Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 3 m
Natural resources:guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquaticwildlife
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:no natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, andlow-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily anesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,and marine wildlife
People Howland Island
Population:uninhabitednote: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air andnaval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military duringWorld War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is byspecial-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only andgenerally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annuallyby US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2005 est.)
Government Howland Island
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Howland Island
Dependency status:unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington,DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of theInterior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system
Legal system:the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of the US is used
Economy Howland Island
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Howland Island
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boatlanding area along the middle of the west coast
Airports:airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on theround-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they leftLae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; theairstrip is no longer serviceable (2004 est.)
Transportation - note:Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coastthat was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since beenrebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART
Military Howland Island
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the USCoast Guard
Transnational Issues Howland Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Hungary
Introduction Hungary
Background:Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, whichcollapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rulefollowing World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawalfrom the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military interventionby Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungarybegan liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "GoulashCommunism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 andinitiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EUin 2004.
Geography Hungary
Location:Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 93,030 sq kmland: 92,340 sq kmwater: 690 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 2,171 kmborder countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km,Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on theSlovakian border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Tisza River 78 mhighest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources:bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Land use: arable land: 50.09% permanent crops: 2.06% other: 47.85% (2001)
Irrigated land: 2,100 sq km (1998 est.)
Environment - current issues: the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements will require large investments
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes betweenWestern Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine andMediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and TiszaRivers divide the country into three large regions
People Hungary
Population:10,006,835 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.8% (male 813,203/female 769,687)15-64 years: 69.1% (male 3,405,559/female 3,511,141)65 years and over: 15.1% (male 547,323/female 959,922) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 38.57 yearsmale: 36.1 yearsfemale: 41.24 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.26% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:9.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:13.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.4 yearsmale: 68.18 yearsfemale: 76.89 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Hungarian(s)adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups:Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated14.5% (2001 census)
Languages:Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.4%male: 99.5%female: 99.3% (2003 est.)
Government Hungary
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Hungaryconventional short form: Hungarylocal long form: Magyar Koztarsasaglocal short form: Magyarorszag
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Budapest
Administrative divisions:19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties (singular- megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros): counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen,Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy,Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala: urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor,Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa,Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok,Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg: capital city: Budapest
Independence:1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday:Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August
Constitution:18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972; 18October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals andconstitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister andalso established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system:rule of law based on Western model
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Laszlo SOLYOM (since 5 August 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Ferenc GYURCSANY (since 29September 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly onthe recommendation of the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 6-7 June 2005 (next to be held byJune 2010); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on therecommendation of the president; election last held 29 September 2004election results: Laszlo SOLYOM elected president by a simplemajority in the third round of voting, 185 to 182; Ferenc GYURCSANYelected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 197 to 12note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds oflegislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in thethird round
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; membersare elected by popular vote under a system of proportional anddirect representation to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 7 and 21 April 2002 (next to be held NA April2006)election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the voterequired for parliamentary representation in the first round) -Fidesz/MDF 48.70%, MSzP 46.11%, SzDSz 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats byparty - Fidesz 164, MSzP 178, MDF 24, SzDSz 20
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assemblyfor nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE]; Hungarian CivicAlliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian DemocraticForum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party orMDNP [Erzsebet PUSZTAI, chairman]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP[Istvan HILLER, chairman]; Hungarian Workers' Party or MMP [GyulaTHURMER, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA(cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA,NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (memberaffiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andras SIMONYI chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador George Herbert WALKER embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400 FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Economy Hungary
Economy - overview:Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to amarket economy, with a per capita income one-half that of the BigFour European nations. Hungary continues to demonstrate strongeconomic growth and acceded to the European Union in May 2004. Theprivate sector accounts for over 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership ofand investment in Hungarian firms are widespread, with cumulativeforeign direct investment totaling more than $23 billion since 1989.Hungarian sovereign debt was upgraded in 2000 and together with theCzech Republic holds the highest rating among the Central Europeantransition economies; however, ratings agencies have expressedconcerns over Hungary's unsustainable budget and current accountdeficits. Inflation has declined from 14% in 1998 to 7% in 2004.Unemployment has persisted around the 6% level, but Hungary's laborforce participation rate of 57% is one of the lowest in the OECD.Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner. Policychallenges include cutting the public sector deficit to 3% of GDP by2008, from about 5% in 2004, and orchestrating an orderly interestrate reduction without sparking capital outflows.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$149.3 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $14,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 31.4% services: 65.3% (2004 est.)
Labor force:4.17 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 6.2%, industry 27.1%, services 66.7% (2002)
Unemployment rate:5.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:8.6% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 20.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:24.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $46.07 billionexpenditures: $51.36 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:58.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle,poultry, dairy products
Industries:mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods,textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:9.6% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:34.07 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.1% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 39% other: 0.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:35.99 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:8.3 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:12.6 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:41,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:140,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:47,180 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:136,600 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:110.7 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:3.231 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:13.37 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:9.587 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:50.45 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-7.941 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$54.62 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%, foodproducts 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6% (2003)
Exports - partners:Germany 31.4%, Austria 6.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 5.6%, UK 5.1% (2004)
Imports:$58.68 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.7%, fuels andelectricity 7.7%, food products 3.1%, raw materials 2.0% (2003)
Imports - partners:Germany 29.2%, Austria 8.3%, Russia 5.7%, Italy 5.5%, Netherlands4.9%, China 4.8%, France 4.7% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$14.8 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$57 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $4.2 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06)
Currency (code):forint (HUF)
Currency code:HUF
Exchange rates:forints per US dollar - 202.75 (2004), 224.31 (2003), 257.89(2002), 286.49 (2001), 282.18 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Hungary
Telephones - main lines in use:3,666,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,862,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized and iscapable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication servicedomestic: the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunkservices are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwaveradio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections wasinitiated in 1996; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephonesinternational: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cableconnections with all neighboring countries; the international switchis in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small apertureterminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals
Radio broadcast stations:AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:7.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:4.42 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hu
Internet hosts:383,071 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:1.6 million (2002)
Transportation Hungary
Railways:total: 7,937 kmbroad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gaugestandard gauge: 7,682 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 159,568 kmpaved: 70,050 km (including 533 km of expressways)unpaved: 89,518 km (2002)
Waterways:1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)
Airports:44 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 5 (2004 est.)
Military Hungary
Military branches:Ground Forces, Air Forces
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in June 2004 (June 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,303,116 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,780,513 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 63,847 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.08 billion (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.75% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Hungary
Disputes - international:in 2004, Hungary amended the status law extending special socialand cultural benefits and voted down a referendum to extend dualcitizenship to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring states, whichhave objected to such measures; consultations continue betweenSlovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion theGabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as amember state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungarymust implement the strict Schengen border rules
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and forSouth American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producerof precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine andmethamphetamine; improving, but remains vulnerable to moneylaundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Iceland
Introduction Iceland
Background:Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrantsduring the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts theworld's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing,established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland wassubsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askjavolcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and causedwidespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of theisland's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limitedhome rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independenceattained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesionare first-rate by world standards.
Geography Iceland
Location:Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates:65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 103,000 sq kmland: 100,250 sq kmwater: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,988 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windywinters; damp, cool summers
Terrain:mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coastdeeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources:fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:arable land: 0.07%permanent crops: 0%other: 99.93% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewatertreatment
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine LifeConservation
Geography - note:strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmostEuropean country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital inthe world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continentalEurope
People Iceland
Population:296,737 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22.1% (male 33,302/female 32,257)15-64 years: 66.2% (male 99,513/female 96,886)65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,723/female 19,056) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 34 yearsmale: 33.53 yearsfemale: 34.49 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.91% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:13.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.19 yearsmale: 78.13 yearsfemale: 82.34 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Icelander(s)adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups:homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%,population of foreign origin 6%
Religions:Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%, RomanCatholic Church 2%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%, other Christian2.7%, other or unspecified 3.8%, unaffiliated 2.4% (2004)
Languages:Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.9% (1997 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government Iceland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Icelandconventional short form: Icelandlocal long form: Lydhveldidh Islandlocal short form: Island
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:Reykjavik
Administrative divisions:8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra,Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Independence:1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown);17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times
Legal system:civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August1996)head of government: Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15September 2004); note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switchedpositions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSONcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved byparliamentelections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected bypopular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004(next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually the prime ministerelection results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of thevote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%,Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party -Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, ProgressiveParty 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life bythe Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices areappointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance orLGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [GudjonKRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; SocialDemocratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, SocialDemocratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ingibjorg SolrunGISLADOTTIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSONchancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDENembassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavikmailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340telephone: [354] 562-9100FAX: [354] 562-9118
Flag description:blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges ofthe flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoistside in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Iceland
Economy - overview:Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yetwith an extensive welfare system (including generous housingsubsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution ofincome. In the absence of other natural resources (except forabundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on thefishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs8% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to decliningfish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its mainexports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon.Government policies include reducing the budget and current accountdeficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revisingagricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, andprivatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposedto EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern aboutlosing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy hasbeen diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in thelast decade, and new developments in software production,biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourismsector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism andwhale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment ofglobal recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and estimates call forstrong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of thedecade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$9.373 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.2% industry: 9.6% services: 79.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 158,100 (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003)
Unemployment rate:3.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.154 billionexpenditures: $4.058 billion, including capital expenditures of $467million (2004 est.)
