Airports:87 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 72over 3,047 m: 132,438 to 3,047 m: 381,524 to 2,437 m: 17under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 152,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)
Heliports:2 (2004 est.)
Military Egypt
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for conscript military service; 3-year service obligation (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 18,347,560 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 15,540,234 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 802,920 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.44 billion (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.4% (2004)
Transnational Issues Egypt
Disputes - international:Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the two triangularareas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary alongthe 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egyptis developing the Hala'ib Triangle north of the Treaty line; sincethe attack on Taba and other Egyptian resort towns on the Red Sea inOctober 2004, Egypt vigilantly monitors the Sinai and borders withIsrael and the Gaza Strip; Egypt does not extend domestic asylum tosome 70,000 persons who identify as Palestinians but who largelylack UNRWA assistance and, until recently, UNHCR recognition asrefugees
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 70,215 (Palestinian Territories)(2004)
Illicit drugs:transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin andopium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop forNigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to laxfinancial regulations and enforcement
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@El Salvador
Introduction El Salvador
Background:El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from theCentral American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which costabout 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when thegovernment and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided formilitary and political reforms.
Geography El Salvador
Location:Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenGuatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 21,040 sq kmland: 20,720 sq kmwater: 320 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:307 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November toApril); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:arable land: 31.85%permanent crops: 12.07%other: 56.08% (2001)
Irrigated land:360 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes verydestructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptibleto hurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:smallest Central American country and only one without a coastlineon Caribbean Sea
People El Salvador
Population:6,704,932 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.5% (male 1,250,901/female 1,198,589)15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,860,084/female 2,051,140)65 years and over: 5.1% (male 153,133/female 191,085) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 21.57 yearsmale: 20.44 yearsfemale: 22.69 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.75% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:27.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.67 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: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 27.98 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 22.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.22 yearsmale: 67.61 yearsfemale: 75.01 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.16 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:29,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 83%, other 17%note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughoutthe country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 millionProtestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 80.2%male: 82.8%female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Government El Salvador
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of El Salvadorconventional short form: El Salvadorlocal long form: Republica de El Salvadorlocal short form: El Salvador
Government type:republic
Capital:San Salvador
Administrative divisions:14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente,Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:23 December 1983
Legal system:based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 21 March2004 (next to be held March 2009)election results: Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez elected president;percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (ARENA) 57.7%, SchafikHANDAL (FMLN) 35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-yearterms)elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by theLegislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; DemocraticConvergence or CD (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU) [RubenZAMORA, secretary general]; Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ];Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [MedardoGONZALEZ]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO,president]; National Action Party or PAN [Gustavo Rogelio SALINAS,secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZZEPEDA, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [EliasAntonio SACA Gonzalez]; Social Christian Union or USC (formed by themerger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC and Unity Movementor MU) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Social Democratic Party orPSD [Juan MEDRANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671 FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), San Francisco, and Washington, DC consulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAY embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 telephone: [503] 278-4444 FAX: [503] 278-5522
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE ELSALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua,which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - itfeatures a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA ontop and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag ofHonduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X patterncentered in the white band
Economy El Salvador
Economy - overview:GDP per capita is roughly half that of Brazil, Argentina, andChile, and the distribution of income is highly unequal. Thegovernment is striving to open new export markets, encourage foreigninvestment, modernize the tax and healthcare systems, and stimulatethe sluggish economy. Implementation of the CentralAmerica-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, ratified by ElSalvador in 2004, is viewed as a key policy to help achieve theseobjectives. The trade deficit has been offset by annual remittancesfrom Salvadorans living abroad - 16% of GDP in 2004 - and externalaid. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency, El Salvadorhas lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate onmaintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$32.35 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.2% industry: 31.1% services: 59.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:2.75 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 17.1%, industry 17.1%, services 65.8% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.3% - but the economy has much underemployment (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:36.1% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:52.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):16.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.491 billionexpenditures: $2.782 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp;beef, dairy products
Industries:food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:4.158 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44% hydro: 30.9% nuclear: 0% other: 25.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:4.45 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:91 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:473 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-880.5 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$3.249 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles,chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners:US 65.6%, Guatemala 11.8%, Honduras 6.3% (2004)
Imports:$5.968 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:US 46.3%, Guatemala 8.1%, Mexico 6% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.888 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$4.792 billion (September 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$125 million of which, $53 million from US (2003)
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:752,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,149,800 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay systeminternational: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American MicrowaveSystem
Radio broadcast stations:AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:2.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1997)
Televisions:600,000 (1990)
Internet country code:.sv
Internet hosts:4,084 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2000)
Internet users:550,000 (2003)
Transportation El Salvador
Railways:total: 283 kmnarrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gaugenote: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km bydisuse and lack of maintenance (2004)
Highways:total: 10,029 kmpaved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004)
Ports and harbors:Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
Airports:73 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 69 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military El Salvador
Military branches:Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force (FAS)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,391,278 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 960,315 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 70,286 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$157 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (2003)
Transnational Issues El Salvador
Disputes - international:in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputedareas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, but despite OASintervention and a further ICJ ruling in 2003, full demarcation ofthe border remains stalled; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartiteresolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocatingHonduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tinyConejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras inthe Gulf of Fonseca
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuanaproduced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Equatorial Guinea
Introduction Equatorial Guinea
Background:Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years ofSpanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plusfive inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the Africancontinent. President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country forover two decades since seizing power from his uncle, then PresidentMACIAS, in a 1979 coup. Although nominally a constitutionaldemocracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - aswell as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely seen as beingflawed. The president controls most opposition parties through thejudicious use of patronage. Despite the country's economic windfallfrom oil production resulting in a massive increase in governmentrevenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in thecountry's living standards.
Geography Equatorial Guinea
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon andGabon
Geographic coordinates:2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 28,051 sq kmland: 28,051 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum,sand and gravel, clay
Land use:arable land: 4.63%permanent crops: 3.57%other: 91.8% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:violent windstorms, flash floods
Environment - current issues:tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: insular and continental regions rather widely separated
People Equatorial Guinea
Population:535,881 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.7% (male 112,326/female 111,244)15-64 years: 54.5% (male 140,568/female 151,500)65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,900/female 11,343) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 18.83 yearsmale: 18.2 yearsfemale: 19.46 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.42% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:36.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 85.13 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 91.28 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 78.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 49.7 yearsmale: 48.01 yearsfemale: 51.44 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.62 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:370 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality:noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarilyFang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions:nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, paganpractices
Languages:Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi,Ibo
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.7%male: 93.3%female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Equatorial Guinea
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guineaconventional short form: Equatorial Guinealocal long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatoriallocal short form: Guinea Ecuatorialformer: Spanish Guinea
Government type:republic
Capital:Malabo
Administrative divisions:7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, BiokoNorte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January1995
Legal system:partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMAMBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)head of government: Prime Minister Miguel Abia BITEO BORICO (since14 June 2004); First Deputy Prime Minister Mercelino Oyono NTUTUMU(since 15 June 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue ObamaNFUBEA (since 15 June 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held December 2009);prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president;percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, CelestinoBonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch:unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara deRepresentantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PDGE 98, NA 2note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests allexecutive authority in the president
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKOAbogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (rulingparty) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress ofEquatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action ofEquatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP[Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP[Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI[Daniel OYONO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM,OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Teodoro Biyogo NSUEchancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassyclosed September 1995); the US ambassador to Cameroon is accreditedto Equatorial Guinea; the US State Department is considering openinga Consulate Agency in Malabo
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with ablue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of armscentered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellowsix-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshoreislands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and belowwhich is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity,Peace, Justice)
Economy Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves havecontributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry,farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistencefarming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guineacounted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglectof the rural economy under successive regimes has diminishedpotential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated itsintention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A numberof aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have beencut off since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement. Nolonger eligible for concessional financing because of large oilrevenues, the government has been unsuccessfully trying to agree ona "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF.Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials andtheir family members. Undeveloped natural resources includetitanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growthpresumably remained strong in 2004, led by oil.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.27 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:20% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3%industry: 95.7%services: 1.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:30% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):50.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $813.2 millionexpenditures: $375.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Industries:petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:30% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:26.69 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.3% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:24.82 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:350,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:563.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:20 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:20 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:68.53 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-578.6 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.771 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:US 29.3%, China 22.8%, Spain 16%, Taiwan 14.9%, Canada 6.8% (2004)
Imports:$1.167 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:US 26.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 21.4%, Spain 13.6%, France 8.8%, UK 7.8%,Italy 4.4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$235.2 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$248 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$33.8 million (1995)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 January - 31 December
Communications Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:9,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:41,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor system with adequate government servicesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 240; international communications fromBata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earthstation - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:180,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gq
Internet hosts:3 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:1,800 (2002)
Transportation Equatorial Guinea
Highways:total: 2,880 km (1999 est.)
Pipelines:condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km(2004)
Ports and harbors:Malabo
Merchant marine:total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,556 GRT/9,704 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2005)
Airports:4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 106,571 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 66,379 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$126.2 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (2004)
Transnational Issues Equatorial Guinea
Disputes - international:in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement ofCameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf ofGuinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over anisland at the mouth of the Ntem River, imprecisely defined maritimecoordinates in the ICJ decision, and the unresolved Bakasiallocation contribute to the delay in implementation; UN has beenpressing Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to pledge to resolve thesovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and create amaritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Eritrea
Introduction Eritrea
Background:Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation.Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years latersparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 withEritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence wasoverwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-yearborder war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UNauspices on 12 December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UNpeacekeeping operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide TemporarySecurity Zone on the border with Ethiopia. An internationalcommission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted itsfindings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due to Ethiopianobjections.
