Exchange rates:Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596(2000), 0.6180 (1999); the Jersey pound is at par with the Britishpound
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Jersey
Telephones - main lines in use:73,900 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:61,400 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.je
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Jersey
Highways: total: 577 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Jersey
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Jersey
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Johnston Atoll
Introduction Johnston Atoll
Background:Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late1880s. Johnston and Sand Islands were designated wildlife refuges in1926. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently theUS Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used forhigh-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until latein 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site forchemical weapons. Munitions destruction is now complete. Cleanup andclosure of the facility is progressing, with completion anticipatedin 2004.
Geography Johnston Atoll
Location:Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1328 km)southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of the way fromHawaii to the Marshall Islands
Geographic coordinates:16 45 N, 169 31 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 2.8 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 2.8 sq km
Area - comparative:about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:34 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds withlittle seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly flat
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Summit Peak 5 m
Natural resources:guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890, terrestrial andaquatic wildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island andSand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coraldredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmadeislands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km incircumference; closed to the public; a former US nuclear weaponstest site; site of now-closed Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent DisposalSystem (JACADS); most facilities dismantled and cleanup complete in2004; some low-growing vegetation
People Johnston Atoll
Population:396 no indigenous inhabitantsnote: in previous years, there was an average of 1,100 US militaryand civilian contractor personnel present; as of September 2001,population had decreased significantly when US Army ChemicalActivity Pacific (USACAP) departed; as of January 2004 the islandpopulation was just above 200 personnel, including US Air Force, USFish and Wildlife Service, and civilian contractor personnel (July2004 est.)
Government Johnston Atoll
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Johnston Atoll
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Honolulu, HI,by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the Fish andWildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of theNational Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Johnston Atoll
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to providing services to US militarypersonnel and contractors located on the island. All food andmanufactured goods must be imported.
Communications Johnston Atoll
Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: 512 KB satellite link to Hawaii teleport; 20 (POTS) voice and data lines international: NA (2002)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 256 KB circuit to US Department of Defense-run Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) (2002)
Transportation Johnston Atoll
Ports and harbors:Johnston Island
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Johnston Atoll
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Johnston Atoll
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Jordan
Introduction Jordan
Background:For most of its history since independence from Britishadministration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99).A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressuresfrom the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states,Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite severalwars and coup attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentaryelections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed aformal peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest sonof King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following hisfather's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated hispower and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordanacceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began toparticipate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. After atwo-year delay, parliamentary and municipal elections took place inthe summer of 2003. The Prime Minister and government appointed inOctober 2004 declared their commitment to accelerated economic andpolitical reforms and the new cabinet includes an unprecedented fourwomen as ministers.
Geography Jordan
Location:Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 92,300 sq kmwater: 329 sq kmland: 91,971 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 1,635 kmborder countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km,Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:26 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great RiftValley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Dead Sea -408 mhighest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Natural resources:phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use: arable land: 2.67% permanent crops: 1.83% other: 95.5% (2001)
Irrigated land:750 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arabcountry that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupiedWest Bank
People Jordan
Population:5,611,202 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35.2% (male 1,009,604; female 967,645)15-64 years: 61.1% (male 1,829,984; female 1,598,141)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 100,896; female 104,932) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 22.2 yearsmale: 22.8 yearsfemale: 21.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.67% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:22.73 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:6.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 21.63 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.06 yearsmale: 75.59 yearsfemale: 80.69 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.86 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Jordanian(s)adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but someGreek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (severalsmall Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middleclasses
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.3%male: 95.9%female: 86.3% (2003 est.)
