Industries:construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:460.1 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:427.9 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$155 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing
Exports - partners:France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2001)
Imports:$625 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment,fuels and chemicals
Imports - partners:France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002 est.)
Debt - external:$1.2 billion (1988)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):euro (EUR)
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:Euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications French Guiana
Telephones - main lines in use:51,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:138,200 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: fair open-wire and microwave radio relay systeminternational: country code - 594; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5repeaters) (1998)
Radios:104,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:30,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gf
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:3,200 (2002)
Transportation French Guiana
Highways:total: 817 km (1998)
Waterways:3,760 kmnote: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal andriver steamers, 3,300 km by native craft (2004)
Ports and harbors:Degrad des Cannes
Merchant marine:registered in other countries: 3
Airports:11 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Military French Guiana
Military branches:no regular military forces; Gendarmerie
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 47,809 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 38,676 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Guiana
Disputes - international:Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini(both headwaters of the Lawa) in French Guiana
Illicit drugs:small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minortransshipment point to Europe
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@French Polynesia
Introduction French Polynesia
Background:The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19thcentury. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests byresuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-yearmoratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.
Geography French Polynesia
Location:Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-halfof the way from South America to Australia
Geographic coordinates:15 00 S, 140 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)land: 3,660 sq kmwater: 507 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,525 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical, but moderate
Terrain:mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m
Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 0.82% permanent crops: 5.46% other: 93.72% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:occasional cyclonic storms in January
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea inFrench Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands inthe Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribatiand Nauru
People French Polynesia
Population:270,485 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.7% (male 36,947/female 35,403)15-64 years: 67.4% (male 94,710/female 87,546)65 years and over: 5.9% (male 8,018/female 7,861) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.48 yearsmale: 27.84 yearsfemale: 27.1 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.52% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:16.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:2.89 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: 1.08 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.9 yearsmale: 73.5 yearsfemale: 78.42 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.04 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: French Polynesian(s)adjective: French Polynesian
Ethnic groups:Polynesian 78%, Chinese 12%, local French 6%, metropolitan French 4%
Religions:Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%
Languages:French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asianlanguages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)
Literacy:definition: age 14 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1977 est.)
Government French Polynesia
Country name:conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesiaconventional short form: French Polynesialocal long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaiselocal short form: Polynesie Francaiseformer: French Colony of Oceania
Dependency status:overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from1946-2004
Government type:NA
Capital:Papeete
Administrative divisions:none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 5 archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises, Archipeldes Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, and Iles Sous-le-Ventnote: Clipperton Island is administered by France from FrenchPolynesia
Independence:none (overseas lands of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:based on French system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic MichelMATHIEU (since 24 October 2001); note - Michel MATHIER leaves 30July 2005, replaced by Jacques MICHAUT (acting high commissioner),until the arrival of Anne BOQUET in early September 2005head of government: President of the Territorial Government ofFrench Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 3 March 2005); President of theTerritorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of membersof the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve asministerselections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; high commissioner appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of theTerritorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assemblyare elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats- changed from 49 seats for May 2004 election; members are electedby popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1; after by-elections of 13February 2005 seating was as follows: People's Rally for theRepublic 27, Union for Democracy 27, and Alliance for a NewDemocracy 3note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998(next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party- NA%; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the FrenchNational Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR1, UMP 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance orTribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law orTribunal Administratif
Political parties and leaders:Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (TaviniHuiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [EmileVERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR(Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api)[Philippe SHYLE]; This Country is Yours (No Oe E Te Nunaa) [NicleBOUTEAU]; Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), UPU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas lands of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas lands of France)
Flag description:two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centeredon the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on thelower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; astylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; theFrench flag is used for official occasions
Economy French Polynesia
Economy - overview:Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region,French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economyto one in which a high proportion of the work force is eitheremployed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With thehalt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution tothe economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth ofGDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sourcesof income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. Thesmall manufacturing sector primarily processes agriculturalproducts. The territory benefits substantially from developmentagreements with France aimed principally at creating new businessesand strengthening social services.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.58 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,500 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 18% services: 78% (2002)
Labor force:70,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (2002)
Unemployment rate:11.8% (1994)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1 billionexpenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185million (1996)
Agriculture - products: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee
Industries:tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:380 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.7% hydro: 39.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:353.4 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$244 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, sharkmeat
Exports - partners:France 36.6%, Japan 22.7%, US 16.1%, Niger 13%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)
Imports:$1.341 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners:France 47.6%, New Zealand 8.8%, Singapore 8.4%, Australia 8.3%, US7.1% (2004)
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:$367 million (1997)
Currency (code):Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code:XPF
Exchange rates:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 96.04(2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000)note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications French Polynesia
Telephones - main lines in use:52,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:90,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:128,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:40,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.pf
Internet hosts:5,123 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:35,000 (2002)
Transportation French Polynesia
Highways: total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)
Ports and harbors:Papeete
Merchant marine:total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 17,537 GRT/15,150 DWTby type: cargo 4, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo1, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 1 (France 1) (2005)
Airports:50 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military French Polynesia
Military branches:no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Polynesia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Introduction French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Background:The Southern Lands consist of two archipelagos, Iles Crozet andIles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and IleSaint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visitedonly by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portionconsists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continentdiscovered and claimed by the French in 1840.
