This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Venezuela
Introduction Venezuela
Background:Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapseof Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador).For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruledby generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oilindustry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically electedgovernments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: apolarized political environment, a divided military, drug-relatedconflicts along the Colombian border, increasing internal drugconsumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its pricefluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that areendangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Geography Venezuela
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 912,050 sq kmwater: 30,000 sq kmland: 882,050 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline: 2,800 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 15 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,hydropower, diamonds
Land use: arable land: 2.95% other: 96.13% (2001) permanent crops: 0.92%
Irrigated land:540 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution ofLago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban andindustrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threatto the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Geography - note:on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; AngelFalls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
People Venezuela
Population:25,017,387 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.5% (male 3,930,413; female 3,687,744)15-64 years: 64.5% (male 8,107,382; female 8,034,905)65 years and over: 5% (male 571,289; female 685,654) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 25.2 yearsmale: 24.6 yearsfemale: 25.8 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.44% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:19.34 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 22.99 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 26.18 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.06 yearsmale: 71.02 yearsfemale: 77.32 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% - note: no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:62,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,000 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Venezuelan(s)adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups:Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenouspeople
Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages:Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.4%male: 93.8%female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Government Venezuela
Country name:conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelaconventional short form: Venezuelalocal long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuelalocal short form: Venezuela
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Caracas
Administrative divisions:23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 federal district*(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependenciafederal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, DistritoFederal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, NuevaEsparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulianote: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlledisland groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:30 December 1999
Legal system:based on organic laws as of July 1999; open, adversarial courtsystem; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL (since 28 April 2002);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent ofvote - 60%note: a special presidential recall vote on 15 August 2004 resultedin a victory for CHAVEZ; percent of vote - 58% in favor of CHAVEZfulfilling the remaining two years of his term, 42% in favor ofterminating his presidency immediatelyelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; threeseats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7),opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held July 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup]; Fifth RepublicMovement or MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Homeland for All or PPT [JoseALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialismor MAS [Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [JuanJose CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELASQUEZ];Social Christian Party or COPEI [Eduardo FERNANDEZ]; VenezuelaProject or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
Political pressure groups and leaders:FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organizationdominated by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation:CAN, CDB, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM,OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZchancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELDembassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de ValleArriba, Caracas 1080mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red withthe coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc ofseven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
Economy Venezuela
Economy - overview:Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector,which accounts for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of exportearnings, and more than half of government operating revenues.Despite higher oil prices at the end of 2002 and into 2003, domesticpolitical instability, culminating in a disastrous two-monthnational oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarilyhalted economic activity. The economy remained in depression in2003, declining by 9.2% after an 8.9% fall in 2002. In late 2003,President CHAVEZ committed himself to $1 billion in new socialprograms, money the government does not have.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $117.9 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-9.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 50% services: 45% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):12.6% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:47% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):31.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:11.38 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 13%, industry 23%, services 64% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:18% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $19.33 billionexpenditures: $24.34 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6billion (2003)
Public debt:38.8% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,pork, milk, eggs; fish
Industries:petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, foodprocessing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate:-15.4% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:87.6 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:81.47 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:3.08 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:505,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:63.95 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:31.71 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:31.71 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:4.202 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$9.659 billion (2003)
Exports:$25.86 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agriculturalproducts, basic manufactures
Exports - partners:US 52.9%, Netherlands Antilles 5%, Dominican Republic 3% (2003)
Imports:$10.71 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,construction materials
Imports - partners:US 28.8%, Colombia 7%, Brazil 6.6%, Mexico 4.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$20.67 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$32.51 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$74 million (2000)
Currency:bolivar (VEB)
Currency code:VEB
Exchange rates:bolivares per US dollar - 1,607.79 (2003), 1,160.95 (2002), 723.666(2001), 679.96 (2000), 605.717 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Venezuela
Telephones - main lines in use:2,841,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,463,600 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern and expandingdomestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recentsubstantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable ofdigital multimedia servicesinternational: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia inthe construction of an international fiber-optic network
Radio broadcast stations:AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:10.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ve
Internet hosts:35,301 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:1,274,400 (2002)
Transportation Venezuela
Railways: total: 682 km standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
Highways:total: 96,155 kmpaved: 32,308 kmunpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:7,100 kmnote: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoingvessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2004)
Pipelines:extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,360 km; refinedproducts 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Amuay, Bajo Grande, El Tablazo, La Guaira, La Salina, Maracaibo,Matanzas, Palua, Puerto Cabello, Puerto la Cruz, Puerto Ordaz,Puerto Sucre, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine:total: 48 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 740,919 GRT/1,191,483 DWTregistered in other countries: 4 (2004 est.)foreign-owned: Belgium 1, Denmark 2, Greece 2, Spain 1, UnitedStates 2by type: bulk 6, cargo 7, container 2, liquefied gas 5,multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo1, petroleum tanker 16, roll on/roll off 8, short-sea/passenger 1
Airports:368 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 127 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 242 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 88 under 914 m: 144 (2004 est.)
Military Venezuela
Military branches:National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN) includesGround Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces(Fuerzas Navales or Armada - including marines and Coast Guard), AirForce (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation orNational Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 6,886,775 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 4,953,803 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 250,730 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1,125.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Venezuela
Disputes - international:claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River, preventing anydiscussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed itsintention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS thatthe Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extendsinto their waters; maritime boundary dispute with Colombia in theGulf of Venezuela and the Caribbean Sea; US, France and theNetherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to give full effect to AvesIsland, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extendingover a large portion of the Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protestVenezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation andother states' recognition of it
Illicit drugs:small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processingof opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities ofcocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombiabound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-relatedmoney-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombiaand on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarilytargeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities byColombian insurgents on border
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Vietnam
Introduction Vietnam
Background:The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completedby 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independencewas declared after World War II, but the French continued to ruleuntil 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho ChiMinh, who took control of the North. US economic and military aid toSouth Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster thegovernment, but US armed forces were withdrawn following acease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnameseforces overran the South. Despite the return of peace, for over twodecades the country experienced little economic growth because ofconservative leadership policies. Since 2001, Vietnamese authoritieshave committed to economic liberalization and enacted structuralreforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce morecompetitive, export-driven industries. The country continues toexperience protests from the Montagnard ethnic minority populationof the Central Highlands over loss of land to Vietnamese settlersand religious persecution.
Geography Vietnam
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,560 sq kmland: 325,360 sq kmwater: 4,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline:3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season(mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October tomid-March)
Terrain:low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Natural resources:phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil andgas deposits, forests, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 19.97% permanent crops: 5.95% other: 74.08% (2001)
Irrigated land:30,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,especially in the Mekong River delta
Environment - current issues:logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute todeforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishingthreaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limitspotable water supply; growing urban industrialization and populationmigration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi MinhCity
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: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km acrossat its narrowest point
People Vietnam
Population:82,689,518 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.4% (male 12,524,098; female 11,807,763)15-64 years: 65% (male 26,475,156; female 27,239,543)65 years and over: 5.6% (male 1,928,568; female 2,714,390) (2004est.)
Median age: total: 24.9 years male: 24 years female: 25.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.3% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:19.58 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.14 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.88 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 33.71 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.35 yearsmale: 67.86 yearsfemale: 73.02 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.22 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:9,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups:Vietnamese 85%-90%, Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, mountaingroups
Religions:Buddhist, Hoa Hao, Cao Dai, Christian (predominantly RomanCatholic, some Protestant), indigenous beliefs, Muslim
Languages:Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a secondlanguage), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90.3%male: 93.9%female: 86.9% (2002)
Government Vietnam
Country name:conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnamconventional short form: Vietnamlocal long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Namabbreviation: SRVlocal short form: Viet Nam
Government type:Communist state
Capital:Hanoi
Administrative divisions:59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thudo, singular and plural): provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, BaRia-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, BinhThuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai,Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh,Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, LaiChau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, NinhBinh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, QuangNgai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh,Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, TuyenQuang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai: municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh
Independence:2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution:15 April 1992
Legal system:based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Tran Duc Luong (since 24 September 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (since 25 September1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (since 29September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Vu Khoan (8 August 2002) andPham Gia Khiem (since 29 September 1997)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of theprime minister and ratification of the National Assemblyelection results: Tran Duc Luong elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - NAelections: president elected by the National Assembly from among itsmembers for a five-year term; election last held 25 July 2002 (nextto be held when National Assembly meets following legislativeelections in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president fromamong the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministersappointed by the prime minister
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (498 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand forelection); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-yearterm by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)
Political parties and leaders:only party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc Manh,general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 consulate(s) general: San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500 FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy Vietnam
Economy - overview:Vietnam is a poor, densely-populated country that has had torecover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support fromthe old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally-plannedeconomy. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1996 inmoving forward from an extremely low starting point - growthaveraged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asianfinancial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy,but rather than prompting reform, reaffirmed the government's beliefthat shifting to a market-oriented economy would lead to disaster.GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 6% in 1998 and 5% in 1999. Growththen rose to 6% to 7% in 2000-02 even against the background ofglobal recession. These numbers mask some major difficulties ineconomic performance. Many domestic industries, including coal,cement, steel, and paper, have reported large stockpiles ofinventory and tough competition from more efficient foreignproducers. Since the Party elected new leadership in 2001,Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economicliberalization and have moved to implement the structural reformsneeded to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive,export-driven industries. The US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreemententered into force near the end of 2001 and is expected tosignificantly increase Vietnam's exports to the US. The US isassisting Vietnam with implementing the legal and structural reformscalled for in the agreement.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $203.7 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.2% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.8% industry: 39.7% services: 38.5% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):33% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:37% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:45.74 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 63%, industry and services 37% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.1% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $8.689 billionexpenditures: $9.718 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8billion (2003 est.)
Public debt:64.3% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:paddy rice, corn, potatoes, rubber, soybeans, coffee, tea, bananas,sugar; poultry, pigs, fish
Industries:food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building, mining, cement,chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper
Industrial production growth rate:16% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:29.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:27.71 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:356,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:185,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:1.4 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:192.6 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-1.781 billion (2003)
Exports:$19.88 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,shoes
Exports - partners:US 21.9%, Japan 13.8%, Australia 6.8%, China 6.5%, Germany 5.8%,Singapore 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2003)
Imports:$22.5 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steelproducts, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports - partners:China 13.7%, Taiwan 11.4%, Japan 11.3%, South Korea 11%, Singapore10.4%, US 5.7%, Thailand 5.4%, Hong Kong 4.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$6.357 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$14.69 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.8 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 2000 (2004)
Currency:dong (VND)
Currency code:VND
Exchange rates:dong per US dollar - 15,279.5 (2003), 15,279.5 (2002), 14,725.2(2001), 14,167.7 (2000), 13,943.2 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Vietnam
Telephones - main lines in use:4.402 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.742 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort intomodernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but itsperformance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighborsdomestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected toHanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable ormicrowave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantiallyincreased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidlyinternational: country code - 84; satellite earth stations - 2Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Radios:8.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:3.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:.vn
Internet hosts:340 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:3.5 million (2003)
Transportation Vietnam
Railways:total: 2,600 kmstandard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gaugedual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435-m and 1.000-mgauges (2003)narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge
Highways: total: 93,300 km paved: 23,418 km unpaved: 69,882 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 432 km; gas 210 km; oil 3 km; refined products 206km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Cam Ranh, Da Nang, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long, Quy Nhon,Nha Trang, Vinh, Vung Tau
Merchant marine:total: 194 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,170,621 GRT/1,798,376 DWTregistered in other countries: 11 (2004 est.)by type: bulk 16, cargo 135, chemical tanker 1, container 8,liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 3, rollon/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: Cambodia 1, Germany 1, Japan 2, South Korea 1, UnitedKingdom 3
Airports:19 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 16over 3,047 m: 62,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 6 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.)
Military Vietnam
Military branches:People's Army of Vietnam: Ground Forces, People's Navy Command(including Naval Infantry), Air and Air Defense Force, Coast Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 2 years (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 23,438,858 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 14,694,574 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 853,197 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$650 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Vietnam
Disputes - international:demarcation of the land boundary with China continues, but maritimeboundary and joint fishing zone agreement remains unimplemented;Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armedencroachments along border; China occupies Paracel Islands alsoclaimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute withChina, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei over theSpratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legallybinding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants
Illicit drugs:minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point forSoutheast Asian heroin; domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamineaddiction problems
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Virgin Islands
Introduction Virgin Islands
Background: During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Geography Virgin Islands
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 352 sq kmwater: 3 sq kmland: 349 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:188 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively lowhumidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May toNovember
Terrain:mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use: arable land: 11.76% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 85.29% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughtsand floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:lack of natural freshwater resources
Geography - note:important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lanefor the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best naturaldeepwater harbors in the Caribbean
People Virgin Islands
Population:108,775 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.8% (male 13,116; female 12,770)15-64 years: 66% (male 33,944; female 37,870)65 years and over: 10.2% (male 4,855; female 6,220) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 35.9 yearsmale: 35.1 yearsfemale: 36.7 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.05% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:14.49 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 9.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.75 yearsmale: 74.91 yearsfemale: 82.82 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.21 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: Virgin Islander(s)adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:black 78%, white 10%, other 12%note: West Indian 81% (49% born in the Virgin Islands and 32% bornelsewhere in the West Indies), US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 4%,other 2%
Religions:Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:English (official), Spanish, Creole
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Government Virgin Islands
Country name:conventional long form: United States Virgin Islandsconventional short form: Virgin Islandsformer: Danish West Indies
Dependency status:organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relationsbetween the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of theOffice of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrativedivisions as defined by the US Government, but there are threeislands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
National holiday:Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Constitution:Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:based on US laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizensbut do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001)election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor;percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, Johnde JONGH 24.4%elections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor electedon the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; electionlast held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5January 1999)cabinet: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve two-year terms)elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November2004)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to theUS House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002(next to be held 2 November 2004); results - Donna M.CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
Judicial branch:US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuitjurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governorfor 10-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens'Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)
Flag description:white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between thelarge blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagleholding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the otherwith a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below ablue panel
Economy Virgin Islands
Economy - overview:Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDPand employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year.The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles,electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agriculturalsector is small, with most food being imported. Internationalbusiness and financial services are a small but growing component ofthe economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is atSaint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage fromstorms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, tosupport construction projects in the private sector, to expandtourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 1%industry: 19%services: 80% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.2% (2003)
Labor force:48,900 (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.3% (2003 est.)
Budget: revenues: $560 expenditures: NA (2003)
Agriculture - products:fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle
Industries:tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling,construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:1.03 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:957.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:refined petroleum products
Exports - partners:US, Puerto Rico
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials
Imports - partners:US, Puerto Rico
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency:US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Virgin Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:69,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:41,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: modern system with total digital switching, usesfiber-optic cable and microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 1-340; submarine cable and satellitecommunications; satellite earth stations - NA
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (2002)
Televisions:68,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.vi
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:30,000 (2002)
Transportation Virgin Islands
Highways:total: 856 kmpaved: NA kmnote: the only US possession where driving on the left side of theroad is practiced (2000)unpaved: NA km
Ports and harbors:Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix
Merchant marine:none
Airports:2 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Virgin Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Virgin Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Wake Island
Introduction Wake Island
Background:The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. Animportant air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the endof World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as astopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircrafttransiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has beenused by the US military and some commercial cargo planes, as well asfor emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on theisland.
Geography Wake Island
Location:Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of theway from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands
Geographic coordinates:19 17 N, 166 36 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 6.5 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmland: 6.5 sq km
Area - comparative:about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:19.3 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical
Terrain:atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano;central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources:none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:NA