Public debt:35.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish
Industries:fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production,geothermal power; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:8.8% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:8.271 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 82.5% nuclear: 0% other: 17.5% (geothermal) (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.692 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:15,470 bbl/day (2001)
Current account balance:$-570 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.902 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products,ferrosilicon, diatomite
Exports - partners:UK 19.1%, Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 11.5%, US 9.8%, Spain 6.8%,Denmark 4.6% (2004)
Imports:$3.307 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners:Germany 12.3%, US 9.9%, Norway 9.7%, Denmark 7.9%, UK 7.2%, Sweden6.7%, Netherlands 6% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$935 million (2004)
Debt - external:$3.073 billion (2002)
Economic aid - donor:$NA
Currency (code):Icelandic krona (ISK)
Currency code:ISK
Exchange rates:Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003),91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Iceland
Telephones - main lines in use:190,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:279,100 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: extensive domestic servicedomestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-opticcables and microwave radio relay linksinternational: country code - 354; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Oceanregions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with theother Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:260,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:98,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.is
Internet hosts:122,175 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):20 (2001)
Internet users:195,000 (2003)
Transportation Iceland
Highways:total: 13,004 kmpaved/oiled gravel: 4,331 kmunpaved: 8,673 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik,Seydhisfjordhur
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWTby type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1registered in other countries: 30 (2005)
Airports:98 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 5over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 931,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 29under 914 m: 61 (2004 est.)
Military Iceland
Military branches:no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic CoastGuard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 69,038 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:0
Military - note:defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF)headquartered at Keflavik
Transnational Issues Iceland
Disputes - international:Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands'fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland disputeDenmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extendsbeyond 200 nm
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@India
Introduction India
Background:The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world,dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwestinvaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidianinhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursionsstarting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed bythose of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. Bythe 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtuallyall Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played avital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to Britishcolonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU broughtindependence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secularstate of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third warbetween the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becomingthe separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains ineconomic investment and output, India faces pressing problems suchas the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massiveoverpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, andethnic and religious strife.
Geography India
Location:Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,between Burma and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates:20 00 N, 77 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 3,287,590 sq kmland: 2,973,190 sq kmwater: 314,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 14,103 kmborder countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline:7,000 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain:upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain alongthe Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Natural resources:coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese,mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds,petroleum, limestone, arable land
Land use:arable land: 54.4%permanent crops: 2.74%other: 42.86% (2001)
Irrigated land:590,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructiveflooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; airpollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; waterpollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tapwater is not potable throughout the country; huge and growingpopulation is overstraining natural resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Oceantrade routes
People India
Population:1,080,264,388 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31.2% (male 173,634,432/female 163,932,475)15-64 years: 63.9% (male 356,932,082/female 333,283,590)65 years and over: 4.9% (male 26,542,025/female 25,939,784) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 24.66 years male: 24.64 years female: 24.67 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.4% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:22.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 56.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 56.86 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 55.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.35 yearsmale: 63.57 yearsfemale: 65.16 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.78 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.9% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5.1 million (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:310,000 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japaneseencephalitis are high risks in some locationsanimal contact disease: rabies (2004)
Nationality:noun: Indian(s)adjective: Indian
Ethnic groups:Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)
Religions:Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%,unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Languages:English enjoys associate status but is the most important languagefor national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is thenational language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu,Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri,Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urduspoken widely throughout northern India but is not an officiallanguage
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 59.5%male: 70.2%female: 48.3% (2003 est.)
Government India
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Indiaconventional short form: India
Government type:federal republic
Capital:New Delhi
Administrative divisions:28 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*,Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*,Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa,Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand,Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab,Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh,West Bengal
Independence:15 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday:Republic Day, 26 January (1950)
Constitution:26 January 1950; amended many times
Legal system:based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislativeacts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations;separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President A.P.J. Abdul KALAM (since 26 July 2002);Vice President Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT (since 19 August 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since NA May 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by an electoral college consisting ofelected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures ofthe states for a five-year term; election last held July 2002 (nextto be held 18 July 2007); vice president elected by both houses ofParliament for a five-year term; election last held 12 August 2002(next to be held August 2007); prime minister chosen byparliamentary members of the majority party following legislativeelections; election last held April - May 2004 (next to be held May2009)election results: Abdul KALAM elected president; percent ofelectoral college vote - 89.6%; Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT elected vicepresident; percent of Parliament vote - 59.8%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States orRajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to12 of whom are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosenby the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies;members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha(545 seats; 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by thepresident; members serve five-year terms)elections: People's Assembly - last held 20 April through 10 May2004 (next to be held 2009)election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - INC 145, BJP 138, CPI(M) 43, SP 36, RJD 24,BSP 19, DMK 16, SS 12, BJD 11, CPI 10, NCP 9, JDU 8, SAD 8, PMK 6,TDP 5, TRS 5, JMM 5, LJSP 4, MDMK 4, independents 5, other 30
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president and remain inoffice until they reach the age of 65)
Political parties and leaders:All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [C. JayalalithaJAYARAM]; All India Forward Bloc or AIFB, [Debabrata BISWAS]; AsomGana Parishad [Brindaban GOSWAMI]; Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP[MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Lal Krishna ADVANI]; BijuJanata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]; Communist Party of India or CPI[Ardhendu Bhushan BARDHAN]; Communist Party of India (Marxist) orCPI (M) Hakishan Singh SURJEET]; Congress (I) Party [Sonia GANDHI];Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or DMK (a regional party in Tamil Nadu)[M. KARUNANIDHI]; Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI];Indian National League [Suliaman SAITH]; Janata Dal (Secular) [H. D.Deve GOWDA]; Janata Dal (United) or JDU [Sharad YADAV]; JharkhandMukti Morcha or JMM [leader NA]; Kerala Congress (Mani faction) [K.M. MANI]; Lok Jan Shakti Party or LJSP [leader NA]; MarumalarchiDravida Munnetra Kazhagam or MDMK [VAIKO]; Muslim League [G. M.BANATWALA]; Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR];Pattali Makkal Katchi or PMK [leader NA]; Rashtriya Janata Dal orRJD [Laloo Prasad YADAV]; Revolutionary Socialist Party or RSP[Abani ROY]; Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]; ShiromaniAkali Dal or SAD [G. S. TOHRA]; Shiv Sena or SS [Bal THACKERAY];Tamil Maanila Congress [G. K. VASAN]; Telangana Rashtra Samithi orTRS [leader NA]; Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU];Trinamool Congress [Mamata BANERJEE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations,including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and RashtriyaSwayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups seeking greatercommunal and/or regional autonomy, including the All PartiesHurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley and the National SocialistCouncil of Nagaland in the Northeast
International organization participation:AfDB, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, C, CERN (observer),CP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW,PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE,UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ranendra SENchancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note -Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington,DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador David C. MULFORDembassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [91] (11) 2419-8000FAX: [91] (11) 2419-0017consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai(Bombay)
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top),white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered inthe white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a smallorange disk centered in the white band
Economy India
Economy - overview:India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming,modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries,and a multitude of services. Services are the major source ofeconomic growth, though two-thirds of the workforce is inagriculture. The UPA government has committed to furthering economicreforms and developing basic infrastructure to improve the lives ofthe rural poor and boost economic performance. Government controlson foreign trade and investment have been reduced in some areas, buthigh tariffs (averaging 20% in 2004) and limits on foreign directinvestment are still in place. The government has indicated it willdo more to liberalize investment in civil aviation, telecom, andinsurance sectors in the near term. Privatization ofgovernment-owned industries has proceeded slowly, and continues togenerate political debate; continued social, political, and economicrigidities hold back needed initiatives. The economy has posted anexcellent average growth rate of 6.8% since 1994, reducing povertyby about 10 percentage points. India is capitalizing on its largenumbers of well-educated people skilled in the English language tobecome a major exporter of software services and software workers.Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others worry about thecombined state and federal budget deficit, running at approximately9% of GDP. The huge and growing population is the fundamentalsocial, economic, and environmental problem. In late December 2004,a major tsunami took nearly 11,000 lives, left almost 6,000 missing,destroyed $1.2 billion worth of property, and severely damaged thefishing fleet.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.319 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.6% industry: 28.4% services: 48% (2002 est.)
Labor force:482.2 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 60%, industry 17%, services 23% (1999)
Unemployment rate:9.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:25% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 33.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.8 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $67.3 billionexpenditures: $104 billion, including capital expenditures of $13.5billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:59.7% of GDP (federal debt only; state debt not included) (2004est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish
Industries:textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportationequipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software
Industrial production growth rate:7.4% (2004 est.)