Land use:arable land: 16.07%permanent crops: 10.16%other: 73.77% (2001)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hurricanes (especially July to November)
Environment - current issues: heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, themain sea lanes for the Panama Canal
People Jamaica
Population:2,713,130 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.2% (male 390,966; female 372,961)15-64 years: 65% (male 883,053; female 880,296)65 years and over: 6.9% (male 82,788; female 103,066) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 26.8 yearsmale: 26.2 yearsfemale: 27.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.66% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:16.94 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.4 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.92 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 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 13.82 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.07 yearsmale: 74.04 yearsfemale: 78.21 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.98 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:22,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:900 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Jamaican(s)adjective: Jamaican
Ethnic groups:black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed7.3%, other 0.1%
Religions:Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%,Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, UnitedChurch 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%),Roman Catholic 4%, other including some spiritual cults 34.7%
Languages:English, patois English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 87.9%male: 84.1%female: 91.6% (2003 est.)
Government Jamaica
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jamaica
Government type:constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:Kingston
Administrative divisions:14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland,Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, SaintJames, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmorelandnote: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew wereamalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known asthe Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation
Independence:6 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, first Monday in August (1962)
Constitution:6 August 1962
Legal system:based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1August 1991)head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since30 March 1992)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the primeminister; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the Houseof Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governorgeneral; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the primeminister
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member bodyappointed by the governor general on the recommendations of theprime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party isallocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated eight seats) andthe House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held in October2007)election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%;seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on theadvice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Edward SEAGA]; National DemocraticMovement or NDM [Hyacinth BENNETT]; People's National Party or PNP[Percival James PATTERSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (blackreligious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS,OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon SHIRLEYconsulate(s) general: Miami and New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 452-0081telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sue McCourt COBBembassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor,Kingston 5mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001
Flag description:diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green(top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)
Economy Jamaica
Economy - overview:The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which nowaccount for 70% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of itsforeign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. Theglobal economic slowdown, particularly after the terrorist attacksin the US on 11 September 2001, stunted economic growth; the economyrebounded moderately in 2003, with one of the best tourist seasonson record. But the economy faces serious long-term problems: highinterest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured,sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a sizable merchandise tradedeficit; large-scale unemployment; and a growing internal debt, theresult of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy. Theratio of debt to GDP is close to 150%. Inflation, previously abright spot, is expected to remain in the double digits. Depressedeconomic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, includinggang violence fueled by the drug trade. In 2004, the governmentfaces the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal disciplinein order to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking aserious and growing crime problem that is hampering economic growth.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $10.61 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.7% industry: 37.2% services: 56.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):31.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:19.7% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.9 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):10.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.13 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 21%, industry 19%, services 60% (1998)
Unemployment rate:15.9% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.596 billionexpenditures: $3.111 billion, including capital expenditures of $236million (2003 est.)
Public debt:145.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, vegetables, poultry,goats, milk, crustaceans, and mollusks
Industries:tourism, bauxite/alumina, textiles, agro processing, wearingapparel, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemicalproducts, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:-2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:6.272 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.833 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-842 million (2003)
Exports:$1.355 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages,chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:US 29.6%, UK 11%, Canada 10.8%, France 7.9%, Norway 6.8%, Germany6.2%, China 6%, Netherlands 4.4% (2003)
Imports:$3.265 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts andaccessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment,construction materials
Imports - partners:US 39.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 9.7%, Germany 5.6%, Venezuela 4.5%,France 4.5%, Japan 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$1.195 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$4.962 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$16 million (2003)
Currency:Jamaican dollar (JMD)
Currency code:JMD
Exchange rates:Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 57.7409 (2003), 48.4159 (2002),45.9962 (2001), 42.7011 (2000), 39.0435 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Jamaica
Telephones - main lines in use:444,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.4 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone networkdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 1-876; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:1.215 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (1997)
Televisions:460,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.jm
Internet hosts:1,480 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):21 (2000)
Internet users:600,000 (2002)
Transportation Jamaica
Railways:total: 272 kmstandard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gaugenote: 207 of these km belonging to the Jamaica Railway Corporationhad been in common carrier service until 1992 but are no longeroperational; 57 km of the remaining track is privately owned andused by ALCAN to transport bauxite (2003)
Highways:total: 18,700 kmpaved: 13,109 kmunpaved: 5,591 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Alligator Pond, Discovery Bay, Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios,Port Antonio, Rocky Point, Port Esquivel (Longswharf)
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 74,881 GRT/100,682 DWTforeign-owned: Greece 2, Iceland 1, Latvia 1, United States 2 (2004est.)by type: bulk 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2,short-sea/passenger 1
Airports:35 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)
Military Jamaica
Military branches:Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 764,266 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 533,768 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 27,126 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$31 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (2003)
Transnational Issues Jamaica
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for cocaine from South America to NorthAmerica and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government hasan active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a majorconcern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcoticstraffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Jan Mayen
Introduction Jan Mayen
Background:This desolate, mountainous island was named after a Dutch whalingcaptain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims areinconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters andtrappers over the following centuries, the island came underNorwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Haakon VIIToppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is thenorthernmost active volcano on earth.
