Net migration rate:10.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 21.91 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 28.72 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.9 yearsmale: 73.99 yearsfemale: 79.91 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 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: Anguillan(s) adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups:black (predominant), mulatto, white
Religions:Anglican 40%, Methodist 33%, Seventh-Day Adventist 7%, Baptist 5%,Roman Catholic 3%, other 12%
Languages:English (official)
Literacy:definition: age 12 and over can read and writetotal population: 95%male: 95%female: 95% (1984 est.)
Government Anguilla
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:NA
Capital:The Valley
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Anguilla Day, 30 May
Constitution:Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);represented by Governor Alan Eden HUCKLE (since 28 May 2004)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyappointed chief minister by the governorhead of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March2000)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among theelected members of the House of Assembly
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by directpopular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members servefive-year terms)elections: last held 3 March 2000 (next to be held NA June 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -ANA 3, AUM 2, ADP 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The United Frontor UF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], a coalition of the AnguillaDemocratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA;Anguilla Patriotic Movement or APM [Quincy GUMBS]; Movement forGrassroots Democracy or MFGD [Joyce KENTISH, John BENJAMIN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate),UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag;the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlockingcircular design on a white background with blue wavy water below
Economy Anguilla
Economy - overview:Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavilyon luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, andremittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourismindustry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector,has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have putsubstantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector,which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for theeconomy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, onrevived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as onfavorable weather conditions.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $104 million (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,600 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 4%industry: 18%services: 78% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3%
Labor force:6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.7% (2001)
Budget:revenues: $22.8 millionexpenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries:tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:3.1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:NA
Electricity - consumption:42.6 million kWh
Exports:$2.6 million (1999)
Exports - commodities:lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Exports - partners:UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2000)
Imports:$80.9 million (1999)
Imports - commodities:fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Imports - partners:US, Puerto Rico, UK (2000)
Debt - external:$8.8 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient:$3.5 million (1995)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.70 (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Anguilla
Telephones - main lines in use:6,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: modern internal telephone systeminternational: country code - 1-264; microwave radio relay to islandof Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:3,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ai
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:3,000 (2002)
Transportation Anguilla
Highways: total: 105 km paved: 65 km unpaved: 40 km (1997)
Ports and harbors:Blowing Point, Road Bay
Merchant marine:none
Airports:3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Anguilla
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Anguilla
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for theUS and Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Antarctica
Introduction Antarctica
Background:Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was notconfirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercialoperators and British and Russian national expeditions beganexploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south ofthe Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established thatAntarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20thcentury. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientificresearch on the continent. A number of countries have set upyear-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have madeterritorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. Inorder to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on thecontinent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither deniesnor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in1959, it entered into force in 1961.
Geography Antarctica
Location:continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Geographic coordinates:90 00 S, 0 00 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 14 million sq kmnote: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, NorthAmerica, and South America, but larger than Australia and thesubcontinent of Europeland: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq kmice-covered) (est.)
Area - comparative:slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Land boundaries: 0 km note: see entry on Disputes - international
Coastline:17,968 km
Maritime claims:Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from theircontinental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones arenot accepted by other countries; 20 of 27 Antarctic consultativenations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russiaand the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognizethe claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes -international entry
Climate:severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distancefrom the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarcticabecause of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the mostmoderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along thecoast and average slightly below freezing
Terrain:about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, withaverage elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain rangesup to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts ofsouthern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area,and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelvesalong about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelvesconstitute 11% of the area of the continent
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 mhighest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 mnote: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in theBentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yetdiscovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater
Natural resources:iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and otherminerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in smalluncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish,and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the highinterior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau;cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along thecoast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of WestAntarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs maycalve from ice shelf
Environment - current issues:in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone holewas the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers;researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light comingthrough the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fishlacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harmone-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas ofice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming
Geography - note:the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent;during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the SouthPole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostlyuninhabitable
People Antarctica
