Legislative branch:unicameral States or Staten (22 seats - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St.Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP St. M 2, UP Bonaire 2, WIPM 1, DPnote: the government of Prime Minister Etienne YS is a coalition ofseveral parties; current government formed after collapse of FOL ledgovernment on 4 April 2004elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held in 2006)
Judicial branch:Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Etienne YS]; C 93 [StanleyBROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; DemocraticParty of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; DemocraticParty of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS];Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [EricLODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA];National Alliance [William MARLIN]; National People's Party or PNP[Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [KennethGIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI];Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.];People's Party or PAPU [Richard HODI]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK[Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL];Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA[Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp[Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI];Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers'Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO,WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSONconsulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacaomailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacaotelephone: [599] (9) 4613066FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
Flag description:white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed ona vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed starsare arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; thefive stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao,Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Economy Netherlands Antilles
Economy - overview:Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstaysof this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the pastseven years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and awell-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in theregion. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the USand Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequatewater supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetaryproblems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an agingpopulation.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.45 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 15%services: 84% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:89,000 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:15.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $710.8 millionexpenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1997 est.)
Agriculture - products:aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:1.061 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:986.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$1.579 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:petroleum products
Exports - partners:US 21.3%, Venezuela 16%, Bahamas, The 7.6%, Singapore 5.2%,Honduras 4.9%, Guatemala 4.4% (2003)
Imports:$2.233 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:Venezuela 64.8%, US 13.6%, Netherlands 7.8% (2003)
Debt - external:$1.35 billion (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued itssupport with $40 million (2000)
Currency:Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code:ANG
Exchange rates:Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2003), 1.79(2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000), 1.79 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:81,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:81,000 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally adequate facilitiesdomestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay linksinternational: country code - 599; submarine cables - 2; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:217,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (2004)
Televisions:69,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.an
Internet hosts:119 (2001)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation Netherlands Antilles
Highways: total: 600 km paved: 300 km unpaved: 300 km
Ports and harbors:Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad
Merchant marine:total: 162 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,317,007 GRT/1,668,499 DWTregistered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Belgium 3, Denmark 1, Germany 57, Monaco 4,Netherlands 70, New Zealand 1, Norway 5, Peru 1, Spain 1, Sweden 5,Turkey 2, United Kingdom 6by type: bulk 4, cargo 59, chemical tanker 1, combination bulk 1,combination ore/oil 3, container 28, liquefied gas 6,multi-functional large load carrier 22, passenger 1, petroleumtanker 1, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 7, specializedtanker 1
Airports:5 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2038 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Netherlands Antilles
Military branches:National Guard, Police Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 16 years of age for military recruitment; no conscription (July 2002)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 55,536 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 31,025 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 1,660 (2004 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues Netherlands Antilles
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US andEurope; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@New Caledonia
Introduction New Caledonia
Background:Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. Itserved as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation forindependence during the 1980s and early 1990s has dissipated.
Geography New Caledonia
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 19,060 sq kmwater: 485 sq kmland: 18,575 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,254 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use: arable land: 0.38% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 99.29% (2001)
Irrigated land:160 sq km (1991)
Natural hazards:cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Environment - current issues:erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Geography - note:consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest inthe Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numeroussmall, sparsely populated islands and atolls
People New Caledonia
Population:213,679 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.4% (male 32,076; female 30,772)15-64 years: 64.3% (male 69,150; female 68,310)65 years and over: 6.3% (male 6,259; female 7,112) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 27.2 yearsmale: 26.9 yearsfemale: 27.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.33% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:18.98 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 8.59 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.78 yearsmale: 70.82 yearsfemale: 76.89 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.35 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: New Caledonian(s)adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups:Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91%male: 92%female: 90% (1976 est.)
Government New Caledonia
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependenciesconventional short form: New Caledonialocal short form: Nouvelle-Caledonielocal long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
Dependency status:overseas territory of France since 1956
Government type:NA
Capital:Noumea
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Independence:none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum onindependence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum isscheduled for 2014
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:28 September 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to theislands; formerly under French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner Daniel CONSTANTIN (since 3July 2002)elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; high commissioner appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of thegovernment elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note- last election held 29 June 2004 when Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU waselected on the third vote with 8 votes for and 3 abstentionshead of government: President of the Government Marie-NoelleTHEMEREAU (since 10 June 2004)cabinet: Consultative Committee
Legislative branch:unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats;members are members of the three Provincial Assemblies or AssembleesProvinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UE 7, FN 4, others 3note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate;elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not laterthan September 2007; between now and 2010 New Caledonia will gain asecond seat in the French Senate); results - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia also elects 2 seatsto the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June2002 (next to be held by June 2007); results - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint CommerceTribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders:Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; CaleonianUnion or UC [leader NA]; Federation des Comites de Coordination desIndependantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [GuyGEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; KanakSocialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA](includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak orPALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia inthe Republic (anti independent) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; TheFuture Together or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pourl'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist,but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti deLiberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM[Victor TUTUGORO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), UPU, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy New Caledonia
Economy - overview:New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources.Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, andfood accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,substantial financial support from France - equal to more thanone-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of theeconomy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combinedwith the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economicoutlook for the next several years.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $3.158 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5%industry: 30%services: 65% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.6% (2000 est.)
Labor force:79,400 (including 15,018 unemployed, 1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:19% (1996)
Budget:revenues: $861.3 millionexpenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52million (1996 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Industries:nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate:-0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production:1.613 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:$448 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:Japan 21.8%, France 19.2%, Taiwan 14%, Spain 11%, South Korea 8.5%,Australia 7.2%, Italy 5.1% (2003)
Imports:$1.007 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 46.1%, Australia 9.5%, Singapore 9.3%, New Zealand 4.3%(2003)
Debt - external:$79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$880 million annual subsidy from France (1998)
Currency:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF); note - may adopt theeuro in 2003
Currency code:XPF
Exchange rates:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 105.73(2003), 126.72 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.44 (2000), 111.93 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:52,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:80,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.nc
Internet hosts:4,449 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:60,000 (2003)
Transportation New Caledonia
Highways: total: 4,825 km paved: 2,287 km unpaved: 2,538 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:Mueo, Noumea, Thio
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWTregistered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Malaysia 1by type: cargo 1
Airports:25 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 6 (2003 est.)
Military New Caledonia
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces(including Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues New Caledonia
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@New Zealand
Introduction New Zealand
Background:The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, theTreaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to QueenVictoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, theBritish began the first organized colonial settlement. A series ofland wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the nativepeoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independentdominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense allianceslapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought toaddress longstanding Maori grievances.
Geography New Zealand
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 268,680 sq kmnote: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islandswater: NA sq kmland: NA sq km
Area - comparative:about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:15,134 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold,limestone
Land use: arable land: 5.6% permanent crops: 6.99% other: 87.41% (2001)
Irrigated land:2,850 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit byspecies introduced from outside
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is thesouthernmost national capital in the world
People New Zealand
Population:3,993,817 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.7% (male 443,211; female 422,507)15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,337,383; female 1,325,683)65 years and over: 11.6% (male 203,084; female 261,949) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 33.4 yearsmale: 32.6 yearsfemale: 34.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.05% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:14.04 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 6.83 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.49 yearsmale: 75.5 yearsfemale: 81.61 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: New Zealander(s)adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:New Zealand European 74.5%, Maori 9.7%, other European 4.6%,Pacific Islander 3.8%, Asian and others 7.4%
Religions:Anglican 24%, Presbyterian 18%, Roman Catholic 15%, Methodist 5%,Baptist 2%, other Protestant 3%, unspecified or none 33% (1986)
Languages:English (official), Maori (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government New Zealand
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: New Zealandabbreviation: NZ
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Wellington
Administrative divisions:13 regions; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Gisborne-Hawke'sBay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Nelson-Marlborough, Northland, Otago,Southland, Taranaki, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday:Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereigntyover New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts ofthe UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986which is the principal formal charter
Legal system:based on English law, with special land legislation and land courtsfor the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4April 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament(120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-memberconstituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportionalseats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)elections: last held 27 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -NZLP 52, NP 27, NZFP 13, ACT New Zealand 9, Green Party 9, UF 8,other 2
Judicial branch:High Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:ACT New Zealand [Richard PREBBLE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONSand Rod DONALD]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH]; New Zealand FirstParty or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP[Helen CLARK]; Progressive Coalition [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; UnitedFuture or UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986),APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMSIL,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador L. John WOOD consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLSembassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellingtonmailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP96531-1034telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant withfour red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outerhalf of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Crossconstellation
Economy New Zealand
Economy - overview:Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealandfrom an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British marketaccess to a more industrialized, free market economy that cancompete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (butleft behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened anddeepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector,and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has beenrising and is now 80% of the level of the four largest EU economies.New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly inagricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected bythe global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thusfar the economy has been resilient, and growth should continue atthe same level in 2004. Expenditures on health, education, andpensions will increase proportionately.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $85.34 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $21,600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 27.4% services: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:2.008 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 10%, industry 25%, services 65% (1995)
Unemployment rate:4.7% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $32.14 billionexpenditures: $30.13 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:25.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef,dairy products; fish
Industries:food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:1.3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:37.51 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:34.88 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:30,220 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:119,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:89.62 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:58.94 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-3.446 billion (2003)
Exports:$15.86 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:Australia 21.8%, US 14.6%, Japan 11%, China 4.9%, UK 4.8% (2003)
Imports:$16.06 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:Australia 22.2%, US 11.8%, Japan 11.8%, China 9%, Germany 5.3%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$5.083 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$37.46 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $99.7 million
Currency:New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.7229 (2003), 2.1622 (2002),2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000), 1.8896 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:1.765 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.599 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international systemsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia andFiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:1.926 million (1997)
Internet country code:.nz
Internet hosts:474,395 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):36 (2000)
Internet users:2.11 million (2003)
Transportation New Zealand
Railways: total: 3,898 km narrow gauge: 3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 92,053 kmpaved: 57,809 km (including at least 190 km of expressways)unpaved: 34,244 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refinedproducts 304 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Wellington
Merchant marine:total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 77,523 GRT/108,352 DWTby type: bulk 3, cargo 2, container 1, petroleum tanker 2, rollon/roll off 2registered in other countries: 8 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Australia 1, Isle of Man 1
Airports:113 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 70 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 39 (2004 est.)
Military New Zealand
Military branches:New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand AirForce
Military manpower - military age and obligation:17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot bedeployed until the age of 18 (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,033,464 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 868,984 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 27,157 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.147 billion (FY03/04)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues New Zealand
Disputes - international: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Nicaragua
Introduction Nicaragua
Background:The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony fromPanama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain wasdeclared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region insubsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulationand corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in ashort-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillasto power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvadorcaused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas throughmuch of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt itseconomy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in1998.
Geography Nicaragua
Location:Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the NorthPacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 129,494 sq kmwater: 9,240 sq kmland: 120,254 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interiormountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources:gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 15.94% permanent crops: 1.94% other: 82.12% (2001)
Irrigated land:880 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremelysusceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwaterbody in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
People Nicaragua
Population:5,359,759 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.1% (male 1,038,887; female 1,001,518)15-64 years: 58.9% (male 1,570,494; female 1,586,706)65 years and over: 3% (male 71,125; female 91,029) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 20.2 yearsmale: 19.8 yearsfemale: 20.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.97% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:25.5 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:4.54 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.22 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.15 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 26.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 33.73 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.02 yearsmale: 67.99 yearsfemale: 72.16 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.89 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nicaraguan(s)adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,Amerindian 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant
Languages:Spanish (official)note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.5%male: 67.2%female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Government Nicaragua
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nicaraguaconventional short form: Nicaragualocal short form: Nicaragualocal long form: Republica de Nicaragua
Government type:republic
Capital:Managua
Administrative divisions:15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - regionautonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002);note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November2001 (next to be held by November 2006)election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president -56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PCN)1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;members are elected by proportional representation and party liststo serve five-year terms; one seat for previous President, one seatfor runner-up in previous Presidential electionelections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November2006)election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance(ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%,FSLN 36.55%, PCN 2.12%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 53, FSLN38, PCN 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-yearterms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Mario RAPPACCIOLI];Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYESVallejos]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [GuillermoOSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [SalvadorTALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [DanielORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [leader NA];Unity Alliance or AU [leader NA]; Liberal Constitutional Party orPLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Alliance for the Republic or APRE[Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon, Oscar WENDOLYN Vargas, Karla WHITE]; LiberalSalvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; ChristianAlternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]
Political pressure groups and leaders:National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group ofeight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC,Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and MartyrsConfederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, NationalAssociation of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union ofEmployees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists ofNicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is anumbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation ofLabor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Laboror CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; NicaraguanWorkers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; SuperiorCouncil of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation ofbusiness groups
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December2003)consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, SanFranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 939-6545telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] 266-6010 FAX: [505] 266-9074
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DENICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar tothe flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled bythe words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered inthe white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has fiveblue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy Nicaragua
Economy - overview:Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low percapita income, massive unemployment, and huge external debt.Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe.While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stabilityover the past few years, GDP annual growth of 1.5% - 2.5% has beenfar too low to meet the country's need. Nicaragua will continue tobe dependent on international aid and debt relief under the HeavilyIndebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Nicaragua has undertakensignificant economic reforms that are expected to help the countryqualify for more than $4 billion in debt relief under HIPC in early2004. Donors have made aid conditional on the openness of governmentfinancial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. Athree-year poverty reduction and growth plan, agreed to with the IMFin December 2002, guides economic policy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28.9% industry: 25.4% services: 45.7% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):28.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 48.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:60.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.91 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 42%, industry 15%, services 43% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:22% plus considerable underemployment (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $672.5 millionexpenditures: $954.9 million, including capital expenditures of $NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:125.3% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Industries:food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,wood
Industrial production growth rate:4.4% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:2.549 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.388 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:17 million kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:24,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-859 million (2003)