Executive branch:chief of union: President of the European Commission Jose DURAOBARROSO (since 22 November 2004)cabinet: European Commission (composed of 25 members, one from eachmember country; each commissioner responsible for one or more policyareas)elections: the president of the European Commission is designated bymember governments; the president-designate then chooses the otherCommission members; the European Parliament confirms the entireCommission for a five-year term; election last held 18 November 2004(next to be held 2009)election results: European Parliament approved the EuropeanCommission by an approval vote of 449 to 149 with 82 abstentionsnote: the European Council brings together heads of state andgovernment and the president of the European Commission and meets atleast twice a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the majorpolitical issues relating to European integration and to issuegeneral policy guidelines
Legislative branch:Council of the European Union (25 member-state ministers having 321votes; the number of votes is roughly proportional to member-states'population); note - the Council is the main decision-making body ofthe EU; European Parliament (732 seats; seats allocated among memberstates by proportion to population); members elected by directuniversal suffrage for a five-year termelections: last held 10-13 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - EPP-ED268, PES 202, ALDE 88, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41, IND/DEM 36, UEN27, independents 28
Judicial branch:Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that thetreaties are interpreted and applied correctly) - 25 justices (onefrom each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - forthe sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 justices known asthe "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 25 justices appointedfor a six-year term
Political parties and leaders:Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE[Graham R. WATSON]; Independence/Democracy Group or IND/DEM[Jens-Peter BONDE and Nigel FARAGE]; Group of Greens/European FreeAlliance or Greens/EFA [Monica FRASSONI and Daniel MarcCOHN-BENDIT]; Socialist Group in the European Parliament or PES[Martin SCHULZ]; Confederal Group of the European United Left-NordicGreen Left or EUL/NGL [Francis WURTZ]; European People'sParty-European Democrats or EPP-ED [Hans-Gert POETTERING]; Union forEurope of the Nations Group or UEN [Brian CROWLEY and CristianaMUSCARDINI]
International organization participation:European Union: ASEAN (dialogue member), ARF (dialogue member),EBRD, IDA, OAS (observer), OECD, WTOEuropean Commission: Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, FAO, G-10, NSG(observer), UN (observer)European Central Bank: BISEuropean Investment Bank: WADB (nonregional member)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John BRUTON chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500 FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Rockwell SCHNABEL embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels mailing address: same as above telephone: [32] (2) 508-2222 FAX: [32] (2) 512-5720
Flag description:on a blue field, 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle,representing the union of the peoples of Europe; the number of starsis fixed
Economy European Union
Economy - overview:Domestically, the European Union attempts to lower trade barriers,adopt a common currency, and move toward convergence of livingstandards. Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's tradeposition and its political and economic power. Because of the greatdifferences in per capita income (from $10,000 to $28,000) andhistoric national animosities, the European Community facesdifficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. For example,both Germany and France since 2003 have flouted the member states'treaty obligation to prevent their national budgets from runningmore than a 3% deficit. In 2004, the EU admitted 10 central andeastern European countries that are, in general, less advancedtechnologically and economically than the existing 15. Twelve EUmember states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1January 1999. The UK, Sweden, and Denmark do not now participate;the 10 new member states may choose to adopt the euro when they meetthe EU's fiscal and monetary criteria and the member states so agree.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$11.65 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 28.3% services: 69.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 215 million (various)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 4.5%, industry 27.4%, services 66.9% note: the remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and services (2004)
Unemployment rate:9.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:See individual country listings
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 25.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.2 (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):percent of GDP - 19.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes, dairy products,cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, fish
Industries:among the world's largest and most technologically advanced, theEuropean Union industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrousmetal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal,cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportationequipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, constructionequipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical powerequipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems,electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food andbeverage processing, furniture, paper, textiles, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:2.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:2.888 trillion kWh (2002 est.)
Electricity - consumption:2.661 trillion kWh (2002 est.)
Electricity - exports:270.8 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:268.5 billion kWh (2002 est.)
Oil - production:2.648 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - consumption:14.54 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - exports:5.322 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:15.69 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:28.21 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:242.6 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - consumption:467.7 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - exports:78.1 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - imports:297.8 billion cu m (2001)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.256 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$NA
Exports:$1.109 trillionnote: external exports, excluding intra EU trade (2003)
Exports - commodities:machinery, motor vehicles, aircraft, plastics, pharmaceuticals andother chemicals, fuels, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, wood pulpand paper products, textiles, meat, dairy products, fish, alcoholicbeverages.
Exports - partners:US 22.9%, Switzerland 6.9%, China 4.1%, Japan 4%
Imports:$1.123 trillionnote: external imports, excluding intra-EU trade (2003)
Imports - commodities:machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil, chemicals,textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:US 15.1%, China 9.7%, Japan 6.7%, Switzerland 5.6%
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$NA
Currency (code):euro, British pound, Danish kroner, Swedish kroner, Cypriot pound,koruny (Czech Republic), krooni (Estonia), forint (Hungary), lati(Latvia), litai (Lithuania), Maltese liri, zloty (Poland), koruny(Slovakia), tolar (Slovenia)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12(2001), 1.09 (2000)
Fiscal year:NA
Communications European Union
Telephones - main lines in use:238,763,162 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:314,644,700 (2002)
Telephone system:note - see individual country entries of member states
Radio broadcast stations:AM 866, FM 13,396, shortwave 73 (1998); note - sum of individualcountry radio broadcast stations; there is also a European-widestation (Euroradio)
Television broadcast stations:2,791 (1995); note - does not include repeaters; sum of individualcountry television broadcast stations; there is also a European-widestation (Eurovision)
Internet country code:.eu (effective 2005); note - see country entries of member statesfor individual country codes
Internet hosts:22,000,414 (2004); note - sum of individual country Internet hosts
Internet users:206,032,067 (September 2004)
Transportation European Union
Railways:total: 222,293 kmbroad gauge: 28,438 kmstandard gauge: 186,405 kmnarrow gauge: 7,427 kmother: 23 km (2003)
Highways:total: 4,634,810 km (including 56,704 km of expressways)paved: 4,161,318 kmunpaved: 473,492 km (1999-2000)
Waterways:53,512 km
Ports and harbors:Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Bremen (Germany), Copenhagen(Denmark), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland),Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon(Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Naples (Italy),Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam(Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia)
Airports:3,130 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1,834
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1,296
Heliports:94 (2004)
Military European Union
Military - note:In November 2004, the European Union heads of government signed a"Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe" that offerspossibilities - with some limits - for increased defense andsecurity cooperation. If ratified, in a process that may take sometwo years, this treaty will in effect make operational the EuropeanSecurity and Defense Policy (ESDP) approved in the 2000 Nice Treaty.Despite limits of cooperation for some EU members, development of aEuropean military planning unit is likely to continue. So iscreation of a rapid-reaction military force and a humanitarian aidsystem, which the planning unit will support. France, Germany,Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy continue to press forwider coordination. The five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 byFrance, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has alreadydeployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia andHerzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo andassumed command of the International Security Assistance Force(ISAF) in Afghanistan in August 2004. Eurocorps directly commandsthe 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational CommandSupport Brigade, and EUFOR, which took over from SFOR in Bosnia inDecember 2004. Other troop contributions are under national command- committments to provide 67,100 troops were made at the Helsinki EUsession in 2000. Some 56,000 EU troops were actually deployed in2003. In August 2004, the new European Defense Agency, tasked withpromoting cooperative European defense capabilities, beganoperations. In November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formallycommitted to creating thirteen 1,500-man "battle groups" by the endof 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis.Twenty-two of the EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops.France, Italy, and the UK are to form the first three battle groupsin 2005, with Spain to follow. In May 2005, Norway, Sweden, andFinland agreed to establish one of the battle groups, possibly toinclude Estonian forces. The remaining groups are to be formed by2007. (2005)
Transnational Issues European Union
Disputes - international:the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries; it hasset up a Schengen area - consisting of 13 EU member states that havesigned the convention implementing the Schengen agreements (1985 and1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization ofborder controls in Europe; the Schengen agreements ("acquis") becameincorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treatyof Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; member states are: Austria, Belgium,Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg,Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden; in addition, non-EU statesIceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been includedin the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), bringing thetotal current membership to 15; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland(since 2002) take part in some aspects of the Schengen area,especially with respect to police and criminal matters; the 10 newmember states that joined the EU in 2004 eventually are expected toparticipate in Schengen, following a transition period to upgradetheir border controls and procedures
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Introduction Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Background:Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the firstlanding (English) did not occur until almost a century later in1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and theislands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, firstbetween Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. TheUK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a navalgarrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landedseven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentinesurrender on 14 June 1982.
Geography Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Location:Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, eastof southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates:51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 12,173 sq kmland: 12,173 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland andabout 200 small islands
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,288 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs onmore than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inchesin Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January andFebruary, but does not accumulate
Terrain:rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment - current issues:overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer wereintroduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this isthe only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by theChornobyl disaster
Geography - note:deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growingseason
People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Population: 2,967 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.44% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NA yearsmale: NA yearsfemale: NA years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:NA 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: Falkland Islander(s)adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups:British
Religions:primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, EvangelistChurch, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Languages:English
Government Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Government type:NA
Capital:Stanley
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution:3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Legal system:English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002);Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); FinancialSecretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the LegislativeCouncil, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financialsecretary), and the governorelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 electedby popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over bythe governorelections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held November 2005)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8;note - 71% voter turnout
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court(senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions);Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ICFTU, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of theflag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was oncethe major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whosecrew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing themotto DESIRE THE RIGHT
Economy Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Economy - overview:The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheepfarming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economicactivity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses toforeign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishingzone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, whichgoes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system.Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supportsdomestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports featureshipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postagestamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except fordefense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oilexploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismicsurveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. Anagreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuselicensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreigninterest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especiallyeco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money thegovernment has in the bank. The British military presence alsoprovides a sizeable economic boost.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$75 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force:1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Unemployment rate:full employment; labor shortage (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $66.2 millionexpenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2million (FY98/99 est.)
Agriculture - products:fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Industries:fish and wool processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:19.06 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:17.72 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$82 million (2002)
Exports - commodities:wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners:Spain 77.4%, UK 9.4%, US 4.9% (2004)
Imports:$53 million (2002)
Imports - commodities:fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners:UK 63.2%, Spain 30.3%, France 3.6% (2004)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$0 (1997 est.)
Currency (code):Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code:FKP
Exchange rates:Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003),0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Telephones - main lines in use:2,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CBradiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost allpoints on both islandsinternational: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to othercountries
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)
Televisions:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.fk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA; however one-half of all households are reported to haveinternet access (2002)
Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Highways: total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2002)
Ports and harbors:Stanley
Merchant marine:none
Airports:5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Military branches:no regular military forces
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Disputes - international:Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and brieflyoccupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longerseek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requestsfor sovereignty talks
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Faroe Islands
Introduction Faroe Islands
Background:The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended fromViking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands havebeen connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A highdegree of self-government was attained in 1948.
Geography Faroe Islands
Location:Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland toNorway
Geographic coordinates:62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 1,399 sq kmland: 1,399 sq kmwater: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative:eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,117 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median lineexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use: arable land: 2.14% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.86% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, anda few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sealanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limitshabitation to small coastal lowlands
People Faroe Islands
Population:46,962 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.3% (male 4,997/female 4,999)15-64 years: 64.9% (male 16,120/female 14,360)65 years and over: 13.8% (male 2,923/female 3,563) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 35.11 yearsmale: 34.64 yearsfemale: 35.68 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.62% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:13.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.21 yearsmale: 75.77 yearsfemale: 82.67 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.2 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: Faroese (singular and plural)adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups:Scandinavian
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: probably the same as Denmark proper
Government Faroe Islands
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Faroe Islandslocal long form: nonelocal short form: Foroyar
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type:NA
Capital:Torshavn
Administrative divisions:none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 49 municipalities
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark)
National holiday:Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July
Constitution:5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:Danish
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chiefadministrative officer (since 1 November 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3February 2004)cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime ministerelections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed bythe monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usuallyelected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percentof parliamentary vote - NA%note: coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party
Legislative branch:unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members areelected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the sevenconstituencies to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later thanJanuary 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%,Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party -Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People'sParty 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percentof vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People'sParty 1
Judicial branch:none
Political parties and leaders:Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P.HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party[Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; UnionParty [Kaj Oeo JOHANNESEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges ofthe flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoistside in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Faroe Islands
Economy - overview:The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostlyas a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable exportprices. Unemployment is minimal and there are signs of laborshortages in several sectors. The positive economic development hashelped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budgetsurpluses, which in turn has helped to reduce the large public debt,most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishingmakes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the presentfishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level offishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area givehope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which mayeventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thuslessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by asubstantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroesehave a standard of living not far below the Danes and otherScandinavians.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:10% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62% (1999)
Labor force: 24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation: fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Unemployment rate:1% (October 2000)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.1% (1999)
Budget:revenues: $488 millionexpenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21million (1999)
Agriculture - products:milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Industries:fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment,handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:220 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:204.6 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$408 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners:Denmark 33.5%, UK 29.7%, Norway 8.4%, Nigeria 7.2% (2004)
Imports:$466 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, rawmaterials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners:Denmark 52.8%, Norway 18.3%, Iceland 4.4%, Sweden 4.2% (2004)
Debt - external:$64 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998)
Currency (code):Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:DKK
Exchange rates:Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947(2002), 8.3228 (2001), 8.0831 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Faroe Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:23,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:30,700 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: good international communications; gooddomestic facilitiesdomestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog)and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installedinternational: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands,linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-opticsubmarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:26,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:15,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.fo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:25,000 (2002)
Transportation Faroe Islands
Highways: total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:Torshavn
Merchant marine:total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWTby type: cargo 6, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2foreign-owned: 8 (Denmark 2, Germany 1, Iceland 2, Norway 2, UnitedKingdom 1) (2005)
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Faroe Islands
Military branches:no regular military forces
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Faroe Islands
Disputes - international:because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not beenrealized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have beendeferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median lineboundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim thatthe Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Fiji
Introduction Fiji
Background:Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as aBritish colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two militarycoups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived asdominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborersbrought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led toheavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economicdifficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority.Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable.Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led byan Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged periodof political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave amandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.
