Spratly IslandsEconomic activity is limited to commercial fishing.The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basinssuggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region islargely unexplored; there are no reliable estimates of potentialreserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Sri LankaIn 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies andits import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policiesand export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now arefood processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages,telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2003, plantationcrops made up only 15% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), whiletextiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an averageannual rate of 5.5% in the early 1990s until a drought and adeteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. Theeconomy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%, but 2001saw the first contraction in the country's history, -1.4%, due to acombination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, theglobal slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Growth recovered to4.0% in 2002 and to 5.2% in both 2003 and 2004. About 800,000 SriLankans work abroad, 90% in the Middle East. They send home about $1billion a year. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the north andeast for a largely independent homeland continues to cast a shadowover the economy. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took about31,000 lives, left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000 displaced,and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of property.
SudanSudan has turned around a struggling economy with soundeconomic policies and infrastructure investments, but it still facesformidable economic problems, starting from its low level of percapita output. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMFmacroeconomic reforms. In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil andin the last quarter of 1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which,along with monetary policy, has stabilized the exchange rate.Increased oil production, revived light industry, and expandedexport processing zones helped sustain GDP growth at 6.4% in 2004.Agriculture production remains Sudan's most important sector,employing 80% of the work force, contributing 39% of GDP, andaccounting for most of GDP growth, but most farms remain rain-fedand susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - including thelong-standing civil war between the Muslim north and theChristian/pagan south, adverse weather, and weak world agriculturalprices - ensure that much of the population will remain at or belowthe poverty line for years.
SurinameThe economy is dominated by the alumina industry, whichaccounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings.Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend oncontinued commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies andto the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets andpromote competition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun anausterity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending.While - in 2002 - President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raisefor civil servants, threatening his earlier gains in stabilizing theeconomy, he has not repeated this promise in the run-up to the May2005 elections. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aidflow, which will allow Suriname to access international developmentfinancing, but plans to phase out funds over the next five years.The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's abilityto control inflation and on the development of projects in thebauxite and gold mining sectors. Prospects for local onshore oilproduction are good, as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oildrilling was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company(Staatsolie) signed exploration agreements with Repsol and Mearsk.
SvalbardCoal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. Thetreaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights toexploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. AlthoughUS, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past,the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. Thesettlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegianstate-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegianpopulation on the island, runs many of the local services, andprovides most of the local infrastructure. There is also somehunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.
SwazilandIn this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agricultureoccupies more than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sectorhas diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remainimportant foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined inimportance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone minesremaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a shortborder with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on SouthAfrica from which it receives about nine-tenths of its imports andto which it sends nearly three-quarters of its exports. Customsduties from the Southern African Customs Union and workerremittances from South Africa substantially supplement domesticallyearned income. The government is trying to improve the atmospherefor foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, andsometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More thanone-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2004because of drought, and more than one-third of the adult populationwas infected by HIV/AIDS.
SwedenAided by peace and neutrality for the whole 20th century,Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixedsystem of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Ithas a modern distribution system, excellent internal and externalcommunications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, andiron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily orientedtoward foreign 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) focuses on price stability with its inflation targetof 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but picked up in 2004.Presumably because of generous sicktime benefits, Swedish workersreport in sick more often than other Europeans. On 14 September2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system,concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
SwitzerlandSwitzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modernmarket economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force,and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western Europeaneconomies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economicpractices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance theirinternational competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven forinvestors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy andhas kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting theanemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 toabout 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small riseto 1.8% in 2004. Even so, unemployment has remained at less thanhalf the EU average.
SyriaReal GDP growth rose to 2.3 percent in 2004, a slight increasefrom 2003 when the predominantly statist economy suffered fromdisruptions caused by the war in Iraq and other developments in theregion. Annual real GDP growth has averaged 2.3 percent for the lastseven years. The Government of Syria has implemented modest economicreforms in the last few years, including cutting interest rates,opening private banks, consolidating some of the multiple exchangerates, and raising prices on some subsidized foodstuffs.Nevertheless, the economy remains highly controlled by thegovernment. Long run economic constraints include declining oilproduction and exports and pressure on water supplies caused byrapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased waterpollution.
TaiwanTaiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with graduallydecreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by governmentauthorities. In keeping with this trend, some large government-ownedbanks and industrial firms are being privatized. Exports haveprovided the primary impetus for industrialization. The tradesurplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's thirdlargest. Agriculture contributes less than 2% to GDP, down from 32%in 1952. Taiwan is a major investor throughout Southeast Asia. Chinahas overtaken the US to become Taiwan's largest export market.Because of its conservative financial approach and itsentrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with manyof its neighbors from the Asian financial crisis in 1998. The globaleconomic downturn, combined with problems in policy coordination bythe administration and bad debts in the banking system, pushedTaiwan into recession in 2001, the first year of negative growthever recorded. Unemployment also reached record levels. Outputrecovered moderately in 2002 in the face of continued globalslowdown, fragile consumer confidence, and bad bank loans; and theessentially vibrant economy pushed ahead in 2003-04. Growingeconomic ties with China are a dominant long-term factor, e.g.,exports to China of parts and equipment for the assembly of goodsfor export to developed countries.
TajikistanTajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs amongthe 15 former Soviet republics. Only 5% to 6% of the land area isarable. Cotton is the most important crop. Mineral resources, variedbut limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten.Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropowerfacilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industryand food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged thealready weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline inindustrial and agricultural production. Even though 60% of itspeople continue to live in abject poverty, Tajikistan hasexperienced steady economic growth since 1997. Continuedprivatization of medium and large state-owned enterprises willfurther increase productivity. Tajikistan's economic situation,however, remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structuralreforms, weak governance, widespread unemployment, and the externaldebt burden. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russiain December 2002, including an interest rate of 4%, a 3-year graceperiod, and a US $49.8 million credit to the Central Bank ofTajikistan.
TanzaniaTanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. Theeconomy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for almosthalf of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the workforce. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivatedcrops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featuredthe processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods.The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateraldonors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-dateeconomic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Growth in1991-2002 featured a pickup in industrial production and asubstantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recentbanking reforms have helped increase private sector growth andinvestment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomicpolicies supported real GDP growth of nearly 6% in 2004.
ThailandThailand has a well developed infrastructure, afree-enterprise economy, and welcomes foreign investment. Thailandhas fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and wasone of East Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Increased consumptionand investment spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growthup to 6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish globaleconomy. The highly popular government's expansionist policy,including major support of village economic development, has raisedconcerns about fiscal discipline and the health of financialinstitutions. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade agreements witha variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and maintainhigh growth, and in 2004 began negotiations on a Free TradeAgreement with the US. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took8,500 lives in Thailand and caused massive destruction of propertyin the southern provinces of Krabi, Phangnga, and Phuket.
TogoThis small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on bothcommercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employmentfor 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still beimported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of exportearnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo isthe world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate, but productionfell an estimated 22% in 2002 due to power shortages and the cost ofdeveloping new deposits. The government's decade-long effort,supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economicreform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues inline with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends onfollowing through on privatization, increased openness in governmentfinancial operations, progress toward legislative elections, andcontinued support from foreign donors.
TokelauTokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lackof resources greatly restrain economic development and confineagriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aidfrom New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain publicservices, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. Theprincipal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postagestamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted tofamilies from relatives in New Zealand.
TongaTonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has anarrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas,and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports makeup two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a highproportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is thesecond largest source of hard currency earnings followingremittances. The country remains dependent on external aid andremittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its tradedeficit. The government is emphasizing the development of theprivate sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and iscommitting increased funds for health and education. Tonga has areasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed socialservices. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn ininflation, and rising civil service expenditures are major issuesfacing the government.
Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago, the leading Caribbeanproducer of oil and gas, has earned a reputation as an excellentinvestment site for international businesses. Tourism is a growingsector, although not proportionately as important as in many otherCaribbean islands. The economy benefits from low inflation and agrowing trade surplus. Prospects for growth in 2004 are good asprices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquified natural gas areexpected to remain high, and foreign direct investment continues togrow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector. Thegovernment is coping with a rise in violent crime.
