@New Caledonia
Introduction New Caledonia
Background:Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. Itserved as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation forindependence during the 1980s and early 1990s has dissipated.
Geography New Caledonia
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 19,060 sq kmland: 18,575 sq kmwater: 485 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,254 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use: arable land: 0.38% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 99.29% (2001)
Irrigated land:160 sq km (1991)
Natural hazards:cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Environment - current issues:erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Geography - note:consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest inthe Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numeroussmall, sparsely populated islands and atolls
People New Caledonia
Population:216,494 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 32,030/female 30,714)15-64 years: 64.6% (male 70,294/female 69,506)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 6,513/female 7,437) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.5 yearsmale: 27.16 yearsfemale: 27.84 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.28% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.04 yearsmale: 71.07 yearsfemale: 77.16 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.31 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: New Caledonian(s)adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups:Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91%male: 92%female: 90% (1976 est.)
Government New Caledonia
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependenciesconventional short form: New Caledonialocal long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependanceslocal short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Dependency status:overseas territory of France since 1956
Government type:NA
Capital:Noumea
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud
Independence:none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum onindependence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum isscheduled for 2014
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to theislands; formerly under French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner Michel MATHIEU (since 15July 2005)head of government: President of the Government Marie-NoelleTHEMEREAU (since 10 June 2004)cabinet: Consultative Committeeelections: 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 thegovernment elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note- last election held 29 June 2004 when Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU waselected on the third vote with 8 votes for and 3 abstentions
Legislative branch:unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats;members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or AssembleesProvinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate;elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not laterthan September 2007; between now and 2010 New Caledonia will gain asecond seat in the French Senate); results - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia also elects 2 seatsto the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June2002 (next to be held by June 2007); results - percent of vote byparty - NA%; seats by party - UMP 2
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint CommerceTribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders:Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; CaleonianUnion or UC [leader NA]; Federation des Comites de Coordination desIndependantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [GuyGEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; KanakSocialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA](includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak orPALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia inthe Republic (anti independent) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; TheFuture Together or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pourl'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist,but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti deLiberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM[Victor TUTUGORO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), UPU, WFTU, WMO
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 New Caledonia
Economy - overview:New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources.Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, andfood accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,substantial financial support from France - equal to more thanone-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of theeconomy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combinedwith the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economicoutlook for the next several years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.158 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 30% services: 65% (1997 est.)
Labor force:79,400 (including 15,018 unemployed) (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:19% (1996)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.6% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $861.3 millionexpenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52million (1996 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products
Industries:nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate:-0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production:1.581 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.3% hydro: 23.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.471 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$448 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:Japan 22%, France 16.5%, Taiwan 12.3%, South Korea 12%, Spain 6.3%,Australia 6.1%, China 4.8%, South Africa 4.5% (2004)
Imports:$1.007 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 40.3%, Singapore 10.9%, Australia 9.1%, New Zealand 4.9%(2004)
Debt - external:$79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$880 million annual subsidy from France (1998)
Currency (code):Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code:XPF
Exchange rates:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 96.04(2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:52,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:80,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.nc
Internet hosts:4,449 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:60,000 (2003)
Transportation New Caledonia
Highways:total: 5,432 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:Noumea
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWTby type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2005)
Airports:25 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 6 (2004 est.)
Military New Caledonia
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces(includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues New Caledonia
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@New Zealand
Introduction New Zealand
Background:The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, theTreaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to QueenVictoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, theBritish began the first organized colonial settlement. A series ofland wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the nativepeoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independentdominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense allianceslapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought toaddress longstanding Maori grievances.
Geography New Zealand
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 268,680 sq kmland: 268,021 sq kmwater: NAnote: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative:about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:15,134 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold,limestone
Land use: arable land: 5.6% permanent crops: 6.99% other: 87.41% (2001)
Irrigated land:2,850 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit byspecies introduced from outside
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, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is thesouthernmost national capital in the world
People New Zealand
Population:4,035,461 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.4% (male 441,836/female 421,065)15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,356,095/female 1,343,728)65 years and over: 11.7% (male 206,650/female 266,087) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 33.65 yearsmale: 32.92 yearsfemale: 34.4 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.02% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:13.9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:3.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.66 yearsmale: 75.67 yearsfemale: 81.78 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: New Zealander(s)adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%,other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)
Religions:Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages:English (official), Maori (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government New Zealand
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: New Zealandabbreviation: NZ
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Wellington
Administrative divisions:16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury,Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui,Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday:Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereigntyover New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts ofthe UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987,effective 1 January 1987
Legal system:based on English law, with special land legislation and land courtsfor the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4April 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament(120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-memberconstituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportionalseats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)elections: last held 17 September 2005 (next to be held not laterthan 15 November 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NZLP 41.1%, NP 39.1%,NZFP 5.72%, Green Party 5.3%, Maori 2.12%, UF 2.67%, ACT New Zealand1.51%, Progressive 1.16%; seats by party - NZLP 50, NP 48, NZFP 7,Green Party 6, Maori 4, UF 3, ACT New Zealand 2, Progressive 1note: results of 2005 election saw the total number of seatsincrease to 121 because the Maori Party won one more electorate seatthan its entitlement under the party vote
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - Judges appointedby the Governor-General
Political parties and leaders:ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS andRod DONALD]; Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP[Don BRASH]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; NewZealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; Progressive Party [James(Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986),APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMSIL,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador L. John WOOD chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLSembassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellingtonmailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP96531-1034telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant withfour red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outerhalf of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Crossconstellation
Economy New Zealand
Economy - overview:Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealandfrom an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British marketaccess to a more industrialized, free market economy that cancompete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (butleft behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened anddeepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector,and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has risenfor six consecutive years and is now more than $23,000 in purchasingpower parity terms. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade -particularly in agricultural products - to drive growth. Exports areequal to about 20% of GDP. Thus far the economy has been resilient,and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health,education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$92.51 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 27.4% services: 68% (2004 est.)
Labor force:2.05 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 10%, industry 25%, services 65% (1995)
Unemployment rate:4.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $38.29 billionexpenditures: $36.12 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:22.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef,lamb and mutton, dairy products; fish
Industries:food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:5.9% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:38.39 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.6% hydro: 57.8% nuclear: 0% other: 10.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:35.71 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:30,220 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:119,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:89.62 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:58.94 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-3.647 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$19.85 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:Australia 21%, US 14.4%, Japan 11.3%, China 5.7%, UK 4.7% (2004)
Imports:$19.77 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:Australia 22.4%, US 11.3%, Japan 11.2%, China 9.7%, Germany 5.2%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$4.805 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$47.34 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $99.7 million
Currency (code):New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003),2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:1.765 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.599 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international systemsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia andFiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:1.926 million (1997)
Internet country code:.nz
Internet hosts:474,395 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):36 (2000)
Internet users:2.11 million (2003)
Transportation New Zealand
Railways: total: 3,898 km narrow gauge: 3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 92,382 kmpaved: 59,124 km (including at least 169 km of expressways)unpaved: 33,258 km (2002)
Pipelines:gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refinedproducts 304 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Auckland, Lyttelton, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei
Merchant marine:total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 77,523 GRT/108,352 DWTby type: cargo 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, rollon/roll off 1, bulk carrier 3foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Isle of Man 1)registered in other countries: 5 (2005)
Airports:116 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 70 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 39 (2004 est.)
Military New Zealand
Military branches:New Zealand Army, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand AirForce
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot bedeployed until the age of 18 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 984,700 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 809,519 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 29,738 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.147 billion (FY03/04)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues New Zealand
Disputes - international: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) [see Antarctica]
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Nicaragua
Introduction Nicaragua
Background:The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony fromPanama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain wasdeclared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region insubsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulationand corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in ashort-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillasto power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvadorcaused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas throughmuch of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt itseconomy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in1998.
Geography Nicaragua
Location:Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the NorthPacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 129,494 sq kmland: 120,254 sq kmwater: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 200 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interiormountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources:gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 15.94% permanent crops: 1.94% other: 82.12% (2001)
Irrigated land:880 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremelysusceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
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: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwaterbody in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
People Nicaragua
Population:5,465,100 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.2% (male 1,036,487/female 999,226)15-64 years: 59.7% (male 1,623,065/female 1,638,017)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 73,935/female 94,370) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 20.56 yearsmale: 20.15 yearsfemale: 20.98 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.92% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:24.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.19 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: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 32.6 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.33 yearsmale: 68.27 yearsfemale: 72.49 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nicaraguan(s)adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,Amerindian 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)
Languages:Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.5%male: 67.2%female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Government Nicaragua
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nicaraguaconventional short form: Nicaragualocal long form: Republica de Nicaragualocal short form: Nicaragua
Government type:republic
Capital:Managua
Administrative divisions:15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - regionautonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts
Suffrage:16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002);note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November2001 (next to be held by November 2006)election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president -56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PCN)1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;members are elected by proportional representation and party liststo serve five-year terms; one seat for previous President, one seatfor runner-up in previous Presidential electionelections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November2006)election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance(ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%,FSLN 36.55%, PCN 2.12%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 53, FSLN38, PCN 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-yearterms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon, OscarWENDOLYN Vargas, Karla WHITE]; Central American Unionist Party orPUCA [leader NA]; Christian Alternative Party or AC [OrlandoTARDENCILLA Espinoza]; Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [MarioRAPPACCIOLI]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZNunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; Independent Liberal Party for NationalUnity or PLIUN [leader NA]; Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC[Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Liberal Salvation Movement or MSL [EliseoNUNEZ Hernandez]; New Liberal Party or PALI [leader NA]; NicaraguanParty of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO Molina];Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; SandinistaNational Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra];Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [leader NA]; Unity Alliance orAU [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group ofeight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC,Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and MartyrsConfederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, NationalAssociation of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union ofEmployees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists ofNicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is anumbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation ofLabor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Laboror CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; NicaraguanWorkers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; SuperiorCouncil of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation ofbusiness groups
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL,OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December2003)chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, SanFrancisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: APO AA 34021 telephone: [505] 266-6010 FAX: [505] 266-9074
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DENICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar tothe flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled bythe words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered inthe white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has fiveblue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy Nicaragua
Economy - overview:Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low percapita income, massive unemployment, and huge external debt.Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe.While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stabilityover the past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low tomeet the country's needs. As a result of successful performanceunder its International Monetary Fund policy program and otherefforts, Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some $4 billion inforeign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries(HIPC) initiative. Even after this reduction, however, thegovernment continues to bear a significant foreign and domestic debtburden. If ratified, the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement(CAFTA) will provide an opportunity for Nicaragua to attractinvestment, create jobs, and deepen economic development. WhilePresident BOLANOS enjoys the support of the international financialbodies, his internal political base is meager.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$12.34 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.7% industry: 24.7% services: 54.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:1.93 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30.5%, industry 17.3%, services 52.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.8% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 45% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:55.1 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):28% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $725.5 millionexpenditures: $1.039 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:69.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products
Industries:food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,wood
Industrial production growth rate:4.4% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:2.553 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% nuclear: 0% other: 8.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.318 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:6.8 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:15.3 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:25,770 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:738 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:27,950 bbl/day (2003)
Current account balance:$-843.1 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners:US 64.8%, El Salvador 7%, Mexico 3.6% (2004)
Imports:$2.02 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 22.6%, Costa Rica 8.5%, Venezuela 8.4%, Guatemala 6.8%, Mexico5.8%, El Salvador 4.9%, South Korea 4.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$670 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$4.573 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$541.8 million (2003)
Currency (code):gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code:NIO
Exchange rates:gold cordobas per US dollar - 15.937 (2004), 15.105 (2003), 14.251(2002), 13.372 (2001), 12.684 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:171,600 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:202,800 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreigninvestmentdomestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system beingexpanded; connected to Central American Microwave Systeminternational: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:320,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ni
Internet hosts:7,094 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:90,000 (2002)
Transportation Nicaragua
Railways: total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 18,712 km paved: 2,126 km unpaved: 16,586 km (2002)
Waterways:2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (1997)
Pipelines:oil 54 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff
Airports:176 (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: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 141 (2004 est.)
Military Nicaragua
Military branches:Army (includes Navy, Air Force)
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 1,309,970 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 1,051,425 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 65,170 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$32.8 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2004)
Transnational Issues Nicaragua
Disputes - international:Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and againstColombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundaryinvolving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including theArchipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; the1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartiteresolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca,which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute overnavigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US andtransshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Niger
Introduction Niger
Background:Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Nigerhold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended afive-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Councilthat effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999. Nigeris one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal governmentservices and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. Thelargely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequentlydisrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.
Geography Niger
Location:Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.267 million sq kmland: 1,266,700 sq kmwater: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,697 kmborder countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plainsin south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Niger River 200 mhighest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum,salt, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 3.54% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 96.45% (2001)
Irrigated land:660 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world: northernfour-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable forlivestock and limited agriculture
People Niger
Population:11,665,937 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 47.3% (male 2,811,539/female 2,704,498)15-64 years: 50.6% (male 2,890,119/female 3,009,281)65 years and over: 2.1% (male 130,953/female 119,547) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 16.25 yearsmale: 15.8 yearsfemale: 16.72 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.63% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:48.3 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:21.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)