Television broadcast stations:3 (1997)
Televisions:2.38 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sd
Internet hosts:NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2002)
Internet users:300,000 (2003)
Transportation Sudan
Railways:total: 5,978 kmnarrow gauge: 4,595 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km .600-m gauge forcotton plantations (2003)
Highways:total: 11,900 kmpaved: 4,320 kmunpaved: 7,580 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers)(2004)
Pipelines:gas 156 km; oil 2,365 km; refined products 810 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Juba, Khartoum, Kusti, Malakal, Nimule, Port Sudan, Sawakin
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,466 GRT/26,973 DWTby type: livestock carrier 1, roll on/roll off 2registered in other countries: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports:63 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 63 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
Heliports: 2 (2003 est.)
Military Sudan
Military branches:Sudanese People's Armed Forces (SPAF), Navy, Air Force, PopularDefense Forces
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 3 years (August 2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 9,339,775 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 5,743,783 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 442,242 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$581 million (2001 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (1999)
Transnational Issues Sudan
Disputes - international:the north-south civil war has affected Sudan's neighbors by drawingthem into the fighting and by forcing them to provide shelter torefugees, to contend with infiltration by rebel groups, and to serveas mediators; Sudan has provided shelter to Ugandan refugees andcover to Lord's Resistance Army soldiers; Sudan accuses Eritrea ofsupporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate the porousboundary with Ethiopia have been delayed by fighting in Sudan;Kenya's administrative boundary still extends into the Sudan,creating the "Ilemi Triangle"; Egypt and Sudan retain claims toadminister the triangular areas that extend north and south of the1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawntheir military presence; Egypt is economically developing andcurrently effectively administers the "Hala'ib Triangle" north ofthe Treaty Line; Sudan has pledged to work with the Central AfricanRepublic to stem violent skirmishes over water and grazing amongrelated pastoral populations along the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 108,251 (Eritrea), 5,023 (Chad),7,983 (Uganda)IDPs: 4.367 million (internal conflict since 1980s; ongoinggenocide) (2004)
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@Suriname
Introduction Suriname
Background:Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five yearslater the civilian government was replaced by a military regime thatsoon declared a socialist republic. It continued to rule through asuccession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, wheninternational pressure finally forced a democratic election. In1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but ademocratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.
Geography Suriname
Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenFrench Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 163,270 sq kmwater: 1,800 sq kmland: 161,470 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 mhighest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural resources:timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and smallamounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0.37% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.57% (2001)
Irrigated land:490 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:smallest independent country on South American continent; mostlytropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, forthe most part, is increasingly threatened by new development;relatively small population, mostly along the coast
People Suriname
Population:436,935 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.2% (male 67,588; female 64,223)15-64 years: 63.7% (male 142,656; female 135,819)65 years and over: 6.1% (male 11,914; female 14,735) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 25.8 yearsmale: 25.4 yearsfemale: 26.3 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.31% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:18.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.81 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: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.15 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 28.24 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.1 yearsmale: 66.77 yearsfemale: 71.55 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,700 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Surinamer(s)adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups:Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestorsemigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19thcentury) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%,"Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country inthe 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior)10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
Religions:Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2%(predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages:Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language ofCreoles and much of the younger population and is lingua francaamong others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93%male: 95%female: 91% (1995 est.)
Government Suriname
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Surinameconventional short form: Surinamelocal short form: Surinameformer: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guianalocal long form: Republiek Suriname
Government type:constitutional democracy
Capital:Paramaribo
Administrative divisions:10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence:25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution:ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmentcabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from amongthe members of the National Assemblyelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidatereceives a constitutional majority in the National Assembly aftertwo votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869 representatives fromthe national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms;election last held 6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN elected president by theNational Assembly; percent of legislative vote - Runaldo RonaldVENETIAAN 72.5%; Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 19.6%; total votes cast -Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP)10 votesnote: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to thecall for elections a year early
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NF33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2, PALU 1note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to thecall for elections a year earlyelections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
Judicial branch:Court of Justice (justices are nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of theAlternative Forum or AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity inPolitics or BEP, formed in January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN];Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition of twoparties, Democratic Party and Democrats of the 21st Century) [JulesWIJDENBOSCH]; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA[Joginder RAMKHILAWAN]; Millennium Combination or MC (a coalition ofthree parties, Democratic Alternative, Party for National Unity andSolidarity, and National Democratic Party) [leader NA]; NationalDemocratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or NK [leaderNA]; Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN]; Partyof National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]; PertjajaLuhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers'Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS]; The New Front or NF (a coalition offour parties Suriname National Party or NPS, Progressive ReformParty or VHP, Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur)[Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (acombination of three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or HPP,Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and SurinameProgressive People's Party or PSV) [Harry KISOENSINGH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [RonnieBRUNSWIJK]; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS];Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union forLiberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]
International organization participation:ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS,OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marsha E. BARNES embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900 FAX: [597] 420800
Flag description:five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is alarge, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy Suriname
Economy - overview:The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accountsfor more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Suriname'seconomic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewedcommitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to theintroduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promotecompetition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun anausterity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending.However, in 2002, President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raisefor civil servants, which threatens his earlier gains in stabilizingthe economy. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aidflow, which will allow Suriname to access international developmentfinancing. The short-term economic outlook depends on thegovernment's ability to control inflation and on the development ofprojects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $1.752 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services: 65% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):17% (2002 est.)
Labor force:100,000
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:17% (2000)
Budget:revenues: $393 millionexpenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34million (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products:paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Industries:bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, foodprocessing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - production:1.959 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.822 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:37 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:$495 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners:US 23.3%, Norway 18.4%, Belgium 12.5%, France 10.1%, Trinidad andTobago 7.1%, Iceland 4.7%, Italy 4.3%, Netherlands 4.2% (2003)
Imports:$604 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners:US 31.5%, Netherlands 18.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.5%, China 6.8%,Japan 6.4% (2003)
Debt - external:$321 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:Netherlands provided $37 million for project and programassistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million(1998)
Currency:Surinamese guilder (SRG)
Currency code:SRG
Exchange rates:Surinamese guilders per US dollar - NA (2003), 2,346.75 (2002),2,178.5 (2001), 1,322.47 (2000), 859.437 (1999)note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinctrates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, butsubsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; thegovernment currently allows trading within a band of SRG 500 aroundthe official rate
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Suriname
Telephones - main lines in use:79,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:168,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: international facilities are gooddomestic: microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:300,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sr
Internet hosts:18 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2002)
Transportation Suriname
Highways: total: 4,492 km paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km (2000)
Waterways:1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2003)
Pipelines:oil 51 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWTby type: cargo 1, container 1 (2004 est.)
Airports:46 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)
Military Suriname
Military branches:National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 124,260 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 72,576 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$7.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2003)
Transnational Issues Suriname
Disputes - international:area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and RiviereMarouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangleof land between the New and Kutari/Koetari Rivers in a historicdispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOSarbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname overthe axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-richwaters
Illicit drugs:growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined forEurope and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
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@Svalbard
Introduction Svalbard
Background:First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islandsserved as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18thcenturies. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five yearslater it officially took over the territory.
Geography Svalbard
Location:Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates:78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 62,049 sq kmnote: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)water: 0 sq kmland: 62,049 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,587 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 4 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway butnot recognized by Russia
Climate:arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, coldwinters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts ofSpitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coastclear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and northcoasts
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry andcloudberry) (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point forcoal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of thenortheastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine mainislands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
People Svalbard
Population: 2,756 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:-0.02% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NA yearsmale: NA yearsfemale: NA years
Total fertility rate:NA children born/woman
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0% (2001)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:0 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:0 (2001)
Ethnic groups:Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Languages:Norwegian, Russian
Literacy:NA
Government Svalbard
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to asSpitzbergen)
Dependency status:territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of theMinistry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing inLongyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereigntywas awarded to Norway
Government type:NA
Capital:Longyearbyen
Independence:none (territory of Norway)
National holiday:NA
Legal system:NA
Executive branch:chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since 8 June 2001)and Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since NA)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistantgovernor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry ofJustice
International organization participation:none
Flag description:the flag of Norway is used
Economy Svalbard
Economy - overview:Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treatyof 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploitmineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK,Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the onlycompanies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements onSvalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-ownedcoal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on theisland, runs many of the local services, and provides most of thelocal infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer,and fox.
GDP:purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA
Labor force:NA
Budget:revenues: $11.5 millionexpenditures: $11.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA(1998 est.)
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Exports:NA
Imports:NA
Economic aid - recipient:$8.2 million from Norway (1998)
Currency:Norwegian krone (NOK)
Currency code:NOK
Exchange rates:Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002),8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999)
Communications Svalbard
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: probably adequatedomestic: local telephone serviceinternational: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 ofunknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.sj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Svalbard
Highways: total: NA km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Merchant marine:none
Airports:4 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Svalbard
Military - note: demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)
Transnational Issues Svalbard
Disputes - international: despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
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@Swaziland
Introduction Swaziland
Background:Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by theBritish in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968.Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy(one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow politicalreform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswanaas the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDSinfection
Geography Swaziland
Location:Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 17,363 sq kmwater: 160 sq kmland: 17,203 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 mhighest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources:asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small goldand diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use: arable land: 10.35% permanent crops: 0.7% other: 88.95% (2001)
Irrigated land:690 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:drought
Environment - current issues:limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations beingdepleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soildegradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
People Swaziland
Population:1,169,241note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41% (male 242,090; female 237,395)15-64 years: 55.3% (male 323,004; female 324,029)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 18,685; female 24,038) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 18.6 yearsmale: 18.4 yearsfemale: 18.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.55% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:28.55 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:23.06 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 68.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 64.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 71.64 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 37.54 yearsmale: 39.1 yearsfemale: 35.94 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.81 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:38.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:17,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swazi(s)adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups:African 97%, European 3%
Religions:Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship)40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist,Mormon, Jewish and other 30%
Languages:English (official, government business conducted in English),siSwati (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 81.6%male: 82.6%female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
Government Swaziland
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Swazilandconventional short form: Swaziland
Government type:monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth
Capital:Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
Administrative divisions:4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution:a constitution was adopted 14 November 2003
Legal system:based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts andSwazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age
Executive branch:chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)head of government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI (since 14November 2003)cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed bythe monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of theSenate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and theHouse of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to beheld NA October 2008)election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on anonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the localcouncil of each constituency and for each constituency the threecandidates with the most votes in the first round of voting arenarrowed to a single winner by a second round
Judicial branch:High Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointedby the monarch
Political parties and leaders:political parties are banned by the constitution - the followingare considered political associations; Imbokodvo National Movementor INM [leader NA]; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC[Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement orPUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]; Swaziland National Front orSWANAFRO [Elmond SHONGWE, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA,NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYAFAX: [1] (202) 244-8059telephone: [1] (202) 362-6683chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James D. McGEE embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: [268] 404-5959
Flag description:three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a largeblack and white shield covering two spears and a staff decoratedwith feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Economy Swaziland
Economy - overview:In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupiesmore than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sector hasdiversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remainimportant foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined inimportance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone minesremaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a shortborder with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on SouthAfrica from which it receives about nine-tenths of its imports andto which it sends nearly three-quarters of its exports. Customsduties from the Southern African Customs Union and workerremittances from South Africa substantially supplement domesticallyearned income. The government is trying to improve the atmospherefor foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, andsometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More thanone-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2002because of drought, and more than one-third of the adult populationwas infected by HIV/AIDS.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $5.702 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.2% industry: 43.2% services: 40.5% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:40% (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 1%highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.3% (2003 est.)
Labor force:383,200 (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:34% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $462.4 millionexpenditures: $563.4 million, including capital expenditures of $147million (2003)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples,sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Industries:mining (coal), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textileand apparel
Industrial production growth rate:3.7% (FY95/96)
Electricity - production:348.3 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:962.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:639 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-72.69 million (2003)
Exports:$905.6 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Exports - partners:South Africa 72%, EU 14.2%, Mozambique 3.7%, US 3.5% (1999)
Imports:$1.088 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:South Africa 88.8%, EU 5.6%, Japan 0.6%, Singapore 0.4% (1999)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$277.5 million (2003)
Debt - external:$320 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$104 million (2001)
Currency:lilangeni (SZL)
Currency code:SZL
Exchange rates:emalangeni per US dollar - 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092(2001), 6.9398 (2000), 6.1095 (1999)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Swaziland
Telephones - main lines in use:46,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:88,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced systemdomestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines andlow-capacity, microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:170,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:5 plus 7 relay stations (2001)
Televisions:23,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.sz
Internet hosts:1,401 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2002)
Internet users:27,000 (2003)
Transportation Swaziland
Railways: total: 301 km narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2003)
Highways: total: 3,247 km paved: NA unpaved: NA (1998)
Ports and harbors:none
Airports:18 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Military Swaziland
Military branches:Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army, including Air Wing)
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 289,985 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 168,257 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$29 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.8% (2003)
Transnational Issues Swaziland
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Sweden
Introduction Sweden
Background:A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has notparticipated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutralitywas preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economicformula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfareelements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline overthe past several years has allowed the country to weather economicvagaries. Indecision over the country's role in the political andeconomic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EUuntil 1995, and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Geography Sweden
Location:Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates:62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 449,964 sq kmwater: 39,030 sq kmland: 410,934 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 2,233 km border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:3,218 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion ofstraits to high seas)exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlinescontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partlycloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain:mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad-2.41 mhighest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources:iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium,arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6.54% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 93.45% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf ofBothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea andthe Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and NorthSeas
People Sweden
Population:8,986,400 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.5% (male 807,193; female 762,882)15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,974,107; female 2,886,840)65 years and over: 17.3% (male 668,719; female 886,659) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 40.3 yearsmale: 39.2 yearsfemale: 41.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.18% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:10.46 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:10.38 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 2.93 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.3 yearsmale: 78.12 yearsfemale: 82.62 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.66 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swede(s)adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups:indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities;foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs,Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions:Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish,Buddhist
Languages:Swedishnote: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1979 est.)male: NAfemale: NA
Government Sweden
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Swedenconventional short form: Swedenlocal short form: Sverigelocal long form: Konungariket Sverige
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Stockholm
Administrative divisions:21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas,Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar,Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane,Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens,Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands
Independence:6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday:Flag Day, 6 June
Constitution:1 January 1975
Legal system:civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973);Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter ofthe monarch (born 14 July 1977)head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March1996)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerelections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the prime minister is elected by the Parliament; electionlast held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA September 2006)election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister with 131out of 349 votes
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected bypopular vote on a proportional representation basis to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA September2006)election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 39.8%,Moderates 15.2%, Liberal Party 13.3%, Christian Democrats 9.1%, LeftParty 8.3%, Center Party 6.1%, Greens 4.6%; seats by party - SocialDemocrats 144, Moderates 55, Liberal Party 48, Christian Democrats33, Left Party 30, Center Party 22, Greens 17
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by theprime minister and the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [GoranHAGGLUND]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokespersons areMaria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerlyCommunist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG];Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social DemocraticParty [Goran PERSSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA,NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP,UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC