Death rate:6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.03 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: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 31.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 34.53 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 29.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.53 yearsmale: 67.77 yearsfemale: 71.37 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.56 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:82,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Peruvian(s)adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups:Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)
Languages:Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large numberof minor Amazonian languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 87.7%male: 93.5%female: 82.1% (2004 est.)
Government Peru
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Peruconventional short form: Perulocal long form: Republica del Perulocal short form: Peru
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:Lima
Administrative divisions:25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province*(provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho,Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, LaLibertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua,Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
Independence:28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:31 December 1993
Legal system:based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note- members of the military and national police may not vote
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28 July2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment; additionally, the constitution provides for two vicepresidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice PresidentDavid WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (since 28 July 2001)head of government: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28July 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and headof government; additionally, the constitution provides for two vicepresidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice PresidentDavid WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (since 28 July 2001)note: Prime Minister Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI (since 25 August 2005)does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of thepresidentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;special presidential and congressional elections held 8 April 2001,with runoff election held 3 June 2001; next to be held 9 April 2006election results: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique electedpresident in runoff election; percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDOManrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de laRepublica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular voteto serve five-year terms)elections: last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9 April 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - PP 26.3%, APRA 19.7%,UN 13.8%, FIM 11.0%, others 29.2%; seats by party - PP 47, APRA 28,UN 17, FIM 11, others 17
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges areappointed by the National Council of the Judiciary)
Political parties and leaders:Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega];National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; PeruPosible or PP [David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP (alsoreferred to by its original name Alianza Popular RevolucionariaAmericana or APRA) [Alan GARCIA]; Popular Action or AP [Javier DIAZOrihuela]; Solucion Popular [Carlos BOLANA]; Somos Peru or SP[Alberto ANDRADE]; Union for Peru or UPP [Roger GUERRA Garcia]
Political pressure groups and leaders:leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMANReynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; TupacAmaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned),Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]
International organization participation:APEC, CAN, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW,PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo FERRERO Costachancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston,Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco,Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLEembassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima),APO AA 34031-5000telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000FAX: [51] (1) 434-3037
Flag description:three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and redwith the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of armsfeatures a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source ofquinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, allframed by a green wreath
Economy Peru
Economy - overview:Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastalregion, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands borderingColombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in themountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellentfishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metalssubjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack ofinfrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years ofinconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by anaverage 4 percent per year during the period 2002-2004, with astable exchange rate and low inflation. Risk premiums on Peruvianbonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the government'sprudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment.Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, the TOLEDOadministration remained unpopular in 2004, and unemployment andpoverty have stayed persistently high.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$155.3 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 27% services: 65% (2003 est.)
Labor force:11 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 9%, industry 18%, services 73% (2001)
Unemployment rate:9.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:54% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.8 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $13.6 billionexpenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8billion, for general government, excluding private enterprises (2004est.)
Public debt:44.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes,oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish
Industries:mining and refining of minerals and metals, petroleum extractionand refining, natural gas, fishing and fish processing, textiles,clothing, food processing, steel, metal fabrication
Industrial production growth rate:5.2% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:22.88 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.5% hydro: 84.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:20.22 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:95,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:408.8 million bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:910 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:910 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:245.1 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$-30 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$12.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee
Exports - partners:US 29.5%, China 9.9%, UK 9%, Chile 5.1%, Japan 4.4% (2004)
Imports:$9.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles,iron and steel, wheat, paper
Imports - partners:US 30.3%, Spain 11.5%, Chile 7.2%, Brazil 5.4%, Colombia 5.2% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$12.7 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$29.79 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$491 million (2002)
Currency (code):nuevo sol (PEN)
Currency code:PEN
Exchange rates:nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165(2002), 3.5068 (2001), 3.49 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Peru
Telephones - main lines in use:1,839,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,908,800 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate for most requirementsdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domesticsatellite system with 12 earth stationsinternational: country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)
Radios:6.65 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:3.06 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pe
Internet hosts:65,868 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (2000)
Internet users:2.85 million (2003)
Transportation Peru
Railways:total: 3,462 kmstandard gauge: 2,962 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 500 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 78,230 kmpaved: 10,452 kmunpaved: 67,778 km (2001)
Waterways:8,808 kmnote: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 kmof Lago Titicaca (2004)
Pipelines:gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguasnote: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches ofthe Amazon and its tributaries
Merchant marine:total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,666 GRT/17,611 DWTby type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1foreign-owned: 1 (United States 1)registered in other countries: 14 (2005)
Airports:234 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 52 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 182 1,524 to 2,437 m: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 99 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Peru
Military branches:Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includesNaval Air, Naval Infantry, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aereadel Peru; FAP)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,647,874 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,938,417 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 277,105 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$829.3 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2004)
Transnational Issues Peru
Disputes - international:Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chileto an equidistance line with a southwestern axis; organized illegalnarcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's sharedborder; Peru does not support Bolivia's claim to restore maritimeaccess through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvianborder
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenouspeasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2004)
Illicit drugs:until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opiumproducer; cultivation of coca in Peru fell 15 percent to 31,150hectares between 2002 and the end of 2003; much of the cocaine baseis shipped to neighboring Colombia for processing into cocaine,while finished cocaine is shipped out from Pacific ports to theinternational drug market; increasing amounts of base and finishedcocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil and Bolivia for use inthe Southern Cone or transshipped to Europe and Africa
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Philippines
Introduction Philippines
Background:The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16thcentury; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following theSpanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became aself-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected President andwas tasked with preparing the country for independence after a10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japaneseoccupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought togetherduring 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippinesattained their independence. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOSended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him intoexile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency washampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to fullpolitical stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS waselected president in 1992 and his administration was marked bygreater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the USclosed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA waselected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president,Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormyimpeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespreaddemonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to asix-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threatsfrom armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in thesouth.