Government Jordan
Country name:conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordanconventional short form: Jordanlocal short form: Al Urdunlocal long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyahformer: Transjordan
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:'Amman
Administrative divisions:12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, AzZarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Britishadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution:8 January 1952
Legal system:based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review oflegislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); PrinceHUSSEIN (born 1994), son of King ABDALLAH, is first in line toinherit the thronehead of government: Prime Minister Faisal al-FAYEZ (since 25 October2003)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultationwith the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of theSenate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan) (55seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categoriesof public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives, also called the House of Deputies (Majlisal-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basisof proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - sixseats are reserved for women and are allocated by a specialelectoral panel if no women are elected)elections: House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003 (nextto be held NA 2007)note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolvedby the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the firstparliamentary elections in 22 years were held; political partieswere not legalized until 1992; King ABDALLAH delayed the 2001elections until 2003election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - independents and others 89.6%, Islamic Action Front 10.4%;seats by party - independents and others 92, Islamic Action Front18; note - one of the six quota seats was given to a female IAFcandidate
Judicial branch:Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)
Political parties and leaders:Al-Ahed Party [Khaldoun al-NASSER, secretary general]; Al-Ajyal[Muhammad KHALAYLEH, secretary general]; Ba'th Arab ProgressiveParty [Mahmood MA'AYTEH, secretary general]; Al-Umma (Nation) Party[Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr.Muhammad al-'ORAN, secretary general]; Communist Party [MunirHAMARINAH, secretary general]; Constitutional Front [Mahdi al-TALL,secretary general]; Democratic Arab Islamic Movement [Yusuf ABUBAKR, president]; Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH, secretarygeneral]; Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH, secretary]general; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab AliMUSTAFA, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive Party [Fawwazal-ZUBI, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic (Hashd)Party [Salim al-NAHHAS, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front[Hazma MANSOUR, secretary general]; Muslim Centrist Party [NAleader]; National Action (Haqq) Party [Muhammad al-ZUBI, secretarygeneral]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI,secretary general]; (Arab) Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI,secretary general]; Pan-Arab (Democratic) Movement [Mahmudal-NUWAYHI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vicechairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president];Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; MuslimBrotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB,OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWARchancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David M.HALEembassy: Abdoun, Ammanmailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box5, APO AE 09892-0200telephone: [962] (6) 592-0101FAX: [962] (6) 592-4102
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing theAbbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, andgreen, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangleon the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, andbearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the sevenverses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the sevenpoints on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, nationalspirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design isbased on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
Economy Jordan
Economy - overview:Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of waterand other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty, andunemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH, sinceassuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economicreforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. 'Amman inthe past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practicedcareful monetary policy, and made substantial headway withprivatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regimesufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTrO (2000), afree trade accord with the US (2000), and an association agreementwith the EU (2001). These measures have helped improve productivityand have put Jordan on the foreign investment map. The US-led war inIraq in 2003 dealt an economic blow to Jordan, which was dependenton Iraq for discounted oil (worth $300-$600 million a year). SeveralGulf nations have provided temporary aid to compensate for the lossof this oil; when this foreign aid expires, the Jordanian governmenthas pledged to raise retail petroleum product prices and the salestax base. Other ongoing challenges include fiscal adjustment toreduce the budget deficit, broader investment incentives to promotejob-creating ventures, and the encouragement of tourism.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $23.64 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 29% services: 67.4% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:30% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.4% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.36 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 5%, industry 12.5%, services 82.5% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:16% official rate; actual rate is 25%-30% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.397 billionexpenditures: $3.587 billion, including capital expenditures of $582million (2003 est.)
Public debt:92.7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats,poultry
Industries:phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement,potash, light manufacturing, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3.5% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:7.091 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.86 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:267 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:40 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:103,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:445,000 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:290 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:290 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.256 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$903 million (2003)
Exports:$2.908 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, phosphates, fertilizers, potash, vegetables,manufactures, pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:US 21.5%, Iraq 17.6%, Switzerland 6.5%, India 6.5%, Saudi Arabia5.3% (2003)
Imports:$4.946 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment,manufactured goods
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 11.3%, China 7.9%, Germany 7.9%, US 6.8%, Iraq 6.5%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$5.364 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$7.683 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $553 million (2000 est.)
Currency:Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Currency code:JOD
Exchange rates:Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2003), 0.709 (2002), 0.709(2001), 0.709 (2000), 0.709 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Jordan
Telephones - main lines in use:622,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,325,300 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: service has improved recently with increaseduse of digital switching equipment, but better access to thetelephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access topay telephones is needed by the urban publicdomestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial andfiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use ofmobile cellular systems; Internet service is availableinternational: country code - 962; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals;fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay linkwith Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cableFLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL;international links total about 4,000
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:1.66 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:500,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.jo
Internet hosts:3,160 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:457,000 (2003)
Transportation Jordan
Railways: total: 505 km narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 7,245 km paved: 7,245 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 10 km; oil 743 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Al 'Aqabah
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,814 GRT/92,695 DWTregistered in other countries: 11 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Greece 6by type: cargo 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 5,short-sea/passenger 1
Airports:17 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 1
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2003 est.)
Military Jordan
Military branches:Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) (Royal Jordanian Land Force, RoyalNaval Force, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special OperationsCommand or SOCOM); note - Public Security Directorate normally fallsunder Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisissituations
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are required to register (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,636,537 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,153,385 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 59,471 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2,043.2 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:20.2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Jordan
Disputes - international:border dispute settled with Syria in 2004
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 1,740,170 (Palestinian Refugees(UNRWA))IDPs: 800,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2004)
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@Juan de Nova Island
Introduction Juan de Nova Island
Background:Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer,the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has beenexploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small militarygarrison oversees a meteorological station.
Geography Juan de Nova Island
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-thirdof the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Geographic coordinates:17 03 S, 42 45 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 4.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 4.4 sq km
Area - comparative:about seven times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:24.1 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
Terrain:low and flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 10 m
Natural resources: guano deposits and other fertilizers
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (90% forest) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic cyclones
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:wildlife sanctuary
People Juan de Nova Island
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: there is a small French military garrison along with a fewmeteorologists; occasionally visited by scientists (July 2004 est.)
Government Juan de Nova Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Juan de Nova Islandlocal short form: Ile Juan de Novalocal long form: none
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of theRepublic, resident in Reunion
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (possession of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (possession of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Juan de Nova Island
Economy - overview:Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.
Communications Juan de Nova Island
Communications - note: 1 meteorological station
Transportation Juan de Nova Island
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Juan de Nova Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Juan de Nova Island
Disputes - international: claimed by Madagascar
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Kazakhstan
Introduction Kazakhstan
Background:Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes whomigrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united asa single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18thcentury and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizenswere encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures.This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some otherdeported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enablednon-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused manyof these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing acohesive national identity; expanding the development of thecountry's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets;achieving a sustainable economic growth outside the oil, gas, andmining sectors; and strengthening relations with neighboring statesand other foreign powers.
Geography Kazakhstan
Location:Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the UralRiver in eastern-most Europe
Geographic coordinates:48 00 N, 68 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 2,717,300 sq kmwater: 47,500 sq kmland: 2,669,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 12,012 kmborder countries: China 1,533 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,051 km, Russia 6,846km, Turkmenistan 379 km, Uzbekistan 2,203 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked); note - Kazakhstan borders the Aral Sea, nowsplit into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea(1,894 km)
Climate:continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
Terrain:extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plainsin western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 mhighest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural resources:major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore,manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead,zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Land use:arable land: 7.98%permanent crops: 0.05%other: 91.97% (2001)
Irrigated land:23,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty
Environment - current issues:radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defenseindustries and test ranges scattered throughout the country posehealth risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severein some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into theAral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up andleaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and naturalsalts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blowninto noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soilpollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination frompoor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territoryenclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan andRussia extended the lease to 2050
People Kazakhstan
Population:15,143,704 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.4% (male 1,884,369; female 1,807,585)15-64 years: 68% (male 5,028,455; female 5,268,726)65 years and over: 7.6% (male 404,940; female 749,629) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 28.3 yearsmale: 26.6 yearsfemale: 30 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.26% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:15.52 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.59 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 35.24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 66.07 yearsmale: 60.72 yearsfemale: 71.73 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.9 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Kazakhstani(s)adjective: Kazakhstani
Ethnic groups:Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%,German 2.4%, Uygur 1.4%, other 6.6% (1999 census)
Religions:Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Languages:Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used ineveryday business, designated the "language of interethniccommunication") 95% (2001 est.)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%male: 99.1%female: 97.7% (1999 est.)
Government Kazakhstan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstanconventional short form: Kazakhstanlocal long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasyformer: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republiclocal short form: none
Government type:republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little poweroutside the executive branch
Capital:Astana; note - the government moved from Almaty to Astana inDecember 1998
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qala,singular - qalasy); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy(Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, BatysQazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy*, Mangghystau Oblysy(Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy,Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, ShyghysQazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy(Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz)note: administrative divisions have the same names as theiradministrative centers (exceptions have the administrative centername following in parentheses); in 1995 the Governments ofKazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia wouldlease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing theBaykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr(Baykonur, formerly Leninsk)
Independence:16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 December (1991)
Constitution:adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995; firstpost-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of theSupreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December1991)head of government: Prime Minister Daniyal AKHMETOV (since 13 June2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Akhmetzhan YESIMOV (since 14 May2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 81.7%, SerikbolsynABDILDIN 12.1%, Gani KASYMOV 4.7%, Engels GABBASSOV 1.5%note: President NAZARBAYEV arranged a referendum in 1995 thatexpanded his presidential powers: only he can initiateconstitutional amendments, appoint and dismiss the government,dissolve Parliament, call referenda at his discretion, and appointadministrative heads of regions and citieselections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previouslyscheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note - President NAZARBAYEV'sprevious term was extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum held30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime ministerappointed by the president
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (39 seats; 7 senatorsare appointed by the president; other members are popularly elected,two from each of the 14 oblasts, the capital of Astana, and the cityof Almaty, to serve six-year terms; note - formerly composed of 47seats) and the Majilis (77 seats; 10 out of the 77 Majilis membersare elected from the winning party's lists; members are popularlyelected to serve five-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - NA; candidates nominated by local councils; Majilis -percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Otan 42, AIST 11,ASAR (All Together) 4, Ak Zhol (Bright Path) 1, Democratic Party 1,independent 18; note - most independent candidates are affiliatedwith parastatal enterprises and other pro-government institutionselections: Senate - (indirect) last held 17 September 1999 (next tobe held December 2005); Majilis - last held 19 September and 3October 2004 (next to be held September 2009)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Party [Romin MADINOV]; AIST (Agrarian Party-Civic PartyBloc); Ak Zhol Party "Bright Path" [Bulat ABILOV, Uraz ZHANDOSOV,Lyudmila ZHULANOVA, Alikhan BAYMENOV, Altynbek SARSENBAYEV,co-chairs]; ASAR "All Together" [Dariga NAZARBAYEVA, chairwoman];AUL "Village" [Gani KALIYEV]; Civic Party [Azat PERUASHEV, firstsecretary]; Communist Party or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN, firstsecretary]; Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [VladislavKOSAREV]; Democratic Choice Party of Kazakhstan [GaliymzhanZHAKIYANOV]; Democratic Party of Kazakhstan [Maksut NARIKBAEV]; Otan"Fatherland" [Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, chairman]; Patriots' Party [GaniKASYMOV]; Rukhaniyat [Altynshash JAGANOVA]note: twelve parties in Kazakhstan were registered for the electionsin the fall of 2004
Political pressure groups and leaders:Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [Ninel FOKINA];Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; KazakhstanInternational Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executivedirector]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA,chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors [DosKUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergei ZLOTNIKOV]
International organization participation:AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM(observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kanat B. SAUDABAYEVFAX: [1] (202) 232-5845consulate(s): New Yorktelephone: [1] (202) 232-5488chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John M. ORDWAYembassy: 99/97A Fumanova, Samal-2, Almaty, 480099mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [7] (3272) 50-48-02FAX: [7] (3272) 50-48-84
Flag description:sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sunwith 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; onthe hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold
Economy Kazakhstan
Economy - overview:Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics interritory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reservesas well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It alsois a large agricultural - livestock and grain - producer.Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction andprocessing of these natural resources and also on a growingmachine-building sector specializing in construction equipment,tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. Thebreakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand forKazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in ashort-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annualdecline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the governmentprogram of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting ina substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstanenjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - and a solid 9.5% in 2002 -thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to economicreform, good harvests, and foreign investment. The opening of theCaspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western Kazakhstan'sTengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised exportcapacity. The country has embarked upon an industrial policydesigned to diversify the economy away from overdependence on theoil sector, by developing light industry. Additionally, the policyaims to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreignpersonnel; the government has engaged in several disputes withforeign oil companies over the terms of production agreements, andtensions continue.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $105.5 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.7% industry: 37.7% services: 54.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:26% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 27.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:7.634 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 30%, services 50% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:8.8% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.729 billionexpenditures: $6.999 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:15.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock
Industries:oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper,titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel;tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors,construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:8.8% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:52.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:48.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:3.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.2 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:798,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:195,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.709 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:10.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:14.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:4.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:8.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:920.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-68.8 million (2003)
Exports:$12.72 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and oil products 58%, ferrous metals 24%, chemicals 5%,machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)
Exports - partners:Bermuda 17%, Russia 15.2%, Switzerland 13%, China 12.8%, Italy 7.8%(2003)
Imports:$8.621 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment 41%, metal products 28%, foodstuffs 8%(2001)
Imports - partners:Russia 39%, Germany 8.7%, China 6.2%, US 5.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$4.962 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$24.45 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$610 million in US assistance programs, 1992-2000 (2000)
Currency:tenge (KZT)
Currency code:KZT
Exchange rates:tenge per US dollar - 149.576 (2003), 153.279 (2002), 146.736(2001), 142.133 (2000), 119.523 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Kazakhstan
Telephones - main lines in use:2,081,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.027 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: service is poor; equipment antiquateddomestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; mobilecellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstaninternational: country code - 7; international traffic with otherformer Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwaveradio relay and with other countries by satellite and by theTrans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations- 2 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998)
Radios:6.47 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:12 (plus nine repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:3.88 million (1997)
Internet country code:.kz
Internet hosts:21,984 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (with their own international channels) (2001)
Internet users:250,000 (2002)
Transportation Kazakhstan
Railways: total: 13,601 km broad gauge: 13,601 km 1.520-m gauge (3,661 km electrified) (2003)
Highways: total: 81,331 km paved: 77,020 km unpaved: 4,311 km (2000)
Waterways:4,000 kmnote: on the Syr Darya (Syrdariya) and Ertis (Irtysh) rivers (2004)
Pipelines:condensate 18 km; gas 10,370 km; oil 10,158 km; refined products1,187 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk),Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,064 GRT/646 DWTby type: roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 26 Netherlands 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:392 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 64over 3,047 m: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 26914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 10 (2003 est.)1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 328under 914 m: 217 (2003 est.)over 3,047 m: 72,438 to 3,047 m: 11914 to 1,523 m: 711,524 to 2,437 m: 22
Heliports:1 (2003 est.)
Military Kazakhstan
Military branches:Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Force, RepublicanGuard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,233,623 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 3,381,606 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 169,004 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$221.8 million (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)
Transnational Issues Kazakhstan
Disputes - international:Kazakhstan and China have resolved their border dispute and areworking to demarcate their borders to control population migration,illegal activities, and trade; delimitation of boundary with Russiais almost complete - delimitations with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistanare complete with demarcations underway - delimitation withKyrgyzstan is largely complete; creation of a seabed boundary withTurkmenistan in the Caspian Sea is under discussion; equidistantseabed treaties have been signed with Azerbaijan and Russia in theCaspian Sea, but no resolution has been made on dividing the watercolumn among any of the littoral states
Illicit drugs:significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, aswell as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drugephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transitpoint for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest ofEurope
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Kenya
Introduction Kenya
Background:Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA ledKenya from independence until his death in 1978, when PresidentDaniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession.The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 whenthe ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the solelegal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressurefor political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fracturedopposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed ashaving generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. PresidentMOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peacefulelections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic,united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeatedKANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following acampaign centered on an anticorruption platform.
Geography Kenya
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia andTanzania
Geographic coordinates:1 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 582,650 sq kmwater: 13,400 sq kmland: 569,250 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Nevada
Land boundaries:total: 3,477 kmborder countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km,Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km
Coastline:536 km