Geography Jan Mayen
Location:Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the NorwegianSea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates:71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 373 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 373 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:124.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 4 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanicactivity resumed in 1970
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
People Jan Mayen
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base andthe weather and coastal services radio station (July 2004 est.)
Government Jan Mayen
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Dependency status:territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslothrough the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however,authority has been delegated to a station commander of the NorwegianDefense Communication Service
Legal system:the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of Norway is used
Economy Jan Mayen
Economy - overview:Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable naturalresources. Economic activity is limited to providing services foremployees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on theisland.
Communications Jan Mayen
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)
Transportation Jan Mayen
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Jan Mayen
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Jan Mayen
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Japan
Introduction Japan
Background:In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in along period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secureits power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoystability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following theTreaty of Kanagawa with the United States in 1854, Japan opened itsports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. Duringthe late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regionalpower that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia.It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island.In 1933 Japan occupied Manchuria and in 1937 it launched afull-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 -triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupiedmuch of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II,Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally ofthe US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of nationalunity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians,bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced amajor slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades ofunprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economicpower, both in Asia and globally. In 2005, Japan began a two-yearterm as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Geography Japan
Location:Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and theSea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 377,835 sq kmnote: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), andVolcano Islands (Kazan-retto)water: 3,091 sq kmland: 374,744 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:29,751 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the internationalstraits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern andWestern Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Straitcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use: arable land: 12.19% permanent crops: 0.96% other: 86.85% (2001)
Irrigated land:26,790 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismicoccurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
Environment - current issues:air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality andthreatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers offish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of theseresources in Asia and elsewhere
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:strategic location in northeast Asia
People Japan
Population:127,333,002 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.3% (male 9,337,867; female 8,876,996)15-64 years: 66.7% (male 42,697,264; female 42,196,835)65 years and over: 19% (male 10,169,190; female 14,054,850) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 42.3 years male: 40.5 years female: 44.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.08% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:9.56 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.75 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.28 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 81.04 yearsmale: 77.74 yearsfemale: 84.51 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.38 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:12,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Japanese (singular and plural)adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups:Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japanin the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil(2004)
Religions:observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (includingChristian 0.7%)
Languages:Japanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2002)
Government Japan
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan
Government type:constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Capital:Tokyo
Administrative divisions:47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki,Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto,Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita,Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka,Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata,Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence:660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu)
National holiday:Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:3 May 1947
Legal system:modeled after European civil law system with English-Americaninfluence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)elections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requiresthat prime minister commands parliamentary majority; followinglegislative elections, leader of majority party or leader ofmajority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes primeminister; monarch is hereditarycabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI (since 26 April2001)
Legislative branch:bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors orSangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; halfreelected every three years; 144 members in multi-seatconstituencies and 98 by proportional representation); House ofRepresentatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected forfour-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members byproportional representation in 11 regional blocs)election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - LDP 115, DPJ 82, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5,others 7; distribution of seats as of October 2004 - LDP 114, DPJ84, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5, others 6: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP 49.38%,DPJ 36.88%, Komeito 7.09%, JCP 1.88%, SDP 1.25%, NCP .84%; seats byparty - LDP 237, DPJ 177, Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, NCP 4, others13; distribution of seats as of December 2004: LDP 249, DPJ 177,Komeito 34, JCP 9, SDP 6, others 3, vacant 2note: Liberal Party merged with Democratic Party of Japan inSeptember 2003; Conservative New Party merged with LiberalDemocratic Party following election in November 2003 (2004)elections: House of Councillors - last held 11 July 2004 (next to beheld in July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 9 November2003 (next election by November 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch afterdesignation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by thecabinet)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Katsuya OKADA, leader; TatsuoKAWABATA, secretary general]; Japan Communist Party or JCP [KazuoSHII, chairman; Tadayoshi ICHIDA, secretary general]; Komeito[Takenori KANZAKI, president; Tetsuzo FUYUSHIBA, secretary general];Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Junichiro KOIZUMI, president;Tsutomu TAKEBE, secretary general]; Social Democratic Party or SDP[Mizuho FUKUSHIMA, chairperson; Seiji MATAICHI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8,G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA,NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner),Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ryozo KATOFAX: [1] (202) 328-2187consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver,Detroit, Hagatna (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattlechancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. BAKER, Jr. embassy: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004 telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description:white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) inthe center
Economy Japan
Economy - overview:Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery ofhigh technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% ofGDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank ofsecond most technologically-powerful economy in the world after theUS and third-largest economy after the US and China. One notablecharacteristic of the economy is the working together ofmanufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groupscalled keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee oflifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban laborforce. Both features are now eroding. Industry, the most importantsector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported rawmaterials and fuels. The much smaller agricultural sector is highlysubsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in theworld. Usually self-sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50%of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintainsone of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economicgrowth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5%average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowedmarkedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of theafter effects of overinvestment during the late 1980s andcontractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculativeexcesses from the stock and real estate markets. Government effortsto revive economic growth have met with little success and werefurther hampered in 2000-2003 by the slowing of the US, European,and Asian economies. Japan's huge government debt, which totals morethan 150% of GDP, and the ageing of the population are two majorlong-run problems. Robotics constitutes a key long-term economicstrength with Japan possessing 410,000 of the world's 720,000"working robots." Internal conflict over the proper way to reformthe ailing banking system continues.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.582 trillion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,200 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.3% industry: 25.4% services: 73.3% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.8% highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:24.9 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:66.66 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 5%, industry 25%, services 70% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.3% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $1.327 trillionexpenditures: $1.646 trillion, including capital expenditures(public works only) of about $71 billion (2003 est.)
Public debt:154.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, pork, poultry, dairyproducts, eggs, fish
Industries:among world's largest and technologically advanced producers ofmotor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel andnonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate:3.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:1.037 trillion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:964.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:17,330 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5.29 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:93,360 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:5.449 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:29.29 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:2.519 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:80.42 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:77.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:20.02 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$135.9 billion (2003)
Exports:$447.1 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:motor vehicles, semiconductors, office machinery, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 24.8%, China 12.1%, South Korea 7.3%, Taiwan 6.6%, Hong Kong6.3% (2003)
Imports:$346.6 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles,raw materials (2001)
Imports - partners:China 19.7%, US 15.6%, South Korea 4.7%, Indonesia 4.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$664.6 billion (2003)
Debt - external:NA (2002 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $7 billion (FY03/04)
Currency:yen (JPY)
Currency code:JPY
Exchange rates:yen per US dollar - 115.933 (2003), 125.388 (2002), 121.529 (2001),107.765 (2000), 113.907 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Japan
Telephones - main lines in use:71.149 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:86,658,600 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service ofevery kindinternational: country code - 81; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Oceanregions); submarine cables to China, Philippines, Russia, and US(via Guam) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave 21(2001)
Radios:120.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 211 plus 7,341 repeaters note: in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)
Televisions:86.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.jp
Internet hosts:12,962,065 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):73 (2000)
Internet users:57.2 million (2002)
Transportation Japan
Railways:total: 23,705 km (16,519 km electrified)standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified)narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,393 km1.067-m gauge (13,227 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 kmelectrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 1,161,894 kmpaved: 534,471 km (including 6,455 km of expressways)unpaved: 627,423 km (1999)
Waterways:1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 2,719 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Akita, Amagasaki, Chiba, Hachinohe, Hakodate, Higashi-Harima,Himeji, Hiroshima, Kawasaki, Kinuura, Kobe, Kushiro, Mizushima,Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Sakai, Sakaide, Shimizu, Tokyo, Tomakomai
Merchant marine:total: 568 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,149,196 GRT/12,680,544 DWTby type: bulk 113, cargo 39, chemical tanker 18, combination bulk31, combination ore/oil 1, container 14, liquefied gas 53, passenger8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 170, refrigerated cargo 6,roll on/roll off 58, short-sea/passenger 7, vehicle carrier 49registered in other countries: 1,989 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: China 1, Panama 1, Philippines 1, Singapore 1
Airports:174 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 143 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 37 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 over 3047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 15 (2003 est.)
Military Japan
Military branches:Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Maritime Self-Defense Force(Navy), Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force), Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 29,179,095 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 25,189,438 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 700,931 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$42,488.1 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2003)
Transnational Issues Japan
Disputes - international:The sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, andShikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "NorthernTerritories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands", occupiedby the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimedby Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peacetreaty formally ending World War II hostilities; intensified mediacoverage and protests highlight dispute over the fishing-richLiancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima) also claimed by South Korea;China and Taiwan have intensified their claims to the SenkakuIslands (Diaoyu Tai) administered by Japan
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Jarvis Island
Introduction Jarvis Island
Background:First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island wasannexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guanohad been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but nevercarried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied andreclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, theisland is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by theUS Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near themiddle of the west coast.
Geography Jarvis Island
Location:Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way betweenHawaii and the Cook Islands
Geographic coordinates:0 22 S, 160 03 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 4.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 4.5 sq km
Area - comparative:about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:8 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 7 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 poses a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs;primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds,shorebirds, and marine wildlife
People Jarvis Island
Population:uninhabitednote: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionallyused as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it wasabandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International GeophysicalYear by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-usepermit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generallyrestricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fishand Wildlife Service (July 2004 est.)
Government Jarvis Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jarvis 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 Jarvis Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Jarvis Island
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boatlanding area in the middle of the west coast and another near thesouthwest corner of the island
Transportation - note:there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast
Military Jarvis Island
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the USCoast Guard
Transnational Issues Jarvis Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Jersey
Introduction Jersey
Background:The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent thelast remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway inboth France and England. These islands were the only British soiloccupied by German troops in World War II.
Geography Jersey
Location:Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 116 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 116 sq km
Area - comparative:about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:70 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% ofpopulation concentrated in Saint Helier
People Jersey
Population:90,502 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.7% (male 8,268; female 7,716)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 30,237; female 30,490)65 years and over: 15.2% (male 6,016; female 7,775) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 40.3 yearsmale: 39.6 yearsfemale: 41.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.36% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.04 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:2.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.33 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.09 yearsmale: 76.63 yearsfemale: 81.74 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.57 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: Channel Islander(s)adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:UK and Norman-French descent
Religions:Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:English (official), French (official), Norman-French dialect spokenin country districts
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Jersey
Country name:conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jerseyconventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:British crown dependency
Government type:NA
Capital:Saint Helier
Administrative divisions:none (British crown dependency)
Independence:none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:English law and local statute; justice is administered by the RoyalCourt
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor andbailiff appointed by the monarchhead of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief AirChief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and BailiffPhilip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995)cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators(elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes(elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms);the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - theDean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General allappointed by the monarch)elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 52
Judicial branch:Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of theflag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a redshield with the three lions of England in yellow
Economy Jersey
Economy - overview:The economy is based largely on international financial services,agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, andespecially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to theUK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide andrepresents an important export income earner. Milk products go tothe UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accountedfor about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay ofthe economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, thegovernment has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, withthe result that an electronics industry has developed alongside thetraditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energyrequirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's foodneeds. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular taxhaven.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $24,800 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5%industry: 2%services: 93% (1996)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.7% (1998)
Labor force:57,050 (1996)
Unemployment rate:0.7% (1998 est.)
Budget:revenues: $601 millionexpenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98million (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:UK
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:UK
Debt - external:none
Economic aid - recipient:none
Currency:British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound
Currency code:GBP