Geography Philippines
Location:Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and theSouth China Sea, east of Vietnam
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 122 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 300,000 sq kmland: 298,170 sq kmwater: 1,830 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:36,289 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm fromcoastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has alsoclaimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm inbreadthexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwestmonsoon (May to October)
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Natural resources:timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper
Land use:arable land: 18.95%permanent crops: 16.77%other: 64.28% (2001)
Irrigated land:15,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five tosix cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes;destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues: uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorablylocated in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies:the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, andLuzon Strait
People Philippines
Population:87,857,473 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35.4% (male 15,869,636/female 15,255,588)15-64 years: 60.6% (male 26,503,785/female 26,722,511)65 years and over: 4% (male 1,523,213/female 1,982,740) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 22.27 yearsmale: 21.77 yearsfemale: 22.8 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.84% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:25.31 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.49 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: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 20.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.91 yearsmale: 67.03 yearsfemale: 72.92 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.16 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks insome locationsanimal contact disease: rabies (2004)
Nationality:noun: Filipino(s)adjective: Philippine
Ethnic groups:Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Llocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%,Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%,Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%,unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)
Languages:two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English;eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon orIlonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.6%male: 92.5%female: 92.7% (2002)
Government Philippines
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Philippinesconventional short form: Philippineslocal long form: Republika ng Pilipinaslocal short form: Pilipinas
Government type:republic
Capital:Manila
Administrative divisions:79 provinces and 116 chartered cities: provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay,Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas,Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, CamarinesNorte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu,Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, EasternSamar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela,Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte,Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, MindoroOriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province,Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar,Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon,Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, SouthCotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte,Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte,Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay: chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago,Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan,Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog,Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao,Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, GeneralSantos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga,Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag,Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati,Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi,Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc,Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay,Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, SanCarlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), SanFernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, SanJose del Monte, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay,Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran,Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan,Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires,Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga
Independence:12 June 1898 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 June (1898)note: 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence fromSpain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US
Constitution:2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987
Legal system:based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20January 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent ofCommission of Appointmentselections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO)elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms;election last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)election results: results of the election - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYOelected president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%,Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at largeby popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (212 membersrepresenting districts plus 24 sectoral party-list members; memberselected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - theConstitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having morethan 250 members)elections: Senate - last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May2007); House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004(next to be held in May 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP13%, KNP 13%, independents 17%, others 27%; seats by party - Lakas7, LP 3, KNP (coalition) 3, independents 4, others 6; note - thereare 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator waselected Vice President; 14 senators are pro-government, 9 are inopposition; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - Lakas 93, NPC 53, LP 34, LDP 11, others 20;party-listers 24; note - there are 211 rather than 212 sittingrepresentatives because one was appointed Secretary of Tourism (2004)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on therecommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court forhearing corruption cases of government officials)
Political parties and leaders:Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) orLDP [Edgardo ANGARA, president]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union ofChristian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, president; GloriaMACAPAGAL-ARROYO, chairperson]; Liberal Party or LP [FranklinDRILON, president; Jose ATIENZA, JR., chairman]; National People'sCoalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO, chairman emeritus; Frisco SANJUAN, president]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL, president]; Pwersang Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [JosephESTRADA, president; Juan Ponce ENRILE, chairman]; Aksyon DemokratikoParty [Raul ROCO, president]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman];PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA, president]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR,president]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO,president}
Political pressure groups and leaders:AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and RisaHONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ANAKPAWIS [Reps. Crispin BELTRAN and RafaelMARIANO]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC)[Reps. Edgar VALDEZ, Ernesto PABLO, and Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; BayanMuna [Reps. Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.];BUHAY [Reps. Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Rep.Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Rep. Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; GABRIELA[Rep. Liza MAZA]; PARTIDO NG MANGGAGAWA [Rep. Renato MAGTUBO] (2003)
International organization participation:APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH,NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET,UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIOchancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, SanFrancisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Darryl N. JOHNSON(Ambassador-designate Michael MICHALAK)embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manilamailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000telephone: [63] (2) 523-6300FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace andjustice) and red (representing courage); a white equilateraltriangle based on the hoist side represents equality; the center ofthe triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays, eachrepresenting one of the first eight provinces that soughtindependence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains asmall, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three majorgeographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao;the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flownupside down with the red band at the top
Economy Philippines
Economy - overview:The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financialcrisis of 1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by annualremittances of $7-8 billion from overseas workers and no sustainedrunup in asset prices or foreign borrowing prior to the crisis. Froma 0.6% decline in 1998, GDP expanded by 2.4% in 1999, and 4.4% in2000, but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in the context of a global economicslowdown, an export slump, and political and security concerns. GDPgrowth accelerated to 4.3% in 2002, 4.7% in 2003, and about 6% in2004, reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector, andimproved exports and agricultural output. Nonetheless, it will takea higher, sustained growth path to make appreciable progress inpoverty alleviation given the Philippines' high annual populationgrowth rate and unequal distribution of income. The Philippines alsofaces higher oil prices, higher interest rates on its dollarborrowings, and higher inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila'sability to finance infrastructure and social spending. ThePhilippines' consistently large budget deficit has produced a highdebt level and has forced Manila to spend a large portion of thenational government budget on debt service. Large, unprofitablepublic enterprises, especially in the energy sector, contribute tothe government's debt because of slow progress on privatization.Credit rating agencies are increasingly concerned about thePhilippines' ability to sustain the debt; legislative progress onnew revenue measures will weigh heavily on credit rating decisions.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$430.6 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.8% industry: 31.9% services: 53.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:35.86 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 36%, industry 16%, services 48% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:11.7% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:40% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:46.6 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $12.22 billionexpenditures: $15.84 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.4million (2004 est.)
Public debt:74.2% of GDP (September 2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, casavas, pineapples,fish, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef
Industries:electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals,chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining,fishing
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:52.86 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 55.6% hydro: 17.5% nuclear: 0% other: 26.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:46.05 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:26,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:338,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:312,000 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:152 million bbl (1 January 2004)
Natural gas - production:2.5 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:25 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:107.6 billion cu m (1 January 2004)
Current account balance:$3.6 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$38.63 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments,optical instruments, coconut products, fruits and nuts, copperproducts, chemicals
Exports - partners:Japan 20.1%, US 18.2%, Netherlands 9%, Hong Kong 7.9%, China 6.7%,Singapore 6.6%, Taiwan 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2004)
Imports:$37.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, vehicles and vehicleparts, plastic, chemicals, grains
Imports - partners:US 18.8%, Japan 17.4%, Singapore 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, South Korea6.2%, China 6%, Malaysia 4.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$16.05 billion (2004)
Debt - external:$55.6 billion (September 2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA commitments, $2 billion (2004)
Currency (code):Philippine peso (PHP)
Currency code:PHP
Exchange rates:Philippine pesos per US dollar - 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003),51.604 (2002), 50.993 (2001), 44.192 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Philippines
Telephones - main lines in use:3,310,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:15.201 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarinecable services; domestic and inter-island service adequatedomestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stationsinternational: country code - 63; 9 international gateways;satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 PacificOcean); submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, andJapan
Radio broadcast stations: AM 369, FM 583, shortwave 5 note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target audience (2004)
Radios:11.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:225; note - 1373 CATV networks (2004)
Televisions:3.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ph
Internet hosts:38,440 (2002)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):33 (2000)
Internet users:3.5 million (2002)
Transportation Philippines
Railways: total: 897 km narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2004)
Highways: total: 202,124 km paved: 19,202 km unpaved: 182,922 km (2002)
Waterways: 3,219 km note: limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m (2004)
Pipelines:gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Surigao
Merchant marine:total: 419 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,524,259 GRT/6,437,171 DWTby type: bulk carrier 85, cargo 109, chemical tanker 13, container5, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 15, passenger 11,passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 23, rollon/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 14foreign-owned: 69 (Canada 1, China 2, Germany 2, Greece 5, Hong Kong2, Japan 31, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 20, Norway 1, UAE 1, UnitedStates 2)registered in other countries: 40 (2005)
Airports:255 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 82 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 173 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 68 under 914 m: 100 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Philippines
Military branches:Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes CoastGuard, Marine Corps), Air Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 20,131,179 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 15,170,096 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 907,542 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$805.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2004)
Transnational Issues Philippines
Disputes - international:The Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the SpratlyIslands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, alsoclaimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," haseased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legallybinding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; inMarch 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines,and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismicactivities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormantclaim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on theSultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power ofattorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and AbuSayyaf groups) (2004)
Illicit drugs:exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, theUS, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroinand crystal methamphetamine; domestic methamphetamine production isa growing problem; remains on Financial Action Task ForceNon-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failureto address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Pitcairn Islands
Introduction Pitcairn Islands
Background:Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settledin 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in1838) and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the SouthPacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned thepopulation from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.
Geography Pitcairn Islands
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway betweenPeru and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:25 04 S, 130 06 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 47 sq kmland: 47 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:51 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainyseason (November to March)
Terrain:rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m
Natural resources:miro trees (used for handicrafts), fishnote: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have beendiscovered offshore
Land use:arable land: NA%permanent crops: NA%other: NA%
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:typhoons (especially November to March)
Environment - current issues:deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remainsbecause of burning and clearing for settlement)
Geography - note:Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island ofPitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor; suppliesmust be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationedoffshore
People Pitcairn Islands
Population: 46 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:-0.01% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA
Net migration rate:NA
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Pitcairn Islander(s) adjective: Pitcairn Islander
Ethnic groups:descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives
Religions:Seventh-Day Adventist 100%
Languages:English (official), Pitcairnese (mixture of an 18th century Englishdialect and a Tahitian dialect)
Literacy:NA
Government Pitcairn Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islandsconventional short form: Pitcairn Islands
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:NA
Capital:Adamstown
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940;further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Legal system:local island by-laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal with three years residency
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor(nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Richard FELL (since NADecember 2001); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (sinceSeptember 2003); serves as liaison between the governor and theIsland Councilhead of government: Governor Richard FELL; mayor and chairman of theIsland Council Jay WARREN (since 15 December 2004)cabinet: NAelections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner andcommissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected bypopular vote for a three-year term; election last held December 2004(next to be held December 2007)election results: Jay WARREN elected mayor and chairman of theIsland Council
Legislative branch:unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 5 elected by popular vote, 1nominated by the 5 elected members, 2 appointed by the governorincluding 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and acommissioner liaising between the governor and council; electedmembers serve one-year terms)elections: last held 15 December 2004 (next to be held December 2005)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; JudicialOfficers are appointed by the Governor
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of theflag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with ashield featuring a yellow anchor
Economy Pitcairn Islands
Economy - overview:The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing,subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertilesoil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits andvegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams,and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The majorsources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors andthe sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more thanone-quarter of Pitcairn's labor force was arrested, putting theeconomy in a bind, since their services were required as lightercrew to load or unload passing ships.
GDP (purchasing power parity):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - NA
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 15 able-bodied men (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing
Unemployment rate:NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA
Budget:revenues: $746,000expenditures: $1.028 million, including capital expenditures of NA(FY04/05)
Agriculture - products:wide variety of fruits and vegetables, goats, chickens
Industries:postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-poweredgenerator
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Exports:NA
Exports - commodities:fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps
Exports - partners:NA
Imports:NA
Imports - commodities:fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, otherfoodstuffs
Imports - partners:NA
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:$3.465 million (2004)
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 April - 31 March
Communications Pitcairn Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: satellite phone servicesdomestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)international: country code - 872; satellite earth station (Inmarsat)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0, note - 15 Ham radio operators (VP6) (2004)
Radios:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.pn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:NA
Transportation Pitcairn Islands
Highways: total: 6.4 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 6.4 km
Ports and harbors:Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)
Airports:none (2004 est.)
Military Pitcairn Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Pitcairn Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Poland
Introduction Poland
Background:Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle ofthe 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century.During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry andinternal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreementsbetween 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitionedPoland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II.It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but itsgovernment was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoilin 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union"Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 hadswept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy"program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform itseconomy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Polandcurrently suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidaritysuffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when itfailed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament,and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequentlypledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joinedNATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.
Geography Poland
Location:Central Europe, east of Germany
Geographic coordinates:52 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 312,685 sq kmland: 304,465 sq kmwater: 8,220 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Mexico
Land boundaries:total: 2,788 kmborder countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia444 km, Ukraine 526 km
Coastline:491 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties
Climate:temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters withfrequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers andthundershowers
Terrain:mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 mhighest point: Rysy 2,499 m
Natural resources:coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber,arable land
Land use: arable land: 45.91% permanent crops: 1.12% other: 52.97% (2001)
Irrigated land:1,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:flooding