Independence:the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independentkingdoms prior to the Moslem occupation that began in the early 8thcentury A. D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christianredoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately,culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completedthe unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally consideredthe forging of present-day Spain
National holiday:National Day, 12 October
Constitution:6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legal system:civil law system, with regional applications; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); HeirApparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968head of government: President of the Government Jose Luis RODRIGUEZZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004); First Vice President (and Ministerof the Presidency) Maria Teresa FERNANDEZ DE LA VEGA(since 18 April2004) and Second Vice President (and Minister of Economy andFinance) Pedro SOLBES (since 18 April 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the presidentnote: there is also a Council of State that is the supremeconsultative organ of the government, but its recommendations arenon-bindingelection results: Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO (PSOE) electedpresident; percent of National Assembly vote - 52.29%elections: the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition is usually proposed president by the monarch andelected by the National Assembly; election last held 14 March 2004(next to be held NA March 2008); vice presidents appointed by themonarch on the proposal of the president
Legislative branch:bicameral; General Courts or National Assembly or Las CortesGenerales consists of the Senate or Senado (259 seats - 208 membersdirectly elected by popular vote and the other 51 appointed by theregional legislatures to serve four-year terms) and the Congress ofDeputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; members areelected by popular vote on block lists by proportionalrepresentation to serve four-year terms)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PP 49%, PSOE38.9%, Entesa Catalona de Progress 5.7%, CiU 1.99%, PNV 2.8%, CC1.4%; seats by party - PP 102, PSOE 81, Entesa Catalona de Progress12, CiU 4, PNV 6, CC 3; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote byparty - PSOE 43.3%, PP 37.8%, CiU 3.2%, ERC 2.5%, PNV 1.6%, IU 3.2%,CC 0.9%; seats by party - PSOE 164, PP 148, CiU 10, ERC 8, PNV 7, IU2, CC 3, other 8elections: Senate - last held 14 March 2004 (next to be held March2008); Congress of Deputies - last held 14 March 2004 (next to beheld March 2008)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo
Political parties and leaders:Basque Nationalist Party or PNV [Josu Jon IMAZ]; Canarian Coalitionor CC (a coalition of five parties) [Paulino RIVERO Baute];Convergence and Union or CiU [Artur MAS i Gavarro] (a coalition ofthe Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC [Artur MAS i Gavarro]and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC [Josep Antoni DURAN yLLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a Senate coalition groupingfour Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV, EUA) [leader NA]; GalicianNationalist Bloc or BNG [Anxo Manuel QUINTANA]; Party ofIndependents from Lanzarote or PIL [Dimas MARTIN Martin]; PopularParty or PP [Mariano RAJOY]; Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC[Josep-Lluis CAROD-ROVIRA]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE[Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO]; United Left or IU (a coalition ofparties including the PCE and other small parties) [GasparLLAMAZARES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free laborunions (authorized in April 1977); Socialist General Union ofWorkers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union orUSO; university students; Workers Confederation or CC.OO; Nunca Mas(Galician for "Never Again"; formed in response to the oil tankerPrestige oil spill)
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CE, 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(observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO,NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos WESTENDORPchancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. RobertMANZANARESembassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madridmailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303consulate(s) general: Barcelona
Flag description:three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and redwith the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band;the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars ofHercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) oneither side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar
Economy Spain
Economy - overview:Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a percapita basis is 80% that of the four leading West Europeaneconomies. The center-right government of former President AZNARsuccessfully worked to gain admission to the first group ofcountries launching the European single currency (the euro) on 1January 1999. The AZNAR administration continued to advocateliberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy andintroduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment fell steadilyunder the AZNAR administration but remains high at 11.7%. Growth of2.4% in 2003 was satisfactory given the background of a falteringEuropean economy. Incoming President RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, whose partywon the election three days after the Madrid train bombings inMarch, plans to reduce government intervention in business, combattax fraud, and support innovation, research and development, butalso intends to reintroduce labor market regulations that had beenscrapped by the AZNAR government. Adjusting to the monetary andother economic policies of an integrated Europe - and reducingunemployment - will pose challenges to Spain over the next few years.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $885.5 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 28.6% services: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:32.5 (1990)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:18.82 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 7%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 29%, services 64% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:11.3% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $330.7 billionexpenditures: $335.3 billion, including capital expenditures of$12.8 billion (2003 est.)