Geography French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Location:southeast of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, aboutequidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - FrenchSouthern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul,Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, alongwith the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the USdoes not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"
Geographic coordinates:43 00 S, 67 00 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 7,829 sq kmland: 7,829 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and IlesKerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km inAntarctica that is not recognized by the US
Area - comparative:slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,232 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen (does notinclude the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands)
Climate:antarctic
Terrain:volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Natural resources: fish, crayfish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:islands component is widely scattered across remote locations inthe southern Indian Ocean
People French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Population:no indigenous inhabitants (July 2005 est.)note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary fromwinter (July) to summer (January) (July 2005 est.)
Government French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern andAntarctic Landsconventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Landslocal long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et AntarctiquesFrancaiseslocal short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
Dependency status:overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris byAdministrateur Superieur Michel CHAMPON (since 20 December 2004),assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and IlesSaint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarcticathat is not recognized by the US
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Economy - overview:Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological andgeophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets.The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships areexported to France and Reunion.
Communications French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Internet country code: .tf
Transportation French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Merchant marine:total: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,092,387 GRT/5,056,658 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 21, container 19,liquefied gas 7, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 6, vehiclecarrier 4foreign-owned: 71 (Belgium 5, Denmark 2, France 45, Germany 2,Greece 2, Hong Kong 5, Japan 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 5) (2005)
Airports:none (2004 est.)
Military French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues French Southern and Antarctic Lands
Disputes - international: French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the United States
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Gabon
Introduction Gabon
Background:Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independencefrom France in 1960. Gabon's current President, El Hadj Omar BONGOOndimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world -has dominated Gabon's political scene for almost four decades.President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a newconstitution in the early 1990s. However, the low turnout andallegations of electoral fraud during the most recent localelections in 2002-03 have exposed the weaknesses of formal politicalstructures in Gabon. Presidential elections scheduled for 2005 areunlikely to bring change since the opposition remains weak, divided,and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite politicalconditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, andconsiderable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the moreprosperous and stable African countries.
Geography Gabon
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator,between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates:1 00 S, 11 45 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 267,667 sq kmland: 257,667 sq kmwater: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries:total: 2,551 kmborder countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km,Equatorial Guinea 350 km
Coastline:885 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold,timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 1.26% permanent crops: 0.66% other: 98.08% (2001)
Irrigated land:150 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabonbecome one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, thesecircumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve itspristine rain forest and rich biodiversity
People Gabon
Population:1,389,201note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.1% (male 293,668/female 291,816)15-64 years: 53.8% (male 372,134/female 374,850)65 years and over: 4.1% (male 23,551/female 33,182) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 18.57 yearsmale: 18.34 yearsfemale: 18.8 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.45% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:36.24 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.72 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 53.64 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 63.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 43.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 55.02 yearsmale: 53.63 yearsfemale: 56.45 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:8.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:48,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2004)
Nationality:noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups:Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou,Nzebi, Obamba), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Religions:Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Languages:French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 63.2%male: 73.7%female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Government Gabon
Country name:conventional long form: Gabonese Republicconventional short form: Gabonlocal long form: Republique Gabonaiselocal short form: Gabon
Government type:republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition partieslegalized in 1990)
Capital:Libreville
Administrative divisions:9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga,Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence:17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)
Constitution:adopted 14 March 1991
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial reviewof legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2December 1967)head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE(since 23 January 1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister inconsultation with the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected;percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 66.6%, PierreMAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; memberselected by members of municipal councils and departmentalassemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001(next to be held December 2006); Senate - last held 26 January and 9February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP1, PSD 1, independents 13, others 3; Senate - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1,CLR 1, independents 9
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers -Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courtsof Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts
Political parties and leaders:Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE];Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide BourdesOGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE[Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG,former sole party [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party forProgress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; National Rally ofWoodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. PaulM'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA];Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; SocialDemocratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union forDemocracy and Social Integration or UDIS [leader NA]; Union ofGabonese People or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJAchancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEYembassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Librevillemailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Librevilletelephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92FAX: [241] 74 55 07
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue
Economy Gabon
Economy - overview:Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most ofsub-Saharan African nations. This has supported a sharp decline inextreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a largeproportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timberand manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s.The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to facefluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports.Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal managementhobbles the economy. Devaluation of its currency by 50% in January1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate droppedto 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at nearcommercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119million in October 2000. Those agreements mandate progress inprivatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additionalfinancial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targetsfor mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized thegovernment for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing fromthe central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization andadministrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helpedgrowth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizingpotential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement withthe Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-upbilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December2001. Gabon signed a 14 month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF inMay 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year.Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscaland other adjustments in line with IMF policies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$7.966 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.4% industry: 46.7% services: 45.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:650,000 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25%
Unemployment rate:21% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.129 billionexpenditures: $1.64 billion, including capital expenditures of $310million (2004 est.)
Public debt:29.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropicalsoftwood); fish
Industries:petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining;chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering andplywood; cement
Industrial production growth rate:1.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:1.161 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 34.5% hydro: 65.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.08 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:264,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:2.022 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:80 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:80 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:66.47 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$196.8 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$3.71 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners:US 53.3%, China 8.5%, France 7.4% (2004)
Imports:$1.225 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, constructionmaterials
Imports - partners:France 43.8%, US 6.3%, UK 5.9%, Netherlands 4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$268.6 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$3.804 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$331 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:calendar year
Communications Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:38,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:300,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate service by African standards andimproving with the help of the growing mobile cell systemdomestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and adomestic satellite system with 12 earth stationsinternational: country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:208,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ga
Internet hosts:93 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2001)
Internet users:35,000 (2003)
Transportation Gabon
Railways: total: 814 km standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 8,464 km paved: 838 km unpaved: 7,626 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 210 km; oil 1,385 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Airports:56 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)
Military Gabon
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 276,310 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 156,632 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 15,150 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$184.8 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2% (2004)
Transnational Issues Gabon
Disputes - international:UN presses Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereigntydispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and to establish a maritimeboundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay; only a few hundred out ofthe 20,000 Republic of the Congo refugees who fled militia fightingin 2000 remain in Gabon
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Gambia, The
Introduction Gambia, The
Background:The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed ashort-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperationtreaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and bannedpolitical activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidentialelections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed anominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another roundof presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has beenelected president in all subsequent elections.
Geography Gambia, The
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 11,300 sq kmland: 10,000 sq kmwater: 1,300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season(November to May)
Terrain:flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources:fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand,clay, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 74.5% (2001)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent ofAfrica
People Gambia, The
Population:1,593,256 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.5% (male 356,079/female 352,894)15-64 years: 52.8% (male 416,809/female 424,429)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,111/female 20,934) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 17.59 yearsmale: 17.45 yearsfemale: 17.74 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.93% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:39.86 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:1.27 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 72.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 78.6 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 65.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 53.75 yearsmale: 51.91 yearsfemale: 55.64 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.38 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,800 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Gambian(s)adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Religions:Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenousvernaculars
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 40.1%male: 47.8%female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
Government Gambia, The
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of The Gambiaconventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:Banjul
Administrative divisions:5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, NorthBank, Upper River, Western
Independence:18 February 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved bynational referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January 1997
Legal system:based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, andcustomary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Junta); VicePresident Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he Chairman of theJunta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held October 2006)election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percentof vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote,five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held February 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC - the ruling party [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA] note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971 FAX: [220] 392475
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,and green
Economy Gambia, The
Economy - overview:The Gambia has no significant mineral or natural resource depositsand has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the populationdepends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scalemanufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, andhides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment ofeconomic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipmentinspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency)have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. Thegovernment's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimentaeliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; thefollowing two marketing seasons saw substantially lower prices andsales. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing keyparastatals, no plans have been made public that would indicate thatthe government intends to follow through on its promises.Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high;short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral andmultilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, oncontinued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors,and on expected growth in the construction sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.799 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26.8% industry: 14.5% services: 58.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:400,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%
Unemployment rate:NA (2002 est.)