Tromelin Islandno economic activity
TunisiaTunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural,mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmentalcontrol of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessenedover the past decade with increasing privatization, simplificationof the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressivesocial policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisiarelative to the region. Real growth slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9%in 2002 because of agricultural drought and lackluster tourism.Better rains in 2003 and 2004, however, helped push GDP growth above5% for these years. Tourism also recovered after the end of combatoperations in Iraq. Tunisia is gradually removing barriers to tradewith the European Union. Broader privatization, furtherliberalization of the investment code to increase foreigninvestment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction ofthe trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.
TurkeyTurkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industryand commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that in2004 still accounted for more than 35% of employment. It has astrong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still playsa major role in basic industry, banking, transport, andcommunication. The largest industrial sector is textiles andclothing, which accounts for one-third of industrial employment; itfaces stiff competition in international markets with the end of theglobal quota system. However, other sectors, notably the automotiveand electronics industries, are rising in importance within Turkey'sexport mix. In recent years the economic situation has been markedby erratic economic growth and serious imbalances. Real GNP growthhas exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong expansion has beeninterrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001.Inflation, in recent years in the high double-digit range, fell to9.3% by 2004 - a 30-year low. Despite these strong economic gains in2002-04, which were largely due to renewed investor interest inemerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, theeconomy is still plagued with high debt and deficits. The publicsector fiscal deficit exceeds 6% of GDP - due in large part to thehuge burden of interest payments, which accounted for more than 40%of central government spending in 2004, and to populist spending.Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey remains low - averagingless than $1 billion annually, but further economic and judicialreforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost FDI. Amajor political and economic issue over the next decade is whetheror not Turkey will become a member of the EU.
TurkmenistanTurkmenistan is largely desert country with intensiveagriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources.One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton; formerly it wasthe world's tenth-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent yearshave led to a nearly 46% decline in cotton exports. With anauthoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally basedsocial structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach toeconomic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain itsinefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. In1998-2004, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequateexport routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensiveshort-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exportsrose by perhaps 30% in 2003 and 19% in 2004, largely because ofhigher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in thenear future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty,the burden of foreign debt, the government's irrational use of oiland gas revenues, and its unwillingness to adopt market-orientedreforms. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, andGDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. Inparticular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain.
Turks and Caicos IslandsThe Turks and Caicos economy is based ontourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capitalgoods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is theleading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of theannual 93,000 visitors in the late 1990s. Major sources ofgovernment revenue also include fees from offshore financialactivities and customs receipts.
TuvaluTuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group ofnine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineralresources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are theprimary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,visit Tuvalu annually. Government revenues largely come from thesale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru hasbegun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resourcesdecline. Substantial income is received annually from aninternational trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, andthe UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wiseinvestments and conservative withdrawals, this fund has grown froman initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The USgovernment is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because ofpayments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to reduce itsdependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sectorreforms, including privatization of some government functions andpersonnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenuefrom use of its area code for "900" lines and in 2000, from thelease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these newtechnology sources could increase substantially over the nextdecade. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandiseimports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing andtelecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers,official transfers, and income from overseas investments.
UgandaUganda has substantial natural resources, including fertilesoils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper andcobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy,employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulkof export revenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support offoreign countries and international agencies - has acted torehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currencyreform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing pricesof petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The policychanges are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boostingproduction and export earnings. During 1990-2001, the economy turnedin a solid performance based on continued investment in therehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for productionand exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved domesticsecurity, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs.Corruption within the government and slippage in the government'sdetermination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuationof strong growth. In 2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced HighlyIndebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion andParis Club debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combinedwith the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion.Growth for 2001-02 was solid despite continued decline in the priceof coffee, Uganda's principal export. Solid growth in 2003-04reflected an upturn in Uganda's export markets.
UkraineAfter Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away themost important economic component of the former Soviet Union,producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic.Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Sovietagricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantitiesof meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise,its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (forexample, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial andmining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of theformer USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especiallynatural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements.Shortly after independence in December 1991, the UkrainianGovernment liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework forprivatization, but widespread resistance to reform within thegovernment and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and ledto some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% ofthe 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation tohyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence onRussia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structuralreform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to externalshocks. Ukrainian government officials have taken some steps toreform the country's Byzantine tax code, such as the implementationof lower tax rates aimed at bringing more economic activity out ofUkraine's large shadow economy, but more improvements are needed,including closing tax loopholes and eliminating tax privileges andexemptions. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas ofstructural reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outsideinstitutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine toquicken the pace and scope of reforms. GDP in 2000 showed strongexport-based growth of 6% - the first growth since independence -and industrial production grew 12.9%. The economy continued toexpand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and industrial output grew byover 14%. Growth of 4.6% in 2002 was more moderate, in part areflection of faltering growth in the developed world. In general,growth has been undergirded by strong domestic demand, lowinflation, and solid consumer and investor confidence. Growth was asturdy 9.3% in 2003 and a remarkable 12% in 2004, despite a loss ofmomentum in needed economic reforms.
United Arab EmiratesThe UAE has an open economy with a high percapita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth isbased on oil and gas output (about 30% of GDP), and the fortunes ofthe economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Sincethe discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE hasundergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region ofsmall desert principalities to a modern state with a high standardof living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reservesshould last for more than 100 years. The government has increasedspending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is openingup its utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement(TIFA) with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertakenegotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.
United KingdomThe UK, a leading trading power and financial center,is one of the quartet of trillion dollar economies of WesternEurope. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reducedpublic ownership and contained the growth of social welfareprograms. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficientby European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with lessthan 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, andoil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, oneof the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services,particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account byfar for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues todecline in importance. GDP growth slipped in 2001-03 as the globaldownturn, the high value of the pound, and the bursting of the "neweconomy" bubble hurt manufacturing and exports. Output recovered in2004, to 3.2% growth. The economy is one of the strongest in Europe;inflation, interest rates, and unemployment remain low. Therelatively good economic performance has complicated the BLAIRgovernment's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the EuropeanEconomic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that theeconomy is doing well outside of EMU, and they cite public opinionpolls that continue to show a majority of Britons opposed to theeuro. Meantime, the government has been speeding up the improvementof education, transport, and health services, at a cost in highertaxes.
United StatesThe US has the largest and most technologicallypowerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $40,100. Inthis market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firmsmake most of the decisions, and the federal and state governmentsbuy needed goods and services predominantly in the privatemarketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greaterflexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan indecisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, andto develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriersto entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry offoreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or near the forefrontin technological advances, especially in computers and in medical,aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowedsince the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largelyexplains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" inwhich those at the bottom lack the education and theprofessional/technical skills of those at the top and, more andmore, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage,and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains inhousehold income have gone to the top 20% of households. Theresponse to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed theremarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March/April 2003between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupationof Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to themilitary. The rise in GDP in 2004 was undergirded by substantialgains in labor productivity. The economy suffered from a sharpincrease in energy prices in the second half of 2004. Long-termproblems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure,rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population,sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family incomein the lower economic groups.
UruguayUruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by anexport-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, andhigh levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5%annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a majordownturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of theeconomic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. Forinstance, in 2001-02 massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollarsdeposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the Uruguyan pesoand a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four yearsdropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the seriousbanking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflationsurged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation withthe IMF limited the damage. The debt swap with private creditorscarried out in 2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearlyhalf of Uruguay's $11.3 billion in public debt, substantiallyalleviated the country's amortization burden in the coming years andrestored public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as aresult of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weaknessof the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, lowinternational interest rates, and greater export competitiveness.
UzbekistanUzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11%consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities.Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter, alarge producer of gold and oil, and a regionally significantproducer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence inDecember 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-stylecommand economy with subsidies and tight controls on production andprices. Uzbekistan responded to the negative external conditionsgenerated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by emphasizingimport substitute industrialization and by tightening export andcurrency controls within its already largely closed economy. Thegovernment, while aware of the need to improve the investmentclimate, sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, thegovernment's control over business decisions. A sharp increase inthe inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks ofsociety since independence. In 2003, the government accepted theobligations of Article VIII under the International Monetary Fund(IMF), providing for full currency convertibility. However, strictcurrency controls and tightening of borders have lessened theeffects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages thathave further stifled economic activity.
VanuatuThis South Pacific island economy is based primarily onsmall-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of thepopulation. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, withabout 50,000 visitors in 2004, are other mainstays of the economy.Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleumdeposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development ishindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from mainmarkets and between constituent islands. GDP growth rose less than3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, thegovernment has promised to tighten regulation of its offshorefinancial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts toboost tourism. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is asecond target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the mainsuppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
VenezuelaVenezuela continues to be highly dependent on thepetroleum sector, accounting for roughly one-third of GDP, around80% of export earnings, and over half of government operatingrevenues. A disastrous two-month national oil strike from December2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. Theeconomy remained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an8.9% fall in 2002. Despite continued domestic instability, outputrecovered strongly in 2004, aided by high oil prices. Both inflationand unemployment remain fundamental problems.
VietnamVietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that inthe last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, theloss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and therigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress wasachieved from 1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely lowlevel of development and significantly reducing poverty. Growthaveraged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asianfinancial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economyand temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress towardsa market oriented economy. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 6% in1998 and 5% in 1999. Growth then rose to 7% in 2000-04 even againstthe background of global recession. Since 2001, however, Vietnameseauthorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economicliberalization and international integration. They have moved toimplement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy andto produce more competitive, export-driven industries. However,equitization of state-owned enterprises and reduction in theproportion of non-performing loans has fallen behind schedule.Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and entryinto force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade in December 2001 haveled to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade and economicregime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 and again in2003. Vietnam is working toward accession to the WTO in 2005. Amongother benefits, accession will allow Vietnam to take advantage ofthe phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, whicheliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1January 2005. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to keep upwith the country's high population growth rate. However, in 2004,high levels of inflation prompted Vietnamese authorities to tightenmonetary and fiscal policies.
Virgin IslandsTourism is the primary economic activity, accountingfor 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2 millionvisitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleumrefining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watchassembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food beingimported. International business and financial services are a smallbut growing component of the economy. One of the world's largestpetroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject tosubstantial damage from storms. The government is working to improvefiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the privatesector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and toprotect the environment.
Wake IslandEconomic activity is limited to providing services tocontractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goodsmust be imported.
Wallis and FutunaThe economy is limited to traditional subsistenceagriculture, with about 80% labor force earnings from agriculture(coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing.About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues comefrom French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights toJapan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriateworkers in New Caledonia.
West BankThe West Bank - the larger of the two areas under thePalestine Authority - has experienced a general decline in economicgrowth and a degradation in economic conditions made worse since thesecond intifadah began in September 2000. The downturn has beenlargely the result of the Israeli closure policies - the impositionof border closures in response to security incidents in Israel -which disrupted labor and commodity market relationships. In 2001,and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures inPalestine Authority areas resulted in the destruction of muchcapital plant, the disruption of administrative structure, andwidespread business closures. Including the Gaza Strip, the UNestimates that more than 100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 whoused to work in Israeli settlements, or in joint industrial zones,have lost their jobs. International aid of $2 billion to the WestBank and Gaza strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of theeconomy and allowed some reforms in the government's financialoperations. Meanwhile, unemployment has continued at more than halfthe labor force. ARAFAT's death in 2004 leaves open more politicaloptions that could affect the economy.
Western SaharaWestern Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing,and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for thepopulation. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainableagricultural production, and most of the food for the urbanpopulation must be imported. All trade and other economic activitiesare controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interestsin 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of WesternSahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards ofliving in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.
