Political parties and leaders:Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front[Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG[Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; IndustryWill Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; LaborParty [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP[Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [MikheilSAAKASHVILI] bloc composed of National Movement andBurjanadze-Democrats; National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; NewRight [Levaii GACHECHILADZE]; Republican Party [DavidBERDZENISHVILI]; Rightist Opposition [Davit GAMKRELIDZE] bloccomposed of Industrialists and New Right Party; Socialist Party orSPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union ofNational Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and ZviadDZIDZIGURI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile;separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA
International organization participation:BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZEFAX: [1] (202) 393-4537telephone: [1] (202) 387-4537chancery: Suite 602, 1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard M. MILES embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 0105 mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68 FAX: [995] (32) 933-759
Flag description:white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting allfour sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small redbolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back tothe 14th century
Economy Georgia
Economy - overview:Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation ofagricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, andgrapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a smallindustrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages,metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk ofits energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its onlysizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severedamage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, withthe help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economicgains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailinginflation. However, the Georgian Government suffers from limitedresources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgiaalso suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisidistribution network in 1998, but collection rates are low, makingthe venture unprofitable. The country is pinning its hopes forlong-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines andtrade. The start of construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oilpipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will bringmuch-needed investment and job opportunities.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $12.18 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.5% industry: 22.6% services: 56.9% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:2.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:17% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $603.5 millionexpenditures: $700.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock
Industries:steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining(manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2000)
Electricity - production:7.27 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.611 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:850 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:60 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-365 million (2003)
Exports:$615 million (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits,tea, wine
Exports - partners:Russia 17.7%, Turkey 17.3%, Turkmenistan 12.2%, Armenia 8.6%,Switzerland 6.9%, Ukraine 6.3%, UK 5.9% (2003)
Imports:$1.25 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and otherfoods, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:Russia 14%, UK 12.9%, Turkey 9.9%, Azerbaijan 8.3%, US 8%, Germany7.3%, Ukraine 7%, France 4.9% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$190.7 million (2003)
Debt - external:$1.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $150 million (2000 est.)
Currency:lari (GEL)
Currency code:GEL
Exchange rates:lari per US dollar - 2.1457 (2003), 2.1957 (2002), 2.073 (2001),1.9762 (2000), 2.0245 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Georgia
Telephones - main lines in use:650,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:522,300 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephonenetworks; urban telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; ruraltelephone density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilitiesinclude a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi;nationwide pager service is availableinternational: country code - 995; Georgia and Russia are working ona fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); presentinternational service is available by microwave, landline, andsatellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mailand telex service are available
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:12 (plus repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:2.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ge
Internet hosts:5,160 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:150,500 (2003)
Transportation Georgia
Railways:total: 1,612 km (1,612 km electrified)broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 20,363 kmpaved: 19,038 kmunpaved: 1,325 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 1,697 km; oil 1,027 km; refined products 232 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bat'umi, P'ot'i, Sokhumi
Merchant marine:total: 144 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 855,908 GRT/1,288,812 DWTby type: bulk 20, cargo 95, chemical tanker 1, container 11,liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 1,petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2,short-sea/passenger 1, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: Albania 2, Belize 2, British Virgin Islands 2,Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 5, Ecuador 1, Egypt 3, Estonia 1, Germany 1,Gibraltar 1, Greece 13, Israel 1, Italy 1, Latvia 4, Lebanon 3,Liberia 2, Madagascar 1, Malta 1, Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Panama 8,Romania 6, Russia 10, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Syria 31, Turkey 10, Ukraine 16,registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:31 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Heliports:2 (2003 est.)
Transportation - note:transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnicconflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacksmaintenance and repair
Military Georgia
Military branches:Ground Forces (including National Guard), Air and Air DefenseForces, Maritime Defense Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,156,302 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 906,400 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 39,570 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$23 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.59% (FY00)
Military - note:a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in theAbkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observergroup; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia
Transnational Issues Georgia
Disputes - international:about a third of the boundary with Russia remains undelimited, andnone of it demarcated, with several small, strategic segmentsremaining in dispute; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such asthe Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge inAbkhazia; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the former SovietUnion seek to return to Georgia; boundary with Armenia remainsundemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgiaseek greater autonomy from the Georgian government; Azerbaijanprotests Georgian construction at the Red Bridge crossing andseveral other small segments of boundary, which remain unresolveduntil delimitation
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 260,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2004)
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly fordomestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates viaCentral Asia to Western Europe and Russia
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Germany
Introduction Germany
Background:As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germanyremains a key member of the continent's economic, political, anddefense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany intwo devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century andleft the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US,UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of theCold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western FederalRepublic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic(GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economicand security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO,while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-ledWarsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold Warallowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany hasexpended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wagesup to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EUcountries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.
Geography Germany
Location:Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, betweenthe Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark
Geographic coordinates:51 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 357,021 sq kmwater: 7,798 sq kmland: 349,223 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries:total: 3,621 kmborder countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km
Coastline:2,389 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers;occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind
Terrain:lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 mhighest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m
Natural resources:coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium,potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33.85% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 65.56% (2001)
Irrigated land:4,850 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute toair pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions,is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage andindustrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous wastedisposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use ofnuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EUcommitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with theEU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-VolatileOrganic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:strategic location on North European Plain and along the entranceto the Baltic Sea
People Germany
Population:82,424,609 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.7% (male 6,197,490; female 5,879,052)15-64 years: 67% (male 28,119,536; female 27,132,713)65 years and over: 18.3% (male 6,096,106; female 8,999,712) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 41.7 years male: 40.4 years female: 43.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.02% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:8.45 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.44 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2.18 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: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.2 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.54 yearsmale: 75.56 yearsfemale: 81.68 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.38 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:41,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: German(s)adjective: German
Ethnic groups:German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek,Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)
Religions:Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated orother 28.3%
Languages:German
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1997 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government Germany
Country name:conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germanyconventional short form: Germanylocal short form: Deutschlandformer: German Empire, German Republic, German Reichlocal long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Berlin
Administrative divisions:13 states (Laender, singular - Land) and 3 free states*(Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern*,Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen,Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen,Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen*, Sachsen-Anhalt,Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen*
Independence:18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into fourzones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or WestGermany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, andFrench zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany)proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone;unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991
National holiday:Unity Day, 3 October (1990)
Constitution:23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the unitedGerman people 3 October 1990
Legal system:civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004)elections: president elected for a five-year term by a FederalConvention including all members of the Federal Assembly and anequal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; electionlast held 23 May 2004 (next to be held 23 May 2009); chancellorelected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for afour-year term; election last held 22 September 2002 (next to beheld September 2006)head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October1998); Vice Chancellor Joschka FISCHER (since 17 October 1998)cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed bythe president on the recommendation of the chancellorelection results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN;Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor; percent of Federal Assemblyvote 50.7%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assemblyor Bundestag (603 seats; elected by popular vote under a systemcombining direct and proportional representation; a party must win5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gainrepresentation; members serve four-year terms) and the FederalCouncil or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directlyrepresented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on populationand are required to vote as a block)elections: Federal Assembly - last held 22 September 2002 (next tobe held NA September 2006); note - there are no elections for theBundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of thestate-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has thepotential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an electionelection results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - SPD38.5%, CDU/CSU 38.5%, Alliance '90/Greens 8.6%, FDP 7.4%, PDS 4%;seats by party - SPD 251, CDU/CSU 248, Alliance '90/Greens 55, FDP47, PDS 2; Federal Council - current composition - NA
Judicial branch:Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half thejudges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance '90/Greens [Angelika BEER and Reinhard BUETIKOFER];Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian SocialUnion or CSU [Edmund STOIBER, chairman]; Free Democratic Party orFDP [Guido WESTERWELLE, chairman]; Party of Democratic Socialism orPDS [Lothar BISKY]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [FranzMUENTEFERING]
Political pressure groups and leaders:business associations, employers' organizations; expellee, refugee,trade unions, and veterans groups
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CDB, CE,CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10,IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, ParisClub, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK,UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Wolfgang Friedrich ISCHINGER consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249 telephone: [1] (202) 298-8140 chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel R. COATS embassy: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin; note - a new embassy will be built near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin; ground was broken in October 2004 and completion is scheduled for 2008 mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265 telephone: [49] (030) 8305-0 FAX: [49] (030) 8305-1215 consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold
Economy Germany
Economy - overview:Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy- the fifthlargest national economy in the world - has become one of theslowest growing economies in the entire euro zone, and a quickturnaround is not in the offing in the foreseeable future. Growth in2001-03 fell short of 1%. The modernization and integration of theeastern German economy continues to be a costly long-term process,with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $70billion. Germany's ageing population, combined with highunemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a levelexceeding contributions from workers. Structural rigidities in thelabor market - including strict regulations on laying off workersand the setting of wages on a national basis - have madeunemployment a chronic problem. Corporate restructuring and growingcapital markets are setting the foundations that could allow Germanyto meet the long-term challenges of European economic integrationand globalization, particularly if labor market rigidities arefurther addressed. The government is also starting long-neededstructural reforms designed to revitalize the country's economy. Inthe short run, however, the fall in government revenues and the risein expenditures have raised the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.271 trillion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $27,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 31% services: 68% (2002 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 25.1% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:30 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:42.63 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 2.8%, industry 33.4%, services 63.8% (1999)
Unemployment rate:10.5% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.079 trillionexpenditures: $1.173 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:64.2% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle,pigs, poultry
Industries:among the world's largest and most technologically advancedproducers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery,vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages;shipbuilding; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:544.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:506.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:43.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:44 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:85,860 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2.813 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:404,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:3.081 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:327.3 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:22.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:94.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:6.674 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:78.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:298.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$57.24 billion (2003)
Exports:$696.9 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:France 10.6%, US 9.3%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.4%, Netherlands 6.2%,Austria 5.3%, Belgium 5.1%, Spain 4.9%, Switzerland 4% (2003)
Imports:$585 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals
Imports - partners:France 9.2%, Netherlands 8.4%, US 7.3%, Italy 6.3%, UK 6%, Belgium4.9%, China 4.7%, Austria 4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$96.84 billion (2003)
Debt - external:NA (2000 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $5.6 billion (1998)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Germany
Telephones - main lines in use:54.35 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:64.8 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: Germany has one of the world's mosttechnologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result ofintensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerlybackward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back toWorld War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of thewestern partdomestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatictelephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-opticcable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domesticsatellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available,expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreigncountriesinternational: country code - 49; Germany's international service isexcellent worldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cablefacilities as well as earth stations in the INMARSAT, INTELSAT,EUTELSAT, and INTERSPUTNIK satellite systems (2001)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:77.8 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:51.4 million (1998)
Internet country code:.de
Internet hosts:2,686,119 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):200 (2001)
Internet users:39 million (2003)
Transportation Germany
Railways:total: 46,039 km (20,100 km electrified)standard gauge: 45,801 km 1.435-m gauge (20,084 km electrified)narrow gauge: 214 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km0.750-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 230,735 kmpaved: 230,735 km (including 11,515 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (1999)
Waterways:7,300 kmnote: Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links NorthSea and Black Sea (2004)
Pipelines:condensate 325 km; gas 25,293 km; oil 3,540 km; refined products3,827 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Berlin, Bonn, Brake, Bremen, Bremerhaven, Cologne, Dresden,Duisburg, Emden, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Kiel, Luebeck, Magdeburg,Mannheim, Rostock, Stuttgart
Merchant marine:total: 278 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,721,495 GRT/6,810,631 DWTby type: cargo 71, chemical tanker 14, container 169, liquefied gas3, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 3, petroleumtanker 5, rail car carrier 2, roll on/roll off 3,short-sea/passenger 7registered in other countries: 2,295 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Finland 4, Iceland 1, Netherlands 3
Airports:550 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 331 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 71 under 914 m: 134 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 62
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 219 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 185 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 31
Heliports: 34 (2003 est.)
Military Germany
Military branches:Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche Marine; including Naval Air arm), AirForce (Luftwaffe), Joint Support Service, Central Medical Service
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (conscripts serve a nine-month tour of compulsorymilitary service) (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 20,468,942 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 17,338,435 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 484,837 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$35.063 billion (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2003)
Transnational Issues Germany
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaineprocessors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asianheroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced syntheticdrugs; major financial center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Ghana
Introduction Ghana
Background:Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast andthe Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the firstsub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Along series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitutionin 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution,restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. JerryRAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for athird term in 2000. He was succeeded by John KUFUOR, who defeatedformer Vice President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election.
Geography Ghana
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoireand Togo
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 239,460 sq kmland: 230,940 sq kmwater: 8,520 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:total: 2,094 kmborder countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo877 km
Coastline:539 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot andhumid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain:mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m
Natural resources:gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish,rubber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 16.26% permanent crops: 9.67% other: 74.07% (2001)
Irrigated land:110 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January toMarch; droughts
Environment - current issues: recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake
People Ghana
Population:20,757,032note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38% (male 3,988,800; female 3,904,989)15-64 years: 58.3% (male 6,030,151; female 6,071,725)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 359,042; female 402,325) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 20 yearsmale: 19.8 yearsfemale: 20.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.36% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:24.9 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.67 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.64 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 52.22 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 49.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 55.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 56.27 yearsmale: 55.36 yearsfemale: 57.22 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.17 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:350,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:30,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Ghanaian(s)adjective: Ghanaian
Ethnic groups:black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%,Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998)
Religions:Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 21%
Languages:English (official), African languages (including Akan,Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writefemale: 67.1% (2003 est.)male: 82.7%total population: 74.8%
People - note:there are 9,500 Liberians, 2,000 Sierra Leoneans, and 1,000Togolese refugees residing in Ghana (2002)
Government Ghana
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Ghanaconventional short form: Ghanaformer: Gold Coast
Government type:constitutional democracy
Capital:Accra
Administrative divisions:10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra,Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western
Independence:6 March 1957 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Constitution:approved 28 April 1992
Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subjectto approval by Parliamentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December2004 (next to be held December 2008)election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president inelection; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 53.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (230 seats; note - increased from 200 seatsin last election; members are elected by direct, popular vote toserve four-year terms)elections: last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NPP 128, NDC 92, other 10
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, generalsecretary]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA,chairman]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY];National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; NationalDemocratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary];New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People'sConvention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman];People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE];People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]; Reform Party[Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS(observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL,UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. KYEREMATENconsulate(s) general: New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 686-4527telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATESembassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accramailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accratelephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348FAX: [233] (21) 701-813
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with alarge black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses thepopular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag ofBolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
Economy Ghana
Economy - overview:Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice theper capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so,Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial andtechnical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are majorsources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues torevolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 35% ofGDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders.Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country(HIPC) program in 2002. Policy priorities include tighter monetaryand fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement ofsocial services. Receipts from the gold sector should help sustainGDP growth in 2004. Inflation should ease, but remain a majorinternal problem.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $44.44 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.4% industry: 25.4% services: 39.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.5% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:31.4% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40.7 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):26.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:10 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.943 billionexpenditures: $2.192 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts,bananas; timber
Industries:mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, foodprocessing
Industrial production growth rate:3.8% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:8.801 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:8.835 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:300 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:950 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:7,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:8.255 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:11.89 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$110 million (2003)
Exports:$2.642 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,diamonds
Exports - partners:Netherlands 11.2%, UK 10.7%, France 7.7%, Germany 6.2%, Japan 5.2%,Italy 4.6%, Turkey 4.4%, US 4.3% (2003)
Imports:$3.24 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Nigeria 13.2%, China 9.3%, UK 7.2%, US 6.1%, Germany 4.8%, France4.5%, South Africa 4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.469 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$7.398 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$6.9 billion (1999)
Currency:cedi (GHC)
Currency code:GHC
Exchange rates:cedis per US dollar - NA (2003), 7,932.7 (2002), 7,170.76 (2001),5,455.06 (2000), 2,669.3 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Ghana
Telephones - main lines in use:302,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:799,900 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor to fair system; Internet accessible; manyrural communities not yet connected; expansion of services isunderwaydomestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop hasbeen installedinternational: country code - 233; satellite earth stations - 4Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftelsystem connects Ghana to its neighbors; fiber optic submarine cable(SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:12.5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:10 (2001)
Televisions:1.9 million (2001)
Internet country code:.gh
Internet hosts:407 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):12 (2000)
Internet users:170,000 (2002)
Transportation Ghana
Railways: total: 953 km narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 39,409 km paved: 11,665 km unpaved: 27,744 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:1,293 kmnote: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tanorivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta(2003)
Pipelines:refined products 74 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Takoradi, Tema
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,086 GRT/26,185 DWTforeign-owned: Brazil 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Spain 1(2004 est.)by type: petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 5
Airports:12 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Ghana
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 5,391,378 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,994,600 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 244,809 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$44 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.6% (2003)
Transnational Issues Ghana
Disputes - international: Ghana must still deal with refugees and returning nationals escaping rebel fighting in Cote d'Ivoire
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 42,466 (Liberia) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to alesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and theUS; widespread crime and corruption have made money laundering aproblem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructurelimits the country's utility as a money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Gibraltar
Introduction Gibraltar
Background:Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain bySpain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison wasformally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and votedoverwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.
Geography Gibraltar
Location:Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which linksthe Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southerncoast of Spain
Geographic coordinates:36 8 N, 5 21 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 6.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 6.5 sq km
Area - comparative:about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:12 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or naturalrock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinkingwater) and adequate desalination plant
Geography - note:strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the NorthAtlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
People Gibraltar
Population:27,833 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 2,554; female 2,452)15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,460; female 8,965)65 years and over: 15.8% (male 1,939; female 2,463) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 39 yearsmale: 38.8 yearsfemale: 39.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.19% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.99 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 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: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.22 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.81 deaths/1,000 live births