Public debt:62.7% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef,pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
Industries:textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages,metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles,machine tools, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:1.6% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:222.5 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:210.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:4.138 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:7.588 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:7,099 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.497 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:135,100 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:1.582 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:10.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:516 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:17.96 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:17.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-23.77 billion (2003)
Exports:$159.4 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, other consumer goods
Exports - partners:France 19.2%, Germany 11.9%, Italy 9.7%, UK 9.4%, Portugal 9.3%, US4.2% (2003)
Imports:$197.1 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods;foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:France 16.8%, Germany 16.6%, Italy 8.8%, UK 6.5%, Netherlands 4.9%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$26.81 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$718.4 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.33 billion (1999)
Currency:euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutionsof member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions with 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 Spain
Telephones - main lines in use:17,567,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:37,506,700 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally adequate, modern facilities;teledensity is 44 main lines for each 100 personsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 34; 22 coaxial submarine cables;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 IndianOcean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
Radio broadcast stations:AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:13.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 224 (plus 2,105 repeaters) note: these figures include 11 television broadcast stations and 88 repeaters in the Canary Islands (1995)
Televisions:16.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:.es
Internet hosts:1,056,950 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):56 (2000)
Internet users:9.789 million (2003)
Transportation Spain
Railways:total: 14,268 km (7,718 km electrified)broad gauge: 11,804 km 1.668-m gauge (6,409 km electrified)standard gauge: 526 km 1.435-m gauge (526 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,910 km 1.000-m gauge (755 km electrified); 28 km0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 663,795 kmpaved: 657,157 km (including 10,317 km of expressways)unpaved: 6,638 km (1999)
Waterways:1,045 km (2003)
Pipelines:gas 7,306 km; oil 730 km; refined products 3,512 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana,Ceuta, Huelva, A Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga,Melilla, Pasajes, Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands),Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
Merchant marine:total: 149 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,740,974 GRT/2,157,551 DWTby type: bulk 9, cargo 29, chemical tanker 13, container 17,liquefied gas 6, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker21, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 32, short-sea/passenger7, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 7registered in other countries: 115 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Chile 1, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Germany 9, Italy 2,Netherlands 1, Norway 6, Sweden 1, Uruguay 1
Airports:156 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 95 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 28 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 44 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 8 (2003 est.)
Military Spain
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force (Ejercito del Aire, EdA), Marines
Military manpower - military age and obligation:20 years of age (2004 est.)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 10,482,753 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 8,336,273 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 245,007 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$9,906.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Spain
Disputes - international:since Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum in2003 against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement, talks betweenthe UK and Spain over the fate of the 300-year old UK colony havestalled; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greaterautonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclavesof Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera,Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters;Morocco serves as the primary launching area of illegal migrationinto Spain from North Africa; Morocco rejected Spain's unilateraldesignation of a median line from the Canary Islands in 2002 to setlimits to undersea resource exploration and refugee interdiction,but agreed in 2003 to discuss a comprehensive maritime delimitation;some Portuguese groups assert dormant claims to territories ceded toSpain around the town of Olivenza
Illicit drugs:key European gateway country and consumer for Latin Americancocaine and North African hashish entering the European market;destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asianheroin; money laundering site for European earnings of Colombiannarcotics trafficking organizations
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Spratly Islands
Introduction Spratly Islands
Background:The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands orreefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentiallyby gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety byChina, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysiaand the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relativelysmall numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, thePhilippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishingzone that overlaps a southern reef, but has not made any formalclaim.
Geography Spratly Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South ChinaSea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to thesouthern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: less than 5 sq kmnote: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mountsscattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central SouthChina Seawater: 0 sq kmland: less than 5 sq km
Area - comparative:NA
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:926 km
Maritime claims:NA
Climate:tropical
Terrain:flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs andshoals
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in thecentral South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls,shoals, and coral reefs
People Spratly Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of severalclaimant states (July 2004 est.)
Government Spratly Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Economy Spratly Islands
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximityto nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests thepotential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largelyunexplored; there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves;commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Transportation Spratly Islands
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Spratly Islands
Military - note:Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, ofwhich about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, thePhilippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Transnational Issues Spratly Islands
Disputes - international:all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, andVietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines;in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone thatencompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has notpublicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,"which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "codeof conduct"
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Sri Lanka
Introduction Sri Lanka
Background:The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C.,probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning inabout the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developedat the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circaA.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14thcentury, a south Indian dynasty seized power in the north andestablished a Tamil kingdom. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16thcentury and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was cededto the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and wasunited under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independentin 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions betweenthe Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in1983. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict thatcontinues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the governmentand Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire inFebruary 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations.