WorldGlobal output rose by 4.9% in 2004, led by China (9.1%),Russia (6.7%), and India (6.2%). The other 14 successor nations ofthe USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations again experiencedwidely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic nations continued asstrong performers, in the 7% range of growth. Growth results postedby the major industrial countries varied from a small gain in Italy(1.3%) to a strong gain by the United States (4.4%). The developingnations also varied in their growth results, with many countriesfacing population increases that erode gains in output. Externally,the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, issteadily losing control over international flows of people, goods,funds, and technology. Internally, the central government oftenfinds its control over resources slipping as separatist regionalmovements - typically based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., inmany of the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in theformer Yugoslavia, in India, in Iraq, in Indonesia, and in Canada.Externally, the central government is losing decisionmaking powersto international bodies, notably the European Union. In WesternEurope, governments face the difficult political problem ofchanneling resources away from welfare programs in order to increaseinvestment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. Theaddition of 75 million people each year to an already overcrowdedglobe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification,underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their owninternal problems and priorities, the industrialized countriesdevote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorerareas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view,are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of the euro asthe common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, whilepaving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, poses economicrisks because of varying levels of income and cultural and politicaldifferences among the participating nations. The terrorist attackson the US on 11 September 2001 accentuate a further growing risk toglobal prosperity, illustrated, for example, by the reallocation ofresources away from investment to anti-terrorist programs. Theopening of war in March 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraqadded new uncertainties to global economic prospects. After thecoalition victory, the complex political difficulties and the higheconomic cost of establishing domestic order in Iraq became majorglobal problems that continued into 2005.
YemenYemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, hasreported strong growth since 2000, but its economic fortunes dependmostly on oil. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structuraladjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy,which has led to substantial foreign debt relief and restructuring.Yemen has worked to maintain tight control over spending and toimplement additional components of the IMF program, but a 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.
ZambiaDespite progress in privatization and budgetary reform,Zambia's economic growth remains somewhat below the 5% to 7% neededto reduce poverty significantly. Privatization of government-ownedcopper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth lossesgenerated by the industry and greatly improved the chances forcopper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth.Copper output increased in 2004 and is expected to increase again in2005, due to higher copper prices and the opening of new mines. Themaize harvest was again good in 2004, helping boost GDP andagricultural exports. Cooperation continues with internationalbodies on programs to reduce poverty, including a new lendingarrangement with the IMF in the second quarter, 2004. A tightermonetary policy will help cut inflation, but Zambia still has aserious problem with fiscal discipline.
ZimbabweThe government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety ofdifficult economic problems as it struggles with an unsustainablefiscal deficit, an overvalued exchange rate, soaring inflation, andbare shelves. 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 133% at the endof 2004, while the exchange rate fell from 24 Zimbabwean dollars perUS dollar to 6,200 in the same time period. The government's landreform program, characterized by chaos and violence, has badlydamaged the commercial farming sector, the traditional source ofexports and foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs.
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2117 Pipelines (km)
Afghanistangas 387 km (2004)
Albaniagas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004)
Algeriacondensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas2,213 km; oil 6,496 km (2004)
Angolagas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30km; oil 837 km; refined products 56 km (2004)
Argentinagas 27,166 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km;refined products 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2004)
Armeniagas 1,871 km (2004)
Australiacondensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004)
Austriagas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2004)
Azerbaijangas 4,451 km; oil 1,518 km (2004)
Bahraingas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)
Bangladeshgas 2,012 km (2004)
Belarusgas 5,223 km; oil 2,443 km; refined products 1,686 km (2004)
Belgiumgas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)
Boliviagas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,457 km;refined products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2004)
Brazilcondensate/gas 244 km; gas 10,739 km; liquid petroleum gas341 km; oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2004)
Bruneigas 665 km; oil 439 km (2004)
Bulgariagas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2004)
Burmagas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2004)
Cameroongas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,120 km (2004)
Canadacrude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980km (2003)
Chadoil 205 km (2004)
Chilegas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil1,003 km; refined products 757 km (2004)
Chinagas 15,890 km; oil 14,478 km; refined products 3,280 km (2004)
Colombiagas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2004)
Congo, Democratic Republic of thegas 54 km; oil 71 km (2004)
Congo, Republic of thegas 53 km; oil 646 km (2004)
Costa Ricarefined products 242 km (2004)
Cote d'Ivoirecondensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2004)
Croatiagas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2004)
Cubagas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)
Czech Republicgas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km(2004)
Denmarkcondensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2km; unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2004)
Ecuadorextra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refinedproducts 1,185 km (2004)
Egyptcondensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquidpetroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refinedproducts 246 km (2004)
Equatorial Guinea condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km (2004)
Estoniagas 859 km (2004)
Finlandgas 694 km (2004)
Francegas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004)
Gabongas 210 km; oil 1,385 km (2004)
Georgiagas 1,697 km; oil 1,027 km; refined products 232 km (2004)
Germanycondensate 325 km; gas 25,293 km; oil 3,540 km; refinedproducts 3,827 km (2004)
Ghanarefined products 74 km (2004)
Greecegas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004)
Guatemalaoil 480 km (2004)
Hungarygas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2004)
Indiagas 6,171 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,195 km; oil 5,613 km;refined products 5,567 km (2004)
Indonesiacondensate 850 km; condensate/gas 128 km; gas 8,506 km;oil 7,472 km; oil/gas/water 66 km; refined products 1,329 km (2004)
Irancondensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570km; oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2004)
Iraqgas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2004)
Irelandgas 1,795 km (2004)
Israelgas 140 km; oil 1,509 km (2004)
Italygas 17,335 km; oil 1,136 km (2004)
Japangas 2,719 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2004)
Jordangas 10 km; oil 743 km (2004)
Kazakhstancondensate 18 km; gas 10,370 km; oil 10,158 km; refinedproducts 1,187 km (2004)
Kenyarefined products 752 km (2004)
Korea, Northoil 154 km (2004)
Korea, Southgas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004)
Kuwaitgas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2004)
Kyrgyzstangas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)
Laosrefined products 540 km (2004)
Latviagas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)
Lebanonoil 209 km (2004)
Libyacondensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)
Liechtensteingas 20 km (2004)
Lithuaniagas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)
Luxembourggas 155 km (2004)
Macedoniagas 268 km; oil 120 km (2004)
Malaysiacondensate 279 km; gas 5,047 km; oil 1,841 km; refinedproducts 114 km (2004)
Mexicocrude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; naturalgas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km (2003)
Moldovagas 606 km (2004)
Moroccogas 695 km; oil 285 km (2004)
Mozambiquegas 649 km; refined products 292 km (2004)
Netherlandscondensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refinedproducts 716 km (2004)
New Zealandgas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km;refined products 304 km (2004)
Nicaraguaoil 54 km (2004)
Nigeriacondensate 105 km; gas 1,896 km; oil 3,638 km; refinedproducts 3,626 km (2004)
Norwaycondensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water746 km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km (2004)
Omangas 3,754 km; oil 3,212 km (2004)
Pakistangas 9,945 km; oil 1,821 km (2004)
Papua New Guineaoil 264 km (2004)
Perugas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2004)
Philippinesgas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004)
Polandgas 13,552 km; oil 1,772 km (2004)
Portugalgas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2004)
Qatarcondensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquidpetroleum gas 87 km; oil 702 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2004)
Romaniagas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2004)
Russiacondensate 122 km; gas 150,007 km; oil 75,539 km; refinedproducts 13,771 km (2004)
Saudi Arabiacondensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)
Senegalgas 564 km (2004)
Serbia and Montenegrogas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2004)
Singaporegas 139 km (2004)
Slovakiagas 6,769 km; oil 449 km (2004)
Sloveniagas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2004)
South Africacondensate 100 km; gas 1,052 km; oil 847 km; refinedproducts 1,354 km (2004)
Spaingas 7,306 km; oil 730 km; refined products 3,512 km (2004)
Sudangas 156 km; oil 2,365 km; refined products 810 km (2004)
Surinameoil 51 km (2004)
Swedengas 798 km (2004)
Switzerlandgas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2004)
Syriagas 2,300 km; oil 2,183 km (2004)
Taiwancondensate 25 km; gas 435 km (2004)
Tajikistangas 541 km; oil 38 km (2004)
Tanzaniagas 29 km; oil 866 km (2004)
Thailandgas 3,112 km; refined products 265 km (2004)
Trinidad and Tobago condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km (2004)
Tunisiagas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2004)
Turkeygas 3,177 km; oil 3,562 km (2004)
Turkmenistangas 6,549 km; oil 1,395 km (2004)
Ukrainegas 20,069 km; oil 4,540 km; refined products 4,169 km (2004)
United Arab Emiratescondensate 469 km; gas 2,655 km; liquidpetroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,936 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2004)
United Kingdomcondensate 370 km; gas 21,446 km; liquid petroleumgas 59 km; oil 6,420 km; oil/gas/water 63 km; refined products 4,474km (2004)
United Statespetroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km(2003)
Uruguaygas 192 km (2004)
Uzbekistangas 9,149 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2004)
Venezuelaextra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,360 km;refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2004)
Vietnamcondensate/gas 432 km; gas 210 km; oil 3 km; refinedproducts 206 km (2004)
Yemengas 88 km; oil 1,174 km (2004)
Zambiaoil 771 km (2004)
Zimbabwerefined products 261 km (2004)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@2118 Political parties and leaders
Afghanistannote - includes only political parties approved by theMinistry of Justice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; DeAfghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De AfghanistanDe Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mahmood Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-IslamiAfghanistan [Mohammad Asif MOHSINEE];Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Iihaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE];Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [Abdul MALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-IslamiAfghanistan [Mohammad Kabeer MARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid[Mohammad Wasil RAHEEMEE]; Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond [leaderNA]; Hezb-e-Congra-e-Mili Afghanistan [Latif PEDRAM];Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad ZAREEF];Hezb-e-Libral-e-Aazadee Khwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SOHAIL];Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad JamilKARZAI]; Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT];Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH];Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said HssainANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan[Baryalai NASRATEE]; Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. FarooqNIJZRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR];Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID]; Hezb-e-MiliAfghanistan [Abdul Rasheed AARYAN]; Hezb-e-MiliWahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE];Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD];Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili Afghanistan [Said Mansoor NADIRI];Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said ZAHIR];Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASEEQ];Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEEN];Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ];Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad UsmanSALIGZADA]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [AbdulQahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [AbdulQadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa Democracy Afghanistan [AhamadSHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad KarimKHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [UstadMohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul RasheedJalili]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan[Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul RashidDOSTAM]; Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE];Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul Haq NoorSHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa democracy Afghanistan [Abdul RaqeebJawid KUHISTANEE]; Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer SaidIshaq GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad JawadHUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood DHAZI] (30 Sep2004)
AlbaniaAgrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI];Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party ofAlbania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD[Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; LegalityMovement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL[Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK[Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Partyof National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Partyor PDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU];Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Partyor PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI[Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party ofLabor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [VangjelDULE]
AlgeriaAlgerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; DemocraticNational Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic SalvationFront or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. AbassiMADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exiled in Germany)]; National EntenteMovement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN[Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general (also serves as ForeignMinister)]; National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN)[Abdellah DJABALLAH]; National Renewal Party or PRA [YacineTERKMANE]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally forCulture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general];Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; SocialistForces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general(self-exiled in Switzerland)]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [AhmedKHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI];Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enactedin March 1997
American SamoaDemocratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party[Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
AndorraAndorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly DemocraticParty or PD) [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (formerlyLiberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social Democratic Party or PS(formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [MarionaGONZALEZ REOLIT]
AngolaLiberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputedleadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for theTotal Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA], largestopposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; PopularMovement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOSSANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party orPRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 electionsbut only won a few seats and have little influence in the NationalAssembly
AnguillaAnguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; TheAnguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], acoalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the AnguillaNational Alliance or ANA; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [RoyROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD];Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; UnitedProgressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of threeopposition parties - United National Democratic Party or UNDP,Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, and Progressive LaborMovement or PLM)
ArgentinaAction for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO];Alternative for a Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; FederalRecreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY]; Front for aCountry in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [DarioPedro ALESSANDRO]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition ofapproximately 12 parties including RECREAR) [leader NA];Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political organization)[leader NA]; Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS]; SocialistParty or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH];several provincial parties
ArmeniaAgro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party[Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [AlexARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK[Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party[Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and thePeople's Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party[Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [VazgenMANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman];People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party[Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party orRPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN,chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN];United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN]
ArubaAliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; ArubanLiberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban PatrioticMovement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA[Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People'sElectoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracyor PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platformor PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]