Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-279.6 million (2003)
Exports:$1.37 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster, meat; zinc, lumber (2000)
Exports - partners:US 65.5%, El Salvador 3.5%, Guatemala 2.4% (2003)
Imports:$3.11 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials,chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)
Imports - partners:US 53.1%, El Salvador 4.5%, Mexico 3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.439 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$5.246 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$557.8 million (1999)
Currency:lempira (HNL)
Currency code:HNL
Exchange rates:lempiras per US dollar - 17.3453 (2003), 16.4334 (2002), 15.4737(2001), 14.8392 (2000), 14.2132 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Honduras
Telephones - main lines in use:322,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:326,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 504; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American MicrowaveSystem
Radio broadcast stations:AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
Radios:2.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:570,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.hn
Internet hosts:1,944 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:168,600 (2002)
Transportation Honduras
Railways: total: 699 km narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 13,603 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,828 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2004)
Ports and harbors:La Ceiba, Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela, PuertoLempira
Merchant marine:total: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 598,600 GRT/616,158 DWTregistered in other countries: 16 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Argentina 1, Bahrain 1, British Virgin Islands 1,Bulgaria 1, Cayman Islands 1, China 4, Costa Rica 1, Cyprus 1, Egypt5, El Salvador 1, Greece 16, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 2, Israel 1,Italy 1, Japan 2, Jordan 1, South Korea 9, Lebanon 4, Liberia 4,Maldives 2, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 1, Nigeria 2, Panama 10,Philippines 1, Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 22, Spain 1, Taiwan 2,Tanzania 1, Thailand 1, Turkey 2, Turks and Caicos Islands 1, UnitedStates 7, Vanuatu 1, Vietnam 1by type: bulk 12, cargo 139, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk 1,container 5, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 3,passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 54, refrigerated cargo 8, rollon/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 3
Airports:115 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 84 (2004 est.)
Military Honduras
Military branches:Army, Navy (including Naval Infantry), Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary 2-3 year military service (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,642,029 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 977,130 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 76,143 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$99.8 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2003)
Transnational Issues Honduras
Disputes - international:in 1992, ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputedareas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border, and the OAS isassisting with a technical resolution of bolsones; in 2003, the ICJrejected El Salvador's request to revise its decision on onebolsone; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to amaritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration ofHonduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tinyConejo Island, not mentioned by the ICJ, off Honduras in the Gulf ofFonseca; Honduras claims Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize butagreed to creation of a joint ecological park and Guatemalancorridor in the Caribbean in the failed 2002 Belize-GuatemalaDifferendum; Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 andagainst Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over a complex maritime disputein the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer ofcannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for localconsumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-launderingactivity
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Hong Kong
Introduction Hong Kong
Background:Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by Chinathe following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong SpecialAdministrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In thisagreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, twosystems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not beimposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree ofautonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for thenext 50 years.
Geography Hong Kong
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 1,092 sq kmwater: 50 sq kmland: 1,042 sq km
Area - comparative:six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 30 km regional border: China 30 km
Coastline:733 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy fromspring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain:hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use: arable land: 5.05% other: 93.94% (2001) permanent crops: 1.01%
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Marine Dumping (associate member)
Geography - note:more than 200 islands
People Hong Kong
Population:6,855,125 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.2% (male 510,702; female 465,145)15-64 years: 73.3% (male 2,461,914; female 2,560,382)65 years and over: 12.5% (male 394,697; female 462,285) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 39.4 yearsmale: 39.3 yearsfemale: 39.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.65% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:7.23 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:5.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.09 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 81.39 yearsmale: 78.72 yearsfemale: 84.3 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:0.91 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese/Hong Kongeradjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions:eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 93.5%male: 96.9%female: 89.6% (2002)
Government Hong Kong
Country name:conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Hong Konglocal short form: Xiangganglocal long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengquabbreviation: HK
Dependency status:special administrative region of China
Government type:limited democracy
Administrative divisions:none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republicof China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated asHong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's National People'sCongress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residentsliving in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functionalconstituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broadregional groupings, municipal organizations, and central governmentbodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Chief Executive TUNG Chee-hwa (since 1 July 1997)cabinet: Executive Council consists of seven non-official membersand 14 official members; including Chief Secretary Donald TSANGYam-kuen (since 1 May 2001), Financial Secretary Henry TANG (since 2August 2003), and Secretary of Justice Elsie LEUNG (since 1 July1997)elections: TUNG Chee-hwa was elected to a second term in March 2002by an 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces;the next election is scheduled to be held in 2007
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seatsindirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected bypopular vote; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September2008)election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10,independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11,Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1
Judicial branch:Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL[Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHANKai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong orDAB [MA Lik, chairman]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat, chairman];Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Liberal Party[James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman]note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association forDemocracy and People's Livelihood, Democratic Party, Frontier Party;pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong,Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party
