Transnational Issues World
Disputes - international:stretching over 250,000 km, the world's 325 international landboundaries separate the 192 independent states and 72 dependencies,areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities;ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided statesinto separate political entities as much as history, physicalterrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimesarbitrary and imposed boundaries; maritime states have claimedlimits and have so far established over 130 maritime boundaries andjoint development zones to allocate ocean resources and to providefor national security at sea; boundary, borderland/resource, andterritorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant toviolent or militarized; most disputes over the alignment ofpolitical boundaries are confined to short segments and are todayless common and less hostile than borderland, resource, andterritorial disputes; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, andunmanaged boundaries, however, encourage illegal cross-borderactivities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorialdisputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or theymay be brought on by resource competition; ethnic clashes continueto be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation aroundthe world; disputes over islands at sea or in rivers frequently formthe source of territorial and boundary conflict; other sources ofcontention include access to water and mineral (especiallypetroleum) resources, fisheries, and arable land; nonetheless, mostnations cooperate to clarify their international boundaries and toresolve territorial and resource disputes peacefully; regionaldiscord directly affects the sustenance and welfare of localpopulations, often leaving the world community to cope withresultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, deforestation,and desertification
Illicit drugs:cocaine: worldwide, coca is grown on an estimated 173,450hectares-almost exclusively in South America with 70% in Colombia;potential cocaine production during 2003 is estimated at 728 metrictons (or 835 metric tons of export quality cocaine); cocaeradication programs continue in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru; 376metric tons of export quality cocaine are documented to have beenseized in 2003, and 26 metric tons disrupted (jettisoned ordestroyed); consumption of export quality cocaine is estimated tohave been 800 metric tonsopiates: cultivation of opium poppy occurred on an estimated 137,944hectares in 2003-mostly in Southwest and Southeast Asia-with 44% inAfghanistan, potentially produced 3,775 metric tons of opium - whichconceivably could be converted to the equivalent of 429 metric tonsof pure heroin; opium eradication programs have been undertaken inAfghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Yemen
Introduction Yemen
Background:North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. TheBritish, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern portof Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became SouthYemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxistorientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenisfrom the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostilitybetween the states. The two countries were formally unified as theRepublic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to adelimitation of their border.
Geography Yemen
Location:Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea,between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 527,970 sq kmland: 527,970 sq kmnote: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YARor North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic ofYemen (PDRY or South Yemen)water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries: total: 1,746 km border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline:1,906 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margincontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in westernmountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry,harsh desert in east
Terrain:narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and ruggedmountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into thedesert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 mhighest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Natural resources:petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold,lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land use: arable land: 2.78% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 96.98% (2001)
Irrigated land:4,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Environment - current issues: very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Seaand the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
People Yemen
Population:20,024,867 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.6% (male 4,751,776; female 4,582,277)15-64 years: 50.6% (male 5,166,437; female 4,973,543)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 273,199; female 277,635) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.5 yearsfemale: 16.5 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:3.44% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:43.16 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 63.26 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 58.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 68.12 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 61.36 yearsmale: 59.53 yearsfemale: 63.29 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.75 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups:predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans
Religions:Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers ofJewish, Christian, and Hindu
Languages:Arabic
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 50.2%male: 70.5%female: 30% (2003 est.)
Government Yemen
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Yemenconventional short form: Yemenlocal short form: Al Yamanlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
Government type:republic
Capital:Sanaa
Administrative divisions:19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, AdDali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit,'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah,San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izznote: for electoral and administrative purposes, the capital city ofSanaa is treated as an additional governorate
Independence:22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of theYemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and theMarxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen(Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen had becomeindependent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and SouthYemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday:Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Constitution:16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001
Legal system:based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and localtribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990,the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the mergerof North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-RabMansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994)head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Qadir BA JAMAL (since 4April 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on theadvice of the prime ministerelection results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent ofvote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 96.3%, Najib Qahtan AL-SHAABI 3.7%elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for aseven-year term (recently extended from a five-year term byconstitutional amendment); election last held 23 September 1999(next to be held NA 2006); vice president appointed by thepresident; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed bythe president
Legislative branch:a new constitutional amendment ratified on 20 February 2001 createda bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats;members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives(301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National ArabSocialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14elections: last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2009)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:there are more than 12 political parties active in Yemen, some ofthe more prominent are: General People's Congress or GPC [PresidentAli Abdallah SALIH]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [ShaykhAbdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR]; National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party[Dr. Qassim SALAAM]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdel Malikal-MAKHLAFI]; Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]note: President SALIH's General People's Congress or GPC won alandslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election and nolonger governs in coalition with Shaykh Abdallah bin Husaynal-AHMAR's Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah - the two parties hadbeen in coalition since the end of the civil war in 1994; the YSP, aloyal opposition party, represents the remnants of the former SouthYemeni leadership; leaders of the 1994 secessionist movement havebeen pardoned by President SALIH and some are now returning to Yemenfrom exile
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahhab Abdallah al-HAJRI FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760 chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKIembassy: Saawan Street, Sanaamailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaatelephone: [967] (1) 303-151 through 159FAX: [967] (1) 303-160/161/162/164/165
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars and of Iraqwhich has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in ahorizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flagof Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
Economy Yemen
Economy - overview:Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reportedstrong growth in the mid-1990s with the onset of oil production. Ithas been harmed by periodic declines in oil prices, but now benefitsfrom current high prices. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supportedstructural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamlinethe economy, which has led to substantial foreign debt relief andrestructuring. International donors, meeting in Paris in October2002, agreed on a further $2.3 billion economic support package.Yemen has worked to maintain tight control over spending and toimplement additional components of the IMF program. A markedly highpopulation growth rate and internal political dissension complicatethe government's task. Plans include a diversification of theeconomy, encouragement of tourism, and more efficient use of scarcewater resources.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $15.09 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.2% industry: 45% services: 39.7% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):29.1% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:15.7% (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):10.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force:5.79 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force
Unemployment rate:35% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.729 billionexpenditures: $4.107 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:39.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat (mildly narcotic shrub),coffee, cotton; dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle,camels), poultry; fish
Industries:crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale productionof cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts;small aluminum products factory; cement
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:3.01 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.8 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:438,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:74,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:3.2 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:480 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$157 million (2003)
Exports:$3.92 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish
Exports - partners:China 31.7%, Thailand 20.3%, India 15.6%, South Korea 4.9%,Malaysia 4.3% (2003)
Imports:$3.042 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:UAE 12.9%, Saudi Arabia 10.2%, China 8.9%, US 4.9%, Kuwait 4.4%,France 4.1% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$5.009 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$6.044 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements)
Currency:Yemeni rial (YER)
Currency code:YER
Exchange rates:Yemeni rials per US dollar - NA (2003), 175.625 (2002), 168.672(2001), 161.718 (2000), 155.718 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Yemen
Telephones - main lines in use:542,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:411,100 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have beenmade to create a national telecommunications networkdomestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay,cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM cellular mobile telephonesystemsinternational: country code - 967; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay toSaudi Arabia and Djibouti
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:1.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:470,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ye
Internet hosts:138 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:100,000 (2002)
Transportation Yemen
Highways: total: 67,000 km paved: 7,705 km unpaved: 59,295 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:gas 88 km; oil 1,174 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Aden, Al Hudaydah, Al Mukalla, As Salif, Ras Issa, Mocha, Nishtun
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,766 GRT/24,794 DWTby type: cargo 1, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 3, rollon/roll off 1foreign-owned: Hong Kong 2, Lebanon 1registered in other countries: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports:44 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 16over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 28over 3,047 m: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Military Yemen
Military branches:Army (including Special Forces), Naval Forces and Coastal Defenses(including Marines), Air Force (including Air Defense Forces),Republican Guard
Military manpower - military age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 4,617,064 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 2,590,720 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:males: 255,426 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$885.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:7.9% (2003)
Military - note:establishment of a Coast Guard, scheduled for May 2001, has beendelayed
Transnational Issues Yemen
Disputes - international:Yemen protests Eritrea fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded toYemen by the ICJ in 1999; nomadic groups in border region with SaudiArabia resist demarcation of boundary in accordance wih 2000 JeddahTreaty; Yemen protests Saudi erection of a concrete-filled pipe as asecurity barrier in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities insections of the boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 60,901 (Somalia) (2004)
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Zambia
Introduction Zambia
Background:The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the SouthAfrica Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923.During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred developmentand immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and aprolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an endto one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatantharassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked byadministrative problems with three parties filing a legal petitionchallenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA.The new president launched a far-reaching anti-corruption campaignin 2002, which resulted in the prosecution of former PresidentFrederick CHILUBA and many of his supporters in late 2003.Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in theNational Assembly.
Geography Zambia
Location:Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates:15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 752,614 sq kmwater: 11,890 sq kmland: 740,724 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,664 kmborder countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain:mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Zambezi river 329 mhighest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources:copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium,hydropower
Land use: arable land: 7.08% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 92.9% (2001)
Irrigated land:460 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Environment - current issues:air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction andrefining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriouslythreatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations;deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate watertreatment presents human health risks
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary withZimbabwe
People Zambia
Population:10,462,436note: 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: 46.1% (male 2,419,361; female 2,401,538)15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,684,001; female 2,667,528)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 132,166; female 157,842) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 16.6 yearsmale: 16.5 yearsfemale: 16.6 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate:1.47% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:38.99 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:24.35 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: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 98.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 90.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 105.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 35.18 yearsmale: 35.19 yearsfemale: 35.17 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.14 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:16.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1.8 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:170,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malariaoverall degree of risk: very high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Zambian(s)adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups:African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions:Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda,Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write Englishtotal population: 80.6%male: 86.8%female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
Government Zambia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Zambiaconventional short form: Zambiaformer: Northern Rhodesia
Government type:republic
Capital:Lusaka
Administrative divisions:9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka,Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence:24 October 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution:24 August 1991
Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);Vice President Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);Vice President Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof the National Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December2006); vice president appointed by the presidentelection results: Levy MWANAWASA elected president; percent of vote- Levy MWANAWASA 29%, Anderson MAZOKA 27%, Christon TEMBO 13%,Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%, Godfrey MIYANDA 8%, Benjamin MWILA 5%, MichaelSATA 3%, other 5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held NA December2006)election results: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%,UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%;seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP1, independents 1; seats not determined 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed bythe president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civiland criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum forDemocracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party orHP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [RogerCHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [LevyMWANAWASA, acting president]; National Leadership for Development orNLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU];Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Zambian Republican Party orZRP [Benjamin MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [GwendolineKONIE]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA,president]; United Party for National Development or UPND [AndersonMAZOKA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI,UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719 chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Martin George BRENNAN embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (1) 250-955 FAX: [260] (1) 252-225
Flag description:green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side),black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge ofthe flag
Economy Zambia
Economy - overview:Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia'seconomic growth remains below the 5% to 7% necessary to reducepoverty significantly. Privatization of government-owned coppermines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generatedby the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper miningto return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper outputincreased in 2003 and is expected to increase again in 2004, due tohigher copper prices. The maize harvest doubled in 2003, helpingboost GDP by 4.0%. Cooperation continues with international bodieson programs to reduce poverty, including a new lending arrangementwith the IMF expected in the second quarter, 2004. A tightermonetary policy will help cut inflation, but Zambia still has aserious problem with fiscal discipline.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $8.596 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.3% industry: 27.9% services: 56.9% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):45.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:86% (1993)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 41% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:52.6 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):21.4% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.59 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%
Unemployment rate:50% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $896.7 millionexpenditures: $1.142 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003 est.)
Public debt:133.6% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers,tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs,poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee
Industries:copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate:4% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:7.751 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.458 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:1.75 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-340 million (2003)
Exports:$1.039 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper 55%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton
Exports - partners:UK 26.7%, South Africa 21.6%, Tanzania 13.9%, Switzerland 8.1%(2003)
Imports:$1.128 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products,electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:South Africa 48.3%, Zimbabwe 12.8%, UK 5.9%, UAE 4.3% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$247.7 million (2003)
Debt - external:$5.281 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:$651 million (2000 est.)
Currency:Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Currency code:ZMK
Exchange rates:Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 4,733.77 (2003), 4,398.59 (2002),3,610.93 (2001), 3,110.84 (2000), 2,388.02 (1999)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Zambia
Telephones - main lines in use:88,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:241,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: facilities are aging but still among the bestin Sub-Saharan Africadomestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most largertowns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation;Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal(VSAT) networks are operated by private firmsinternational: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:1.2 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:9 (2002)
Televisions:277,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.zm
Internet hosts:1,880 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:68,200 (2003)
Transportation Zambia
Railways:total: 2,173 kmnarrow gauge: 2,173 km 1.067-m gaugenote: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority(TAZARA) (2003)
Highways:total: 66,781 kmpaved: NA kmunpaved: NA km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,250 kmnote: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers(2003)
Pipelines:oil 771 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Mpulungu
Airports:109 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 10over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 992,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 4914 to 1,523 m: 62under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)
Military Zambia
Military branches:Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Army, Air Force, Police,National Service
Military manpower - military age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Military manpower - availability:males age 15-49: 2,477,494 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:males age 15-49: 1,310,814 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$42.6 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Zambia
Disputes - international:the Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe boundary convergence isnot clearly defined or delimited
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 158,894 (Angola), 58,405 (DemocraticRepublic of the Congo), 5,767 (Rwanda) (2004)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, smallamounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa andpossibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupledwith a government commitment to combating money laundering make itan unattractive venue for money launderers
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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@Zimbabwe
Introduction Zimbabwe
Background:The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites inpower. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared itsindependence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded morecomplete voting rights for the black African majority in the country(then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprisingfinally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe)in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has beenthe country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominatedthe country's political system since independence. His chaotic landredistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of whitefarmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortagesof basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABErigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection.Opposition and labor groups launched general strikes in 2003 topressure MUGABE to retire early; security forces continued theirbrutal repression of regime opponents.
Geography Zimbabwe
Location:Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 390,580 sq kmwater: 3,910 sq kmland: 386,670 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Montana
Land boundaries:total: 3,066 kmborder countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa225 km, Zambia 797 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
Terrain:mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld);mountains in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 mhighest point: Inyangani 2,592 m
Natural resources:coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore,vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals
Land use: arable land: 8.32% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 91.34% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,170 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary withZambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls onthe river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water
People Zimbabwe
Population:12,671,860note: 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: 39.4% (male 2,520,082; female 2,472,641)15-64 years: 57% (male 3,649,400; female 3,571,631)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 230,272; female 227,834) (2004 est.)
Median age:total: 19.1 yearsfemale: 19.1 years (2004 est.)male: 19.1 years
Population growth rate:0.68% (2004 est.)
Birth rate:30.05 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate:23.3 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate:negligible migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africaand Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2004 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 67.08 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 64.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)male: 69.74 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 37.82 yearsmale: 38.63 yearsfemale: 36.99 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.6 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:33.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2.3 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:200,000 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:typhoid fever, malaria, schistosomiasisoverall degree of risk: high (2004)
Nationality:noun: Zimbabwean(s)adjective: Zimbabwean
Ethnic groups:African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%,white less than 1%
Religions:syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages:English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele,sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write Englishtotal population: 90.7%male: 94.2%female: 87.2% (2003 est.)
Government Zimbabwe
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabweconventional short form: Zimbabweformer: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Harare
Administrative divisions:8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*,Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East,Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South,Midlands
Independence:18 April 1980 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 18 April (1980)
Constitution:21 December 1979
Legal system:mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31December 1987); Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004;note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since31 December 1987); Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December2004; note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to theHouse of Assemblyelections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination papersigned by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from eachprovince) and elected by popular vote; election last held 9-11 March2002 (next to be held NA March 2008); co-vice presidents appointedby the presidentelection results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percentof vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 56.2%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 41.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (150 seats - 120 elected by popularvote for five-year terms, 12 nominated by the president, 10 occupiedby traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied byprovincial governors appointed by the president)elections: last held 24-25 June 2000 (next to be held NA 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - ZANU-PF 48.6%, MDC47.0%, other 4.4%; seats by party - ZANU-PF 62, MDC 57, ZANU-Ndonga 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:Movement for Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]; NationalAlliance for Good Governance or NAGG [Shakespeare MAYA]; UnitedParties [Abel MUZOREWA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga orZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]; Zimbabwe African NationalUnion-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]; ZimbabweAfrican Peoples Union or ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]; Crisisin Zimbabwe Coalition [Brian KAGORO]; Zimbabwe Congress of TradeUnions or ZCTU [Lovemore MATOMBO]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Simbi Veke MUBAKOFAX: [1] (202) 483-9326telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594 FAX: [263] (4) 796488
Flag description:seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red,yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in blackwith its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representingthe long history of the country is superimposed on a redfive-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizespeace; green symbolizes agriculture, yellow - mineral wealth, red -blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the nativepeople
Economy Zimbabwe
Economy - overview:The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of difficulteconomic problems as it struggles with an unsustainable fiscaldeficit, an overvalued exchange rate, soaring inflation, and bareshelves. Its 1998-2002 involvement in the war in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo, for example, drained hundreds of millions ofdollars from the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF has beensuspended because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals.Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to 383% in 2003,and is expected to reach 700% in 2004. The government's land reformprogram, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly damaged thecommercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports andforeign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs.
GDP:purchasing power parity - $24.03 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-13.6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.3% industry: 24.5% services: 58.3% (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):8.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.97% highest 10%: 40.42% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.1 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):384.7% (2003 est.)
Labor force:4.17 million (2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 66%, industry 10%, services 24% (1996)
Unemployment rate:70% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.568 billionexpenditures: $2.004 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2003)
Public debt:41.3% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:corn, cotton, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs
Industries:mining (coal, gold, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallicand nonmetallic ores), steel, wood products, cement, chemicals,fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:-14.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:6.735 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:9.813 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:3.55 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA (2001)
Oil - imports:NA (2001)
Current account balance:$-346 million (2003)
Exports:$1.261 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing
Exports - partners:Zambia 6.3%, South Africa 6.1%, China 5.3%, Germany 4.6%, Japan4.4% (2003)
Imports:$1.691 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals,fuels
Imports - partners:South Africa 51.3%, Congo, Democratic Republic of the 6.1%, Germany2.8% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:$78 million (2003)
Debt - external:$3.404 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$178 million; note - the EU and the US provide food aid onhumanitarian grounds (2000 est.)
Currency:Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)
Currency code:ZWD
Exchange rates:Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar - NA (2003), 55.0358 (2002),55.0521 (2001), 44.4179 (2000), 38.3012 (1999); note - these areofficial exchange rates, non-official rates vary significantly
Fiscal year:1 January - 31 December
Communications Zimbabwe
Telephones - main lines in use:300,900 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:379,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, butnow suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstandingrequests for connection despite an equally large number of installedbut unused main linesdomestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines,radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loopinstallations, and a substantial mobile cellular network; Internetconnection is available in Harare and planned for all major townsand for some of the smaller onesinternational: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat; two international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare andGweru)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.14 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:16 (1997)
Televisions:370,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.zw