Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.52 yearsmale: 76.65 yearsfemale: 82.54 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.65 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Gibraltarian(s)adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups:Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, NorthAfricans
Religions:Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England 6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish2.3%, none or other 7% (1991)
Languages:English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish,Italian, Portuguese
Literacy: definition: NA total population: above 80% male: NA female: NA
Government Gibraltar
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:NA
Capital:Gibraltar
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the nationalreferendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Constitution:30 May 1969
Legal system:English law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have beenresidents six months or more
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief Sir Francis RICHARDS(since 27 May 2003)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyappointed chief minister by the governorhead of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 15 electedmembers of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultationwith the chief minister
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popularvote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officio members;members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 27 November 2003 (next to be held not laterthan February 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 58%, GSLP 41%;seats by party - GSD 8, GSLP 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democratsor GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP[Joseph John BOSSANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization;Women's Association
International organization participation:Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with athree-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hangingfrom the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band
Economy Gibraltar
Economy - overview:Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshorebanking, and its position as an international conference center. TheBritish military presence has been sharply reduced and nowcontributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods alsogenerate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, andtourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accountsfor another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen majorstructural change from a public to a private sector economy, butchanges in government spending still have a major impact on thelevel of employment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $500 million (1997 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,500 (1997 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (1998)
Labor force:14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture negligible, industry 40%, services 60%
Unemployment rate:2% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $307 millionexpenditures: $284 million, including capital expenditures of NA(FY00/01 est.)
Agriculture - products:none
Industries:tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:100 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:93 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:42,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$136 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%,other 8%
Exports - partners:Germany 25.6%, France 24.8%, UK 14.3%, Turkmenistan 9.4%,Switzerland 7.5%, Spain 5.6% (2003)
Imports:$1.743 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Spain 26.5%, UK 14.8%, Russia 8.2%, Italy 6.6%, Netherlands 6.5%,France 5.3%, Germany 4.6%, Romania 4.2% (2003)
Debt - external:NA (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Currency code:GIP
Exchange rates:Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001),0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998); note - the Gibraltarpound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Gibraltar
Telephones - main lines in use:24,512 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9,797 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system andadequate international facilitiesdomestic: automatic exchange facilitiesinternational: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radiorelay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:6,200 (2002)
Transportation Gibraltar
Highways: total: 29 km paved: 29 km unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:Gibraltar
Merchant marine:total: 133 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 980,636 GRT/1,254,661 DWTby type: bulk 3, cargo 69, chemical tanker 14, container 27,multi-functional large load carrier 3, passenger 2, petroleum tanker13, roll on/roll off 2registered in other countries: 4 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Cyprus 3, Denmark 1, Estonia 1, France 1,Germany 92, Greece 11, Hong Kong 2, Iceland 1, Monaco 4, Norway 6,Spain 1, United Kingdom 6, United States 2
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Gibraltar
Military branches:Royal Gibraltar Regiment
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK; the last British regularinfantry forces left Gibraltar in 1992, replaced by the RoyalGibraltar Regiment
Transnational Issues Gibraltar
Disputes - international:since Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum in2003 against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement, talks betweenthe UK and Spain over the fate of the 300-year-old UK colony havestalled; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greaterautonomy
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@Glorioso Islands
Introduction Glorioso Islands
Background:A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composedof two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys)and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather andradio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Geography Glorioso Islands
Location:Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest ofMadagascar
Geographic coordinates:11 30 S, 47 20 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 5 sq kmnote: includes Ile Glorieuse, Ile du Lys, Verte Rocks, Wreck Rock,and South Rockwater: 0 sq kmland: 5 sq km
Area - comparative:about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:35.2 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical
Terrain:low and flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 12 m
Natural resources: guano, coconuts
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system
People Glorioso Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: there is a small French military garrison along with a fewmeteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2004 est.)
Government Glorioso Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Glorioso Islandslocal short form: Iles Glorieuseslocal long form: none
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of theRepublic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (possession of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Glorioso Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Communications Glorioso Islands
Communications - note: 1 meteorological station
Transportation Glorioso Islands
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Glorioso Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Glorioso Islands
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Greece
Introduction Greece
Background:Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829.During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands andterritories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II,Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupiedby Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil warbetween royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels.Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATOin 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended manypolitical liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lastedseven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum createda parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joinedthe European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992);it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
Geography Greece
Location:Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and theMediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 131,940 sq kmwater: 1,140 sq kmland: 130,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:total: 1,228 kmborder countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:13,676 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulasor chains of islands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources:lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel,magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 21.1% permanent crops: 8.78% other: 70.12% (2001)
Irrigated land:14,220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Geography - note:strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approachto Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelagoof about 2,000 islands
People Greece
Population:10,647,529 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.5% (male 792,938; female 746,119)15-64 years: 67% (male 3,563,703; female 3,566,549)65 years and over: 18.6% (male 873,540; female 1,104,680) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 40.2 yearsmale: 39.1 yearsfemale: 41.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.2% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:9.73 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.08 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.94 yearsfemale: 81.59 years (2004 est.)male: 76.44 years
Total fertility rate:1.32 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:8,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Greek(s)adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:Greek 98%, other 2%note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions inGreece
Religions:Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:Greek 99% (official), English, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writefemale: 96.5% (2003 est.)total population: 97.5%male: 98.6%
People - note:women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece forthe purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor
Government Greece
Country name:conventional long form: Hellenic Republicconventional short form: Greecelocal short form: Ellas or Elladaformer: Kingdom of Greecelocal long form: Elliniki Dhimokratia
Government type:parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December1974
Capital:Athens
Administrative divisions:51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*;Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis,Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos,Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis,Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria,Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades,Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella,Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia,Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
Independence:1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system:based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS(since 10 March 1995)elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;election last held 8 February 2000 (next to be held by February2005); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may onlyserve two terms; president appoints leader of the party securingplurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form agovernmenthead of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since 7March 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelection results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS reelected president;percent of Parliament vote - 90%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members areelected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: elections last held 7 March 2004 (next to be held byMarch 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - ND 45.4%, PASOK 40.6%,KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE12, Synaspismos 6
Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judgesappointed for life by the president after consultation with ajudicial council
Political parties and leaders:Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS];Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy orND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic SocialistMovement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally[Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [KhristosPOLYZOGOPOLOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [OdysseasKYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [SpyrosPAPASPYROS]
International organization participation:Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU,FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA,MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Yeoryios SAVVAIDISconsulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and Tampaconsulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, andSan FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 939-1324telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles RIES embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description:nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; thereis a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a whitecross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the establishedreligion of the country
Economy Greece
Economy - overview:Greece has a mixed capitalist economy with the public sectoraccounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of theleading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrantsmake up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs.Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% ofannual GDP. The Greek economy grew by about 4.0% for the past twoyears, largely because of an investment boom and infrastructureupgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Despite strong growth,Greece has failed to meet the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budgetdeficit criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000; public debt, inflation,and unemployment are also above the eurozone average. Furtherrestructuring of the economy include privatizing several stateenterprises, undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizingbureaucratic inefficiencies.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $213.6 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.7% industry: 22% services: 71.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25.5% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 25.3% (1993 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.7 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.39 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 20%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.4% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $76.84 billionexpenditures: $79.48 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:100.9% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco,potatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metalproducts; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:49.79 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:48.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.062 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.562 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:84,720 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:468,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:35 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.021 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-11.33 billion (2003)
Exports:$5.899 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:Germany 12.6%, Italy 10.5%, UK 7%, US 6.5%, Bulgaria 6.2%, Cyprus4.8%, France 4.2%, Turkey 4% (2003)
Imports:$33.27 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:Germany 12.5%, Italy 12.2%, France 6.6%, Russia 6.1%, South Korea5.4%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5.2%, Japan 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$5.802 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$65.51 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$5.4 billion from EU (1995)
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),365.399 (2000), 305.647 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Greece
Telephones - main lines in use:5,205,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,936,200 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; goodmobile telephone and international servicedomestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wireconnections; submarine cable to offshore islandsinternational: country code - 30; tropospheric scatter; 8 submarinecables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:5.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the USArmed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Televisions:2.54 million (1997)
Internet country code:.gr
Internet hosts:208,977 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):27 (2000)
Internet users:1,718,400 (2003)
Transportation Greece
Railways:total: 2,571 km (764 km electrified)standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gaugedual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three railsystem) (2003)
Highways:total: 117,000 kmpaved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:6 kmnote: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortenssea voyage by 325 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Alexandroupolis, Elefsis, Irakleion (Crete), Kavala, Kerkyra,Chalkis, Igoumenitsa, Lavrion, Patrai, Peiraiefs (Piraeus),Thessaloniki, Volos
Merchant marine:total: 793 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,186,624 GRT/52,943,968 DWTregistered in other countries: 2,443 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Israel 1, Italy 1, Liberia 3,Malta 1, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 2, Panama 3, Singapore 1, Sweden1, United Kingdom 2, United States 5by type: bulk 298, cargo 57, chemical tanker 38, combination bulk 5,combination ore/oil 3, container 49, liquefied gas 5, passenger 10,petroleum tanker 267, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 19,short-sea/passenger 38, specialized tanker 3
Airports:79 (note - new Athens airport at Spata opened in March 2001) (2003est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 7 (2003 est.)
Military Greece
Military branches:Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force (EPA), NationalGuard
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment after reaching January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12 months for the Army, 14 months for the Air Force, 15 months for the Navy (April 2003)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,638,949 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,004,343 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 63,496 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$7,288.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Greece
Disputes - international:Greece and Turkey have resumed discussions to resolve their complexmaritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea;Cyprus question with Turkey; dispute with the Republic of Macedoniaover its name
Illicit drugs:a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroinfrom the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursorchemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or isconsumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking andorganized crime
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@Greenland
Introduction Greenland
Background:The world's largest island, Greenland is about 81% ice-capped.Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danishcolonization began in the 18th century and Greenland was made anintegral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community(now the European Union) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985over a dispute over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was grantedself-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went intoeffect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control ofGreenland's foreign affairs.
Geography Greenland
Location:Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates:72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 2,166,086 sq kmland: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq kmice-covered) (2000 est.)
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:44,087 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median lineexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium,fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Environment - current issues:protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuittraditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Geography - note:dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, butclose to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;world's second largest ice cap
People Greenland
Population:56,384 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.5% (male 7,344; female 7,029)15-64 years: 68.5% (male 20,894; female 17,715)65 years and over: 6% (male 1,585; female 1,817) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 33.5 yearsmale: 34.8 yearsfemale: 31.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.01% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:15.96 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 16.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 17.62 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.32 yearsmale: 65.75 yearsfemale: 72.98 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.42 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:100 (1999)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Greenlander(s)adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups:Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish andothers 12% (January 2000)
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA note: similar to Denmark proper
Government Greenland
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Greenlandlocal short form: Kalaallit Nunaatlocal long form: none
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type:parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Capital:Nuuk (Godthab)
Administrative divisions:3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu(Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is theresponsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates ininternational agreements relating to Greenland)
National holiday:June 21 (longest day)
Constitution:5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:Danish
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January1972), represented by High Commissioner Peter LAURITEEN (since NA2002)note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiitelection results: Hans ENOKSEN elected prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December2002)cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament(Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of partieselections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointedby the monarch; prime minister is elected by Parliament (usually theleader of the majority party); election last held 3 December 2002(next to be held December 2006)
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are electedby popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefour-year terms)note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament orFolketing on 20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February 2005);percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Siumut 1, InuitAtaqatigiit 1election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 28.7%, InuitAtaqatigiit 25.5%, Atassut Party 20.4%, Demokratiit 15.6%,Katusseqatigiit 5.3%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit8, Atassut 7, Demokratiit 5, Katusseqatigiit 1elections: last held on 3 December 2002 (next to be held by NADecember 2006)
Judicial branch:High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsretor Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
Political parties and leaders:Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuingclose relations with Denmark) [Augusta SALLING]; Demokratiit [PerBERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftistparty favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than homerule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH];Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-centerparty with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party,a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandicidentity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large diskslightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk isred, the bottom half is white
Economy Greenland
Economy - overview:The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish andsubstantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies abouthalf of government revenues. The public sector, includingpublicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays thedominant role in the economy. Despite several interestinghydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will takeseveral years before production can materialize. Tourism is the onlysector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limiteddue to a short season and high costs.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (1999 est.)
Labor force:24,500 (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:10% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $646 millionexpenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85million (1999)
Agriculture - products:forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer;fish
Industries:fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut), handicrafts,hides and skins, small shipyards, mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:245 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:227.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$388 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)
Exports - partners:Denmark 64.7%, Japan 14.2%, China 4.4% (2003)
Imports:$445 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,petroleum products
Imports - partners:Denmark 82.6%, Norway 7.5%, Sweden 3.5% (2003)
Debt - external:$25 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:$380 million subsidy from Denmark (1997)
Currency:Danish krone (DKK) is the official legal tender.
Currency code:DKK
Exchange rates:Danish kroner per US dollar - 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.323(2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Greenland
Telephones - main lines in use:26,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:16,747 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate domestic and international serviceprovided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totallydigitalized in 1995domestic: microwave radio relay and satelliteinternational: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 12Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:30,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations:1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and threeAFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)
Televisions:30,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:.gl
Internet hosts:2,642 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2002)
Transportation Greenland
Highways:total: NA (there are no roads between towns) (2003)
Ports and harbors:Aasiaat (Egedesminde), Ilulissat (Jakobshavn), Kangerlussuaq,Nanortalik, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk (Godthab), Qaqortoq (Julianehab),Sisimiut (Holsteinsborg), Tasiilaq
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,593 GRT/3,640 DWTforeign-owned: Denmark 1 (2004 est.)by type: cargo 2, passenger 1
Airports:14 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Greenland
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Greenland
Disputes - international: uncontested dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Grenada
Introduction Grenada
Background:One of the smallest independent countries in the westernhemisphere, Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces andthose of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured theringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free electionswere reinstituted the following year.
Geography Grenada
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean,north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 344 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 344 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:121 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain:volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use: arable land: 5.88% permanent crops: 29.41% other: 64.71% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June toNovember
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group isdivided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People Grenada
Population:89,357 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34.5% (male 15,580; female 15,212)15-64 years: 62% (male 29,321; female 26,104)65 years and over: 3.5% (male 1,467; female 1,673) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 20.9 yearsmale: 21.4 yearsfemale: 20.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.14% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:22.61 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.31 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-13.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.62 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.52 yearsmale: 62.74 yearsfemale: 66.31 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.41 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Grenadian(s)adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups:black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian5% , and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
Religions:Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government Grenada
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada
Government type:constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament
Capital:Saint George's
Administrative divisions:6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*,Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark,Saint Patrick
Independence:7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution:19 December 1973
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June1995)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10appointed by the government and three by the leader of theopposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members areelected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 27 November 2003 (next to be held by NANovember 2008)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7