International organization participation:FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES,LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Ariaschancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, NewYork, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATTembassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561,Zona 5, Panama City 5mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002telephone: [507] 207-7000FAX: [507] 227-1964
Flag description:divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white(hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plainred; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white witha red five-pointed star in the center
Economy Panama
Economy - overview:Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developedservices sector that accounts for four-fifths of GDP. Servicesinclude operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone,insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slumpin Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown,and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growthin 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004 led by export-oriented servicesand a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The governmenthas been backing tax reforms, reform of the social security program,new regional trade agreements, and development of tourism.Unemployment remains high.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$20.57 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 7.2%industry: 13%services: 79.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:1.32 millionnote: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilledlabor (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:37% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:48.5 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.095 billionexpenditures: $3.737 billion, including capital expenditures of $471million (2004 est.)
Public debt:69.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock;shrimp
Industries:construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials,sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate:5.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:4.873 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 37% hydro: 61.3% nuclear: 0% other: 1.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:4.473 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:120 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:61 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:40,520 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-469.6 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$5.699 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)
Exports - partners:US 50.5%, Sweden 6.6%, Spain 5.1%, Netherlands 4.4%, Costa Rica4.2% (2004)
Imports:$7.164 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports - partners:US 33.3%, Netherlands Antilles 8.1%, Japan 6%, Costa Rica 5.7%,Mexico 4.6%, Colombia 4.2% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.076 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$8.78 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$197.1 million (1995)
Currency (code):balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
Currency code:PAB; USD
Exchange rates:balboas per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1(2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Panama
Telephones - main lines in use:386,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:834,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic and international facilities welldevelopeddomestic: NAinternational: country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected tothe Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:815,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.pa
Internet hosts:7,129 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:120,000 (2002)
Transportation Panama
Railways:total: 355 kmstandard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 11,643 kmpaved: 4,028 km (including 30 km of expressways)unpaved: 7,615 km (2000 est.)
Waterways:800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2004)
Ports and harbors:Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
Merchant marine:total: 5,005 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,960,929 GRT/183,615,337DWTby type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,548, cargo 886, chemicaltanker 465, combination ore/oil 13, container 605, liquefied gas183, livestock carrier 8, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 77,petroleum tanker 521, refrigerated cargo 298, roll on/roll off 97,specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 256foreign-owned: 4,388 (Andorra 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas1, Belgium 14, Brazil 1, Canada 1, Chile 14, China 310, Colombia 5,Croatia 1, Cuba 9, Cyprus 7, Denmark 13, Egypt 15, France 7, Germany23, Greece 546, Hong Kong 159, India 8, Indonesia 46, Ireland 1,Isle of Man 2, Israel 3, Italy 8, Japan 1814, Jordan 9, Latvia 2,Lithuania 5, Malaysia 11, Maldives 1, Malta 1, Mexico 4, Monaco 8,Netherlands 22, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 6, Norway 66, Pakistan 1,Peru 13, Philippines 15, Poland 19, Portugal 8, Romania 13, Russia4, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 54, South Africa 3, South Korea 292,Spain 41, Sri Lanka 1, Sudan 1, Sweden 4, Switzerland 188, Syria 7,Taiwan 301, Thailand 10, Trinidad & Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 18,Ukraine 9, UAE 83, United Kingdom 29, United States 88, Venezuela20, Vietnam 2, Yemen 1) (2005)
Airports:105 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 44 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 61 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.)
Military Panama
Military branches:an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, butthere are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includesthe Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, andNational Air Service)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 733,031 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 511,905 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$147 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (2004)
Military - note:on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARAabolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus bycreating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama'sLegislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibitingthe creation of a standing military force, but allowing thetemporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of"external aggression"
Transnational Issues Panama
Disputes - international: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the border region with Panama
Illicit drugs:major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-launderingcenter for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity isespecially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center;negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financialtransactions is improving; official corruption remains a majorproblem
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Papua New Guinea
Introduction Papua New Guinea
Background:The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest inthe world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south)in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, whichoccupied the northern portion during World War I and continued toadminister the combined areas until independence in 1975. Anine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.
