Judicial branch:West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judgeresides in Grenada)
Political parties and leaders:Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Herbert PREUDHOMME]; NationalDemocratic Congress or NDC [leader vacant]; New National Party orNNP [George McGUIRE]; People Labor Movement or PLM [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber),ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados, Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER, is accredited to Grenada embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176 FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Flag description:a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top andbottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a redborder around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed starswith three centered in the top red border, three centered in thebottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the centerof the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-sidetriangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg,after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrativedivisions
Economy Grenada
Economy - overview:Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange,especially since the construction of an international airport in1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing,together with the development of an offshore financial industry,have also contributed to growth in national output.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $440 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.7% industry: 23.9% services: 68.4% (2000)
Population below poverty line:32% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2001 est.)
Labor force:42,300 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 24%, industry 14%, services 62% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.5% (2000)
Budget:revenues: $85.8 millionexpenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28million (1997)
Agriculture - products:bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops,sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Industries:food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism,construction
Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:138 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:128.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$46 million (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners:US 14.9%, Germany 12.8%, Netherlands 8.5%, Saint Lucia 8.5%,Antigua and Barbuda 6.4%, UK 6.4%, Belgium 4.3%, Dominica 4.3%,France 4.3%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.3%(2003)
Imports:$208 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners:US 30%, Trinidad and Tobago 26.8%, UK 5.2%, Japan 4.4% (2003)
Debt - external:$196 million (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:$8.3 million (1995)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7(2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Grenada
Telephones - main lines in use:33,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,600 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone systemdomestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone linksinternational: country code - 1-473; new SHF radiotelephone links toTrinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links toTrinidad
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gd
Internet hosts:18 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):14 (2000)
Internet users:15,000 (2002)
Transportation Grenada
Highways: total: 1,040 km paved: 638 km unpaved: 402 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Grenville, Saint George's
Merchant marine:none
Airports:3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Grenada
Military branches:no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Grenada
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point formarijuana and cocaine to US
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Guadeloupe
Introduction Guadeloupe
Background:Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island ofSaint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion isnamed Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and itsnorthern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe
Geography Guadeloupe
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:16 15 N, 61 35 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 1,780 sq kmnote: Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands,including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade,Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, andSaint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin)water: 74 sq kmland: 1,706 sq km
Area - comparative:10 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 10.2 km border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
Coastline: 306 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity
Terrain:Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains;Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven otherislands are volcanic in origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m
Natural resources: cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism
Land use: arable land: 11.24% permanent crops: 3.55% other: 85.21% (2001)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an activevolcano
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper intotwo islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller,eastern Grande-Terre
People Guadeloupe
Population:444,515 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.4% (male 55,386; female 52,977)15-64 years: 66.6% (male 146,772; female 149,314)65 years and over: 9% (male 16,730; female 23,336) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 31.4 yearsmale: 30.6 yearsfemale: 32.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.96% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:15.79 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.05 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.15 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 10.07 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.71 yearsmale: 74.56 yearsfemale: 81.03 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.91 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: Guadeloupian(s)adjective: Guadeloupe
Ethnic groups:black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese lessthan 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%
Languages:French (official) 99%, Creole patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90%male: 90%female: 90% (1982 est.)
Government Guadeloupe
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupeconventional short form: Guadeloupelocal short form: Guadeloupelocal long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:Basse-Terre
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France)
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French legal system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Paul GIROT DE LANGLADE (since 17August 2004)election results: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General andRegional Councils are elected by the members of those councilshead of government: President of the General Council Jacques GILLOT(since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council VictorinLUREL (since 2 April 2004)cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council or Conseil General (42 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and theunicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (41 seats; membersare elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held 22 March 1998 (next to beheld by NA 2004); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (nextto be held NA 2010)note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate;elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September2004); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 1, FGPS1; Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French NationalAssembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be heldNA 2007); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPR 2, PS1, different right parties 1election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6,right-wing candidates 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council (secondround) - percent of vote by party - PS 58.4%, UMP 41.6%; seats byparty - PS 29, UMP 12
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe,French Guiana, and Martinique
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Mona CADOCE]; FGPS [DominiqueLARIFLA]; Left Radical Party or PRG [Flavien FERRANT]; ProgressiveDemocratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Socialist Party or PS[Marlene MELISSE and Favrot DAVRAIN]; Union for French Democracy orUDF [Marcel ESDRAS]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [RobertJOYEUX]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Christian Movement for the Liberation of Guadeloupe or KLPG;General Federation of Guadeloupe Workers or CGT-G; General Union ofGuadeloupe Workers or UGTG; Movement for Independent Guadeloupe orMPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement
International organization participation:WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Guadeloupe
Economy - overview:The Caribbean economy depends on agriculture, tourism, lightindustry, and services. It also depends on France for largesubsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most touristsfrom the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit theislands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced byother crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of exportearnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root cropsare cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is stilldependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industryfeatures sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuelare imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young.Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.513 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 15%industry: 17%services: 68% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA (2003 est.)
Labor force:125,900 (1997)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:27.8% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $225 millionexpenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105million (1996)
Agriculture - products: bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats
Industries:construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:1.155 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.074 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$140 million f.o.b. (1997)
Exports - commodities:bananas, sugar, rum
Exports - partners:France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1999)
Imports:$1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods,construction materials
Imports - partners:France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%, Netherlands Antilles 2%(1999)
Debt - external:NA (yearend 2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies (1995)
Currency:euro (EUR); French franc (FRF)
Currency code:EUR; FRF
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 Guadeloupe
Telephones - main lines in use:210,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:323,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic facilities inadequatedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 590; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua andBarbuda, Dominica, and Martinique
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:113,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:118,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gp
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2002)
Transportation Guadeloupe
Highways: total: 2,467 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (1998)
Ports and harbors:Basse-Terre, Gustavia (on Saint Barthelemy), Marigot, Pointe-a-Pitre
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,240 GRT/109 DWTregistered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: France 1by type: passenger 1
Airports:9 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Guadeloupe
Military branches:no regular military forces
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Guadeloupe
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Guam
Introduction Guam
Background:Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanesein 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The militaryinstallation on the island is one of the most strategicallyimportant US bases in the Pacific.
Geography Guam
Location:Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters ofthe way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 549 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 549 sq km
Area - comparative:three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:125.5 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeasttrade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from Julyto December; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flatcoralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steepcoastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills incenter, mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use: arable land: 9.09% permanent crops: 16.36% other: 74.55% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, butpotentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)
Environment - current issues:extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation ofthe brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Geography - note:largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago;strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People Guam
Population:166,090 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.8% (male 25,577; female 23,850)15-64 years: 64% (male 54,220; female 52,026)65 years and over: 6.3% (male 4,912; female 5,505) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 28.2 yearsmale: 28 yearsfemale: 28.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.5% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:19.31 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:4.35 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.15 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.12 yearsmale: 75.08 yearsfemale: 81.34 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.61 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: Guamanian(s)adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups:Chamorro 37%, Filipino 26%, white 10%, Chinese, Japanese, Korean,and other 27%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Languages:English, Chamorro, Japanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (1990 est.)
Government Guam
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Guamconventional short form: Guamlocal long form: Guahan
Dependency status:organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relationsbetween Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office ofInsular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:Hagatna (Agana)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US)
Independence:none (territory of the US)
National holiday:Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Constitution:Organic Act of 1 August 1950
Legal system:modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in USpresidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January2001)election results: Felix P. P. CAMACHO elected governor; percent ofvote - Felix P. P. CAMACHO (Republican Party) 55.4%, Robert A.UNDERWOOD (Democratic Party) 44.6%elections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governorelected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term;election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)head of government: Governor Felix P. P. CAMACHO (since 6 January2003) and Lieutenant Governor Kaleo MOYLAN (since 6 January 2003)cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor withthe consent of the Guam legislature
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popularvote to serve two-year terms)elections: last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November2004)note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House ofRepresentatives; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held2 November 2004); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party)was elected as delegate; percent of vote by party - Democratic Party64.6%, Republican Party 35.4%; seats by party - Democratic Party 1election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Democratic Party 9, Republican Party 6
Judicial branch:Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president);Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms bythe governor)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party (controls the legislature) [speaker, Vicente (Ben)PANGELINAN]; Republican Party (party of Governor CAMACHO) [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)
Flag description:territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all foursides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipsecontaining a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm treewith the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is thenational flag
Economy Guam
Economy - overview:The economy depends on US military spending, tourism, and theexport of fish and handicrafts. Total US grants, wage payments, andprocurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating aconstruction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones.More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry hadrecently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japaneseslowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists.Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problemof building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact ofmilitary downsizing.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.2 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7% industry: 15% services: 78% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:23% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0% (1999 est.)
Labor force:60,000 (2000 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: private 74% (industry 10%, trade 24%, other services 40%), federal and territorial government 26% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $340 millionexpenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Industries:US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services,concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:830 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:771.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$38 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products; constructionmaterials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports - partners:Japan 70.1%, South Korea 17.9%, Singapore 6% (2003)
Imports:$462 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:Singapore 35.8%, Japan 22.2%, South Korea 17.5%, Hong Kong 11.4%(2003)
Debt - external:NA (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excisetaxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the GuamTreasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxespaid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam(2001 est.)
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Guam
Telephones - main lines in use:84,134 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:32,600 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilitiesfor direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbersdomestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile serviceand local access to the Internetinternational: country code - 1-671; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam isa trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, andGTE, linking the US and Asia)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2003)
Radios:221,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1997)
Televisions:106,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gu
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):20 (2000)
Internet users:50,000 (2002)
Transportation Guam
Highways:total: 885 kmpaved: 675 kmunpaved: 210 kmnote: there are also 685 km of roads classified non-public,including roads located on federal government installations
Ports and harbors:Apra Harbor
Merchant marine:none
Airports:5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Guam
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Guam
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Guatemala
Introduction Guatemala
Background:The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surroundingregions during the first millennium A.D. After almost threecenturies as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced avariety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-yearguerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreementformally ending the conflict, which had led to the death of morethan 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees.
Geography Guatemala
Location:Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between ElSalvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (CaribbeanSea) between Honduras and Belize
Geographic coordinates:15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 108,890 sq kmwater: 460 sq kmland: 108,430 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,687 kmborder countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline:400 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestoneplateau (Peten)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources:petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 12.54% permanent crops: 5.03% other: 82.43% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violentearthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes andother tropical storms
Environment - current issues:deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: 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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: no natural harbors on west coast
People Guatemala
Population:14,280,596 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.6% (male 3,118,396; female 2,970,729)15-64 years: 54% (male 3,898,939; female 3,817,435)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 221,154; female 253,943) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.4 yearsmale: 18.1 yearsfemale: 18.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.61% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:34.58 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.67 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: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 36.91 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 36.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 37.71 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.19 yearsmale: 64.3 yearsfemale: 66.13 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.6 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:78,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:5,800 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Guatemalan(s)adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups:Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - inlocal Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%, Amerindian orpredominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and others 2%
Religions:Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages:Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognizedAmerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70.6%male: 78%female: 63.3% (2003 est.)
Government Guatemala
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Guatemalaconventional short form: Guatemalalocal short form: Guatemalalocal long form: Republica de Guatemala
Government type:constitutional democratic republic
Capital:Guatemala
Administrative divisions:22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); AltaVerapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso,Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten,Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, SantaRosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 followingouster of president; amended November 1993
Legal system:civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forcesmay not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmenthead of government: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo(since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas(since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief ofstate and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;election last held 9 November 2003; runoff held 28 December 2003(next to be held NA November 2007)election results: Oscar BERGER Perdomo elected president; percent ofvote - Oscar BERGER Perdomo (GANA) 54.1%, Alvaro COLOM (UNE) 45.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica(158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms)elections: last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held NA November2007)note: for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressionalseats increased from 113 to 158election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad is Guatemala'shighest court (five judges are elected for concurrent five-yearterms by Congress, each serving one year as president of theConstitutional Court; one is elected by Congress, one elected by theSupreme Court of Justice, one appointed by the President, oneelected by Superior Counsel of Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala,and one by Colegio de Abogados); Supreme Court of Justice or CorteSuprema de Justicia (thirteen members serve concurrent five-yearterms and elect a president of the Court each year from among theirnumber; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice alsosupervises trial judges around the country, who are named tofive-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; DemocraticUnion or UD [Rodolfo PAIZ Andrade]; Grand National Alliance or GANA[Oscar BERGER Perdomo]; Green Party or LOV [Rodolfo ROSALESGarcis-Salaz]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZOArevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [AlbaESTELA Maldonado, secretary general]; Guatemalan Republican Front orFRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU[Jacobo ARBENZ Villanueva]; Movement for Principals and Values orMPV [Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [LeonelLOPEZ Rodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE[Alvarado COLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN, formed byan alliance of DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whomsubsequently defected [led by three co-equal partners - NinethVarenca MONTENEGRO Cottom, Rodolfo BAUER Paiz, and Jorge AntonioBALSELLS TUT]; Patriot Party or PP [retired General Otto PEREZMolina]; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARESMolina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE, secretarygeneral]; Unionista Party [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI;Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee ofAgricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations orCACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM,OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo CASTILLO chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John R. HAMILTON embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2331-1541/55 FAX: [502] 2334-8477
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, andlight blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; thecoat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird)and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposedon a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framedby a wreath
Economy Guatemala
Economy - overview:Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central Americancountries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil,Argentina, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for aboutone-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the laborforce. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. The 1996signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removeda major obstacle to foreign investment, but widespread politicalviolence and corruption scandals continue to dampen investorconfidence. The distribution of income remains highly unequal, withperhaps 75% of the population below the poverty line. Ongoingchallenges include increasing government revenues, negotiatingfurther assistance from international donors, upgrading bothgovernment and private financial operations, curtailing drugtrafficking, and narrowing the trade deficit.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $56.5 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.5% industry: 18.9% services: 58.5% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:75% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 46% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:55.8 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:3.84 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.5% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.741 billionexpenditures: $3.316 billion, including capital expenditures of $750million (2003 est.)
Public debt:30.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep,pigs, chickens
Industries:sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum,metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:4.1% (1999)
Electricity - production:6.237 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.559 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:336 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:95 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:21,080 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:61,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:263 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.543 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-1.106 billion (2003)
Exports:$2.763 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, meat,apparel, petroleum, electricity
Exports - partners:US 56.7%, El Salvador 10.8%, Nicaragua 3.6% (2003)
Imports:$5.749 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,grain, fertilizers, electricity
Imports - partners:US 34.1%, Mexico 8.8%, South Korea 7.8%, El Salvador 6.4%, China4.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$2.843 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$4.957 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$250 million (2000 est.)
Currency:quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed
Currency code:GTQ; USD
Exchange rates:quetzales per US dollar - 7.9409 (2003), 7.8216 (2002), 7.8586(2001), 7.7632 (2000), 7.3856 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Guatemala
Telephones - main lines in use:846,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,577,100 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city ofGuatemaladomestic: NAinternational: country code - 502; connected to Central AmericanMicrowave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)
Radios:835,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:1.323 million (1997)
Internet country code:.gt
Internet hosts:20,360 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:400,000 (2002)
Transportation Guatemala
Railways: total: 886 km narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 14,118 kmpaved: 4,871 km (including 74 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,247 km (1999)
Waterways:990 kmnote: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigableduring high-water season (2004)
Pipelines:oil 480 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomasde Castilla
Merchant marine:none
Airports:452 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 4412,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 8914 to 1,523 m: 109under 914 m: 323 (2004 est.)
Military Guatemala
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 3,421,682 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,233,562 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 156,865 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$202.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.8% (2003)
Transnational Issues Guatemala
Disputes - international:Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in Belize border region;OAS brokered Differendum in 2002 creating small adjustment to landboundary, large Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, jointecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UKfinancial package, but agreement was not brought to popularreferendum leaving Guatemala to continue to claim the southern halfof Belize intact; numbers of Guatemalans enter Mexico seeking workor transit to the US
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 250,000 (government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980sagainst indigenous people) (2004)
Illicit drugs:major transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer ofillicit opium poppy and cannabis for mostly domestic consumption;proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs(particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem;corruption is a major problem; remains on Financial Action TaskForce Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continuedfailure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime