and must concentrate onmaintaining a disciplined fiscal policy. GDP per capita is roughlyonly half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and the distributionof income is highly unequal. The trade deficit has been offset byannual remittances of almost $2 billion from Salvadorans livingabroad and external aid. The government is striving to open newexport markets, encourage foreign investment, modernize the tax andhealthcare systems, and stimulate the sluggish economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $30.99 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.4% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.4% industry: 31.2% services: 59.3% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):16.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:48% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:52.2 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:2.62 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 15%, services 55% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.5% - but the economy has much underemployment (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.434 billionexpenditures: $2.625 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:43.7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp;beef, dairy products
Industries:food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:1.6% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:3.729 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.777 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:44 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:353 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-734 million (2003)
Exports:$3.162 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles,chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners:US 67.8%, Guatemala 11.5%, Honduras 5.9% (2003)
Imports:$5.466 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:US 50%, Guatemala 8.1%, Mexico 5.5% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$2.061 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$6.575 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:total $252 million; $57 million from US (1995)
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:752,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,149,800 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay systeminternational: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American MicrowaveSystem
Radio broadcast stations:AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:2.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1997)
Televisions:600,000 (1990)
Internet country code:.sv
Internet hosts:4,084 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2000)
Internet users:550,000 (2003)
Transportation El Salvador
Railways:total: 283 kmnarrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gaugenote: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km bydisuse and lack of maintenance (2003)
Highways:total: 10,029 kmpaved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004)
Ports and harbors:Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco, La Libertad, La Union, Puerto El Triunfo
Merchant marine:none
Airports:73 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2003 est.)
Military El Salvador
Military branches:Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,571,299 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 995,672 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 69,993 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$157 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (2003)
Transnational Issues El Salvador
Disputes - international:in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputedareas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, and the OAS isassisting with a technical resolution of undemarcated bolsones; in2003, the ICJ rejected El Salvador's request to revise its decisionon one part of the bolsones; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised atripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonsecawith consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvadorcontinues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned by the ICJ, offHonduras in the Gulf de Fonseca
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuanaproduced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Equatorial Guinea
Introduction Equatorial Guinea
Background:Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years ofSpanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plusfive inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the Africancontinent. President OBIANG NGUEM MBASOGO has ruled the country forover two decades since seizing power from his uncle, then PresidentMACIAS, in a 1979 coup. Although nominally a constitutionaldemocracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - aswell as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely seen as beingflawed. The president controls most opposition parties through thejudicious use of patronage. Despite the country's economic windfallfrom oil production resulting in a massive increase in governmentrevenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in thecountry's living standards.
Geography Equatorial Guinea
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon andGabon
Geographic coordinates:2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 28,051 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 28,051 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m