Geography Papua New Guinea
Location:Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the islandof New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean,east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 462,840 sq kmland: 452,860 sq kmwater: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:5,152 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 0.46% permanent crops: 1.44% other: 98.1% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; thecountry is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mudslides; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growingcommercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from miningprojects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements:party to: 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, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largestswamps along southwest coast
People Papua New Guinea
Population:5,545,268 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 38.1% (male 1,072,910/female 1,037,635)15-64 years: 58.1% (male 1,662,166/female 1,559,685)65 years and over: 3.8% (male 99,777/female 113,095) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 21.09 yearsmale: 21.25 yearsfemale: 20.93 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.26% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:29.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.37 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: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 51.45 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 55.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 47.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.93 yearsmale: 62.76 yearsfemale: 67.21 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:16,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2004)
Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups:Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/LondonMissionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs34%
Languages:Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua regionnote: 715 indigenous languages - many unrelated
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 64.6%male: 71.1%female: 57.7% (2002)
Government Papua New Guinea
Country name:conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guineaconventional short form: Papua New Guineaformer: Territory of Papua and New Guineaabbreviation: PNG
Government type:constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy
Capital:Port Moresby
Administrative divisions:20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands,East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay,Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, SouthernHighlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution:16 September 1975
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June2004)head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2August 2002); deputy prime minister (vacant)cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governorgeneral on the recommendation of the prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the National Executive Council; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by thegovernor general
Legislative branch:unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the Houseof Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 fromprovincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003;completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was notcompleted during the June 2002 election period); next to be held notlater than June 2007election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%,URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%;seats by party - National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with politicalparties is fluid (2003)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governorgeneral on the proposal of the National Executive Council afterconsultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judgesare appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN, party leader];Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party leader];National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; GeorgeMANOA, party president]; National Party [Melchior PEP, partyleader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA,party leader]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, partyleader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party leader];Papua New Guinea Party (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM)[Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's Action Party or PAP[Moses MALADINA, party leader]; People's Labor Party or PLP [EkisROPENU, party leader]; People's National Congress or PNC [PeterO'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [AndrewBAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE, partyleader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party leader]; UnitedParty [Bire KIMASOPA, party leader]; United Resources Party or URP[Tim NEVILLE, party leader] (2004)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF,Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKIchancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC20036telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description:divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangleis red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lowertriangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of theSouthern Cross constellation centered
Economy Papua New Guinea
Economy - overview:Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, butexploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high costof developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistencelivelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, includingoil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. Theeconomy has improved over the past two years, following a prolongedperiod of instability. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA hadtried to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize thekina, restore stability to the national budget, to privatize publicenterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace onBougainville. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, whichaccounts for 20% of the national budget. Challenges face PrimeMinister Michael SOMARE, including gaining further investorconfidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets,maintaining the support of members of Parliament, and balancingrelations with Australia, the former colonial ruler.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$11.99 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.5% industry: 34.7% services: 30.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:3.32 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:NA
Population below poverty line:37% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.9 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.2% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):13.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.174 billionexpenditures: $1.232 billion, including capital expenditures of $344million (2004 est.)
Public debt:59.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes,fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork
Industries:copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chipproduction; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oilproduction; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:1.679 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 54.1% hydro: 45.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.561 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:46,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:170 million bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:110 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:110 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:385.5 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$29.15 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.437 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish,prawns
Exports - partners:Australia 28%, Japan 5.8%, Germany 4.7%, China 4.6% (2004)
Imports:$1.353 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,chemicals
Imports - partners:Australia 46.4%, Singapore 21.6%, Japan 4.3%, New Zealand 4.2%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$635.8 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$2.463 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$400 million (1999 est.)
Currency (code):kina (PGK)
Currency code:PGK
Exchange rates:kina per US dollar - 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002),3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Papua New Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:62,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:15,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provideradiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, andinternational radio communication servicesdomestic: mostly radiotelephoneinternational: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia andGuam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);international radio communication service
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Radios:410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (all in the Port Moresby area) note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004)
Televisions:59,841 (1999)
Internet country code:.pg
Internet hosts:389 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:75,000 (2002)
Transportation Papua New Guinea
Highways: total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:10,940 km (2003)
Pipelines:oil 264 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul
Merchant marine:total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, petroleumtanker 2foreign-owned: 8 (Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6) (2005)
Airports:571 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 550 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 478 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Papua New Guinea
Military branches:Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime OperationsElement, Air Operations Element)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,264,728 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 902,432 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$16.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea
Disputes - international:relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegalcross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goodssmuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters andsecessionists
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Paracel Islands
Introduction Paracel Islands
Background:The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing groundsand by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochinaannexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island;maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China hasoccupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized aSouth Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islandsare claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Geography Paracel Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the SouthChina Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to thenorthern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: NA sq kmland: NA sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:NA
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:518 km
Maritime claims:NA
Climate:tropical
Terrain:mostly low and flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:typhoons
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into thenortheast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
People Paracel Islands
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government Paracel Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Economy Paracel Islands
Economy - overview:China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
Transportation Paracel Islands
Ports and harbors:small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Islandbeing expanded
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Paracel Islands
Military - note: occupied by China
Transnational Issues Paracel Islands
Disputes - international: occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Paraguay
Introduction Paraguay
Background:In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguaylost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. Itstagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco Warof 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won fromBolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER wasoverthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in politicalinfighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidentialelections have been held since then.
