Industries:postage stamps, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-poweredgenerator
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Exports - partners:NA (2000)
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, otherfoodstuffs
Imports - partners:NA (2000)
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:from UK'S DFID
Currency:New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.7229 (2003), 2.162 (2002),2.3776 (2001), 2.1863 (2000), 1.8886 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Pitcairn Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: only party line telephone service is availablefor this small, closely related communitydomestic: party line service onlyinternational: country code - 672; satellite earth station (Inmarsat)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:0 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.pn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Pitcairn Islands
Highways: total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km
Ports and harbors:Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,313 GRT/5,651 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2003 est.)
Airports:none (2003 est.)
Military Pitcairn Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Pitcairn Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Poland
Introduction Poland
Background:Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived around the middle ofthe 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century.During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry andinternal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreementsbetween 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitionedPoland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II.It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but itsgovernment was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoilin 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union"Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 hadswept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy"program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform itseconomy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Polandcurrently suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidaritysuffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when itfailed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament,and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequentlypledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joinedNATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.
Geography Poland
Location:Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 312,685 sq kmwater: 8,220 sq kmland: 304,465 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,788 kmborder countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia444 km, Ukraine 526 km
Coastline:491 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate:temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters withfrequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers andthundershowers
Terrain:mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 mhighest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources:coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber,arable land
Land use: arable land: 45.91% permanent crops: 1.12% other: 52.97% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industryand increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments;air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxideemissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rainhas caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial andmunicipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardouswastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrialestablishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, butat substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and thelack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
People Poland
Population:38,626,349 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.1% (male 3,388,247; female 3,216,085)15-64 years: 70% (male 13,454,820; female 13,591,814)65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,896,940; female 3,078,443) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 36.2 years male: 34.3 years female: 38.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.02% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.64 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.97 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 9.82 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.16 yearsmale: 70.04 yearsfemale: 78.52 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.38 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:14,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Pole(s)adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups:Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other2.7% (2002)
Religions:Roman Catholic 95% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox,Protestant, and other 5%
Languages:Polish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%male: 99.8%female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Government Poland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Polandconventional short form: Polandlocal short form: Polskalocal long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
Government type:republic
Capital:Warsaw
Administrative divisions:16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie,Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie,Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie,Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie,Zachodniopomorskie
Independence:11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution:adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by nationalreferendum 25 May 1997; effective 17 October 1997
Legal system:mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdoverCommunist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as partof broader democratization process; limited judicial review oflegislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal arefinal; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court ofJustice in Strasbourg
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December1995)elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held NA October 2005);prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentand confirmed by the Sejmhead of government: Prime Minister Marek BELKA (since 24 June 2004);Deputy Prime Minister Jerzy HAUSNER (since 11 June 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister andthe Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, andthe Sejm approves the Council of Ministerselection results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI reelected president;percent of popular vote - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 53.9%, AndrzejOLECHOWSKI 17.3%, Marian KRZAKLEWSKI 15.6%, Lech WALESA 1%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consisting of an upper house, the Senate orSenat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on aprovincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, theSejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system ofproportional representation to serve four-year terms); thedesignation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is onlyused on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointlyelections: Sejm elections last held 23 September 2001 (next to beheld by September 2005); Senate - last held 23 September 2001 (nextto be held by September 2005)election results: Sejm - percent of vote by party - SLD-UP 41%, PO12.7%, Samoobrona 10.2%, PiS 9.5%, PSL 9%, LPR 7.9%, AWSP 5.6% UW3.1%, other 1%; seats by party (as of 10 December 2004) - SLD 154,PO 56, PiS 44, PSL 40, SDPL 33, SO 30, LPR 25, UP 15, PLD 11, SKL 6,RKN 5, Dom Ojczysty 4, PP 3, ROP 3, German minorities 2,independents 26; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty (as of 10 December 2004)- SLD-UP 74, Block Senate 2001 10, PSLand unaffiliated 5, UW 4, SO 2, LPR 2, independents 2, PiS 1note: two seats are assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejmonly
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on therecommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for anindefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen bythe Sejm for nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Catholic-National Movement or RKN [Antoni MACIEREWICZ]; CitizensPlatform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Coalition Electoral Action Solidarityof the Right or AWSP; Conservative Peasants Party or SKL-RNP [ArturBALAZS]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Krzysztof JANIK]; FreedomUnion or UW [Wladyslaw FRASYNIUK]; German Minority of Lower Silesiaor MNSO [Henryk KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI];League of Polish Families or LPR [Marek KOTLINOWSKI]; Movement forthe Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI];Peasant-Democratic Party or PLD [Roman JAGIELINSKI]; Polish Accordor PP [Jan LOPUSZANSKI]; Polish Peasant Bloc or PBL [WojciechMOJZESOWICZ]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI];Polish Raison d'Etat or PRS [Piotr MUSIAL]; Samoobrona or SO[Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [MarekBOROWSKI]; Social Movement or RS [Krzysztof PIESIEWICZ]; Union ofLabor or UP [Izabela JARUAGA-NOWACKA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [MaciejMANICKI]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; SolidarityTrade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CE,CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest),NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI,UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Przemyslaw GRUDZINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6270 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688 consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to theflags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Economy Poland
Economy - overview:Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalizationthroughout the 1990s and today stands out as a success story amongtransition economies. Even so, much remains to be done. Theprivatization of small and medium state-owned companies and aliberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the developmentof the private business sector, but legal and bureaucratic obstaclesalongside persistent corruption are hampering its furtherdevelopment. Poland's agricultural sector remains handicapped bystructural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, andlack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitivesectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy), while recentlyinitiated, have stalled. Reforms in health care, education, thepension system, and state administration have resulted in largerthan expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public financedepends mainly on privatization of Poland's remaining state sector,the reduction of state employment, and an overhaul of the tax codeto incorporate the growing gray economy and farmers, most of whompay no tax. The government's determination to enter the EU hasshaped most aspects of its economic policy and new legislation; in anationwide referendum in November 2003, 77% of the voters voted infavor of Poland's EU accession, now scheduled for May 2004.Improving Poland's export competitiveness and containing theinternal budget deficit are top priorities. Due to politicaluncertainty, the zloty has recently depreciated in relation to theeuro, while currencies of the other euro-zone aspirants have beenappreciating. GDP per capita equals that of the three Baltic states.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $427.1 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 31% services: 65.9% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.4% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:18.4% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 24.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.6 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:16.92 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 27.5%, industry 22.1%, services 50.4% (1999)
Unemployment rate:20% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $39.13 billionexpenditures: $48.64 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:47.4% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork
Industries:machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:8.6% (2003)
Electricity - production:135 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:118.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:11.04 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:4.306 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:17,180 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:424,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:53,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:413,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:116.4 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.471 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:13.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:41 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:8.782 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:154.4 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-4.085 billion (2003)
Exports:$57.6 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 30.2%, intermediate manufacturedgoods 25.5%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 20.9%, food and liveanimals 8.5% (1999)
Exports - partners:Germany 32.3%, France 6.1%, Italy 5.8%, UK 5%, Netherlands 4.5%,Czech Republic 4.1% (2003)
Imports:$63.65 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 38.2%, intermediate manufacturedgoods 20.8%, chemicals 14.3%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 9.5%(1999)
Imports - partners:Germany 24.4%, Italy 8.5%, Russia 7.7%, France 7.1%, China 4.3%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$33.96 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$86.82 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:EU structural adjustment funds (2000)
Currency:zloty (PLN)
Currency code:PLN
Exchange rates:zlotych per US dollar - 3.8891 (2003), 4.08 (2002), 4.0939 (2001),4.3461 (2000), 3.9671 (1999)note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Poland
Telephones - main lines in use:12.3 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:17.4 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: underdeveloped and outmoded system in theprocess of being overhauled; partial privatization of thestate-owned telephone monopoly is underway; the long waiting listfor main line telephone service has resulted in a boom in mobilecellular telephone usedomestic: cable, open-wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellularnetworks; local exchanges 56.6% digitalinternational: country code - 48; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Oceanregions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:20.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:179 (plus 256 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:13.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pl
Internet hosts:804,915 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):19 (2000)
Internet users:8.97 million (2003)
Transportation Poland
Railways:total: 23,852 kmbroad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gaugestandard gauge: 23,223 km 1.435-m gauge (11,962 km electrified)(2003)
Highways:total: 364,656 kmpaved: 249,060 km (including 358 km of expressways)unpaved: 115,596 km (2000)
Waterways:3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 13,552 km; oil 1,772 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Gdansk, Gdynia, Gliwice, Kolobrzeg, Szczecin, Swinoujscie, Ustka,Warsaw, Wroclaw
Merchant marine:total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 154,710 GRT/228,132 DWTby type: bulk 7, cargo 3, chemical tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1registered in other countries: 100 (2004 est.)
Airports:122 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 84 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 40
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 392,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)914 to 1,523 m: 13
Heliports:3 (2003 est.)
Military Poland
Military branches:Land Forces, Navy, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 17 years of age for compulsory military service after January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; in 2005 Poland plans to shorten the length of conscript service obligation from 12 to 9 months; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004 women are only allowed to serve as officers and non-commissioned officers (April 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 10,291,628 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 8,034,577 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 329,743 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.5 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.71% (2002)
Transnational Issues Poland
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the internationalmarket; minor transshipment point for Asian and Latin Americanillicit drugs to Western Europe
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Portugal
Introduction Portugal
Background:Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16thcenturies, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with thedestruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during theNapoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony.A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next sixdecades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, aleft-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. Thefollowing year, Portugal granted independence to all of its Africancolonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC(now the EU) in 1986.
Geography Portugal
Location:Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west ofSpain
Geographic coordinates:39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 92,391 sq kmland: 91,951 sq kmnote: includes Azores and Madeira Islandswater: 440 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier insouth
Terrain:mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico inthe Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources:fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten,silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 21.75%permanent crops: 7.81%other: 70.44% (2001)
Irrigated land:6,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicleemissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, EnvironmentalModification
Geography - note:Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along westernsea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People Portugal
Population:10,524,145 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.7% (male 916,106; female 840,574)15-64 years: 66.4% (male 3,454,970; female 3,535,108)65 years and over: 16.9% (male 735,407; female 1,041,980) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 37.9 yearsmale: 35.8 yearsfemale: 40 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.41% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.9 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.37 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.35 yearsmale: 74.06 yearsfemale: 80.85 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.46 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:27,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups:homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descentwho immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Religions:Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)
Languages:Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.3%male: 95.5%female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
Government Portugal
Country name:conventional long form: Portuguese Republicconventional short form: Portugallocal long form: Republica Portuguesalocal short form: Portugal
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Lisbon
Administrative divisions:18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomousregions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro,Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra,Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto,Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (independentrepublic proclaimed)
National holiday:Portugal Day, 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, theday that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
Constitution:25 April 1976; revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November1992, 3 September 1997, 12 December 2001, and 24 July 2004
Legal system:civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews theconstitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultativebody to the presidenthead of government: Prime Minister Pedro SANTANA LOPES (since 17July 2004); note - Prime Minister Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO resigned5 July 2004 to take over the Presidency of the European Commission;Prime Minister Pedro SANTANA LOPES and his government resigned 11December 2004, but will stay on in a caretaker capacity untilFebruary 2005 electionscabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held NA January2006); following legislative elections, the leader of the majorityparty or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed primeminister by the presidentelection results: Jorge SAMPAIO reelected president; percent of vote- Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral(Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 17 March 2002 (next to be held 20 February2005); note - President SAMPAIO called for early elections afterdissolving Parliament on 10 December 2004 because he lackedconfidence in the four-month center-right governmentelection results: percent of vote by party - PSD 40.1%, PS 37.8%, PP8.7%, PCP/PEV 6.9%, The Left Bloc 2.7%; seats by party - PSD 105, PS96, PP 14, PCP/PEV 12, The Left Bloc 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed forlife by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:Green Ecologist Party or PEV [Heloisa APOLONIA]; Popular Party orPP [Paulo PORTAS]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Jeronimo deSOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES CarvalhoPinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pedro MiguelSANTANA LOPES]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO,ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Manuel Dos Reis Alves CATARINOconsulate(s): Los Angeles, New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence(Rhode Island)consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and SanFranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 462-3726telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires AdrienneS. O'NEALembassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbonmailing address: Apartado 4258, 1507 Lisboa Codex; PSC 83, APO AE09726telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description:two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red(three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on thedividing line
Economy Portugal
Economy - overview:Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-basedeconomy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the pastdecade, successive governments have privatized many state-controlledfirms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including thefinancial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified forthe Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulatingthe euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies.Economic growth has been above the EU average for much of the pastdecade, but fell back in 2001-03. GDP per capita stands at 70% ofthat of the leading EU economies. A poor educational system, inparticular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth.Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producersin Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign directinvestment. The coalition government faces tough choices in itsattempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness and to keepthe budget deficit within the 3% EU ceiling.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $181.8 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1.3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.8% industry: 30.7% services: 63.2% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):22.3% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.6 (1994-95)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:5.409 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 10%, industry 30%, services 60% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.4% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $64.81 billionexpenditures: $69.09 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:59.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry,beef, dairy products
Industries:textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metalworking;oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:44.32 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:41.48 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:3.479 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.743 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:339,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:28,830 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:357,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.542 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.553 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-7.592 billion (2003)
Exports:$31.13 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paperproducts, hides