Geography Sri Lanka
Location:Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates:7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 65,610 sq kmwater: 870 sq kmland: 64,740 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,340 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 monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwestmonsoon (June to October)
Terrain:mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-centralinterior
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources:limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay,hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.86% permanent crops: 15.7% other: 70.44% (2001)
Irrigated land:6,510 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional cyclones and tornadoes
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened bypoaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from miningactivities and increased pollution; freshwater resources beingpolluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; airpollution in Colombo
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
People Sri Lanka
Population:19,905,165note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government andarmed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousandTamil civilians have fled the island; as of yearend 2000,approximately 65,000 were housed in 131 refugee camps in southIndia, another 40,000 lived outside the Indian camps, and more than200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.8% (male 2,526,143; female 2,414,876)15-64 years: 68.2% (male 6,589,438; female 6,976,487)65 years and over: 7% (male 655,636; female 742,585) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 29.1 yearsmale: 28 yearsfemale: 30.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.81% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:15.88 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.31 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: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 16.01 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.89 yearsmale: 70.34 yearsfemale: 75.57 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.88 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:4,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Sri Lankan(s)adjective: Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups:Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%
Religions:Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 7% (1999)
Languages:Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (nationallanguage) 18%, other 8%note: English is commonly used in government and is spokencompetently by about 10% of the population
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.3%male: 94.8%female: 90% (2003 est.)
Government Sri Lanka
Country name:conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lankaconventional short form: Sri Lankaformer: Serendib, Ceylon
Government type:republic
Capital:Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital
Administrative divisions:8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western,Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western; note - North Eastern provincemay have been divided in two - Northern and Eastern
Independence:4 February 1948 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 February (1948)
Constitution:adopted 16 August 1978
Legal system:a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch,Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since12 November 1994); note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 6 April 2004)i sthe prime minister; the president is considered both the chief ofstate and head of governmenthead of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA(since 12 November 1994); note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 6 April2004) is the prime minister; the president is considered both thechief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with theprime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 21 December 1999 (next to be held NA December2005)election results: Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA reelectedpresident; percent of vote - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA 51%,Ranil WICKREMASINGHE 42%, other 7%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular voteon the basis of a modified proportional representation system bydistrict to serve six-year terms)elections: last held 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010)election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance -SLFP and JVP 45.6%, UNP 37.83%, TNA 6.84%, JHU 5.97%, SLMC 2.02%,UPF 0.54%, EPDP 0.27%, others 0.93%; seats by party or electoralalliance - SLFP and JVP 105, UNP 82, TNA 22, JHU 9, SLMC 5, UPF 1,EPDP 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts areappointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [KUMARGURUPARAM]; Ceylon WorkersCongress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP [D.GUNASEKERA]; Democratic United National (Lalith) Front or DUNLF[Shrimani ATULATHMUDALI]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP[Douglas DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Frontor EPRLF [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna or JVP[Tilvan SILVA]; National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF];National Heritage Party or JHU [Tilak KARUNARATNE]; People'sLiberation Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [leader NA]; SihalaUrumaya or SU [leader NA]; Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP[Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress orSLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Sri Lanka Progressive Front or SLPF [P. NelsonPERERA]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO [SABARATNAM];Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R.SAMPANTHAN]; Tamil UnitedLiberation Front or TULF [V. ANANDASANGAREE]; United National Partyor UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE]; Up-country People's Front or UPF [P.CHANDRASEKARAN]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties,represented in either Parliament or provincial councils
Political pressure groups and leaders:Buddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam orLTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for aseparate state); radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as theNational Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups
International organization participation:AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB,OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Devinda R. SUBASINGHE consulate(s): New York consulate(s) general: Los Angeles FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181 telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 (through 4028) chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey J. LUNSTEADembassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombotelephone: [94] (11) 244-8007FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345
Flag description:yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equalvertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel isa large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, andthere is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appearsas a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels
Economy Sri Lanka
