Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jan ELIASSON consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador M. Teel BIVINS embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch) telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00 FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64
Flag description:blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag;the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in thestyle of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Sweden
Economy - overview:Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole 20th century, Swedenhas achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system ofhigh-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a moderndistribution system, excellent internal and external communications,and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron oreconstitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented towardforeign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% ofindustrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50%of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and2% of the jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal disciplineresulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cutby more than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown,declining revenue, and increased spending. The Swedish central bank(the Riksbank) is focusing on price stability with its inflationtarget of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003. On September 14,2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system,concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $238.3 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.7% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $26,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 29% services: 69% (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):15.7% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:25 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.9% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.449 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.9% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $177.7 billionexpenditures: $176.9 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:51.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephoneparts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods,motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:1.9% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:152.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:134.9 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:18.45 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:11.14 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:328,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:203,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:553,100 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:949 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:968 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$19.56 billion (2003)
Exports:$102.8 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, ironand steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 11.5%, Germany 10%, Norway 8.4%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 6.4%, Finland5.7%, Netherlands 4.9%, France 4.9%, Belgium 4.5% (2003)
Imports:$83.27 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motorvehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:Germany 18.7%, Denmark 9%, UK 8%, Norway 8%, Netherlands 6.8%,Finland 5.6%, France 5.5%, Belgium 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$19.99 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Currency:Swedish krona (SEK)
Currency code:SEK
Exchange rates:Swedish kronor per US dollar - 8.0853 (2003), 9.7371 (2002),10.3291 (2001), 9.1622 (2000), 8.2624 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use:6,579,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7.949 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and internationalfacilities; automatic systemdomestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voicetraffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry someadditional telephone channelsinternational: country code - 46; 5 submarine coaxial cables;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat,and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Swedenshares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries(Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:8.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:4.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:.se
Internet hosts:945,221 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):29 (2000)
Internet users:5.125 million (2002)
Transportation Sweden
Railways: total: 11,481 km standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (7,527 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 212,402 kmpaved: 166,523 km (including 1,499 km of expressways)unpaved: 45,879 km (2000)
Pipelines:gas 798 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Gavle, Goteborg, Halmstad, Helsingborg, Hudiksvall, Kalmar,Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Solvesborg, Stockholm, Sundsvall
Merchant marine:total: 178 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,702,763 GRT/1,884,570 DWTby type: bulk 7, cargo 36, chemical tanker 31, combination bulk 1,combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 39,short-sea/passenger 8, specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 23registered in other countries: 154 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Denmark 12, Finland 10, Germany 3, Italy 7, Japan 2,Netherlands 1, Norway 12, Russia 1
Airports:255 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 154 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 100 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 90 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2003 est.)
Military Sweden
Military branches:Army, Royal Navy, Air Force (Flygvapnet)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 7 to 17 months depending on conscript role; after completing initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment until the age of 47 (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,082,776 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,821,394 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 56,859 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.395 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Sweden
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Switzerland
Introduction Switzerland
Background:Switzerland's independence and neutrality have long been honored bythe major European powers, and Switzerland was not involved ineither of the two World Wars. The political and economic integrationof Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's rolein many UN and international organizations, has strengthenedSwitzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did notofficially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains activein many UN and international organizations, but retains a strongcommitment to neutrality.
Geography Switzerland
Location:Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 41,290 sq kmwater: 1,520 sq kmland: 39,770 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:total: 1,852 kmborder countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowywinters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a centralplateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 mhighest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources:hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use: arable land: 10.42% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 88.97% (2001)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Environment - current issues:air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acidrain; water pollution from increased use of agriculturalfertilizers; loss of biodiversity
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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along withsoutheastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, hasthe highest elevations in the Alps
People Switzerland
Population:7,450,867 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.8% (male 647,362; female 602,333)15-64 years: 67.9% (male 2,555,089; female 2,503,331)65 years and over: 15.3% (male 466,615; female 676,137) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 39.5 yearsmale: 38.5 yearsfemale: 40.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.54% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:9.83 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:4.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.43 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 4.94 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.31 yearsmale: 77.51 yearsfemale: 83.27 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.42 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:19,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swiss (singular and plural)adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:Roman Catholic 46.1%, Protestant 40%, other 5%, none 8.9% (1990)
Languages:German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 19.2%, Italian(official) 7.6%, Romansch (official) 0.6%, other 8.9%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male:female:
Government Switzerland
Country name:conventional long form: Swiss Confederationconventional short form: Switzerlandlocal short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera(Italian)local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Bern
Administrative divisions:26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular- cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau,Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura,Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen,Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence:1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament18 December 1998; adopted by referendum 18 April 1999; officiallyentered into force 1 January 2000
Legal system:civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of generalobligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005);Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005);Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the FederalAssembly usually from among its own members for a four-year termelections: president and vice president elected by the FederalAssembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-yearterms that run concurrently; election last held 8 December 2004(next to be held December 2005)election results: Samuel SCHMID elected president; percent ofFederal Assembly vote - 70.7%; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vicepresident; percent of legislative vote - 64.8%
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German),Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian)consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseildes Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats- members serve four-year terms) and the National Council orNationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), ConsiglioNazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popularvote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-yearterms)elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons 19 October2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held);National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held NAOctober 2007)election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; NationalCouncil - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%, FDP17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%;seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13,other small parties 14
Judicial branch:Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by theFederal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti EcologisteSuisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, PartidaEcologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER]; Christian DemocraticPeople's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz orCVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, PartitoDemocratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, PartidaCristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Doris LEUTHARD,president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-DemokratischePartei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD,Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [MarianneKLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, president]; Social Democratic Party(Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti SocialistSuisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, PartidaSocialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, president];Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, UnionDemocratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; andother minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFERconsulate(s): Bostonconsulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, NewYork, and San FranciscoFAX: [1] (202) 387-2564telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela P. WILLEFORD embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Flag description:red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center thatdoes not extend to the edges of the flag
Economy Switzerland
Economy - overview:Switzerland is a prosperous and stable modern market economy withlow unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDPlarger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss inrecent years have brought their economic practices largely intoconformity with the EU's to enhance their internationalcompetitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors,because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept upthe franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economicconditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $239.3 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-0.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $32,700 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 34% services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.1 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:3.72 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 4.6%, industry 26.3%, services 69.1% (1998)
Unemployment rate:3.7% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $123.2 billionexpenditures: $128 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:57.1% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate:0.4% (2003)
Electricity - production:68.68 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:53.43 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:34.54 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:24.1 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:290,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$36 billion (2003)
Exports:$110 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:Germany 20.8%, US 11.3%, France 8.7%, Italy 8.3%, UK 4.9%, Japan 4%(2003)
Imports:$102.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,textiles
Imports - partners:Germany 32.3%, France 10.8%, Italy 10.7%, US 5.5%, Netherlands 5%,Austria 4.2%, UK 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$69.58 billion (2003)
Debt - external:NA (2000)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency:Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:CHF
Exchange rates:Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876(2001), 1.6888 (2000), 1.5022 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:5.419 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6.172 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networksinternational: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ch
Internet hosts:667,275 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Internet users:2.556 million (2002)
Transportation Switzerland
Railways:total: 4,533 kmstandard gauge: 3,483 km 1.435-m gauge (3,472 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,004 km 1.000-m gauge (974 km electrified); 46 km0.800-m gauge (46 km electrified) (2003)
Highways:total: 71,011 kmpaved: 71,011 km (including 1,638 of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Waterways:65 kmnote: Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden andSchaffhausen-Bodensee, some canals, and 12 navigable lakes (2003)
Pipelines:gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Basel
Merchant marine:total: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 604,843 GRT/1,050,914 DWTregistered in other countries: 182 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 15, cargo 6, chemical tanker 3, container 3, petroleumtanker 2, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Netherlands 1, United Kingdom 6, UnitedStates 1
Airports:65 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2003 est.)
Military Switzerland
Military branches:Land Forces, Air Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training, followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22 years (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 1,890,091 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,606,391 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 45,654 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Switzerland
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:a major international financial center vulnerable to the layeringand integration stages of money laundering; despite significantlegislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist andnonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshoreentities and various intermediaries; transit country for andconsumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Syria
Introduction Syria
Background:Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. Inthe 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel.Since 1976, Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon, ostensiblyin a peacekeeping capacity. Over the past decade, Syria and Israelhave held occasional peace talks over the return of the GolanHeights.
Geography Syria
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 185,180 sq kmnote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territorywater: 1,130 sq kmland: 184,050 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,253 kmborder countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:193 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 41 nm
Climate:mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild,rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather withsnow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 mhighest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, ironore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 25.22% permanent crops: 4.43% other: 70.35% (2001)
Irrigated land:12,130 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; waterpollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequatepotable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in theIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.)
People Syria
Population:18,016,874note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupiedGolan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) andabout 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38% (male 3,524,406; female 3,319,323)15-64 years: 58.7% (male 5,421,133; female 5,163,669)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 281,795; female 306,548) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 20 yearsmale: 19.9 yearsfemale: 20.2 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:2.4% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:28.93 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:4.96 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 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: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.6 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 30.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 30.82 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.71 yearsmale: 68.47 yearsfemale: 71.02 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.61 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Syrian(s)adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus,Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages:Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widelyunderstood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.9%male: 89.7%female: 64% (2003 est.)
Government Syria
Country name:conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republicconventional short form: Syrialocal short form: Suriyahformer: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
Government type:republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital:Damascus
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, AlLadhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr azZawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence:17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Frenchadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution:13 March 1973
Legal system:based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religiouscourts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); VicePresidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) andMuhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10September 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death ofPresident Hafiz al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime ministerand deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentnote: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June 2000, the Ba'thParty nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his nameto the People's Council on 25 June 2000election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote- Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-shaab (250 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - theconstitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPFalliance) receives one-half of the seatselections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-yearterms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation;State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:National Progressive Front or NPF (includes Arab SocialistRenaissance (Ba'th) Party; the governing party) [President Basharal-ASAD, secretary general]; Socialist Unionist Democratic Party[Fadlallal Nasr Al-DIN]; Syrian Communist Party (two branches)[Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yuusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Unionist SocialistParty [Fayez ISMAIL]; Arab Socialist Unionist Movement [Ahmedal-AHMED]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan QUDSI]);Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:conservative religious leaders; Kurdish Democratic Alliance [leaderNA]; Kurdish Democratic Front [lader NA]; Muslim Brotherhood(operates in exile in London) [Ali Badr Eddine al-BAYANOUNI];National Democratic Front [Hassan Abd al-AZIM]
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFAchancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342 FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colorsassociated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small greenfive-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two starsrepresented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar tothe flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which hasthree green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal linecentered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a goldEagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current designdates to 1980
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:Syria's predominantly statist economy lately has been growing moreslowly than its 2.4% annual population growth rate. Recentlegislation allows private banks to operate in Syria, although aprivate banking sector will take years and further governmentcooperation to develop. Factors, including the war between theUS-led coalition and Iraq, probably drove real annual GDP growthlevels back below 1% in 2003 following growth of 3.5% in 2001 and4.5% in 2002. A long-run economic constraint is the pressure onwater supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrialexpansion, and increased water pollution.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $58.01 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,300 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28.5% industry: 29.4% services: 42.1% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):13.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:20% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.97 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture, industry, services NA
Unemployment rate:20% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.106 billionexpenditures: $7.397 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.6billion (2003 est.)
Public debt:89% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets;beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Industries:petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphaterock mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:23.26 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:21.63 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:522,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:265,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.4 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-72 million (2003)
Exports:$5.143 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber,clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
Exports - partners:Germany 20.9%, Italy 12.6%, UAE 7.6%, Lebanon 6.2%, Turkey 6%,France 5.4%, Croatia 4.8%, US 4.1% (2003)
Imports:$4.845 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, foodand livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemicalproducts, plastics, yarn, paper
Imports - partners:Germany 7.2%, Italy 7.1%, China 6.3%, France 5.9%, Turkey 5.4%(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$3.329 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$21.55 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$199 million (1997 est.)
Currency:Syrian pound (SYP)
Currency code:SYP
Exchange rates:Syrian pounds per US dollar - (Official rate): 11.225 (2003),11.225 (2002), 11.225 (2001), 11.225 (2000), 11.225 (1999), (Freemarket rate): 49.65 (2001), 49.4 (2000), 51.7 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Syria
Telephones - main lines in use:2,099,300 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:400,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significantimprovement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technologydomestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 963; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq,Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sy
Internet hosts:11 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:220,000 (2002)
Transportation Syria
Railways:total: 2,711 kmstandard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 43,381 kmpaved: 10,021 km (including 877 km of expressways)unpaved: 33,360 km (1999)
Waterways:900 km (not economically significant) (2002)
Pipelines:gas 2,300 km; oil 2,183 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Baniyas, Jablah, Latakia, Tartus
Merchant marine:total: 122 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 446,981 GRT/636,620 DWTforeign-owned: Egypt 1, Germany 1, Greece 1, Italy 1, Lebanon 10,Romania 1registered in other countries: 83 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 12, cargo 101, container 2, livestock carrier 4,petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
Airports:93 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 3
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 7 (2003 est.)
Military Syria
Military branches:Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force(including Air Defense Command), Police and Security Force
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 30 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,876,040 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,716,054 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 216,077 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $858 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.9% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Syria
Disputes - international:Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied; Lebanon claims Shaba'a farms inGolan Heights; Syrian troops have been stationed in Lebanon sinceOctober 1976; Syria protests Turkish hydrological projectsregulating upper Euphrates waters; settled border dispute withJordan in 2004
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 413,827 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))IDPs: 170,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967Arab-Israeli War) (2004)
Illicit drugs:a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional andWestern markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls, bankprivatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Taiwan
Introduction Taiwan
Background:In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan.Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following theCommunist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalistsfled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades,the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated thenative population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwanunderwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalistto the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, theisland prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers."The dominant political issues continue to be the relationshipbetween Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventualunification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.
Geography Taiwan
Location:Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea,South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, offthe southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates:23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 35,980 sq kmnote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoywater: 3,720 sq kmland: 32,260 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June toAugust); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rollingplains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Natural resources:small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 1%other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:earthquakes and typhoons
Environment - current issues:air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, rawsewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade inendangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan'sinternational statussigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because ofTaiwan's international status
Geography - note:strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the LuzonStrait
People Taiwan
Population:22,749,838 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.9% (male 2,359,467; female 2,167,438)15-64 years: 70.7% (male 8,149,231; female 7,924,774)65 years and over: 9.4% (male 1,091,473; female 1,057,455) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 33.7 years male: 33.3 years female: 34.1 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:0.64% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:12.7 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 7.21 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.06 yearsmale: 74.31 yearsfemale: 80.08 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.57 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Chinese/Taiwanese (singular and plural)adjective: Chinese/Taiwanese
Ethnic groups:Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions:mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%,other 2.5%
Languages:Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.1% (2003)
Government Taiwan
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local short form: T'ai-wan local long form: none former: Formosa
Government type:multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly-elected presidentand unicameral legislature
Capital:Taipei
Administrative divisions:includes central island of Taiwan plus numerous smaller islandsnear central island and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwanis divided into 18 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5municipalities (shih, singular and plural), and 2 specialmunicipalities (chuan-shih, singular and plural): counties: Chang-hua, Chia-i, Hsin-chu, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiungcounty, Kin-men, Lien-chiang, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu,P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-nan, T'ai-pei county, T'ai-tung,T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin: municipalities: Chia-i, Chi-lung, Hsin-chu, T'ai-chung, T'ai-nannote: Taiwan generally uses Wade-Giles system for romanization;special municipality of Taipei adopted standard pinyin romanizationfor street and place names within city boundaries, other localauthorities have selected a variety of romanization systems: special municipalities: Kao-hsiung city, T'ai-pei city
National holiday:Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October(1911)
Constitution:25 December 1946, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, and 2000
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President CHEN Shui-bian (since 20 May 2000) andVice President Annette LU (LU Hsiu-lien) (since 20 May 2000)head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) FrankHSIEH (since 1 February 2005) and Vice Premier (Vice President ofthe Executive Yuan) YEH Chu-lan (since 20 May 2004)elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 20 March2004 (next to be held in March 2008); premier appointed by thepresident; vice premiers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the premierelection results: CHEN Shui-bian re-elected president; percent ofvote - CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 50.1%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 49.9%cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president