Geography Eritrea
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 121,320 sq kmland: 121,320 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:total: 1,626 kmborder countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline:2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea1,083 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in thecentral highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid inwestern hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-Septemberexcept in coastal desert
Terrain:dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwestto hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 mhighest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources:gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 4.95% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.02% (2001)
Irrigated land:220 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent droughts; locust swarms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss ofinfrastructure from civil warfare
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpeciessigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shippinglanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along theRed Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993
People Eritrea
Population:4,561,599 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,023,898/female 1,019,389)15-64 years: 51.9% (male 1,170,823/female 1,194,741)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 74,312/female 78,436) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 17.54 yearsmale: 17.35 yearsfemale: 17.73 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.51% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:38.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:13.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean refugees fromSudan in 2001 following the restoration of diplomatic relationsbetween the two countries in 2000 (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 74.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 82.28 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 58.47 yearsmale: 56.96 yearsfemale: 60.02 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:60,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:6,300 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations (2004)
Nationality:noun: Eritrean(s)adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups:ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Seacoast dwellers) 3%, other 3%
Religions:Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 58.6% male: 69.9% female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
Government Eritrea
Country name:conventional long form: State of Eritreaconventional short form: Eritrealocal long form: Hagere Ertralocal short form: Ertraformer: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia
Government type:transitional governmentnote: following a successful referendum on independence for theAutonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a NationalAssembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy andJustice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; aConstitutional Commission was also established to draft aconstitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by thetransitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997,did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidentialelections; parliamentary elections had been scheduled in December2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legalparty is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)
Capital:Asmara
Administrative divisions:6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (Southern),Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Ma'akel(Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)
Independence:24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)
National holiday:Independence Day, 24 May (1993)
Constitution:a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replacedby a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented
Legal system:primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with revisions;new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet beenpromulgated; also relies on customary and post-independence-enactedlaws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentand is head of the State Council and National Assemblyhead of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment and is head of the State Council and National Assemblycabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority;members appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly; election lastheld 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the NationalAssembly did not hold a presidential election in December 2001 asanticipated)election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits notestablished)elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the newconstitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the oldCentral Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-memberConstituent Assembly, that had been established in 1997 to discussand ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreansliving abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly toserve as the country's legislative body until countrywide electionsto a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members ofthe Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitutionstipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of theNational Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligiblevoters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 werepostponed indefinitely
Judicial branch:High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also havemilitary and special courts
Political parties and leaders: People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki]; note - a National Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January 2001, but the full National Assembly has not yet debated or voted on it
Political pressure groups and leaders: Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also including Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel Movement) [leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also known as the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions) [HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmeromchancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISIembassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmaramailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmaratelephone: [291] (1) 120004FAX: [291] (1) 127584
Flag description:red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flaginto two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower oneis blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered onthe hoist side of the red triangle
Economy Eritrea
Economy - overview:Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has facedthe economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. Like theeconomies of many African nations, the economy is largely based onsubsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved infarming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severelyhurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to-12.1% in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northernEritrea caused some $600 million in property damage and loss,including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000 homes. Theattack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most productiveregion, causing food production to drop by 62%. Even during the war,Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure, asphalting newroads, improving its ports, and repairing war damaged roads andbridges. Since the war ended, the government has maintained a firmgrip on the economy, expanding the use of the military andparty-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's development agenda.Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalistsfrom the military kept cereal production well below normal, holdingdown growth in 2002-04. Eritrea's economic future depends upon itsability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment,and low skills, and to open its economy to private enterprise so thediaspora's money and expertise can foster economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.154 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 12.4%industry: 25.9%services: 61.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%
Unemployment rate:NA (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):10% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):26.3% of GDP (2002)
Budget:revenues: $235.2 millionexpenditures: $373.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal;livestock, goats; fish
Industries:food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, salt, cement,commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:246.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:229.4 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-144.9 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$64.44 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)
Exports - partners:Malaysia 26.6%, Italy 17.1%, Japan 8%, Germany 6.6%, China 5%, UK4.9%, US 4.7%, France 4.4%, Poland 4.2% (2004)
Imports:$622 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)
Imports - partners:Ireland 26.6%, US 18.6%, Italy 16.6%, Turkey 6.4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$30.87 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$311 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$77 million (1999)
Currency (code):nakfa (ERN)
Currency code:ERN
Exchange rates:nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958(2002), 11.31 (2001), 9.625 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Eritrea
Telephones - main lines in use:38,100 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequatedomestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; governmentis seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002)international: country code - 291; note - international connectionsexist
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)
Radios:345,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2000)
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.er
Internet hosts:1,047 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2001)
Internet users:9,500 (2003)
Transportation Eritrea
Railways: total: 306 km narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 4,010 km paved: 874 km unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Assab, Massawa
Merchant marine:total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWTby type: cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/rolloff 1registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:17 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Eritrea
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 16 months (2004)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: NA (2005)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$151 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:13.4% (2004)