Political pressure groups and leaders:Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); ChineseManufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of TradeUnions (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan,general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federationof Trade Unions (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor];Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movementin China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade UnionCouncil (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; HongKong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; TheAlliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James KEITH consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2524-0860
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
Economy Hong Kong
Economy - overview:Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent oninternational trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and rawmaterials must be imported. Imports and exports, includingreexports, each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kongreverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997 it had extensivetrade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been furtherintegrating its economy with China because China's growing opennessto the world economy has increased competitive pressure on HongKong's service industries, and Hong Kong's re-export business fromChina is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP compares with thelevel in the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growthaveraged a strong 5% in 1989-1997, but Hong Kong suffered tworecessions in the past 6 years because of the Asian financial crisisin 1998 and the global downturn of 2001-2002. The Severe AcuteRespiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak also battered Hong Kong'seconomy, but a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China'seasing of travel restrictions, a return of consumer confidence, anda solid rise in exports resulted in the resumption of strong growthin late 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $213 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 12.1% services: 87.9% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.3% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-2.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:3.5 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:manufacturing 8.2%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade,restaurants, and hotels 43.5%, financing, insurance, and real estate19.5%, transport and communications 7.8%, community and socialservices 17.8% (Note: above data exclude public sector) (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.9% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $26.17 billionexpenditures: $32.64 billion, including capital expenditures of $5billion (2003)
Agriculture - products:fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork
Industries:textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics,plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate:-9.2% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:30.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:37.12 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.581 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:10.36 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:257,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$17.42 billion (2003)
Exports:$225.9 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear,watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones
Exports - partners:China 42.6%, US 18.7%, Japan 5.4% (2003)
Imports:$230.3 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, foodstuffs,transport equipment, raw materials, semimanufactures, petroleum,plastics; a large share is reexported
Imports - partners:China 43.5%, Japan 11.9%, Taiwan 6.9%, US 5.5%, Singapore 5%, SouthKorea 4.8% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$118.4 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$59.21 billion (2003 est.)
Currency:Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Currency code:HKD
Exchange rates:Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002),7.7988 (2001), 7.7912 (2000), 7.7575 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:3,801,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,241,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domesticand international servicesdomestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-opticnetworkinternational: country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable toGuangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cablesproviding connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan,Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (2004)
Televisions:1.84 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hk
Internet hosts:591,993 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:3,212,800 (2003)
Transportation Hong Kong
Highways: total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Hong Kong
Merchant marine:total: 663 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWTregistered in other countries: 569 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Australia 2, Belgium 1, British Virgin Islands 1,China 178, Cyprus 1, Denmark 3, France 2, Germany 14, Greece 4,India 9, Indonesia 2, Japan 22, South Korea 2, Malaysia 3, Monaco 9,Norway 16, Panama 4, Philippines 17, Singapore 22, Taiwan 3,Thailand 1, United Kingdom 22, United States 1by type: barge carrier 1, bulk 364, cargo 78, chemical tanker 23,combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 97, liquefiedgas 20, multi-functional large load carrier 1, petroleum tanker 60,refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 4, short-sea/passenger 1,specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 4
Airports:4 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 4over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)914 to 1523 m: 1
Heliports:2 (2003 est.)
Military Hong Kong
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison ofChina's People's Liberation Army (PLA) including elements of the PLAGround Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are underthe direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijingand under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou MilitaryRegion
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,878,574 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,404,705 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 41,821 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA (FY02)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:Makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficultchallenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine toregional and world markets; modern banking system provides a conduitfor money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,especially among young people
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Howland Island
Introduction Howland Island
Background:Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island wasofficially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companiesmined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon nearthe middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed duringWorld War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory ofthe famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by theUS Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Geography Howland Island
Location:Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way betweenHawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 1.6 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 1.6 sq km
Area - comparative:about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:6.4 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrowfringing reef; depressed central area
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources:guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquaticwildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, andlow-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily anesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,and marine wildlife
People Howland Island
Population:uninhabitednote: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air andnaval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military duringWorld War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is byspecial-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only andgenerally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annuallyby US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2004 est.)
Government Howland Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of theInterior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Howland Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Howland Island
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boatlanding area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on theround-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they leftLae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; theairstrip is no longer serviceable (2003 est.)
Transportation - note:Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coastthat was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since beenrebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART
Military Howland Island
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the USCoast Guard
Transnational Issues Howland Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Hungary
Introduction Hungary
Background:Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, whichcollapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rulefollowing World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawalfrom the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military interventionby Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungarybegan liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "goulashCommunism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 andinitiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EUin 2004.
Geography Hungary
Location:Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 93,030 sq kmwater: 690 sq kmland: 92,340 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 2,171 kmborder countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km,Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on theSlovakian border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Tisza River 78 mhighest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources:bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Land use: arable land: 50.09% other: 47.85% (2001) permanent crops: 2.06%
Irrigated land: 2,100 sq km (1998 est.)
Environment - current issues: the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution with environmental requirements for EU accession will require large investments
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes betweenWestern Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine andMediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and TiszaRivers divide the country into three large regions
People Hungary
Population:10,032,375 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16% (male 826,032; female 782,687)15-64 years: 69% (male 3,407,931; female 3,517,450)65 years and over: 15% (male 545,488; female 952,787) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 38.4 yearsmale: 35.9 yearsfemale: 41.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.25% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:9.77 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:13.16 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0.86 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 9.34 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.25 yearsmale: 68.07 yearsfemale: 76.69 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Hungarian(s)adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups:Hungarian 89.9%, Roma 4%, German 2.6%, Serb 2%, Slovak 0.8%,Romanian 0.7%
Religions:Roman Catholic 67.5%, Calvinist 20%, Lutheran 5%, atheist and other7.5%
Languages:Hungarian 98.2%, other 1.8%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.4%male: 99.5%female: 99.3% (2003 est.)
Government Hungary
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Hungaryconventional short form: Hungarylocal long form: Magyar Koztarsasaglocal short form: Magyarorszag
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Budapest
Administrative divisions:19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties (singular- megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros): counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen,Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy,Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala: urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor,Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa,Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok,Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg: capital city: Budapest
Independence:1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday:Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August
Constitution:18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals andconstitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister andalso established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system:rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Ferenc MADL (since 4 August 2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly onthe recommendation of the presidentelection results: Ferenc MADL elected president; percent oflegislative vote - NA% (but by a simple majority in the third roundof voting); Ferenc GYURCSANY elected prime minister; percent oflegislative vote - 197 to 12note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds oflegislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in thethird roundelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 6 June 2000 (next to be held byJune 2005); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on therecommendation of the president; election last held 29 September 2004head of government: Prime Minister Ferenc GYURCSANY (since 29September 2004)
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; membersare elected by popular vote under a system of proportional anddirect representation to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 7 and 21 April 2002 (next to be held NA April2006)election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the voterequired for parliamentary representation in the first round) -Fidesz/MDF 48.70%, MSzP 46.11%, SzDSz 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats byparty - Fidesz 164, MSzP 178, MDF 24, SzDSz 20
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assemblyfor nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE]; Hungarian CivicAlliance or Fidesz-MPP [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; HungarianDemocratic Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian DemocraticPeople's Party or MDNP [Erzsebet PUSZTAI, chairman]; HungarianSocialist Party or MSzP [Istvan HILLER, chairman]; HungarianWorkers' Party or MMP [Gyula THURMER, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA(cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (memberaffiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andras SIMONYI FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George Herbert WALKER embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400 FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Economy Hungary
Economy - overview:Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to amarket economy, with a per capita income one-half that of the BigFour European nations. Hungary continues to demonstrate strongeconomic growth and joined the European Union in May 2004. Theprivate sector accounts for over 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership ofand investment in Hungarian firms are widespread, with cumulativeforeign direct investment totaling more than $23 billion since 1989.Hungarian sovereign debt was upgraded in 2000 to the second-highestrating among all the Central European transition economies.Inflation has declined substantially, from 14% in 1998 to 4.7% in2003; unemployment has persisted around the 6% level. Germany is byfar Hungary's largest economic partner. Short-term issues includethe reduction of the public sector deficit and further increasingthe flexibility of the labor markets.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $139.8 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $13,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 32.5% services: 64.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:8.6% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 20.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:24.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.164 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 8%, industry 27%, services 65% (1996)
Unemployment rate:5.9% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $35 billionexpenditures: $39.88 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:57% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle,poultry, dairy products
Industries:mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods,textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:6.4% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:34.39 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:35.15 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:7.261 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:10.43 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:41,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:140,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:47,180 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:136,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:110.7 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:3.231 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:13.37 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:9.587 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:50.45 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-7.347 billion (2003)
Exports:$42.03 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment 57.6%, other manufactures 31.0%, foodproducts 7.5%, raw materials 1.9%, fuels and electricity 1.9% (2001)
Exports - partners:Germany 34.1%, Austria 8%, Italy 5.8%, France 5.7%, UK 4.5%,Netherlands 4.1% (2003)
Imports:$46.19 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.3%, fuels andelectricity 8.2%, food products 2.9%, raw materials 2.0% (2001)
Imports - partners:Germany 24.5%, Italy 7.1%, China 6.9%, Austria 6.3%, Russia 6.2%,France 4.8%, Japan 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$12.78 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$42.38 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $250 million (2000)
Currency:forint (HUF)
Currency code:HUF
Exchange rates:forints per US dollar - 224.307 (2003), 257.887 (2002), 286.49(2001), 282.179 (2000), 237.146 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Hungary
Telephones - main lines in use:3,666,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,862,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized and iscapable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication servicedomestic: the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunkservices are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwaveradio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections wasinitiated in 1996; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephonesinternational: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cableconnections with all neighboring countries; the international switchis in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small apertureterminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals
Radio broadcast stations:AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:7.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:4.42 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hu
Internet hosts:383,071 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:1.6 million (2002)
Transportation Hungary
Railways:total: 7,937 kmbroad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gaugestandard gauge: 7,682 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 188,203 kmpaved: 81,680 km (including 438 km of expressways)unpaved: 106,523 km (1999)
Waterways:1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)
Merchant marine: total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,568 GRT/10,025 DWT by type: cargo 2 registered in other countries: 8 (2004 est.)
Airports: 43 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 262,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 4under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)914 to 1,523 m: 11
Heliports:5 (2003 est.)
Military Hungary
Military branches:Ground Forces, Air Forces
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in June 2004 (June 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,519,052 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,011,750 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 64,426 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.08 billion (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.75% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Hungary
Disputes - international:Hungary amended the status law extending special social andcultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in neighboring states, whohad objected to the law; Slovakia and Hungary have reneweddiscussions on ways to resolve differences over theGabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam on the Danube, with possibleresort again to the ICJ for final resolution
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and forSouth American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producerof precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine andmethamphetamine; improving, but remains vulnerable to moneylaundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Iceland
Introduction Iceland
Background:Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrantsduring the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts theworld's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing,established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland wassubsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askjavolcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and causedwidespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of theisland's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limitedhome rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independenceattained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesionare first-rate by world standards.
Geography Iceland
Location:Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates:65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 103,000 sq kmwater: 2,750 sq kmland: 100,250 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,988 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windywinters; damp, cool summers
Terrain:mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coastdeeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources:fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:arable land: 0.07%permanent crops: 0%other: 99.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewatertreatment
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmostEuropean country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital inthe world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continentalEurope
People Iceland
Population:293,966 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22.5% (male 33,522; female 32,489)15-64 years: 65.8% (male 98,091; female 95,450)65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,552; female 18,862) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 33.8 yearsmale: 33.3 yearsfemale: 34.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.97% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:13.83 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 3.44 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.18 yearsmale: 78.18 yearsfemale: 82.27 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.93 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Icelander(s)adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups:homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%,population of foreign origin 6%
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran 87.1%, other Protestant 4.1%, Roman Catholic1.7%, other 7.1% (2002)
Languages:Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.9% (1997 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government Iceland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Icelandconventional short form: Icelandlocal short form: Islandlocal long form: Lydhveldidh Island
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra,Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Independence:1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown);17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944
Legal system:civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August1996)head of government: Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15September 2004); note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switchedpositions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSONcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved byParliamentelections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected bypopular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004(next to be held June 2008); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of thevote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%,Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party -Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, ProgressiveParty 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life bythe Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices areappointed for life by the Minister of Justice)