Oil - production:29,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:32,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:220 million bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.35 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:14.87 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$-421.5 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$5.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palmoil, fish
Exports - partners:US 11.6%, Netherlands 10.3%, France 9.5%, Italy 5.5%, Belgium 4.7%,Germany 4.7% (2004)
Imports:$3.36 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 24.3%, Nigeria 19.2%, UK 4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.95 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$11.81 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cote d'Ivoire
Telephones - main lines in use:328,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.236 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: well developed by African standards butoperating well below capacitydomestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalizedinternational: country code - 225; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 submarine cables(June 1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:2.26 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:14 (1999)
Televisions:1.09 million (2000)
Internet country code:.ci
Internet hosts:3,795 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:90,000 (2002)
Transportation Cote d'Ivoire
Railways:total: 660 kmnarrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gaugenote: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into BurkinaFaso (2004)
Highways:total: 50,400 kmpaved: 4,889 kmunpaved: 45,511 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)(2003)
Pipelines:condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro
Airports:37 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 7over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 301,524 to 2,437 m: 7914 to 1,523 m: 15under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Military Cote d'Ivoire
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 3,696,106 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,973,265 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 189,354 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$180.2 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (2004)
Transnational Issues Cote d'Ivoire
Disputes - international:rebel and ethnic fighting against the central government in 2002has spilled into neighboring states, driven out foreign cocoaworkers from nearby countries, and, in 2004, resulted in 6,000peacekeepers deployed as part of UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire(UNOCI) assisting 4,000 French troops already in-country; theIvorian Government accuses Burkina Faso and Liberia of supportingIvorian rebels
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 71,711 (Liberia)IDPs: 500,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2004)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption;transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin toEurope and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocainedestined for Europe and South Africa; while rampant corruption andinadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to moneylaundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits thecountry's utility as a major money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Croatia
Introduction Croatia
Background:The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of theAustro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, theCroats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 asYugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federalindependent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO.Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991,it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting beforeoccupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. UnderUN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia wasreturned to Croatia in 1998.
Geography Croatia
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia andHerzegovina and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:45 10 N, 15 30 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 56,542 sq kmland: 56,414 sq kmwater: 128 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 2,197 kmborder countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km,Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south)25 km, Slovenia 670 km
Coastline:5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant withhot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast
Terrain:geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, lowmountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Dinara 1,830 m
Natural resources:oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum,natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 26.09% permanent crops: 2.27% other: 71.65% (2001)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues: air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, HazardousWastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea andTurkish Straits
People Croatia
Population:4,495,904 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.4% (male 378,615/female 359,231)15-64 years: 67% (male 1,497,355/female 1,514,993)65 years and over: 16.6% (male 283,460/female 462,250) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 39.97 yearsmale: 38.01 yearsfemale: 41.76 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.02% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:9.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.84 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.79 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.45 yearsmale: 70.79 yearsfemale: 78.31 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 10 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)adjective: Croatian
Ethnic groups:Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian,Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)
Languages:Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (includingItalian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.5%male: 99.4%female: 97.8% (2003 est.)
Government Croatia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Croatiaconventional short form: Croatialocal long form: Republika Hrvatskalocal short form: Hrvatskaformer: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia
Government type:presidential/parliamentary democracy
Capital:Zagreb
Administrative divisions:20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad -singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-PosavskaZupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija,Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija,Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, MedimurskaZupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija,Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija,Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija,Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija,Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*,Zagrebacka Zupanija
Independence:25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:Independence Day, 8 October (1991); note - 25 June 1991 is the daythe Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a 3-monthmoratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslavcrisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia
Constitution:adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February2000)head of government: Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December2003) and Damir POLANEC (since NA February 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister andapproved by the parliamentary Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 16 January 2005 (next to be held January 2010);the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majoritycoalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president andthen approved by the Assemblyelection results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote- Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 66%, Jadranka KOSOR (HDZ) 34%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was addedin the November 2003 parliamentary elections; members elected fromparty lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in2007)election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; numberof seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HSS 10, HNS 10, HSP 8, IDS 4,Libra 3, HSU 3, SDSS 3, other 11note: minority government coalition - HDZ, DC, HSLS, HSU, SDSS
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courtsappointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of theRepublic, which is elected by the Assembly
Political parties and leaders:Croatian Bloc or HB [Ivic PASALIC]; Croatian Christian DemocraticUnion or HKDU [Anto KOVACEVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ[Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto DJAPIC];Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian PensionerParty or HSU [Vladimir JORDAN]; Croatian People's Party or HNS[Vesna PUSIC] (in 2005 party merged with Libra to become CroatianPeople's Party-Liberal Democrats or NS-LD [Vesna PUSIC]); CroatianSocial Liberal Party or HSLS [Ivan CEHOK]; Croatian True RevivalParty or HIP [Miroslav TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC [VesnaSKARE-OZBOLT]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [VojislavSTANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC];Liberal Party or LS [Zlatko BENASIC]; Party of Liberal Democrats orLibra [Jozo RADOS] (in 2005 merged with HNS); Social DemocraticParty of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM(observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UPU,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Neven JURICAchancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANKembassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson, 10010 Zagrebmailing address: use street addresstelephone: [385] (1) 661-2200FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373
Flag description:red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms(red and white checkered)
Economy Croatia
Economy - overview:Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia,after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area,with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslavaverage. The economy emerged from a mild recession in 2000 withtourism, banking, and public investments leading the way.Unemployment remains high, at about 14 percent, with structuralfactors slowing its decline. While macroeconomic stabilization haslargely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deepresistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support frompoliticians. Growth, while impressively about 4% for the lastseveral years, has been achieved through high fiscal and currentaccount deficits. The government is gradually reducing a heavy backlog of civil cases, many involving land tenure. The EU accessionprocess should accelerate fiscal and structural reform.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$50.33 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.2% industry: 30.1% services: 61.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:1.71 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 2.7%, industry 32.8%, services 64.5% (2004)
Unemployment rate:13.8% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:11% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 24.5% (2003 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:29 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):28.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $14.14 billionexpenditures: $15.65 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover,olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal,electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper,wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding,petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:2.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:12.51 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 33.6% hydro: 66% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:15.2 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:406 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:3.966 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:21,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:93.6 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:34.36 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-1.925 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$7.845 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels
Exports - partners:Italy 23%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.4%, Germany 11.4%, Austria9.6%, Slovenia 7.6% (2004)
Imports:$16.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels andlubricants, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Italy 17.1%, Germany 15.5%, Russia 7.3%, Slovenia 7.1%, Austria6.9%, France 4.4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$8.563 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$26.4 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $166.5 million (2002)
Currency (code):kuna (HRK)
Currency code:HRK
Exchange rates:kuna per US dollar - 6.0358 (2004), 6.7035 (2003), 7.8687 (2002),8.34 (2001), 8.2766 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Croatia
Telephones - main lines in use:1.825 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.553 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analogcircuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will beincluded in the plan for the main trunkinternational: country code - 385; digital international service isprovided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates inthe Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists oftwo fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optictrunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is alsoinvesting in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany,Albania, and Greece (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)
Radios:1.51 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:1.22 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hr
Internet hosts:29,644 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2000)
Internet users:1.014 million (2003)
Transportation Croatia
Railways: total: 2,726 km standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (984 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 28,344 kmpaved: 23,979 km (including 455 km of expressways)unpaved: 4,365 km (2002)
Waterways:785 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube)
Merchant marine:total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 750,579 GRT/1,178,786 DWTby type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 12, chemical tanker 2,passenger/cargo 25, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1, rollon/roll off 4foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)registered in other countries: 31 (2005)
Airports:68 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 23 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Croatia
Military branches:Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska RatnaMornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces (Hrvatsko RatnoZrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 6-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary service; Croatian Military Police planning to end conscription in 2005 (December 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,005,058 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 725,914 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 29,020 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$620 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.39% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Croatia
Disputes - international:discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several smalldisputed sections of the boundary; the Croatia-Slovenia land andmaritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of PirinBay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia,remains un-ratified and in dispute; as a European Union peripheralstate, neighboring Slovenia must conform to the strict Schengenborder rules to curb illegal migration and commerce throughsoutheastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties withCroatia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 12,600 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-1995 war) (2004)
Illicit drugs:transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin toWestern Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritimeshipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Cuba
Introduction Cuba
Background:The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after theEuropean discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 andfollowing its development as a Spanish colony during the nextseveral centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported towork the coffee and sugar plantations and Havana became thelaunching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain fromMexico and Peru. Spanish rule was severe and exploitative andoccasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. It was USintervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finallyoverthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris establishedCuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-yeartransition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959;his iron rule has held the regime together since then. Cuba'sCommunist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughoutLatin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Thecountry is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties asthe result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migrationto the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, orvia the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US CoastGuard intercepted 1,498 individuals attempting to cross the Straitsof Florida in 2004.
Geography Cuba
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida
Geographic coordinates:21 30 N, 80 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 110,860 sq kmland: 110,860 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 29 kmborder countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 kmnote: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remainspart of Cuba
Coastline:3,735 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April);rainy season (May to October)
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains inthe southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m
Natural resources:cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica,petroleum, arable land
Land use: arable land: 33.05% permanent crops: 7.6% other: 59.35% (2001)
Irrigated land:870 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (ingeneral, the country averages about one hurricane every other year);droughts are common
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the GreaterAntilles
People Cuba
Population:11,346,670 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.6% (male 1,139,644/female 1,079,412)15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,977,110/female 3,975,818)65 years and over: 10.4% (male 540,720/female 633,966) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 35.36 yearsmale: 34.73 yearsfemale: 35.98 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.33% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 7.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.23 yearsmale: 74.94 yearsfemale: 79.65 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,300 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Cuban(s) adjective: Cuban
Ethnic groups:mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%
Religions:nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power;Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are alsorepresented
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 97.2%female: 96.9% (2003 est.)
People - note:illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to departthe island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers,direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritimeroutes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami andoverland via the southwest border
Government Cuba
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cubaconventional short form: Cubalocal long form: Republica de Cubalocal short form: Cuba
Government type:Communist state
Capital:Havana
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 specialmunicipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Islade la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara
Independence:20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the USfrom 1898 to 1902)
National holiday:Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 isthe date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date ofindependence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)
Constitution:24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002
Legal system:based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communistlegal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Council of State and President ofthe Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister fromFebruary 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of theCouncil of State and First Vice President of the Council ofMinisters Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President of the Council of State and Presidentof the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister fromFebruary 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished;president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of theCouncil of State and First Vice President of the Council ofMinisters Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of theCouncil of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on itsbehalf when it is not in sessionelections: president and vice presidents elected by the NationalAssembly for a term of five years; election last held 6 March 2003(next to be held in 2008)election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent oflegislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;percent of legislative vote - 100%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacionaldel Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approvedby special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in NA 2008)election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609
Judicial branch:People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vicepresident, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, firstsecretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS(excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternatingwith white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bearsa white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by theUS flag
Economy Cuba
Economy - overview:The government continues to balance the need for economic looseningagainst a desire for firm political control. It has undertakenlimited reforms to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviateserious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. A majorfeature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficientexport enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The averageCuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before thedepression of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aidand domestic inefficiencies. The government in 2004 strengthened itscontrols over dollars coming into the economy from tourism,remittances, and trade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$33.92 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.6% industry: 25.5% services: 67.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 4.55 million note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)
Unemployment rate:2.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):11.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $18.01 billionexpenditures: $19.06 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock
Industries:sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement,agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:1.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:14.41 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.9% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 5.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:13.4 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:77,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:532 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:600 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:42.62 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-185.1 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.104 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee
Exports - partners:Netherlands 22.7%, Canada 20.6%, China 7.7%, Russia 7.5%, Spain6.4%, Venezuela 4.4% (2004)
Imports:$5.296 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:Spain 14.7%, Venezuela 13.5%, US 11%, China 8.9%, Canada 6.4%,Italy 6.2%, Mexico 4.9% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$738.6 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$12.09 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owedto Russia (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$68.2 million (1997 est.)
Currency (code):Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)
Currency code:CUP (nonconvertible Cuban peso) and CUC (convertible Cuban peso)
Exchange rates:Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93note: Cuba has three currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso(CUP), the convertible peso (CUC), and the US dollar (USD), althoughthe dollar is being withdrawn from circulation; in April 2005 theofficial exchange rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC(0.93 CUC per $1), both for individuals and enterprises; individualscan buy 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cubanpesos for each CUC bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUPand CUC at a 1:1 ratio.
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cuba
Telephones - main lines in use:574,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:17,900 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and theestablishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology andCommunications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system;wireless service is expensive and remains restricted to foreignersand regime elites, many Cubans procure wireless service illegallywith the help of foreignersdomestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 85% ofswitches digitized by end of 2004; telephone line density remainslow, at 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular service expandinginternational: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but notlinked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik(Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:3.9 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:58 (1997)
Televisions:2.64 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cu
Internet hosts:1,529 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:120,000note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers oraccessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners mayaccess the Internet in large hotels, but are subject to firewalls;some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market, or takeadvantage of public outlets to access limited email and thegovernment-controlled "intranet" (2004)
Transportation Cuba
Railways:total: 4,226 kmstandard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified)note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations;about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge(2004)
Highways:total: 60,858 kmpaved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:240 km (2004)
Pipelines:gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas
Merchant marine:total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2,petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)registered in other countries: 20 (2005)
Airports:170 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 79 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 91 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 62 (2004 est.)
Military Cuba
Military branches:Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER),Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR),Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 2,967,865females age 17-49: 2,913,559 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 2,441,927females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 91,901females: 87,500 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$572.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.8% (2003)
Military - note:Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier ofCuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993
Transnational Issues Cuba
Disputes - international:US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutualagreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease
Illicit drugs:territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zoneprimarily for marijuana bound for North America; established thedeath penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Cyprus
Introduction Cyprus
Background:A former British colony, Cyprus received independence in 1960following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between theGreek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a headin December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia.Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadicintercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots intoenclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attemptto seize the government was met by military intervention fromTurkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic ofNorthern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latesttwo-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders ofthe Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach anagreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the GreekCypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004referendum. Although only the internationally recognized GreekCypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004,every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of aEuropean citizen. EU laws, however, will not apply to north Cyprus.Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade andeconomic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the TurkishCypriot community to continue to support reunification.
Geography Cyprus
Location:Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)land: 9,240 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyedborder countries: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA
Coastline:648 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Terrain:central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered butsignificant plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources:copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earthpigment
Land use: arable land: 7.79% permanent crops: 4.44% other: 87.77% (2001)
Irrigated land:382 sq km (2001 est.)
Natural hazards:moderate earthquake activity; droughts
Environment - current issues:water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonaldisparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largestaquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution fromsewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlifehabitats from urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily andSardinia)
People Cyprus
Population:780,133 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701)15-64 years: 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846)65 years and over: 11.4% (male 38,766/female 50,118) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 34.68 yearsmale: 33.64 yearsfemale: 35.7 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.54% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.43 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: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.18 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.65 yearsmale: 75.29 yearsfemale: 80.13 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 1,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Cypriot(s)adjective: Cypriot
Ethnic groups:Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)
Religions:Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, andother 4%
Languages:Greek, Turkish, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.6%male: 98.9%female: 96.3% (2003 est.)
Government Cyprus
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cyprusconventional short form: Cyprusnote: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itselfas the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)
Government type:republicnote: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting theisland began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; thisseparation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention inJuly 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gavethe Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriotscontrol the only internationally recognized government; on 15November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declaredindependence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of NorthernCyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey
Capital:Nicosia
Administrative divisions:6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisionsinclude Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small partsof Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca
Independence:16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimedself-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but theseproclamations are only recognized by Turkey
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriotscelebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day
Constitution:16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longerparticipated in the government; negotiations to create the basis fora new or revised constitution to govern the island and for betterrelations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been heldintermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their ownconstitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish FederatedState of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of NorthernCyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5May 1985
Legal system:based on common law, with civil law modifications
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriothead of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriotcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president andvice presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent ofvote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, AlekosMARKIDIS 6.6%note: Mehmet Ali TALAT becomes "president" of north Cyprus, 24 April2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results -Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is"prime minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in northCyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"