Geography Paraguay
Location:Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 406,750 sq kmland: 397,300 sq kmwater: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the easternportions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chacoregion west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 mhighest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use: arable land: 7.6% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 92.17% (2001)
Irrigated land:670 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorlydrained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposalpose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; populationconcentrated in southern part of country
People Paraguay
Population:6,347,884 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,223,479/female 1,184,134)15-64 years: 57.3% (male 1,825,473/female 1,809,810)65 years and over: 4.8% (male 140,935/female 164,053) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 21.2 yearsmale: 20.94 yearsfemale: 21.46 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.48% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:29.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 30.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 20.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.89 yearsmale: 72.35 yearsfemale: 77.55 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:600 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%
Languages:Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94%male: 94.9%female: 93% (2003 est.)
Government Paraguay
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Paraguayconventional short form: Paraguaylocal long form: Republica del Paraguaylocal short form: Paraguay
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:Asuncion
Administrative divisions:17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)
Constitution:promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicialreview of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 April2003 (next to be held April 2008)election results: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos elected president; percentof vote - Nicanor DUARTE Frutos 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCOGomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, GuillermoSANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senatorsor Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camarade Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to beheld April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003(next to be held April 2008)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party- ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judgesappointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejode la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [HerminioCACERES, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de CiudadanosEticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; PatriaQuerida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADULNiella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kenney];Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Julio Cesar FRANCO];Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]note: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos on leave as party leader of the ColoradoParty or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino CesarOVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-yearprison term
Political pressure groups and leaders:Ahorristas Estafados or AE; Coordinating Table of NationalCampesino Organizations or MCNOC; National Federation of Campesinosor FNC; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan WorkersConfederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Centralor CUT
International organization participation:CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC,NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmerschancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John F. KEANEembassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncionmailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001telephone: [595] (21) 213-715FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
Flag description:three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with anemblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblemis different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within agreen wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all withintwo circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the sealof the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and thewords Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the wordsREPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Economy Paraguay
Economy - overview:Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informalsector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumergoods to neighboring countries as well as the activities ofthousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because ofthe importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measuresare difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the populationderives their living from agricultural activity, often on asubsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3%annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 andcontracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagionand an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth desease. On a per capita basis,real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attributeParaguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty,corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantialinternal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by afirmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in theeconomic policy of the Duarte FRUTOS administration, the economyrebounded in 2003 and 2004, posting modest growth each year.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$29.93 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25.3% industry: 24.9% services: 49.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:2.66 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate:15.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:36% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:57.7 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.123 billionexpenditures: $1.129 billion, including capital expenditures of $700million (2004 est.)
Public debt:39.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Industries:sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,metallurgic, electric power
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:48.36 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.469 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:42.51 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:25,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-36.11 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.936 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood,leather
Exports - partners:Uruguay 27.8%, Brazil 19.2%, Argentina 6.3%, Switzerland 4.1% (2004)
Imports:$3.33 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,electrical machinery
Imports - partners:Brazil 30.9%, Argentina 23.3%, China 16.6%, US 4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.164 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$3.239 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:NA
Currency (code):guarani (PYG)
Currency code:PYG
Exchange rates:guarani per US dollar - 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3(2002), 4,105.9 (2001), 3,486.4 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:273,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,770,300 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switchingcenter is Asunciondomestic: fair microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Radios:925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (2003)
Televisions:990,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.py
Internet hosts:9,243 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2000)
Internet users:120,000 (2003)
Transportation Paraguay
Railways: total: 441 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est)
Waterways:3,100 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine:total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,667 GRT/30,826 DWTby type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleumtanker 2, roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: 2 (Argentina 2)registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:878 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 12over 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 8661,524 to 2,437 m: 26914 to 1,523 m: 323under 914 m: 517 (2004 est.)
Military Paraguay
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes Naval Aviation, River Defense Corps, CoastGuard), Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,345,022 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,109,166 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 63,058 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$53.1 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Paraguay
Disputes - international:unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay bordersis locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcoticstrafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations
Illicit drugs:major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which isconsumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country forAndean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets,Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity,especially in the Tri-Border Area
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Peru
Introduction Peru
Background:Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andeancivilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire wascaptured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independencewas declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824.After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democraticleadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growthof a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in theeconomy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity.Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarianmeasures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mountingdissatisfaction with his regime. FUJIMORI won reelection to a thirdterm in the spring of 2000, but international pressure andcorruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November ofthat year. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in thespring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head ofgovernment; his presidency has been hampered by allegations ofcorruption.
Geography Peru
Location:Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, betweenChile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,285,220 sq kmland: 1.28 million sq kmwater: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 5,536 kmborder countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:2,414 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate tofrigid in Andes
Terrain:western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 2.89% permanent crops: 0.4% other: 96.71% (2001)
Irrigated land:11,950 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake,with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is theultimate source of the Amazon River
People Peru
Population:27,925,628 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 31.5% (male 4,479,278/female 4,323,356)15-64 years: 63.3% (male 8,891,785/female 8,776,343)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 685,179/female 769,687) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 24.95 yearsmale: 24.69 yearsfemale: 25.21 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.36% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:20.87 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)