Exports - partners:Spain 22.7%, Germany 15.2%, France 12.9%, UK 10.5%, US 5.8%, Italy4.8%, Belgium 4.6% (2003)
Imports:$43.73 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles,agricultural products
Imports - partners:Spain 29.1%, Germany 14.7%, France 9.9%, Italy 6.4%, UK 4.9%,Netherlands 4.6% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$12.81 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$250.7 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $271 million (1995)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:4,278,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9,341,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved astate-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities anda main line telephone density of 53%domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwaveradio relay, and domestic satellite earth stationsinternational: country code - 351; 6 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean),NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth stationfor Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations:AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 62 (plus 166 repeaters) note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pt
Internet hosts:346,078 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:3.6 million (2002)
Transportation Portugal
Railways:total: 2,850 kmbroad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 68,732 kmpaved: 59,110 km (including 1441 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,622 km (2000)
Waterways:210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Aveiro, Funchal (Madeira Islands), Horta (Azores), Leixoes, Lisbon,Porto, Ponta Delgada (Azores), Praia da Vitoria (Azores), Setubal,Viana do Castelo
Merchant marine:total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 872,557 GRT/1,236,025 DWTregistered in other countries: 24 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Australia 1, Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Germany21, Greece 2, Guadeloupe 1, Iceland 1, Italy 16, Japan 1, Malta 1,Norway 7, Panama 1, Spain 18, Switzerland 7, Ukraine 1, UnitedKingdom 1by type: bulk 12, cargo 49, chemical tanker 19, container 8,liquefied gas 7, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 6,petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 5,short-sea/passenger 5, vehicle carrier 2
Airports:66 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)
Military Portugal
Military branches:Army, Navy (PON; including Marines), Air Force (FAP), RepublicanGuard (including Fiscal Guard)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory militaryservice was ended in September 2004 (September 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,628,892 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,107,502 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 72,821 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3,497.8 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Portugal
Disputes - international: some Portuguese groups assert dormant claims to territories ceded to Spain around the town of Olivenza
Illicit drugs:gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asianheroin entering the European market (especially from Brazil);transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe;consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico
Introduction Puerto Rico
Background:Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island wasclaimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' secondvoyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rulethat saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and Africanslave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a resultof the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted UScitizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internalself government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voterschose to retain commonwealth status.
Geography Puerto Rico
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 9,104 sq kmwater: 145 sq kmland: 8,959 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:501 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountainsprecipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastalareas
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: arable land: 3.95% permanent crops: 5.52% other: 90.53% (2001)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane tothe Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best naturalharbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high centralmountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry;fertile coastal plain belt in north
People Puerto Rico
Population:3,897,960 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22.4% (male 446,474; female 426,585)15-64 years: 65.4% (male 1,220,721; female 1,329,936)65 years and over: 12.2% (male 205,933; female 268,311) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 33.8 yearsmale: 32.1 yearsfemale: 35.4 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.49% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:14.1 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.46 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: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.49 yearsmale: 73.49 yearsfemale: 81.68 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.91 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%,Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:Spanish, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.1%male: 93.7%female: 94.4% (2002)
Government Puerto Rico
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Ricoconventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:commonwealth associated with the US
Government type:commonwealth
Capital:San Juan
Administrative divisions:none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, AguasBuenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, LasPiedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, SanGerman, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, ToaAlta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday:US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day,25 July (1952)
Constitution:ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952;effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system ofjustice
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but donot vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001)election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD) elected governor;percent of vote - 48.4%elections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for afour-year term; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be heldNovember 2008)head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January2005)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of thelegislature
Legislative branch:bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2November 2004); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2000(next to be held 2 November 2004)note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissionerto serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the USHouse of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections lastheld 7 November 2000 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results -percent of vote by party - PPD 49.3%; seats by party - PPD 1; AnibalACEVEDO-VILA elected resident commissionerelection results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PPD 20, PNP 8, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent ofvote by party - NA; seats by party - PPD 30, PNP 20, PIP 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed oftwo sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices forall these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of theSenate)
Political parties and leaders:National Democratic Party [Celeste BENITEZ]; National RepublicanParty of Puerto Rico [Luis FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP(pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD(pro-commonwealth) [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]; Puerto Rican IndependenceParty or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces ofPopular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as theMacheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternatingwith white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearsa large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initiallyinfluenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with thecolors of the bands and triangle reversed
Economy Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbeanregion. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture asthe primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged byduty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms haveinvested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wagelaws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production andother livestock products as the main source of income in theagricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an importantsource of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 milliontourists in 1999. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to theslowdown in the US economy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $65.21 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $16,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 45%services: 54% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)