Geography Liechtenstein
Location:Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 160 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; coolto moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-VolatileOrganic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geography - note:along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countriesin the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People Liechtenstein
Population:33,436 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.8% (male 2,950; female 3,014)15-64 years: 70.5% (male 11,745; female 11,837)65 years and over: 11.6% (male 1,598; female 2,292) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 38.8 yearsmale: 38.3 yearsfemale: 39.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.86% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.65 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:4.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.77 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.4 yearsmale: 75.8 yearsfemale: 83.02 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.51 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: Liechtensteiner(s)adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Religions:Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%(June 2002)
Languages:German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100%
Government Liechtenstein
Country name:conventional long form: Principality of Liechtensteinconventional short form: Liechtensteinlocal short form: Liechtensteinlocal long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
Government type:hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic andparliamentary basis
Capital:Vaduz
Administrative divisions:11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:5 October 1921
Legal system:local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent PrinceALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968) note - on 15 August2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling princeto ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of stateelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usuallyappointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader ofthe largest minority party in the Diet is usually appointed thedeputy head of government by the monarchcabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarchhead of government: Head of Government Otmar HASLER (since 5 April2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April2001)
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected bydirect, popular vote under proportional representation to servefour-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 49.90%, VU 41.35%,FL 8.71%; seats by party - FBP 13, VU 11, FL 1elections: last held 11 February 2001 (next to be held by NA 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal orObergericht
Political parties and leaders:Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Heinz FROMMELT];Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List orFL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Elisabeth TELLENBACH-FRICK, Adolf RITTER]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460 FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the USAmbassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crownon the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtensteinhas developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector andliving standards on a par with its large European neighbors. TheLiechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number ofsmall businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-calledletter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in acustoms union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as itsnational currency. It imports more than 90% of its energyrequirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the EuropeanEconomic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between theEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.The government is working to harmonize its economic policies withthose of an integrated Europe.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $825 million (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: 40%services: NA (1999)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2001)
Labor force:29,000 of whom 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria,Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1.3%, industry 47.4%, services 51.3% (31 December 2001est.)
Unemployment rate:1.3% (September 2002)
Budget:revenues: $424.2 millionexpenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Exports:$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, partsfor motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners:EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%
Imports:$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:EU, Switzerland
Debt - external:$0 (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:none
Currency:Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:CHF
Exchange rates:Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876(2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:19,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:11,400 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic telephone systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cableand microwave radio relay
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions:12,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.li
Internet hosts:3,727 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2002)
Transportation Liechtenstein
Highways: total: 250 km paved: 250 km unpaved: 0 km
Waterways:28 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 20 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:none (2003 est.)
Military Liechtenstein
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:Liechtenstein's royal family claims restitution for 1,600 sq km ofland in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1918
Illicit drugs:has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money launderingremains a concern due to Liechtenstein sophisticated offshorefinancial services sector
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Lithuania
Introduction Lithuania
Background:Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed bythe USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first ofthe Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did notrecognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following theabortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration intoWestern European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in thespring of 2004.
Geography Lithuania
Location:Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 65,200 sq kmwater: NA sq kmland: NA sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,273 kmborder countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km,Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km
Coastline:99 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderatewinters and summers
Terrain:lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land
Land use: arable land: 45.22% permanent crops: 0.91% other: 53.87% (2001)
Irrigated land:90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that areancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population:3,607,899 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.7% (male 309,736; female 294,129)15-64 years: 68.4% (male 1,202,603; female 1,262,784)65 years and over: 14.9% (male 184,145; female 354,502) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 37.4 yearsmale: 34.8 yearsfemale: 40.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.33% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:8.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:11.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.13 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 8.61 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.46 yearsmale: 68.22 yearsfemale: 79 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.17 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Lithuanian(s)adjective: Lithuanian
Ethnic groups:Lithuanian 80.6%, Russian 8.7%, Polish 7%, Belarusian 1.6%, other2.1%
Religions:Roman Catholic (primarily), Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Protestant,Evangelical Christian Baptist, Muslim, Jewish
Languages:Lithuanian (official), Polish, Russian
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%male: 99.7%female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
Government Lithuania
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Lithuaniaconventional short form: Lithuanialocal short form: Lietuvaformer: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republiclocal long form: Lietuvos Respublika
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Vilnius
Administrative divisions:10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno,Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu,Utenos, Vilniaus
Independence:11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 isthe date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia andestablished its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared itsindependence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:adopted 25 October 1992
Legal system:based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to theconstitutional court
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3July 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on thenomination of the premierelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 13 June 2004 and 27 June 2004; premier appointedby the president on the approval of the Parliamentelection results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote- Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directlyelected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportionalrepresentation; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October2008)election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Workingfor Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, HomelandUnion (Conservatives) 14.6%, For Order and Justice (LiberalDemocrats and Lithuanian People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and CenterUnion 9.1%, Union of Farmers and New Democracy 6.6%; seats byfaction - Labor 39, Homeland Union 25, Social Democrats 20, Liberaland Center Union 18, Social Liberals 11, Union of Farmers and NewDemocracy Parties 10, Liberal Democrats 10, Electoral Action 2,independents 6