Population:no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent andsummer-only staffed research stationsnote: 26 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operateseasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continentand in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing andsupporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the AntarcticTreaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 inwinter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship'screw and scientists doing onboard research are present in the watersof the treaty region; summer (January) population - 3,687 total;Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16,Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60,Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43,Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998-99); winter (July) population -964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10,Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99);research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (southof 60 degrees south) by members of the Council of Managers ofNational Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 37total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, France1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1,Russia 6, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1 (2004);summer-only stations - 36 total; Argentina 8, Australia 2, Bulgaria1, Chile 5, Ecuador 1, Finland 1, Germany 1, India 1, Italy 1, Japan3, Norway 2, Peru 1, Russia 2, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 2, UK1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2003-2004); in addition, during theaustral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such astent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traversesin support of research
Government Antarctica
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antarctica
Government type: Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 26th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Madrid, Spain in June 2003; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2003, there were 45 treaty member nations: 27 consultative and 18 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 20 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983), Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Uruguay (1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), Ukraine (1992), and Venezuela (1999); Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, and 5) area protection and management; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research
Legal system:Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultativemember nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out bythese member nations (with respect to their own nationals andoperations) in accordance with their own national laws; US law,including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, suchas murder, may apply extra-territorially; some US laws directlyapply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penaltiesfor the following activities, unless authorized by regulation ofstatute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction ofnonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protectedareas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importationinto the US of certain items from Antarctica; violation of theAntarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 infines and one year in prison; the National Science Foundation andDepartment of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, inadvance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805, Department of State,Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations asrequired by the Antarctic Treaty; for more information, contactPermit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National ScienceFoundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8030, orvisit their website at www.nsf.gov
Economy Antarctica
Economy - overview:Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account forthe limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 2000-01 (1July-30 June) reported landing 112,934 metric tons. Unregulatedfishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish, is a serious problem.The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine LivingResources determines the recommended catch limits for marinespecies. A total of 13,571 tourists visited in the 2002-03 antarcticsummer, up from the 11,588 who visited the previous year. Nearly allof them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships andseveral yachts that make trips during the summer. Most tourist tripslast approximately two weeks.
Communications Antarctica
Telephones - main lines in use:0note: information for US bases only (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: local systems at some research stationsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 672; via satellite (mobile Inmarsatand Iridium system) from some research stations
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1note: information for US bases only (2002)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces AntarcticNetwork-McMurdo)note: information for US bases only (2002)
Televisions:several hundred at McMurdo Station (US)note: information for US bases only (2001)
Internet country code:.aq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Transportation Antarctica
Ports and harbors:there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; mostcoastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies aretransferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, andhelicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastalstations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under"Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection inaccordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage issparse and intermittent
Airports:there are no developed public access airports or landingfacilities; 30 stations, operated by 16 national governments partyto the Antarctic Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilitiesfor either helicopters and/or fixed-wing aircraft; commercialenterprises operate two additional aircraft landing facilities;helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitablefor landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, 1 is greaterthan 3 km in length, 6 are between 2 km and 3 km in length, 3 arebetween 1 km and 2 km in length, 3 are less than 1 km in length, and2 are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use byski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15locations; of these, 4 are greater than 3 km in length, 3 arebetween 2 km and 3 km in length, 2 are between 1 km and 2 km inlength, 2 are less than 1 km in length, and 4 are of unknown length;aircraft landing facilities generally subject to severe restrictionsand limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographicconditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO standards;advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmentaloperating organization required for landing; landed aircraft aresubject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty(2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
Heliports:27 stations have restricted helicopter landing facilities(helipads) (2003 est.)
Military Antarctica
Military - note:the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature,such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, thecarrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type ofweapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment forscientific research or for any other peaceful purposes
Transnational Issues Antarctica
Disputes - international:Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary inGovernment type entry); sections (some overlapping) claimed byArgentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK; the US andmost other states do not recognize the territorial claims of otherstates and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reservethe right to do so); no claims have been made in the sector between90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; several states with landclaims in Antarctica have expressed their intention to submit datato the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf toextend their continental shelf claims to adjoining undersea ridges
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Antigua and Barbuda
Introduction Antigua and Barbuda
Background:The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua andBarbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib Indians populated theislands when Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Earlysettlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the Englishwho formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugarplantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became anindependent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.
Geography Antigua and Barbuda
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:17 03 N, 61 48 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 443 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)water: 0 sq kmnote: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq kmland: 443 sq km
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:153 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:tropical; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some highervolcanic areas
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Boggy Peak 402 m
Natural resources:NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism
Land use:arable land: 18.18%permanent crops: 4.55%other: 77.27% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harborsand beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor
People Antigua and Barbuda
Population:68,320 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.1% (male 9,761; female 9,429)15-64 years: 67.6% (male 23,179; female 23,023)65 years and over: 4.3% (male 1,151; female 1,777) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 29.4 yearsmale: 28.9 yearsfemale: 29.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.6% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:17.7 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-6.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 20.18 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 24.29 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.6 yearsmale: 69.26 yearsfemale: 74.07 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.27 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: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s) adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan
Ethnic groups:black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian
Religions:Christian, (predominantly Anglican with other Protestant, and someRoman Catholic)
Languages:English (official), local dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years ofschoolingtotal population: 89%male: 90%female: 88% (1960 est.)
Government Antigua and Barbuda
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda
Government type:constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament
Capital:Saint John's (Antigua)
Administrative divisions:6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George,Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip
Independence:1 November 1981 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)
Constitution:1 November 1981
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General James B. CARLISLE (since 10 June1993)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosenby the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; followinglegislative elections, the leader of the majority party or theleader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime ministerby the governor generalcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general onthe advice of the prime ministerhead of government: Prime Minister Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March2004)
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member bodyappointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives(17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation toserve five-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -ALP 4, UPP 12, contested 1; note - new election will decide thecontested seatelections: House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (nextto be held NA 2009)
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge ofthe Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over theCourt of Summary Jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders:Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People'sMovement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; United Progressive Party or UPP[Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three opposition parties - UnitedNational Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean LiberationMovement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor Movement or PLM)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People'sDemocratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber),ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel A. HURST chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122 FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados, Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER, is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda
Flag description:red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge ofthe flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black(top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the blackband
Economy Antigua and Barbuda
Economy - overview:Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more thanhalf of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000 haveslowed the economy, however, and pressed the government into a tightfiscal corner. The dual-island nation's agricultural production isfocused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited watersupply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wagesin tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-typeassembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts,and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in themedium term will continue to depend on income growth in theindustrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts forslightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $750 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3.9%industry: 19.2%services: 76.8% (2002)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.4% (2000 est.)
Labor force:30,000
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 7%, industry 11%, services 82% (1983)
Unemployment rate:11% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: $123.7 millionexpenditures: $145.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes,sugarcane; livestock
Industries:tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol,household appliances)
Industrial production growth rate:6% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:105.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:97.89 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$689 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transportequipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%
Exports - partners:Germany 84.9%, UK 3.8%, US 3.3% (2003)
Imports:$692 million (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment,manufactures, chemicals, oil
Imports - partners:US 26.5%, Singapore 10%, Poland 7%, Germany 6.1%, UK 6.1%, Trinidadand Tobago 4.4% (2003)
Debt - external:$231 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:$2.3 million (1995)
Currency:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7(2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998) (fixed rate since 1976)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Antigua and Barbuda
Telephones - main lines in use:38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:38,200 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: good automatic telephone systeminternational: country code - 1-268; 1 coaxial submarine cable;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); troposphericscatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:31,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ag
Internet hosts:1,665 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
Transportation Antigua and Barbuda
Highways:total: 250 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Saint John's
Merchant marine:total: 867 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,873,626 GRT/7,683,143 DWTby type: bulk 25, cargo 477, chemical tanker 13, container 284,liquefied gas 10, multi-functional large load carrier 15,refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 32, vehicle carrier 1registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 2, Belgium 3,Colombia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 3, France 1, Germany 818,Greece 2, Iceland 5, Latvia 1, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 2, Malaysia 1,Netherlands 19, New Zealand 1, Norway 2, Portugal 1, Slovenia 5,Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Turkey 3, United States 10
Airports:3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Antigua and Barbuda
Military branches:Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (including Coast Guard)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Antigua and Barbuda
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for theUS and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Arctic Ocean
Introduction Arctic Ocean
Background:The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans (afterthe Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the recentlydelimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) andNorthern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonalwaterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routescircumscribes the Arctic Ocean.
Geography Arctic Ocean
Location:body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly northof the Arctic Circle
Geographic coordinates:90 00 N, 0 00 E
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 14.056 million sq kmnote: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea,East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, KaraSea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Coastline:45,389 km
Climate:polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relativelynarrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized bycontinuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clearskies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggyweather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow
Terrain:central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack thataverages about 3 meters in thickness, although pressure ridges maybe three times that size; clockwise drift pattern in the BeaufortGyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the NewSiberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland andIceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer,but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to theencircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continentalshelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a centralbasin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera,Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 mhighest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules,oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)
Natural hazards:ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island;icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extremenortheastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice lockedfrom October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing fromOctober to May
Environment - current issues:endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragileecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions ordamage; thinning polar icepack
Geography - note:major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access tothe Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location betweenNorth America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremesof eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operatedby the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10months
Economy Arctic Ocean
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of naturalresources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.
Transportation Arctic Ocean
Ports and harbors:Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)
Transportation - note:sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the NorthwestPassage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) areimportant seasonal waterways
Transnational Issues Arctic Ocean
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Argentina
Introduction Argentina
Background:Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experiencedperiods of internal political conflict between conservatives andliberals and between civilian and military factions. After World WarII, a long period of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference insubsequent governments was followed by a military junta that tookpower in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and numerous electionssince then have underscored Argentina's progress in democraticconsolidation.
Geography Argentina
Location:Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, betweenChile and Uruguay
Geographic coordinates:34 00 S, 64 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 2,766,890 sq kmland: 2,736,690 sq kmwater: 30,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 9,665 kmborder countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km,Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km
Coastline:4,989 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Terrain:rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateauof Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto SanJulian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of SantaCruz)highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwesterncorner of the province of Mendoza)
Natural resources:fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore,manganese, petroleum, uranium
Land use: arable land: 12.31% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 87.21% (2001)
Irrigated land:15,610 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject toearthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike thepampas and northeast; heavy flooding
Environment - current issues: environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets
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,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategiclocation relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and theSouth Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, DrakePassage); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain, whileLaguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere
People Argentina
Population:39,144,753 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.9% (male 5,179,236; female 4,947,234)15-64 years: 63.6% (male 12,452,566; female 12,457,451)65 years and over: 10.5% (male 1,685,371; female 2,422,895) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 29.2 years male: 28.3 years female: 30.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.02% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:17.19 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.57 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0.61 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: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 17.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.7 yearsmale: 71.95 yearsfemale: 79.65 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.24 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:130,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,500 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Argentine(s)adjective: Argentine
Ethnic groups:white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo, Amerindian, orother nonwhite groups 3%
Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%
Languages:Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.1%male: 97.1%female: 97.1% (2003 est.)
Government Argentina
Country name:conventional long form: Argentine Republicconventional short form: Argentinalocal short form: Argentinalocal long form: Republica Argentina
Government type:republic
Capital:Buenos Aires
Administrative divisions:23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 autonomouscity* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires CapitalFederal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios,Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, RioNegro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago delEstero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur,Tucumannote: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica
Independence:9 July 1816 (from Spain)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)
Constitution:1 May 1853; revised August 1994
Legal system:mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); VicePresident Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003);Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelection results: results of the presidential primary of 27 April2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo LopezMURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 wasawarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy onthe eve of the electionelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; the last election held was thepresidential primary election of 27 April 2003 (next election to beheld NA 2007)
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of theSenate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presentlyone-third of the members elected every two years to a six-year term)and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected bydirect vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to afour-year term)election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA;seats by bloc or party - PJ 41, UCR 16, provincial parties 15;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA; seatsby bloc or party - PJ 133, UCR 46, IF 23, ARI 11, Socialist 6,other/provincial parties 38elections: Senate - last held intermittently by province during the2nd half of 2003 (next to be held NA 2005); Chamber of Deputies -last held intermittently by province during the 2nd half of 2003(next to be held NA 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges areappointed by the president with approval by the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alternative for aRepublic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Front for a Country inSolidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Dario PedroALESSANDRO]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition ofapproximately 12 parties including RECREAR) [leader NA];Justicialist Party or PJ [leader NA] (Peronist umbrella politicalorganization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS]; FederalRecreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY]; Socialist Partyor PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH];several provincial parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); ArgentineIndustrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine RuralSociety (large landowners' association); business organizations;General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrellalabor organization); Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radicalunion for employed and unemployed workers); Peronist-dominated labormovement; Roman Catholic Church; students
International organization participation:AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDONchancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New YorkFAX: [1] (202) 332-3171telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400