Geography Fiji
Location:Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirdsof the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:18 00 S, 175 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 18,270 sq kmland: 18,270 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,129 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation;rectilinear shelf claim added
Climate:tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains of volcanic origin
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 10.95% permanent crops: 4.65% other: 84.4% (2001)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:cyclonic storms can occur from November to January
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber83, Tropical Timber 94signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited
People Fiji
Population:893,354 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31.4% (male 143,066/female 137,346)15-64 years: 64.5% (male 288,434/female 287,720)65 years and over: 4.1% (male 16,797/female 19,991) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 24.28 yearsmale: 23.84 yearsfemale: 24.74 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.4% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:22.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.04 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: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.53 yearsmale: 67.05 yearsfemale: 72.14 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Fijian(s)adjective: Fijian
Ethnic groups:Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture),Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, andother 5% (1998 est.)
Religions:Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim8%, other 2%note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there isa Muslim minority (1986)
Languages:English (official), Fijian, Hindustani
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.7%male: 95.5%female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Government Fiji
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islandsconventional short form: Fiji
Government type:republicnote: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formallydeclared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987
Capital:Suva (Viti Levu)
Administrative divisions:4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*,Western
Independence:10 October 1970 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)
Constitution:promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended on 25 July 1997 to allownonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multipartygovernment mandatory; effective 28 July 1998
Legal system:based on British system
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18July 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10September 2000)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among themembers of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - thereis also a Presidential Council that advises the president on mattersof national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consistsof the highest ranking members of the traditional chief systemelections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for afive-year term; prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected presidentby the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointedby the President on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, nineappointed by the president, and one appointed by the council ofRotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved forethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved forother ethnic groups, one reserved for the council of Rotumaconstituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats;members serve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later thanSeptember 2006)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - FLP 26.5%, SDL 27.5%, NFP 1.2%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, UGP .3%,independents 1.4%; seats by party - FLP 27, SDL 32, MV 6, NFP 1,NLUP 2, UGP 1, independents 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court ofAppeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; ConservativeAlliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE];Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji DemocraticParty or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian DemocratAlliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party orFAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarilyFijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [TupeniBABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General VotersParty or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party);Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Partyor AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA];National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party ofNational Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT[leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua orSDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis MickBEDDOES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Mr. Paula NAVUNISARAVI (Charge D'Affaires adInterim)chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYONembassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suvamailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suvatelephone: [679] 331-4466FAX: [679] 330-0081
Flag description:light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrantand the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; theshield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by thecross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree,bananas, and a white dove
Economy Fiji
Economy - overview:Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one ofthe most developed of the Pacific island economies, though stillwith a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing touristindustry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the majorsources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third ofindustrial activity, but is inefficient. Long-term problems includelow investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and thegovernment's ability to manage its budget. Yet short-run economicprospects are good, provided tensions do not again erupt betweenindigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Overseas remittances fromFijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$5.173 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 22.4% services: 61% (2001 est.)
Labor force:137,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.6% (1999)
Population below poverty line:25.5% (1990-91)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $427.9 millionexpenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish
Industries:tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, smallcottage industries
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:750 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 18.5% hydro: 81.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:697.5 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA