Economy - overview:Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains thebackbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), withmore than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. Theagricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted forabout 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 54%.Important constraints to economic development include the CAR'slandlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largelyunskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomicpolicies. Factional fighting between the government and itsopponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growthat only 0.5% in 2004. Distribution of income is extraordinarilyunequal. Grants from France and the international community can onlypartially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.248 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 55%industry: 20%services: 25% (2001 est.)
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA (1993)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.7% highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:61.3 (1993)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (2001 est.)
Budget:revenues: NAexpenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn,bananas; timber
Industries:gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear,assembly of bicycles and motorcycles
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2002)
Electricity - production:106 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.8% hydro: 80.2% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:98.58 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$172 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco
Exports - partners:Belgium 39.2%, Italy 8.6%, Spain 7.9%, US 6.2%, France 6.1%,Indonesia 5.8%, China 4.9% (2004)
Imports:$136 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electricalequipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:France 17.6%, US 16.3%, Cameroon 9.3%, Belgium 5% (2004)
Debt - external:$881.4 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $73 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France(2000 est.)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Central African Republic
Telephones - main lines in use:9,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:13,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair systemdomestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay andlow-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communicationinternational: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)
Radios:283,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2001)
Televisions:18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.cf
Internet hosts:6 (2002)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:5,000 (2002)
Transportation Central African Republic
Highways: total: 23,810 km paved: 643 km unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga
Airports:50 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 47 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)
Military Central African Republic
Military branches:Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Air Force;General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), RepublicanGuard (2004)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is two years (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 758,103 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 330,255 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$15.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2004)
Transnational Issues Central African Republic
Disputes - international:about 30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the CARstill reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes over water andgrazing rights among related pastoral populations along the borderwith southern Sudan persist
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 36,479 (Sudan) 1,864 (Chad) 6,484(Democratic Republic of the Congo)IDPs: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2004)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Chad
Introduction Chad
Background:Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured threedecades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before asemblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The governmenteventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-militarygroups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorableto Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multipartypresidential elections in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, a new rebellionbroke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite twopeace agreements signed in 2002 and 2003 between the government andthe rebels. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remainsin the hands of an ethnic minority.
Geography Chad
Location:Central Africa, south of Libya
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 19 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.284 million sq kmland: 1,259,200 sq kmwater: 24,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 5,968 kmborder countries: Cameroon 1,094 km, Central African Republic 1,197km, Libya 1,055 km, Niger 1,175 km, Nigeria 87 km, Sudan 1,360 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical in south, desert in north
Terrain:broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains innorthwest, lowlands in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 mhighest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m
Natural resources:petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold,limestone, sand and gravel, salt
Land use: arable land: 2.86% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.12% (2001)
Irrigated land:200 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts;locust plagues
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal inrural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping
Geography - note:landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in theSahel
People Chad
Population:9,826,419 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,365,277/female 2,337,388)15-64 years: 49.4% (male 2,323,110/female 2,528,086)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 109,535/female 163,023) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 16.02 yearsmale: 15.32 yearsfemale: 16.71 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.95% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:45.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:16.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 93.82 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 103.03 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 84.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 47.18 yearsmale: 45.55 yearsfemale: 48.87 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:200,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:18,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
Nationality: noun: Chadian(s) adjective: Chadian
Ethnic groups:200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane(Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi,Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom areMuslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang,Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000French citizens live in Chad
Religions:Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%
Languages:French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than120 different languages and dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabictotal population: 47.5%male: 56%female: 39.3% (2003 est.)
Government Chad
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Chadconventional short form: Chadlocal long form: Republique du Tchadlocal short form: Tchad
Government type:republic
Capital:N'Djamena
Administrative divisions:14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha,Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari,Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjilenote: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrativestructure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department),and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, BathaOriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, LogoneOriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, TandjileOccidental, Tibesti
Independence:11 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 11 August (1960)
Constitution:passed by referendum 31 March 1996
Legal system:based on French civil law system and Chadian customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December1990)head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3February 2005)cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-yearterm; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, thetwo candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a secondround of voting; last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006);prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percentof vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, SalehKEBZABO 7%
Legislative branch:bicameral according to constitution, consists of a NationalAssembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified,members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewableevery two years)elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to beheld in April 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, others 11
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders:Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarlejy YORONGAR];National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Mamadou BISSO];National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO];Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman];Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; Unionfor Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE];Viva Rally for Development and Progress or Viva RNDP [Delwa KassireCOUMAKOYE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIRchancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc WALL embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena telephone: [235] (51) 70-09 FAX: [235] (51) 56-54
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorraand Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered inthe yellow band; design was based on the flag of France
Economy Chad
Economy - overview:Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boostedby major oilfield and pipeline projects that began in 2000. Over 80%of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestockraising for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic providethe bulk of Chad's export earnings; Chad began to export oil in2004. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlockedposition, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chadrelies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public andprivate sector investment projects. A consortium led by two UScompanies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reservesestimated at 1 billion barrels in southern Chad. Oil production cameon stream in late 2003.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$15.66 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:38% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 22.6%industry: 35.6%services: 41.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, andfishing)
Unemployment rate:NA
Population below poverty line:80% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.131 billionexpenditures: $957.7 million, including capital expenditures of $146million (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca);cattle, sheep, goats, camels
Industries:oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodiumcarbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials
Industrial production growth rate:5% (1995)
Electricity - production:96.13 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:89.4 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:200,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$330.2 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$365 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:cotton, cattle, gum arabic
Exports - partners:US 67.8%, China 21.5%, Portugal 4.3% (2004)
Imports:$500.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleumproducts, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:France 21.9%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.8%, Portugal 10.4%, Germany6.4%, Belgium 4.6% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$652.7 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.1 billion (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan(August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank;ODA $150 million (2001 est.)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Chad
Telephones - main lines in use:11,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:65,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: primitive systemdomestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stationsinternational: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:1.67 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.td
Internet hosts:8 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:15,000 (2002)
Transportation Chad
Highways: total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)
Pipelines:oil 205 km (2004)
Airports:50 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Military Chad
Military branches:Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force,Gendarmerie (2004)
Military service age and obligation: 20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 1,559,382 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 834,695 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 95,228 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$101.3 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (2004)
Transnational Issues Chad
Disputes - international:since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military havedriven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern Chad; Chadremains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict;Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria andCameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratifythe delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 200,000 (Sudan) 30,000 (CentralAfrican Republic) (2004)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Chile
Introduction Chile
Background:Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northernChile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited centraland southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated untilthe early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810,decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. Inthe War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Boliviaand won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxistgovernment of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by adictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled untila freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economicpolicies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributedto steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment todemocratic and representative government. Chile has increasinglyassumed regional and international leadership roles befitting itsstatus as a stable, democratic nation.
Geography Chile
Location:Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, betweenArgentina and Peru
Geographic coordinates:30 00 S, 71 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 756,950 sq kmland: 748,800 sq kmwater: 8,150 sq kmnote: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana
Land boundaries: total: 6,171 km border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km
Coastline: 6,435 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200/350 nm
Climate:temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cooland damp in south
Terrain:low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m
Natural resources:copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum,hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.42% other: 96.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:18,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; airpollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollutionfrom raw sewage
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic andPacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage);Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions
People Chile
Population:15,980,912 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.2% (male 2,062,735/female 1,970,913)15-64 years: 66.7% (male 5,320,870/female 5,342,771)65 years and over: 8% (male 534,737/female 748,886) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 30.07 yearsmale: 29.17 yearsfemale: 31.05 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.97% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:15.44 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.58 yearsmale: 73.3 yearsfemale: 80.03 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:26,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,400 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Chilean(s) adjective: Chilean
Ethnic groups:white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%
Religions:Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.2%male: 96.4%female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Government Chile
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Chileconventional short form: Chilelocal long form: Republica de Chilelocal short form: Chile
Government type:republic
Capital:Santiago
Administrative divisions:13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General CarlosIbanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana(Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaisonote: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica
Independence:18 September 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 18 September (1810)
Constitution:11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989,1993, and 1997
Legal system:based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codesinfluenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review oflegislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdictionnote: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminaljustice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is beinggradually implemented throughout the country with the final stage ofimplementation in the Santiago metropolitan region expected in June2005
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16January 2000 (next to be held December 2005)election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percentof vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%
Legislative branch:bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of theSenate or Senado (48 seats, 38 elected by popular vote, 9 designatedmembers, and 1 former president who has served a full six-year termand is senator for life); elected members serve eight-year terms(one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies orCamara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be heldDecember 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001(next to be held December 2005)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7),independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - CPD 62 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6), UDI35, RN 22, independent 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by thepresident and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidatesprovided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court iselected by the 21-member court); Constitutional Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewalor RN [Sebastian PINERA] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI[Pablo LONGUEIRA]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC[Adolfo ZALDIVAR], Socialist Party or PS [Gonzalo MARTNER], Partyfor Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO], Radical Social DemocraticParty or PRSD [Orlando CANTUARIAS]); Communist Party or PC [GladysMARIN]
Political pressure groups and leaders: revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations
International organization participation:APEC, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate),MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHIchancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewYork, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Craig A. KELLY embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago mailing address: APO AA 34033 telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600 FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a bluesquare the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end ofthe white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in thecenter representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizesthe sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for theblood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by theUS flag
Economy Chile
Economy - overview:Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high levelof foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as arole model for economic reform was strengthened when the democraticgovernment of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the militarygovernment. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fellto half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policiesimplemented to keep the current account deficit in check and becauseof lower export earnings - the latter a product of the globalfinancial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls andelectricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economicgrowth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effectsof the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strongfinancial institutions and sound policy that have given it thestrongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growthrebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1%in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluationof the Argentine peso. Chile's economy began a slow recovery in2003, growing 3.2% and accelerated to 5.8% in 2004. GDP growthbenefited from high copper prices, solid export earnings(particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreigndirect investment. Unemployment, however, remains stubbornly high.Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalizationwith the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which tookeffect on 1 January 2004.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$169.1 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $10,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.3% industry: 38.2% services: 55.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:6.2 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 13.6%, industry 23.4%, services 63% (2003)
Unemployment rate:8.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:20.6% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 47% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:57.1 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $21.53 billionexpenditures: $19.95 billion, including capital expenditures of$3.33 billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic,asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber
Industries:copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron andsteel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:7.8% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:48.6 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 51.5% nuclear: 0% other: 1.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:41.8 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:1.813 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:18,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:240,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:221,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:150 million bbl (1 January 2004)
Natural gas - production:1.18 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.517 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2002)
Natural gas - imports:5.337 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:99.05 billion cu m (1 January 2004)
Current account balance:$2.185 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$29.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine
Exports - partners:US 14%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.9%, South Korea 5.5%, Netherlands5.1%, Brazil 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004)
Imports:$22.53 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical andtelecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles,natural gas
Imports - partners:Argentina 17%, US 14%, Brazil 11.2%, China 7.4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$16.02 billion (2004)
Debt - external:$44.6 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $0 (2002)
Currency (code):Chilean peso (CLP)
Currency code:CLP
Exchange rates:Chilean pesos per US dollar - 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003), 688.94(2002), 634.94 (2001), 539.59 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Chile
Telephones - main lines in use:3.467 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,445,700 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwaveradio relay facilitiesdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellitesystem with 3 earth stationsinternational: country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)
Radios:5.18 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:3.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cl
Internet hosts:202,429 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):7 (2000)
Internet users:3.575 million (2002)
Transportation Chile
Railways:total: 6,585 kmbroad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 79,605 kmpaved: 16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways)unpaved: 63,525 km (2001)
Pipelines:gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003km; refined products 757 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, SanVicente, Valparaiso
Merchant marine:total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 725,216 GRT/954,519 DWTby type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 1,liquefied gas 3, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 8,roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 4registered in other countries: 21 (2005)
Airports:364 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 71over 3,047 m: 62,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 21914 to 1,523 m: 23under 914 m: 15 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 293over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 11914 to 1,523 m: 60under 914 m: 217 (2004 est.)
Military Chile
Military branches:Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes naval air, Coast Guard,and Marine Corps), Chilean Air Force, Chilean Carabineros (NationalPolice)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; all citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy and Air Force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,815,761 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 3,123,281 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 140,084 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.42 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.8% (2004)
Transnational Issues Chile
Disputes - international:Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacamacorridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted butnot sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas andother commodities; Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritimeboundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwesternaxis; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory)partially overlaps Argentine and British claims
Illicit drugs:important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe andthe US; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chilemore attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits,especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a newanti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursorspassed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@China
Introduction China
Background:For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing therest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th andearly 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, majorfamines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World WarII, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocraticsocialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposedstrict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens ofmillions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping andother leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, livingstandards have improved dramatically and the room for personalchoice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
Geography China
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea,and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 105 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 9,596,960 sq kmland: 9,326,410 sq kmwater: 270,550 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the US
Land boundaries:total: 22,117 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km,India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km,Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Mongolia 4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km,Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 kmregional borders: Hong Kong 30 km, Macau 0.34 km
Coastline:14,500 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Terrain:mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas,and hills in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 mhighest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten,antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum,lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)
Land use:arable land: 15.4%permanent crops: 1.25%other: 83.35% (2001)
Irrigated land:525,800 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and easterncoasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; landsubsidence
Environment - current issues:air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) fromreliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularlyin the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation;estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soilerosion and economic development; desertification; trade inendangered species
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US);Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak
People China
Population:1,306,313,812 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.4% (male 148,134,928/female 131,045,415)15-64 years: 71% (male 477,182,072/female 450,664,933)65 years and over: 7.6% (male 47,400,282/female 51,886,182) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 32.26 years male: 31.87 years female: 32.67 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.58% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:13.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.12 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.18 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.27 yearsmale: 70.65 yearsfemale: 74.09 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:840,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:44,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese (singular and plural)adjective: Chinese
Ethnic groups:Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu,Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%
Religions:Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 1%-2%, Christian 3%-4%note: officially atheist (2002 est.)
Languages:Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijingdialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan(Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages(see Ethnic groups entry)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90.9%male: 95.1%female: 86.5% (2002)
Government China
Country name:conventional long form: People's Republic of Chinaconventional short form: Chinalocal long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguolocal short form: Zhong Guoabbreviation: PRC
Government type:Communist state
Capital:Beijing
Administrative divisions:23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions(zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi, singularand plural): provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan,Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan,Zhejiang: autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Xizang(Tibet): municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjinnote: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entriesfor the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau
Independence:221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912(Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People'sRepublic established)
National holiday:Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1October (1949)
Constitution:most recent promulgation 4 December 1982
Legal system:a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law;rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legalcodes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are beingmade to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) and VicePresident ZENG Qinghong (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003); VicePremiers HUANG Ju (since 17 March 2003), WU Yi (17 March 2003), ZENGPeiyan (since 17 March 2003), and HUI Liangyu (since 17 March 2003)cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress(NPC)elections: president and vice president elected by the NationalPeople's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 15-17March 2003 (next to be held mid-March 2008); premier nominated bythe president, confirmed by the National People's Congresselection results: HU Jintao elected president by the Tenth NationalPeople's Congress with a total of 2,937 votes (four delegates votedagainst him, four abstained, and 38 did not vote); ZENG Qinghongelected vice president by the Tenth National People's Congress witha total of 2,578 votes (177 delegates voted against him, 190abstained, and 38 did not vote); two seats were vacant
Legislative branch:unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin DaibiaoDahui (2,985 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, andprovincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms)elections: last held December 2002-February 2003 (next to be heldlate 2007-February 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People'sCongress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate andlocal courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime,and railway transport courts)
Political parties and leaders:Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao, General Secretary of theCentral Committee]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP
Political pressure groups and leaders:no substantial political opposition groups exist, although thegovernment has identified the Falungong spiritual movement and theChina Democracy Party as subversive groups
International organization participation:AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, CDB,FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA(observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB,OPCW, PCA, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC