Military Haiti
Military branches:the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force- have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unlessthey are constitutionally abolished
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police force (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,626,491 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 948,320 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 98,554 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$26 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Haiti
Disputes - international:since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN StabilizationMission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despiteefforts to control illegal migration, Haitians fleeing economicprivation and civil unrest continue to cross into Dominican Republicand to sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administeredNavassa Island
Illicit drugs:major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the USand Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombiannarcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financialtransactions; pervasive corruption
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Introduction Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Background:These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferredfrom the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of sealand bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.
Geography Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Location:islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way fromMadagascar to Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:53 06 S, 72 31 E
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 412 sq kmland: 412 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:101.9 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:antarctic
Terrain:Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated bya large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak);McDonald Islands - small and rocky
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island
Environment - current issues:NA
People Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Population: uninhabited (July 2005 est.)
Government Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonaldIslandsconventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by theAustralian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environmentand Heritage
Legal system:the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Economy - overview:No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Governmentallows limited fishing around the islands.
Communications Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Internet country code: .hm
Transportation Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conductsfisheries patrols
Transnational Issues Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Holy See (Vatican City)
Introduction Holy See (Vatican City)
Background:Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsulafor more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when manyof the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom ofItaly. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed whenRome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner"popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties,which established the independent state of Vatican City and grantedRoman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordatbetween the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earliertreaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as theItalian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See includereligious freedom, international development, the Middle East,terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and theapplication of church doctrine in an era of rapid change andglobalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholicfaith.
Geography Holy See (Vatican City)
Location:Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Geographic coordinates:41 54 N, 12 27 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 0.44 sq kmland: 0.44 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 3.2 km border countries: Italy 3.2 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, drysummers (May to September)
Terrain:low hill
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location 19 m highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (urban area) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: none of the selected agreementssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification
Geography - note:urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state;outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo(the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights
People Holy See (Vatican City)
Population:921 (July 2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.01% (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: noneadjective: none
Ethnic groups:Italians, Swiss, other
Religions:Roman Catholic
Languages:Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
Government Holy See (Vatican City)
Country name:conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)
Government type:ecclesiastical
Capital:Vatican City
Administrative divisions:none
Independence:11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signedwith Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, thefull sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorialextent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over theyears have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the8th century
National holiday:Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)
Constitution:new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Lawof 1929)
Legal system:based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it
Suffrage:limited to cardinals less than 80 years old
Executive branch:chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since1 December 1990)cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the popeelections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death ofthe current pope); secretary of state appointed by the popeelection results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Legislative branch:unicameral Pontifical Commission
Judicial branch:there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminalmatters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issuespertaining to the Holy Seenote: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of PiusXII on 1 May 1946
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)
International organization participation:CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS(observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO,WToO (observer), WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121 FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428 FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346
Flag description:two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with thecrossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in thewhite band
Economy Holy See (Vatican City)
Economy - overview:This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by anannual contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout theworld (known as Peter's Pence); by the sale of postage stamps,coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission tomuseums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and realestate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. Theincomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to thoseof counterparts who work in the city of Rome.
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:essentially services with a small amount of industry; note -dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers liveoutside the Vatican
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Budget:revenues: $245.2 millionexpenditures: $260.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2002)
Industries:printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a smallamount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking andfinancial activities
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - exports:0 kWh
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy
Economic aid - recipient:none
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 Holy See (Vatican City)
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic exchangedomestic: tied into Italian systeminternational: country code - 39; uses Italian system
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:1 (1996)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.va
Internet hosts:9 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Holy See (Vatican City)
Highways:none; all city streets
Airports:none (2004 est.)
Military Holy See (Vatican City)
Military branches:Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limitedsecurity duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard
Transnational Issues Holy See (Vatican City)
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Honduras
Introduction Honduras
Background:Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras becamean independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades ofmostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came topower in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven foranti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Governmentand an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftistguerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998,which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billionin damage.
Geography Honduras
Location:Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala andNicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean),between El Salvador and Nicaragua
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 86 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 112,090 sq kmland: 111,890 sq kmwater: 200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,520 kmborder countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua922 km
Coastline:820 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
Climate:subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains
Terrain:mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m
Natural resources:timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal,fish, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 9.55% permanent crops: 3.22% other: 87.23% (2001)
Irrigated land:760 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible todamaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast
Environment - current issues:urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging andthe clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further landdegradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled developmentand improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands;mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largestsource of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, withheavy metals
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof 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:has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline,including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast
People Honduras
Population:6,975,204note: 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: 40.8% (male 1,452,646/female 1,393,271)15-64 years: 55.5% (male 1,921,432/female 1,948,656)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 122,146/female 137,053) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 19.15 yearsmale: 18.75 yearsfemale: 19.56 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.16% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:30.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.32 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 32.84 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.3 yearsmale: 67.71 yearsfemale: 70.97 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.87 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:63,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Honduran(s)adjective: Honduran
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black2%, white 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Languages:Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.2%male: 76.1%female: 76.3% (2003 est.)
Government Honduras
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Hondurasconventional short form: Honduraslocal long form: Republica de Honduraslocal short form: Honduras
Government type:democratic constitutional republic
Capital:Tegucigalpa
Administrative divisions:18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida,Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, FranciscoMorazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz,Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995
Legal system:rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence ofEnglish common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoningNapoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system;accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZContreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto DIAZLobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the chiefof state and head of governmenthead of government: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DELOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice PresidentAlberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;election last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held 27 November2005)election results: Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (PN) elected president -52.2%, Raphael PINEDA Ponce (PL) 44.3%, others 3.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats;members are elected proportionally to the number of votes theirparty's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held 27 November2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -PN 61, PL 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU-SD 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges areelected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Juan Ramon VELAZQUEZ Nassar];Democratic Unification Party or PUD [Matias FUNES]; Liberal Party orPL [Roberto MICHELETTI Bain]; National Innovation and UnityParty-Social Democratic Party or PINU-SD [Olban F. VALLADARES];National Party of Honduras or PN [Jose Celin DISCUA Elvir]; UnitedConfederation of Honduran Workers or CUTH
Political pressure groups and leaders:Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH;Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating Committee ofPopular Organizations or CCOP; General Workers Confederation or CGT;Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP; NationalAssociation of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; National Union ofCampesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United Federation of HonduranWorkers or FUTH
International organization participation:ABEDA, BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS,OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702 FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco honorary consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Leon PALMER embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone: [504] 238-5114, 236-9320 FAX: [504] 236-9037
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withfive blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered inthe white band; the stars represent the members of the formerFederal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador,Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of ElSalvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the wordsREPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the whiteband; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features atriangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top andAMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band
Economy Honduras
Economy - overview:Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemispherewith an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and massiveunemployment, is banking on expanded trade under the U.S.-CentralAmerica Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and on debt relief under theHeavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. The country hasmet most of its macroeconomic targets, and began a three-year IMFPoverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PGRF) program in February2004. Growth remains dependent on the economy of the US, its largesttrading partner, on commodity prices, particularly coffee, and onreduction of the high crime rate.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$18.79 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.7% industry: 32.1% services: 55.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:2.47 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:28.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:53% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 42.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:56.3 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.467 billionexpenditures: $1.722 billion, including capital expenditures of $106million (2004 est.)
Public debt:74.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Industries:sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate:7.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:3.626 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50.2% hydro: 49.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.771 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:16 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:415 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$258.3 million (2003 est.)
Exports:$1.457 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber
Exports - partners:US 54.4%, El Salvador 8.1%, Germany 5.9%, Guatemala 5.4% (2004)
Imports:$3.332 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials,chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)
Imports - partners:US 37.5%, Guatemala 6.9%, Mexico 5.4%, Costa Rica 4.3%, El Salvador4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.464 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$5.365 billion (September 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$557.8 million (1999)
Currency (code):lempira (HNL)
Currency code:HNL
Exchange rates:lempiras per US dollar - 18.206 (2004), 17.345 (2003), 16.433(2002), 15.474 (2001), 14.839 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Honduras
Telephones - main lines in use:322,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:326,500 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 504; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American MicrowaveSystem
Radio broadcast stations:AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
Radios:2.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:570,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.hn
Internet hosts:1,944 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:168,600 (2002)
Transportation Honduras
Railways: total: 699 km narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 13,603 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,828 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2004)
Ports and harbors:Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela
Merchant marine:total: 137 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 598,600 GRT/616,158 DWTby type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 67, chemical tanker 6, container 2,liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 4, passenger/cargo5, petroleum tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 1,specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 44 (Canada 1, China 3, Egypt 1, Greece 4, Hong Kong2, Israel 1, Japan 4, Lebanon 1, Mexico 1, Singapore 12, South Korea6, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1, United States 2, Vanuatu 1,Vietnam 1)registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:115 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 104 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 84 (2004 est.)
Military Honduras
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary 2-3 year military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,448,369 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 955,019 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 77,399 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$100.6 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2004)
Transnational Issues Honduras
Disputes - international:in 1992, ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputedareas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border, 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 withconsideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvadorcontinues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claimsSapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize, but agreed to creation of ajoint ecological park and Guatemalan corridor in the Caribbean inthe failed 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum, which the OAS isattempting to revive; Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over a complex disputeover islands and maritime boundaries in the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer ofcannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for localconsumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-launderingactivity
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Hong Kong
Introduction Hong Kong
Background:Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by Chinathe following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong SpecialAdministrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In thisagreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, twosystems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not beimposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree ofautonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for thenext 50 years.
Geography Hong Kong
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 1,092 sq kmland: 1,042 sq kmwater: 50 sq km
Area - comparative:six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 30 km regional border: China 30 km
Coastline:733 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy fromspring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain:hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use: arable land: 5.05% permanent crops: 1.01% other: 93.94% (2001)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Marine Dumping (associate member)
Geography - note:more than 200 islands
People Hong Kong
Population:6,898,686 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 13.8% (male 498,771/female 454,252)15-64 years: 73.5% (male 2,479,656/female 2,591,170)65 years and over: 12.7% (male 404,308/female 470,529) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 39.4 yearsmale: 39.3 yearsfemale: 39.6 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.65% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:7.23 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:5.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 81.5 yearsmale: 78.81 yearsfemale: 84.41 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:0.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese/Hong Kongeradjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions:eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 93.5%male: 96.9%female: 89.6% (2002)
Government Hong Kong
Country name:conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Hong Konglocal long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqulocal short form: Xianggangabbreviation: HK
Dependency status:special administrative region of China
Government type:limited democracy
Administrative divisions:none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republicof China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated asHong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People'sCongress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residentsliving in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functionalconstituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broadregional groupings, municipal organizations, and central governmentbodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005)cabinet: Executive Council consists of seven non-official membersand 14 official memberselections: previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected tosecond five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committeedominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005;Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005and 24 June 2005; last election 16 June 2005 to fill final two yearsof TUNG's term (next to be held in June 2007)
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seatsindirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected bypopular vote; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September2008)election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10,independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11,Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1; other 1
Judicial branch:Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL[Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHANKai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong orDAB [MA Lik, chairman]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat, chairman];Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Liberal Party[James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman]note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association forDemocracy and People's Livelihood, Democratic Party, Frontier Party;pro-Beijing - Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong,Hong Kong Progressive Alliance, Liberal Party
Political pressure groups and leaders:Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); ChineseManufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of TradeUnions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEECheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries;Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong,executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the PatrioticDemocratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong andKowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamberof Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNGMan-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center orNWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James B. CUNNINGHAM consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2524-0860
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
Economy Hong Kong
Economy - overview:Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent oninternational trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and rawmaterials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e.,including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP indollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chineseadministration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investmentties with China. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economywith China because China's growing openness to the world economy hasmade manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong'sreexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Percapita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies ofWestern Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 1997,but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past six years becauseof the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the global downturn in2001 and 2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)outbreak also battered Hong Kong's economy, a boom in tourism fromthe mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, areturn of consumer confidence, and a solid rise in exports resultedin the resumption of strong growth in late 2003 and in 2004.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$234.5 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $34,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 11.3% services: 88.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:3.54 million (October 2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade,restaurants, and hotels 43.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate19.2%, transport and communications 7.9%, community and socialservices 18.5%note: above data exclude public sector (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.7% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $26.6 billionexpenditures: $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:2.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork
Industries:textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics,plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate:1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:35.51 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:38.45 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:10.4 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:257,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Natural gas - production:NA
Natural gas - consumption:680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$14.85 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$268.1 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear,watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material
Exports - partners:China 44%, US 17%, Japan 5.3% (2004)
Imports:$275.9 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods,foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)
Imports - partners:China 43.5%, Japan 12.1%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 5.3%, Singapore 5.3%,South Korea 4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$123.6 billion (31 December 2004 est.)
Debt - external:$66.94 billion (2004 est.)
Currency (code):Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Currency code:HKD
Exchange rates:Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003),7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001), 7.7912 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:3,801,300 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,241,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domesticand international servicesdomestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-opticnetworkinternational: country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable toGuangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cablesproviding connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan,Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (2004)
Televisions:1.84 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hk
Internet hosts:591,993 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:3,212,800 (2003)
Transportation Hong Kong
Highways: total: 1,831 km paved: 1,831 km unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Hong Kong
Merchant marine:total: 837 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWTby type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 446, cargo 119, chemicaltanker 44, combination ore/oil 2, container 105, liquefied gas 20,passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 75, roll on/rolloff 5, vehicle carrier 8foreign-owned: 453 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Belgium 3, Canada 9,China 246, Denmark 3, France 5, Germany 13, Greece 19, India 1,Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Japan 51, Norway 16, Philippines 13,Singapore 17, South Korea 8, Taiwan 5, Thailand 4, UAE 1, UnitedKingdom 32, United States 3)registered in other countries: 373 (2005)
Airports:4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Hong Kong
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison ofChina's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLAGround Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are underthe direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijingand under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou MilitaryRegion
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,743,972 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,403,088 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 40,343 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficultchallenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine toregional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduitfor money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,especially among young people
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Howland Island
Introduction Howland Island
Background:Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island wasofficially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companiesmined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon nearthe middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed duringWorld War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory ofthe famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by theUS Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Geography Howland Island
Location:Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way betweenHawaii and Australia
Geographic coordinates:0 48 N, 176 38 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 1.6 sq kmland: 1.6 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:6.4 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun
Terrain:low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrowfringing reef; depressed central area