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges forall courts appointed by the President
Political parties and leaders:Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI,chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [AndriusKUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor Party [Viktor USPASKICH, chairman];Liberal and Center Union [Arturas ZUOKAS, chairman]; LiberalDemocratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS, chairman]; LithuanianChristian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman];Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania; Lithuanian SocialDemocratic Coalition [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of theLithuanian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP and the Lithuanian SocialDemocratic Party or LSDP; New Democracy and Farmer's Union or VNDPS[Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; Social Liberals (New Union)[Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Social Union of ChristianConservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman]; Young Lithuania andNew Nationalists
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,MIGA, NIB, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKAS consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860 chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. MULLembassy: 2600 Akmenu 6, Vilniusmailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE09723telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red
Economy Lithuania
Economy - overview:Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade withRussia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis.Unemployment remains high, still 10.7% in 2003, but is improving.Growing domestic consumption and increased investment have furtheredrecovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West.Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization andhas moved ahead with plans to join the EU. Privatization of thelarge, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, isnearing completion. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have beenprivatized. Foreign government and business support have helped inthe transition from the old command economy to a market economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $40.88 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.1% industry: 31.3% services: 62.6% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:34 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-1.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.642 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20%, industry 30%, services 50% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.3% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $5.427 billionexpenditures: $5.742 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:23.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs;fish
Industries:metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets,refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (smallships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers,agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components,computers, amber
Industrial production growth rate:16.1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:14.62 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:8.683 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:6.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:1.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-1.218 billion (2003)
Exports:$7.89 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery andequipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs5% (2001)
Exports - partners:Switzerland 11.6%, Russia 10.1%, Germany 9.9%, Latvia 9.7%, UK6.4%, France 5.1%, Denmark 4.7%, Estonia 4.3%, Sweden 4% (2003)
Imports:$9.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transportequipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5%(2001)
Imports - partners:Russia 22%, Germany 16.1%, Poland 5.2%, Italy 4.3%, France 4.2%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$3.45 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$7.671 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$228.5 million (1995)
Currency:litas (LTL)
Currency code:LTL
Exchange rates:litai per US dollar - 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002), 4 (2001), 4(2000), 4 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Lithuania
Telephones - main lines in use:824,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,169,900 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to providean improved international capability and better residential accessdomestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system isnearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded;mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internetis available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriberapplicationsinternational: country code - 370; landline connections to Latviaand Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, andNorway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:1.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:27note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but mayhave as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)
Televisions:1.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.lt
Internet hosts:67,769 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):32 (2001)
Internet users:695,700 (2003)
Transportation Lithuania
Railways:total: 1,998 kmbroad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (all service suspended) (2003)
Highways:total: 75,243 kmpaved: 68,697 km (including 417 km of expressways)unpaved: 6,546 km (2000)
Waterways:600 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Butinge, Kaunas, Klaipeda
Merchant marine:total: 49 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 296,856 GRT/317,731 DWTforeign-owned: Denmark 12, Netherlands 1registered in other countries: 11 (2004 est.)by type: cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 8, petroleumtanker 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 2,short-sea/passenger 4
Airports:102 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 74 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 67 (2003 est.)
Military Lithuania
Military branches:National Defense Volunteer Forces (SKAT), Ground Forces, Navy, AirForce
Military manpower - military age and obligation:19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscriptservice obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 943,063 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 738,602 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 28,300 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$230.8 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Lithuania
Disputes - international:in May 2003, the Russian Parliament ratified the 1997 land andmaritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, which ratified the treatyin 1999, legalizing limits of former Soviet republic borders; bothstates also implement a simplified transit regime for Russiannationals transiting Lithuania to and from the Russian Kaliningradcoastal enclave; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concernsover oil exploration rights
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs fromSouthwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europeand Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy;susceptible to money laundering despite changes to bankinglegislation
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Luxembourg
Introduction Luxembourg
Background:Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and anindependent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half ofits territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure ofautonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germanyin both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it enteredinto the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the followingyear. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countriesof the European Economic Community (later the European Union), andin 1999 it joined the euro currency area.
Geography Luxembourg
Location:Western Europe, between France and Germany
Geographic coordinates:49 45 N, 6 10 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 2,586 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 2,586 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries: total: 359 km border countries: Belgium 148 km, France 73 km, Germany 138 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:modified continental with mild winters, cool summers
Terrain:mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplandsto slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselleflood plain in the southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Moselle River 133 m highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m
Natural resources: iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land
Land use: arable land: 23.28% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 76.32% (includes Belgium) (2001)
Irrigated land:40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world
People Luxembourg
Population:462,690 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19% (male 45,422; female 42,638)15-64 years: 66.4% (male 155,519; female 151,891)65 years and over: 14.5% (male 26,981; female 40,239) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 38.3 yearsmale: 37.4 yearsfemale: 39.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.28% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:12.21 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.42 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:8.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.88 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.58 yearsmale: 75.31 yearsfemale: 82.07 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Luxembourger(s)adjective: Luxembourg
Ethnic groups:Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian,Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest andresident workers)
Religions:87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)
Languages:Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrativelanguage), French (administrative language)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (2000 est.)
Government Luxembourg
Country name:conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourgconventional short form: Luxembourglocal short form: Luxembourglocal long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Luxembourg
Administrative divisions:3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Independence:1839 (from the Netherlands)
National holiday:National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June
Constitution:17 October 1868, occasional revisions
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); HeirApparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister andappointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popularelections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majorityparty or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointedprime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister isappointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber ofDeputiesnote: government coalition - CSV and LSAP
Legislative branch:unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats;members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisorybody to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 membersappointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime ministerelection results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%,DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5
Judicial branch:judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 districtcourts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts andtribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts andtribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts areappointed for life by the monarch
Political parties and leaders:Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYOEN];Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as ChristianSocial Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP[Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg SocialistWorkers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed CommunistParty DEI LENK (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union);Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP(professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civilservice); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre desMetiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists);LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)
International organization participation:ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU,FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA,NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURDchancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008consulate(s) general: New York and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 328-8270telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr. embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail) telephone: [352] 46 01 23 FAX: [352] 46 14 01
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue andis shorter; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Luxembourg
Economy - overview:This stable, high-income economy features solid growth, lowinflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initiallydominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to includechemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financialsector, which now accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more thancompensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-ownedand have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on smallfamily-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and trans-borderworkers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg,like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump,the country has maintained a fairly strong growth rate and enjoys anextraordinarily high standard of living.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $25.01 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $55,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.5% industry: 16.6% services: 82.9% (2002 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.7% 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% (2003 est.)
Labor force:200,000 (of whom 87,400 are foreign cross-border workers primarilyfrom France, Belgium, and Germany) (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1.9%, industry 8%, services 90.1% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.6% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $11.82 billionexpenditures: $12.06 billion, including capital expenditures of $760million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestockproducts
Industries:banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metalproducts, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum
Industrial production growth rate:1.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:457 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.07 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:744 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:6.389 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:634 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:50,700 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:865 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:867 million cu m (2001 est.)
Exports:$8.571 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubberproducts, glass
Exports - partners:Germany 23.3%, France 19%, Belgium 10.4%, UK 9.1%, Italy 6.8%,Spain 4.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2003)
Imports:$11.61 billion c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods
Imports - partners:Belgium 29%, Germany 22.9%, France 11.4%, China 10.9%, Netherlands4.8% (2003)
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $147 million (2002)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Luxembourg
Telephones - main lines in use:355,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:473,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed, completely automated andefficient system, mainly buried cablesdomestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cableinternational: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:285,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1999)
Televisions:285,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:.lu
Internet hosts:28,214 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:165,000 (2002)
Transportation Luxembourg
Railways: total: 274 km standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 5,189 kmpaved: 5,189 km (including 114 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 155 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Mertert
Merchant marine:total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 652,454 GRT/805,101 DWTby type: chemical tanker 11, container 8, liquefied gas 4, passenger4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 7foreign-owned: Belgium 7, Denmark 1, Finland 3, France 3, Germany10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 5, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 7, UnitedStates 3registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2003 est.)
Military Luxembourg
Military branches:Army
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 115,721 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 95,107 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 2,601 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$231.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Luxembourg
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Macau
Introduction Macau
Background:Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was thefirst European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreementsigned by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became theMacau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced inMacau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in allmatters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.
Geography Macau
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 10 N, 113 33 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 25.4 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 25.4 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0.34 km regional border: China 0.34 km
Coastline:41 km
Maritime claims:not specified
Climate:subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers
Terrain:generally flat
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:typhoons
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the twoislands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland
People Macau
Population:445,286 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 41,460; female 38,595)15-64 years: 74.2% (male 157,629; female 172,810)65 years and over: 7.8% (male 14,380; female 20,412) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 35.2 yearsmale: 34.9 yearsfemale: 35.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.87% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:8.04 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 82.03 yearsmale: 79.2 yearsfemale: 84.99 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:0.93 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: Chineseadjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry),Portuguese, other
Religions:Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)
Languages:Portuguese, Chinese (Cantonese)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.5%male: 97.2%female: 92% (2003 est.)
Government Macau
Country name:conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Macaulocal short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); RegiaoAdministrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
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 - 20 December 1999 is celebratedas Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People'sCongress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on Portuguese civil law system
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residentsliving in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limitedto organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currentlyregistered) and a 300-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)elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member selectioncommittee for up to two five-year termselection results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004;received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absentcabinet: Executive Council consists of all one government secretary,four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionisthead of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20December 1999)