Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador YANG Jiechichancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, andSan Franciscoconsulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr.embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijingmailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831FAX: [86] (10) 6532-6929consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai,Shenyang
Flag description:red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellowfive-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle ofthe flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy China
Economy - overview: In late 1978 the Chinese leadership began moving the economy from a sluggish, inefficient, Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented system. Whereas the system operates within a political framework of strict Communist control, the economic influence of non-state organizations and individual citizens has been steadily increasing. The authorities switched to a system of household and village responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprises in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2004 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still poor. Agriculture and industry have posted major gains especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan and in Shanghai, where foreign investment has helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. The leadership, however, often has experienced - as a result of its hybrid system - the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy and lassitude) and of capitalism (growing income disparities and rising unemployment). China thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. The government has struggled to (a) sustain adequate jobs growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, many of which had been shielded from competition by subsidies and had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 100 to 150 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining long-term growth in living standards. At the same time, one demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Another long-term threat to growth is the deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. As part of its effort to gradually slow the rapid economic growth seen in 2004, Beijing says it will reduce somewhat its spending on infrastructure in 2005, while continuing to focus on poverty relief and through rural tax reform. Accession to the World Trade Organization helps strengthen its ability to maintain strong growth rates but at the same time puts additional pressure on the hybrid system of strong political controls and growing market influences. China has benefited from a huge expansion in computer Internet use, with 94 million users at the end of 2004. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable economic growth. Shortages of electric power and raw materials may affect industrial output in 2005. More power generating capacity is scheduled to come on line in 2006. In its rivalry with India as an economic power, China has a lead in the absorption of technology, the rising prominence in world trade, and the alleviation of poverty; India has one important advantage in its relative mastery of the English language, but the number of competent Chinese English-speakers is growing rapidly.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$7.262 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.1% (official data) (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.8% industry and construction: 52.9% services: 33.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:760.8 million (2003)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 49%, industry 22%, services 29% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.8% in urban areas; substantial unemployment and underemploymentin rural areas; an official Chinese journal estimated overallunemployment (including rural areas) for 2003 at 20% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:10% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 30.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):46% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $317.9 billionexpenditures: $348.9 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:31.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples,cotton, oilseed, pork, fish
Industries:mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals;coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum;cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, includingfootwear, toys, and electronics; food processing; transportationequipment, including automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships,and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launchvehicles and satellites
Industrial production growth rate:17.1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:1.91 trillion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 18.5% nuclear: 1.2% other: 0.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.63 trillion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:10.38 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:2.3 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:3.392 million bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:4.956 million bbl/day (2002 est.)
Oil - exports:427,800 bbl/day (2002)
Oil - imports:2.414 million bbl/day (2002)
Oil - proved reserves:17.74 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:35 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:29.18 billion cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.23 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$30.32 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$583.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical equipment,iron and steel
Exports - partners:US 21.1%, Hong Kong 17%, Japan 12.4%, South Korea 4.7%, Germany 4%(2004)
Imports:$552.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, opticaland medical equipment, organic chemicals, iron and steel
Imports - partners:Japan 16.8%, Taiwan 11.4%, South Korea 11.1%, US 8%, Germany 5.4%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$609.9 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$233.3 billion (3rd quarter 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):yuan (CNY)note:: also referred to as the Renminbi (RMB)
Currency code:CNY
Exchange rates:yuan per US dollar - 8.2768 (2004), 8.277 (2003), 8.277 (2002),8.2771 (2001), 8.2785 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications China
Telephones - main lines in use:263 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:269 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic and international services areincreasingly available for private use; unevenly distributeddomestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, andmany townsdomestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellulartelephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite systemwith 55 earth stations is in placeinternational: country code - 86; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Indian Ocean region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Oceanregions); several international fiber-optic links to Japan, SouthKorea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)
Radios:417 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997)
Televisions:400 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cn
Internet hosts:160,421 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:94 million (2004)
Transportation China
Railways:total: 71,898 kmstandard gauge: 71,898 km 1.435-m gauge (18,115 km electrified)dual gauge: 23,945 km (multiple track not included in total) (2002)
Highways:total: 1,765,222 kmpaved: 395,410 km (with at least 25,130 km of expressways)unpaved: 1,369,812 km (2002 est.)
Waterways:121,557 km (2002)
Pipelines:gas 15,890 km; oil 14,478 km; refined products 3,280 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Dalian, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai
Merchant marine:total: 1,649 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 DWTby type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 362, cargo 696, chemicaltanker 38, combination ore/oil 1, container 135, liquefied gas 30,passenger 7, passenger/cargo 81, petroleum tanker 246, refrigeratedcargo 30, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 10foreign-owned: 9 (Hong Kong 4, Japan 2, South Korea 2, United States1)registered in other countries: 872 (2005)
Airports:472 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 383over 3,047 m: 532,438 to 3,047 m: 1161,524 to 2,437 m: 141914 to 1,523 m: 23under 914 m: 50 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 89over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 32under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)
Heliports:15 (2004 est.)
Military China
Military branches:People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includesmarines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes Airborne Forces),and II Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's ArmedPolice Force (internal security troops considered to be an adjunctto the PLA); Militia (2003)
Military service age and obligation: 18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with 24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service; 17 years of age for women who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 342,956,265 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 281,240,272 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 13,186,433 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$67.49 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.3% (2004)
Transnational Issues China
Disputes - international:in 2005, China and India initiate drafting principles to resolveall aspects of their extensive boundary and territorial disputestogether with a security and foreign policy dialogue to consolidatediscussions related to the boundary, regional nuclear proliferation,and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measureshave begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world'slargest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions underthe de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu andKashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India doesnot recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in1964; about 90,000 ethnic Tibetan exiles reside primarily in Indiaas well as Nepal and Bhutan; China asserts sovereignty over theSpratly Islands together with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan,Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conductof Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in theSpratlys but is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought bysome parties; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China,the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord on marine seismicactivities in the Spratly Islands; China occupies some of theParacel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; China and Taiwanhave become more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to theuninhabited islands of Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan'sunilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea,the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting; certain islands inthe Yalu and Tumen rivers are in an uncontested dispute with NorthKorea and a section of boundary around Mount Paektu is consideredindefinite; China seeks to stem illegal migration of tens ofthousands of North Koreans; in 2004, China and Russia divided up theislands in the Amur, Ussuri, and Argun Rivers, ending a century-oldborder dispute; demarcation of the China-Vietnam boundary proceedsslowly and although the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheriesagreements were ratified in June 2004, implementation has beendelayed; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concernedabout China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on theNujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 299,287 (Vietnam) estimated30,000-50,000 (North Korea) (2004)
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for heroin produced in the GoldenTriangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country forchemical precursors and methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Christmas Island
Introduction Christmas Island
Background:Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexedand settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining beganin the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958.Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Geography Christmas Island
Location:Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 135 sq kmland: 135 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:138.9 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated bytrade winds; wet season December to April
Terrain:steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources:phosphate, beaches
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100%note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a nationalpark (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People Christmas Island
Population: 361 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:0% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA
Net migration rate:NA
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Christmas Islander(s)adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups:Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%note: no indigenous population (2001)
Religions:Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages:English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy:NA
People - note:the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508as of the 2001 Census
Government Christmas Island
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Islandconventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Departmentof Transport and Regional Services
Government type:NA
Capital:The Settlement
Administrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)
Independence:none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958)
Legal system:under the authority of the governor general of Australia andAustralian law
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by the Australian governor generalhead of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November2003)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch andAustralia
Legislative branch:unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the ChristmasIsland Assembly held a design competition for an island flag,however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as theofficial flag of the territory
Economy Christmas Island
Economy - overview:Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity,but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a$34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. TheAustralian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of acommercial space-launching site on the island, projected to beginoperations in the near future
GDP (purchasing power parity):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NAindustry: NAservices: NA
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Budget:revenues: NAexpenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:NA
Industries:tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:phosphate
Exports - partners:Australia, NZ
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:consumer goods
Imports - partners:principally Australia
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003),1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: service provided by the Australian networkdomestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog systemin February 2005international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - oneIntelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:600 (1997)
Internet country code:.cx
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Christmas Island
Highways: total: 240 km paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Flying Fish Cove
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Christmas Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Clipperton Island
Introduction Clipperton Island
Background:This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate whomade it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventuallyawarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.
Geography Clipperton Island
Location:Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 kmsouthwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates:10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 6 sq kmland: 6 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:11.1 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rainsMay-October
Terrain:coral atoll
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:reef 12 km in circumference
People Clipperton Island
Population: uninhabited (July 2005 est.)
Government Clipperton Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Clipperton Islandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile Clippertonformer: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesiaby a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Clipperton Island
Economy - overview:Although 115 species of fish have been identified in theterritorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activityis tuna fishing.
Transportation Clipperton Island
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Clipperton Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Clipperton Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Introduction Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Background:There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELINGdiscovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited untilthe 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferredto the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the twoinhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans onWest Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Geography Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwestof Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates:12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 14 sq kmland: 14 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Area - comparative:about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:26 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade windsfor about nine months of the year
Terrain:flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:cyclone season is October to April
Environment - current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Geography - note: islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
People Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Population: 628 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:0% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA
Net migration rate:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Cocos Islander(s)adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups:Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religions:Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Languages:Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Government Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islandsconventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by theAustralian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:NA
Capital:West Island
Administrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)
Independence:none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1953)
Legal system:based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage:NA
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by the Australian governor generalhead of government: Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since1 November 2003)cabinet: NAelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch andAustralia
Legislative branch:unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Economy - overview:Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop.Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, butadditional food and most other necessities must be imported fromAustralia. There is a small tourist industry.
GDP (purchasing power parity):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%industry: NA%services: NA%
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Unemployment rate: 60% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: NA expenditures: NA
Agriculture - products:vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries:copra products and tourism
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:copra
Exports - partners:Australia
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Australia
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003),1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:287 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular:note - analog cellular service available
Telephone system:general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunicationsystemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 61-891; telephone, telex, andfacsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite;1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:300 (1992)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.cc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Highways: total: 15 km paved: NA km unpaved: NA km (2003)
Ports and harbors:Port Refuge
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does havea five-person police force
Transnational Issues Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Colombia
Introduction Colombia
Background:Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from thecollapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador andVenezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the ColombianGovernment escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by fundsfrom the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and largeswaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, themovement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary tooverthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitarieshas grown to several thousand strong in recent years, challengingthe insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and alsothe government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas.While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government controlthroughout the country, neighboring countries worry about theviolence spilling over their borders.
Geography Colombia
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panamaand Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenEcuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,138,910 sq kmland: 1,038,700 sq kmwater: 100,210 sq kmnote: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, andSerranilla Bank
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Montana
Land boundaries:total: 6,004 kmborder countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains,eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 mnote: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper,emeralds, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.42% permanent crops: 1.67% other: 95.91% (2001)
Irrigated land:8,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes;periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:only South American country with coastlines on both the NorthPacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
People Colombia
Population:42,954,279 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.7% (male 6,670,950/female 6,516,371)15-64 years: 64.2% (male 13,424,433/female 14,142,825)65 years and over: 5.1% (male 968,127/female 1,231,573) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 26.04 yearsmale: 25.14 yearsfemale: 26.93 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.49% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:20.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.59 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 20.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 24.92 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.72 yearsmale: 67.88 yearsfemale: 75.7 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.56 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:190,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,600 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Colombian(s)adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups:mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixedblack-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%male: 92.4%female: 92.6% (2003 est.)
Government Colombia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Colombiaconventional short form: Colombialocal long form: Republica de Colombialocal short form: Colombia
Government type:republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:Bogota
Administrative divisions:32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,Atlantico, Distrito Capital de Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas,Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca,Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Nortede Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres yProvidencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes,Vichada
Independence:20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution:5 July 1991
Legal system:based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after USprocedures was enacted into law in 2004; judicial review ofexecutive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002);Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note -the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties- the PL and PSC - and independentselections: president and vice president elected by popular vote fora four-year term; election last held 26 May 2002 (next to be heldMay 2006)election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez received 53% of thevote; Vice President Francisco SANTOS was elected on the same ticket
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado(102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms)elections: Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held March2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002 (next tobe held March 2006)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (manyaligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percentof vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independentsand other parties 91
Judicial branch:four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court ofJustice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law;judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the SuperiorJudicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highestcourt of administrative law; judges are selected from the nomineesof the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms);Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of theconstitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to theconstitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council(administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolvesjurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members areelected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; ConservativeParty or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Democratic Pole or PDI [SamuelMORENO Rojas]; Liberal Party or PL [Juan Fernando CRISTO]note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties,most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress
Political pressure groups and leaders:two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - RevolutionaryArmed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army orELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is UnitedSelf-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC
International organization participation:BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate),MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, andred; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears theEcuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Economy Colombia
Economy - overview:Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past twoyears despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues toimprove thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts toreduce public debt levels, and an export-oriented growth focus.Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE range fromreforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. Newexploration is needed to offset declining oil production. On thepositive side, several international financial institutions havepraised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE, which includemeasures designed to reduce the public-sector deficit below 2.5% ofGDP. The government's economic policy and democratic securitystrategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in theeconomy, particularly within the business sector. Coffee prices haverecovered from previous lows as the Colombian coffee industrypursues greater market shares in developed countries such as theUnited States.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$281.1 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.4% industry: 32.1% services: 54.5% (2004 est.)
Labor force:20.7 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 24%, services 46% (1990)
Unemployment rate:13.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:55% (2001)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 1%highest 10%: 44% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:57.1 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $15.33 billionexpenditures: $21.03 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:51.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoabeans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp
Industries:textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages,chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds
Industrial production growth rate:4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:44.87 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 26% hydro: 72.7% nuclear: 0% other: 1.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:41.14 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:618 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:23 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:531,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:252,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:1.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:132 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$-1.706 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$15.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers
Exports - partners:US 42.1%, Venezuela 9.7%, Ecuador 6% (2004)
Imports:$15.34 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity
Imports - partners:US 29.1%, Venezuela 6.5%, China 6.4%, Mexico 6.2%, Brazil 5.8%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$11.94 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$38.7 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):Colombian peso (COP)
Currency code:COP
Exchange rates:Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003),2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001), 2,087.9 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Colombia
Telephones - main lines in use:8,768,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,186,200 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system in many respectsdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domesticsatellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking50 citiesinternational: country code - 57; satellite earth stations - 6Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switchingcenters; 8 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)
Radios:21 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Televisions:4.59 million (1997)