Economy - overview:In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its importsubstitution trade policy for market-oriented policies andexport-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are foodprocessing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages,telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2003, plantationcrops made up only 15% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), whiletextiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an averageannual rate of 5.5% in the early 1990s until a drought and adeteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. Theeconomy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%, but 2001saw the first contraction in the country's history, -1.4%, due to acombination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, theglobal slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Growth recovered to4.0% in 2002 and 5.2% in 2003. About 800,000 Sri Lankans workabroad, 90% in the Middle East. They send home about $1 billion ayear. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the north and east for alargely independent homeland continues to cast a shadow over theeconomy.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $73.7 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19.9% industry: 26.3% services: 53.8% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):22.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:22% (1997 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 28% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:34.4 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:7.17 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 38%, industry 17%, services 45% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:8.4% (2003)
Budget:revenues: $3.229 billionexpenditures: $4.526 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:105.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber,coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef
Industries:rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agriculturalcommodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:5.8% (2003)
Electricity - production:6.36 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.915 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:75,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-278 million (2003)
Exports:$5.269 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles and apparel, tea, diamonds, coconut products, petroleumproducts
Exports - partners:US 34.6%, UK 12.5%, India 4.8%, Germany 4.5% (2003)
Imports:$6.626 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:textiles, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery andequipment
Imports - partners:India 16.1%, Hong Kong 8.4%, Singapore 7.8%, Japan 6.7%, China4.9%, South Korea 4.2%, Taiwan 4.2%, UK 4.1%, Malaysia 4% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$2.273 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$10.52 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$577 million (1998)
Currency:Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)
Currency code:LKR
Exchange rates:Sri Lankan rupees per US dollar - 96.521 (2003), 95.6621 (2002),89.383 (2001), 77.0051 (2000), 70.6354 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Sri Lanka
Telephones - main lines in use:881,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:931,600 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: very inadequate domestic service, particularlyin rural areas; likely improvement with privatization of nationaltelephone company and encouragement to private investment; goodinternational service (1999)domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digitalmicrowave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo areaand two fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competitionis strong in mobile cellular systems; telephone density remains lowat 2.6 main lines per 100 persons (1999)international: country code - 94; submarine cables to Indonesia andDjibouti; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 26, FM 45, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:3.85 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:21 (1997)
Televisions:1.53 million (1997)
Internet country code:.lk
Internet hosts:1,882 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:200,000 (2002)
Transportation Sri Lanka
Railways: total: 1,449 km broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 96,695 km paved: 91,860 km unpaved: 4,835 km (1999)
Waterways:160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2004)
Ports and harbors:Colombo, Galle, Jaffna, Trincomalee
Merchant marine:total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 120,924 GRT/173,604 DWTby type: cargo 14, container 2, petroleum tanker 2registered in other countries: 4 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Germany 8, Singapore 1
Airports:14 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Sri Lanka
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 5,418,496 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,195,736 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 179,869 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$518 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.2% (2003)
Transnational Issues Sri Lanka
Disputes - international: none
Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 362,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to Tamil conflict) (2004)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Sudan
Introduction Sudan
Background:Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments havedominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956.Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for all but 10 years of thisperiod (1972-82). The wars are rooted in northern economic,political, and social domination of non-Muslim, non-Arab southernSudanese. Since 1983, the war and war- and famine-related effectshave led to more than 2 million deaths and over 4 million peopledisplaced. The ruling regime is a mixture of military elite and anIslamist party that came to power in a 1989 coup. Some northernopposition parties have made common cause with the southern rebelsand entered the war as a part of an anti-government alliance. Peacetalks gained momentum in 2002-03 with the signing of severalaccords, including a cease-fire agreement.
Geography Sudan
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,505,810 sq kmwater: 129,810 sq kmland: 2.376 million sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 7,687 kmborder countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline:853 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies byregion (April to November)
Terrain:generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south,northeast and west; desert dominates the north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Red Sea 0 mhighest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources:petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc,tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6.83% permanent crops: 0.18% other: 92.99% (2001)
Irrigated land:19,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populationsthreatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification;periodic drought
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
People Sudan
Population:39,148,162 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.7% (male 8,730,609; female 8,358,569)15-64 years: 54.1% (male 10,588,634; female 10,571,199)65 years and over: 2.3% (male 490,869; female 408,282) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 17.9 yearsmale: 17.7 yearsfemale: 18.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.64% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:35.79 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:9.37 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.02 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: 1.2 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 64.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 63.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 64.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 58.13 yearsmale: 56.96 yearsfemale: 59.36 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.97 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.6% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:450,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:23,000 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, dengue fever, trypanosomiasis,schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups:black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5%(mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages:Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic,Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, Englishnote: program of "Arabization" in process
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 61.1%male: 71.8%female: 50.5% (2003 est.)
Government Sudan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Sudanconventional short form: Sudanlocal long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudanformer: Anglo-Egyptian Sudanlocal short form: As-Sudan
Government type:authoritarian regime - ruling military junta took power in 1989;government is run by an alliance of the military and the NationalCongress Party (NCP), formerly the National Islamic Front (NIF),which espouses an Islamist platform
Capital:Khartoum
Administrative divisions:26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil, Al Bahr alAhmar, Al Buhayrat, Al Jazirah, Al Khartum, Al Qadarif, Al Wahdah,An Nil al Abyad, An Nil al Azraq, Ash Shamaliyah, Bahr al Jabal,Gharb al Istiwa'iyah, Gharb Bahr al Ghazal, Gharb Darfur, GharbKurdufan, Janub Darfur, Janub Kurdufan, Junqali, Kassala, Nahr anNil, Shamal Bahr al Ghazal, Shamal Darfur, Shamal Kurdufan, Sharq alIstiwa'iyah, Sinnar, Warab
Independence:1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution:12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interimconstitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partiallysuspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR
Legal system:based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991,the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law inthe northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of thenorthern states regardless of their religion; some separatereligious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Field Marshall Umar Hassan Ahmadal-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali UthmanMuhammad TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President MosesMACHAR (since 12 February 2001); note - the president is both thechief of state and head of governmentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 13-23 December 2000 (next to be held NA)head of government: President Field Marshall Umar Hasan Ahmadal-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Ali UthmanMuhammad TAHA (since 17 February 1998), Second Vice President MosesMACHAR (since 12 February 2001); note - the president is both thechief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - theNational Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Frontor NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinetelection results: Field Marshall Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIRreelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hasan Ahmad al-BASHIR86.5%, Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidatesreceived a combined vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged;all popular opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lackof guarantees for a free and fair electionnote: BASHIR assumed supreme executive power in 1989 and retained itthrough several transitional governments in the early and mid-1990sbefore being popularly elected for the first time in March 1996
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (360 seats; 270 popularly elected, 90elected by supra assembly of interest groups known as NationalCongress; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held NADecember 2004)election results: NCP 355, others 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts
Political parties and leaders:the government allows political "associations" under a 1998 lawrevised in 2000; to obtain government approval parties must acceptthe constitution and refrain from advocating or using violenceagainst the regime; approved parties include the National CongressParty or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR], Popular National Congress or PNC[Hassan al-TURABI], and over 20 minor, pro-government parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI]; NationalCongress Party [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR]; National Democratic Alliance[Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI, chairman]; Sudan People's LiberationMovement/Army [Dr. John GARANG]; Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires, AdInterim Khidir Haroun AHMED (since April 2001)FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gerard M.GALLUCCIembassy: Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue, Khartoummailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829telephone: [249] (11) 774611 or 774700FAX: [249] (11) 774137note: US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum(see http://usembassy.egnet.net/sudan.htm)
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with agreen isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy Sudan
Economy - overview:Sudan has turned around a struggling economy with sound economicpolicies and infrastructure investments, yet it still facesformidable economic problems, starting from its low level of percapita output and extending to its devastating civil stife. From1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMF macroeconomic reforms.In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil and in the last quarter of1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which, along with monetarypolicy, has stabilized the exchange rate. Increased oil production,revived light industry, and expanded export processing zones helpedsustain GDP growth at 6.1% in 2003 and 7% in 2004. Agricultureproduction remains Sudan's most important sector, employing 80% ofthe work force and contributing 39% of GDP, but most farms remainrain-fed and susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - includingthe long-standing civil war between the Muslim north and theChristian/pagan south, the ethnic purges in Darfur, adverse weather,and weak world agricultural prices - ensure that much of thepopulation will remain at or below the poverty line for years.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $70.95 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38.7% industry: 20.3% services: 41% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):14.8% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:11 million (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 7%, government 13% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:18.7% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.402 billionexpenditures: $2.546 billion, including capital expenditures of $304million (2003 est.)
Public debt:87% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic,sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweetpotatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock
Industries:oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soapdistilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments,automobile/light truck assembly
Industrial production growth rate:8.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:2.389 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.222 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:209,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:50,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:631.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:99.11 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-718 million (2003)
Exports:$2.45 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts,gum arabic, sugar
Exports - partners:China 40.9%, Saudi Arabia 17.2%, UAE 5.4% (2003)
Imports:$2.383 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment,medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 16.3%, China 14.2%, UK 5%, Germany 4.9%, India 4.8%,France 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$847.2 million (2003)
Debt - external:$16.09 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$172 million (2001)
Currency:Sudanese dinar (SDD)
Currency code:SDD
Exchange rates:Sudanese dinars per US dollar - 260.983 (2003), 263.306 (2002),258.702 (2001), 257.122 (2000), 252.55 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Sudan
Telephones - main lines in use:900,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:650,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: large, well-equipped system by regionalstandards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in1996 and have expanded substantiallydomestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephonecommunications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellitesystem with 14 earth stationsinternational: country code - 249; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:7.55 million (1997)