Geography East Timor
Location:Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser SundaIslands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, theOecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island ofTimor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco
Geographic coordinates:8 50 S, 125 55 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 15,007 sq kmland: NAwater: NA
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 228 km border countries: Indonesia 228 km
Coastline: 706 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: NA exclusive economic zone: NA continental shelf: NA exclusive fishing zone: NA
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m
Natural resources: gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble
Land use: arable land: 4.71% permanent crops: 0.67% other: 94.62% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,065 sq km (est.)
Natural hazards:floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropicalcyclones
Environment - current issues:widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led todeforestation and soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:NA
Geography - note:Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor ispart of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost ofthe Lesser Sunda Islands
People East Timor
Population: 1,040,880 note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.1% (male 196,108/female 189,753)15-64 years: 59.9% (male 318,173/female 305,479)65 years and over: 3% (male 15,353/female 16,014) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 20.41 yearsmale: 20.46 yearsfemale: 20.35 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.09% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:27.19 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.3 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: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 47.41 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 53.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 40.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.9 yearsmale: 63.63 yearsfemale: 68.29 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Timoreseadjective: Timorese
Ethnic groups:Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist,Animist (1992 est.)
Languages:Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, Englishnote: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole,Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 58.6% (2002)
Government East Timor
Country name:conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Lesteconventional short form: East Timorlocal long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum];Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]former: Portuguese Timor
Government type:Republic
Capital:Dili
Administrative divisions:13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro(Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos),Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque
Independence:28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence fromPortugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of internationalrecognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1975)
Constitution:22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)
Legal system:UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in placebut will be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portugueselaw (2004)
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 20 May2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but isable to veto some legislation; he formerly used the name JoseAlexandre GUSMAOhead of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20May 2002)cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held in April 2007);after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majorityparty was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting aprecedent for the futureelection results: Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected president; percentof vote - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL17.3%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimumrequirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term ofoffice, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on anexceptional basiselections: (next to be held August 2006); direct elections fornational parliament were never held; elected delegates to thenational convention named themselves legislators instead of havingelections; hence the exceptional numbers for this term of thenational parliament.election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats byparty - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to beappointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by SuperiorCouncil for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established,Court of Appeals is highest court
Political parties and leaders:Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier doAMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [AntonioXIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente daSilva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO];Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM[leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER];Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO];Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader Avelino COELHO]; Sons of theMountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) orKOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT[Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DASILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; TimoresePopular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-SantosDA COSTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Popular Council for the Defense of the Democratic Republic of East Timor or CPD-RDTL [leader Antonio-Aitahan MATAK] is largest political pressure group; it rejects current government and claims to be rightful government; Kolimau 2000 [leader Dr. Bruno MAGALHAES] is another opposition group; dissatisfied veterans of struggle against Indonesia, led by one-time government advisor Cornelio GAMA (also known as L-7), also play an important role in pressuring government
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer),ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRESchancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007telephone: 202 965-1515FAX: 202 965-1517consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York)(2004)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REESembassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dilimailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington,DC 20521-8250telephone: (670) 332-4684FAX: (670) 331-3206
Flag description:red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends tothe center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of theblack triangle
Economy East Timor
Economy - overview:In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of EastTimor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independencemilitias, and 300,000 people fled westward. Over the next threeyears, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led tosubstantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By 2003,all but about 30,000 of the refugees had returned. Growth was heldback in 2003 by extensive drought and the gradual winding down ofthe international presence. The country faces great challenges incontinuing the rebuilding of infrastructure, strengthening theinfant civil administration, and generating jobs for young peopleentering the workforce. One promising long-term project is theplanned development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters, whichhave begun to supplement government revenues ahead of schedule.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$370 million (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $400 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 25.4%industry: 17.2%services: 57.4% (2001)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:NA
Unemployment rate:50% (including underemployment) (1992 est.)
Population below poverty line:42% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Distribution of family income - Gini index:38 (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $107.7 millionexpenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla
Industries:printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth
Industrial production growth rate:8.5%
Electricity - production:NA kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Exports:$8 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil andvanilla exports
Exports - partners:Indonesia 100%
Imports:$167 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery
Imports - partners:NA
Debt - external:none
Economic aid - recipient:$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is the legal tender
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications East Timor
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:NA
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation East Timor
Highways: total: 3,800 km paved: 428 km unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)
Ports and harbors:Dili
Airports:8 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 5914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Heliports:1 (2004 est.)
Military East Timor
Military branches:East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL):Army, Navy (Armada) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:NA
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: NA
Manpower reaching military service age annually:NA
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.4 million (FY03)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues East Timor
Disputes - international:UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has maintained abouta thousand peacekeepers in East Timor since 2002; EastTimor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, survey, anddelimit the land boundary, but several sections of the boundaryespecially around the Oekussi enclave remain unresolved; Indonesiaand East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coralisland of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which prevents delimitation of thenorthern maritime boundaries; many of 28,000 East Timorese refugeesstill residing in Indonesia in 2003 have returned, but many continueto refuse repatriation; East Timor and Australia continue to meetbut disagree over how to delimit a permanent maritime boundary andshare unexploited potential petroleum resources that fall outsidethe Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor SeaTreaty; dispute with Australia also hampers creation of a southernmaritime boundary with Indonesia
Illicit drugs:NA
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Ecuador
Introduction Ecuador
Background:The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries thatemerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others areColombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lostterritories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A borderwar with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. AlthoughEcuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the periodhas been marred by political instability. Seven presidents havegoverned Ecuador since 1996.
Geography Ecuador
Location:Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator,between Colombia and Peru
Geographic coordinates:2 00 S, 77 30 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 283,560 sq kmland: 276,840 sq kmwater: 6,720 sq kmnote: includes Galapagos Islands
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Nevada
Land boundaries: total: 2,010 km border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,237 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500 meter isobath
Climate:tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations;tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands
Terrain:coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), andflat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m
Natural resources:petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.85% permanent crops: 4.93% other: 89.22% (2001)
Irrigated land:8,650 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution;pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areasof the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world
People Ecuador
Population:13,363,593 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.5% (male 2,282,252/female 2,195,942)15-64 years: 61.5% (male 4,094,146/female 4,130,096)65 years and over: 4.9% (male 310,336/female 350,821) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 23.27 yearsmale: 22.82 yearsfemale: 23.74 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.24% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:22.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.21 yearsmale: 73.35 yearsfemale: 79.22 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:21,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,700 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Ecuadorian(s)adjective: Ecuadorian
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanishand others 7%, black 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%
Languages:Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%male: 94%female: 91% (2003 est.)
Government Ecuador
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Ecuadorconventional short form: Ecuadorlocal long form: Republica del Ecuadorlocal short form: Ecuador
Government type:republic
Capital:Quito
Administrative divisions:22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar,Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos,Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo,Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe
Independence:24 May 1822 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)
Constitution:10 August 1998
Legal system:based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages18-65, optional for other eligible voters
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005);Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment; former President Lucio GUTIERREZ was removed from officeby congress effective 20 April 2005head of government: President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005);Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: the president and vice president are elected on the sameticket by popular vote for a four-year term (no immediatereelection); election last held 20 October 2002; runoff electionheld 24 November 2002 (next to be held October 2006)election results: results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election -Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%; note - Vice President Alfredo PALACIOassumed the presidency on 20 April 2005 after congress removed LucioGUTIERREZ from office
Legislative branch:unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats;members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held October 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD5, DP 4, PS-FA 3, independents 7; note - defections by members ofNational Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes inthe numbers of seats held by the various parties
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, newjustices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004,however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via asimple-majority resolution)
Political parties and leaders:Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM];Democratic Left or ID [Guillermo LANDAZURI]; National ActionInstitutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; PachakutikMovement [Gilberto TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [LucioGUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan ManuelFUERTES]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta];Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; RoldosistParty or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social ChristianParty or PSC [Leon FEBRES CORDERO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front orPS-FA [Victor GRANDA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE[Luis MACAS, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F.Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador orFEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of IndigenousAfro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ,president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]
International organization participation:CAN, CSN, FAO, 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, MINUSTAH, NAM,OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey),Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEYembassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quitomailing address: APO AA 34039telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052consulate(s) general: Guayaquil
Flag description:three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and redwith the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag;similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not beara coat of arms
Economy Ecuador
Economy - overview:Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources, which have accountedfor 40% of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of centralgovernment budget revenues in recent years. Consequently,fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domesticimpact. In the late 1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economiccrisis, with natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleumprices driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDPcontracted by more than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly.The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on itsexternal debt later that year. The currency depreciated by some 70%in 1999, and, on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD governmentannounced it would dollarize the economy. A coup, however, oustedMAHAUD from office in January 2000, and after a short-lived juntafailed to garner military support, Vice President Gustavo NOBOA tookover the presidency. In March 2000, Congress approved a series ofstructural reforms that also provided the framework for the adoptionof the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized theeconomy, and growth returned to its pre-crisis levels in the yearsthat followed. Under the administration of Lucio GUTIERREZ - January2003 to April 2005 - Ecuador benefited from higher world petroleumprices, but the government has made little progress on economicreforms necessary to reduce Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleumprice swings and financial crises.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$49.51 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.7% industry: 30.5% services: 60.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:4.53 million (urban) (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 8%, industry 24%, services 68% (2001)
Unemployment rate:11.1%; note - underemployment of 47% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:45% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 32%note: data for urban households only (October 2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:42note: data are for urban households (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $7.9 billionexpenditures: planned $7.3 billion, including capital expendituresof $1.6 billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:49.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca),plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairyproducts; balsa wood; fish, shrimp
Industries:petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:10% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:11.54 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:10.79 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:57 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:523,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:387,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:4.408 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:160 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:160 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:106.5 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$261.1 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$7.56 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp
Exports - partners:US 42.9%, Panama 14.3%, Peru 7.9%, Italy 4.6% (2004)
Imports:$7.65 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment,electricity
Imports - partners:US 16.5%, Colombia 14.1%, China 9.2%, Venezuela 7.1%, Brazil 6.5%,Chile 4.6%, Japan 4.5%, Mexico 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.436 billion (December 2004 est.)
Debt - external:$16.81 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$216 million (2002)
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:25,000 (2004), 25,000 (2003), 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001), 24,988(2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Ecuador
Telephones - main lines in use:1.549 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,394,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally elementary but being expandeddomestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliableinternational: country code - 593; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)
Radios:5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:2.5 million (2001)
Internet country code:.ec
Internet hosts:3,188 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):31 (2001)
Internet users:569,700 (2003)
Transportation Ecuador
Railways: total: 966 km narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 43,197 km paved: 8,164 km unpaved: 35,033 km (2002)
Waterways:1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2003)
Pipelines:extra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products1,185 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar
Merchant marine:total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 241,403 GRT/391,898 DWTby type: chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleumtanker 20foreign-owned: 3 (Germany 1, Greece 1, Paraguay 1) (2005)
Airports:205 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 62 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 143 914 to 1,523 m: 30 under 914 m: 113 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Ecuador
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard),Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE)
Military service age and obligation:20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-month serviceobligation (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 2,792,770 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 2,338,428 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 133,922 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$655 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (2004)
Transnational Issues Ecuador
Disputes - international:organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate acrossEcuador's shared border and caused over 20,000 refugees to flee intoEcuador in 2004
Illicit drugs:significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia andPeru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicitnarcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drugtraffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weakanti-money-laundering regime, especially vulnerable along the borderwith Colombia; increased activity on the northern frontier bytrafficking groups and Colombian insurgents
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Egypt
Introduction Egypt
Background:The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupledwith semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west,allowed for the development of one of the world's greatcivilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C. and a seriesof dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The lastnative dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn werereplaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs whointroduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and whoruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, theMamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after theconquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following thecompletion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an importantworld transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control ofEgypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the OttomanEmpire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. Thecompletion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant LakeNasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in theagriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (thelargest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence onthe Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. Thegovernment has struggled to ready the economy for the new millenniumthrough economic reform and massive investment in communications andphysical infrastructure.
Geography Egypt
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya andthe Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes theAsian Sinai Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:27 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,001,450 sq kmland: 995,450 sq kmwater: 6,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,665 kmborder countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km,Sudan 1,273 km
Coastline:2,450 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters
Terrain:vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 mhighest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone,gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 2.87% permanent crops: 0.48% other: 96.65% (2001)
Irrigated land:33,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides;hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms,sandstorms
Environment - current issues:agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands;increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification;oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats;other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, andindustrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resourcesaway from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapidgrowth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa andremainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea linkbetween Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtapositionto Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics;dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues;prone to influxes of refugees
People Egypt
Population:77,505,756 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33% (male 13,106,043/female 12,483,899)15-64 years: 62.6% (male 24,531,266/female 23,972,216)65 years and over: 4.4% (male 1,457,097/female 1,955,235) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 23.68 yearsmale: 23.31 yearsfemale: 24.05 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.78% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:23.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.22 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: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 32.59 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 33.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 31.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71 yearsmale: 68.5 yearsfemale: 73.62 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.88 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:12,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:700 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Egyptian(s)adjective: Egyptian
Ethnic groups:Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%,Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian andFrench) 1%
Religions:Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%
Languages:Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educatedclasses
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 57.7%male: 68.3%female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Egypt
Country name:conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egyptconventional short form: Egyptlocal long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyahlocal short form: Misrformer: United Arab Republic (with Syria)
Government type:republic
Capital:Cairo
Administrative divisions:26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah,Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, AlIskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, AlQahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways,Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ashShaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence:28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980
Legal system:based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (overseesvalidity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October1981)head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; note- a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutionalamendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidatepopular vote; previously the president was nominated by the People'sAssembly and the nomination was validated by a national, popularreferendum; last referendum held 26 September 1999; first electionunder terms of constitutional amendment held 7 September 2005; nextelection scheduled for 2011election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote- Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%
Legislative branch:bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlisal-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed bythe president; members serve five-year terms) and the AdvisoryCouncil or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultativerole (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by thepresident; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for halfthe members)elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be heldOctober-November 2005); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004(next to be held May-June 2007)election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - NDP 388, Tagammu 6, NWP 7, Nasserists 3, Al-Ahrar1, independents 37 (2 seats determined by a later byelection, 10seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:Al-Ahrar Party [Helmi SALEM]; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party orNasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP[Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (governing party)]; National ProgressiveUnionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP[No'man GOMAA]note: formation of political parties must be approved by thegovernment
Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, EBRD,FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS(observer), OIC, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMYchancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador designate Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jrembassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairomailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; thenational emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side witha shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the nameof the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design isbased on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plusan Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the whiteband, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
Economy Egypt
Economy - overview:Lack of substantial progress on economic reform since the mid 1990shas limited foreign direct investment in Egypt and kept annual GDPgrowth in the range of 2%-3% in 2001-03. However, in 2004 Egyptimplemented several measures to boost foreign direct investment. InSeptember 2004, Egypt pushed through custom reforms, proposed incomeand corporate tax reforms, reduced energy subsidies, and privatizedseveral enterprises. The budget deficit rose to an estimated 8% ofGDP in 2004 compared to 6.1% of GDP the previous year, in part as aresult of these reforms. Monetary pressures on an overvaluedEgyptian pound led the government to float the currency in January2003, leading to a sharp drop in its value and consequentinflationary pressure. In 2004, the Central Bank implementedmeasures to improve currency liquidity. Egypt reached record tourismlevels, despite the Taba and Nuweiba bombings in September 2004. Thedevelopment of an export market for natural gas is a bright spot forfuture growth prospects, but improvement in the capital-intensivehydrocarbons sector does little to reduce Egypt's persistentunemployment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$316.3 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.2% industry: 33% services: 49.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:20.71 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:10.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:16.7% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:34.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $15.42 billionexpenditures: $20.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:102.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, waterbuffalo, sheep, goats
Industries:textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons,construction, cement, metals
Industrial production growth rate:2.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:81.27 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:75.58 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:740,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:2.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:21.2 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:1.264 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$2.113 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$11 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,chemicals
Exports - partners:Italy 11.9%, US 10.8%, UK 7%, Syria 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, Spain 4.2%(2004)
Imports:$19.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:US 12.2%, Germany 7%, Italy 6.6%, France 5.7%, China 5.4%, UK 4.7%,Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$14.03 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$33.75 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)
Currency (code):Egyptian pound (EGP)
Currency code:EGP
Exchange rates:Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 6.1963 (2004), 5.8509 (2003),4.4997 (2002), 3.973 (2001), 3.4721 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:9.6 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8,583,940 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgradingduring 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellularservice are availabledomestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable andmicrowave radio relayinternational: country code - 20; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan;microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:98 (September 1995)
Televisions:7.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.eg
Internet hosts:3,401 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:4.2 million (2005)
Transportation Egypt
Railways: total: 5,063 km standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2004)
Highways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:3,500 kmnote: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway,and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km includingapproaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m(2004)
Pipelines:condensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquidpetroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refinedproducts 246 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit
Merchant marine:total: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,194,696 GRT/1,754,815 DWTby type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 34, container 2, passenger/cargo 5,petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 8foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2, Turkey 1)registered in other countries: 34 (2005)