Environment - current issues:situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industryand increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments;air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxideemissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rainhas caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial andmunicipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardouswastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrialestablishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, butat substantial cost to business and the government
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, AntarcticTreaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and thelack of natural barriers on the North European Plain
People Poland
Population:38,635,144 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.7% (male 3,319,176/female 3,150,859)15-64 years: 70.3% (male 13,506,153/female 13,638,265)65 years and over: 13% (male 1,912,431/female 3,108,260) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 36.43 yearsmale: 34.52 yearsfemale: 38.49 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.03% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:10.01 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.74 yearsmale: 70.71 yearsfemale: 79.03 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:14,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Pole(s)adjective: Polish
Ethnic groups:Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, otherand unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%,Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)
Languages:Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%male: 99.8%female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Government Poland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Polandconventional short form: Polandlocal long form: Rzeczpospolita Polskalocal short form: Polska
Government type:republic
Capital:Warsaw
Administrative divisions:16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie,Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie,Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie,Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie,Zachodniopomorskie
Independence:11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)
National holiday:Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)
Constitution:adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997, passed by nationalreferendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997
Legal system:mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdoverCommunist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as partof broader democratization process; limited judicial review oflegislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal arefinal; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court ofJustice in Strasbourg
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December1995)head of government: Prime Minister Marek BELKA (since 24 June 2004);Deputy Prime Minister Izabela JARUGA-NOWACKA (since 24 June 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister andthe Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, andthe Sejm approves the Council of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held October 2005);prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentand confirmed by the Sejmelection results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI reelected president;percent of popular vote - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 53.9%, AndrzejOLECHOWSKI 17.3%, Marian KRZAKLEWSKI 15.6%, Lech WALESA 1%
Legislative branch:bicameral legislature consisting of an upper house, the Senate orSenat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on aprovincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, theSejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system ofproportional representation to serve four-year terms); thedesignation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is onlyused on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointlyelections: Senate - last held 25 September 2005 (next to be held bySeptember 2009); Sejm elections last held September 25 2005 (next tobe held by September 2009)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - PiS 49, PO 34, LPR 7, SO 3, PSL 2, independents 5; Sejm -percent of vote by party - PiS 27%, PO 24.1%, SO 11.4%, SLD 11.3%,LPR 8%, PSL 7%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PiS 155, PO 133, SO56, SLD 55, LPR 34, PSL 25, German minorities 2note: two seats are assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejmonly
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on therecommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for anindefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen bythe Sejm for nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Catholic-National Movement or RKN [Antoni MACIEREWICZ]; CivicPlatform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Conservative Peasants Party or KL[Artur BALAZS]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Jozef OLEKSY]; DomOjczysty (Fatherland Home); Freedom Union or UW [WladyslawFRASYNIUK]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Henryk KROLL];Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; League of PolishFamilies or LPR [Marek KOTLINOWSKI]; Movement for the Reconstructionof Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; Peasant-Democratic Party or PLD[Roman JAGIELINSKI]; Polish Accord or PP [Jan LOPUSZANSKI]; PolishPeasant Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK]; Samoobrona or SO [AndrzejLEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Marek BOROWSKI];Social Movement or RS [Krzysztof PIESIEWICZ]; Union of Labor or UP[Izabela JARUGA-NOWACKA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ];Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; Solidarity Trade Union[Janusz SNIADEK]
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CE,CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest),NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG,UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Przemyslaw GRUDZINSKI chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6270 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch) telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000 FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688 consulate(s) general: Krakow
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to theflags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white
Economy Poland
Economy - overview:Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalizationthroughout the 1990s and today stands out as a success story amongtransition economies. Even so, much remains to be done, especiallyin bringing down unemployment. The privatization of small andmedium-sized state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishingnew firms has encouraged the development of the private businesssector, but legal and bureaucratic obstacles alongside persistentcorruption are hampering its further development. Poland'sagricultural sector remains handicapped by surplus labor,inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. Restructuring andprivatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads,and energy), while recently initiated, have stalled. Reforms inhealth care, education, the pension system, and state administrationhave resulted in larger-than-expected fiscal pressures. Furtherprogress in public finance depends mainly on reducing losses inPolish state enterprises, restraining entitlements, and overhaulingthe tax code to incorporate the growing gray economy and farmers,most of whom pay no tax. The government has introduced a package ofsocial and administrative spending cuts to reduce public spending byabout $17 billion through 2007. Additional reductions are underdiscussion in the legislature but could be trumped by election-yearpolitics in 2005. Poland joined the EU in May 2004, and surgingexports to the EU contributed to Poland's strong growth in 2004,though its competitiveness could be threatened by the zloty'sappreciation. GDP per capita roughly equals that of the three Balticstates. Poland stands to benefit from nearly $13.5 billion in EUfunds, available through 2006. Farmers have already begun to reapthe rewards of membership via higher food prices and EU agriculturalsubsidies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$463 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.9% industry: 31.3% services: 65.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:17.02 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 16.1%, industry 29%, services 54.9% (2002)
Unemployment rate:19.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:18.4% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 24.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31.6 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $44.52 billionexpenditures: $54.93 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:49.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork
Industries:machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:10% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:133.8 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.1% hydro: 1.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:117.4 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:11.5 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:4.5 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:17,180 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:424,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:53,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:413,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:116.4 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.471 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:13.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:41 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:8.782 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:154.4 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-3.831 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$75.98 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufacturedgoods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and liveanimals 7.6% (2003)
Exports - partners:Germany 30%, Italy 6.1%, France 6%, UK 5.4%, Czech Republic 4.3%,Netherlands 4.3% (2004)
Imports:$81.61 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufacturedgoods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and relatedmaterials 9.1% (2003)
Imports - partners:Germany 24.4%, Italy 7.9%, Russia 7.3%, France 6.7%, China 4.6%(2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$41.88 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$99.15 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $17 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06)
Currency (code):zloty (PLN)
Currency code:PLN
Exchange rates:zlotych per US dollar - 3.6576 (2004), 3.8891 (2003), 4.08 (2002),4.0939 (2001), 4.3461 (2000)note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Poland
Telephones - main lines in use:12.3 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:17.401 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: underdeveloped and outmoded system in theprocess of being overhauled; partial privatization of thestate-owned telephone monopoly is underway; the long waiting listfor main line telephone service has resulted in a boom in mobilecellular telephone usedomestic: cable, open-wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellularnetworks; local exchanges 56.6% digitalinternational: country code - 48; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Oceanregions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:20.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:179 (plus 256 repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions:13.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pl
Internet hosts:804,915 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):19 (2000)
Internet users:8.97 million (2003)
Transportation Poland
Railways:total: 23,852 kmbroad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gaugestandard gauge: 23,223 km 1.435-m gauge (20,555 km operational)(11,962 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 364,697 kmpaved: 249,088 km (including 399 km of expressways)unpaved: 115,609 km (2001)
Waterways:3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 13,552 km; oil 1,772 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 154,710 GRT/228,132 DWTby type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/rolloff 1registered in other countries: 107 (2005)
Airports:123 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 84 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 39 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Poland
Military branches:Land Forces, Navy, Polish Air Force (PSP)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for compulsory military service after January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; in 2005 Poland plans to shorten the length of conscript service obligation from 12 to 9 months; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004 women are only allowed to serve as officers and non-commissioned officers (April 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 9,673,712 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 7,740,164 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 275,521 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.5 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.71% (2002)
Transnational Issues Poland
Disputes - international:as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border,Poland must implement the strict Schengen border rules
Illicit drugs:major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the internationalmarket; minor transshipment point for Asian and Latin Americanillicit drugs to Western Europe
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Portugal
Introduction Portugal
Background:Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16thcenturies, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with thedestruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during theNapoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony.A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next sixdecades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, aleft-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. Thefollowing year, Portugal granted independence to all of its Africancolonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC(now the EU) in 1986.
Geography Portugal
Location:Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west ofSpain
Geographic coordinates:39 30 N, 8 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 92,391 sq kmland: 91,951 sq kmwater: 440 sq kmnote: includes Azores and Madeira Islands
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,214 km border countries: Spain 1,214 km
Coastline: 1,793 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier insouth
Terrain:mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico inthe Azores 2,351 m
Natural resources:fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten,silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land,hydropower
Land use:arable land: 21.75%permanent crops: 7.81%other: 70.44% (2001)
Irrigated land:6,320 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:Azores subject to severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicleemissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, EnvironmentalModification
Geography - note:Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along westernsea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People Portugal
Population:10,566,212 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.6% (male 916,234/female 839,935)15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,468,844/female 3,538,779)65 years and over: 17.1% (male 744,787/female 1,057,633) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 38.2 yearsmale: 36.06 yearsfemale: 40.33 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.39% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:10.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:3.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.53 yearsmale: 74.25 yearsfemale: 81.03 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.47 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:22,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)adjective: Portuguese
Ethnic groups:homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descentwho immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal
Religions:Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)
Languages:Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.3%male: 95.5%female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
Government Portugal
Country name:conventional long form: Portuguese Republicconventional short form: Portugallocal long form: Republica Portuguesalocal short form: Portugal
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:Lisbon
Administrative divisions:18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomousregions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro,Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra,Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto,Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (independentrepublic proclaimed)
National holiday:Portugal Day, 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, theday that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
Constitution:25 April 1976; revised many times
Legal system:civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews theconstitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES (since 12 March2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministernote: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultativebody to the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held January 2006);following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party orleader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime ministerby the presidentelection results: Jorge SAMPAIO reelected president; percent of vote- Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral(Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 20 February 2005 (next to be held February2009); note - President SAMPAIO called for early elections afterdissolving parliament on 10 December 2004 because he lackedconfidence in the four-month center-right governmentelection results: percent of vote by party - PS 45.1%, PSD 28.7%,CDU 7.6%, PP 7.3%, BE 6.4%; seats by party - PS 121, PSD 75, CDU 14,PP 12, BE 8
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed forlife by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:Green Ecologist Party or PEV [Heloisa APOLONIA]; Popular Party orPP [Jose Ribeiro e CASTRO]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP[Jeronimo de SOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATESCarvalho Pinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [LuisMarques MENDES]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA];Unitarian Democratic Coalition or UDC [Jeronimo de SOUSA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO,ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Manuel Dos Reis Alves CATARINOchancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and SanFranciscoconsulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires AdrienneS. O'NEALembassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbonmailing address: Apartado 4258, 1507 Lisboa Codex; PSC 83, APO AE09726telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description:two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red(three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on thedividing line
Economy Portugal
Economy - overview:Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-basedeconomy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the pastdecade, successive governments have privatized many state-controlledfirms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including thefinancial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified forthe European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating theeuro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies.Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the pastdecade, but fell back in 2001-04. GDP per capita stands attwo-thirds that of the Big Four EU economies. A poor educationalsystem, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivityand growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed bylower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target forforeign direct investment. The government faces tough choices in itsattempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness while keepingthe budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$188.7 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,900 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.9% industry: 30.2% services: 63.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:5.48 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 10%, industry 30%, services 60% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.5% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.6 (1994-95)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $74.38 billionexpenditures: $79.86 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:61.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry,beef, dairy products
Industries:textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metals andmetalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; rubber andplastic products; ceramics; electronics and communicationsequipment; rail transportation equipment; aerospace equipment; shipconstruction and refurbishment; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:1.1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:43.28 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 64.5% hydro: 31.3% nuclear: 0% other: 4.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:42.15 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:3.4 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:5.3 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:339,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:28,830 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:357,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.542 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.553 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-8.12 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$37.68 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paperproducts, hides
Exports - partners:Spain 25%, France 14%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.6%, US 6%, Italy 4.3%,Netherlands 4% (2004)
Imports:$52.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles,agricultural products
Imports - partners:Spain 29.3%, Germany 14.3%, France 9.3%, Italy 6.1%, UK 4.6%,Netherlands 4.6% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$12.3 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$274.7 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $271 million (1995)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:4,278,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9,341,400 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved astate-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities anda main line telephone density of 53%domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwaveradio relay, and domestic satellite earth stationsinternational: country code - 351; 6 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean),NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth stationfor Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations:AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 62 (plus 166 repeaters) note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pt
Internet hosts:346,078 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:3.6 million (2002)
Transportation Portugal
Railways:total: 2,850 kmbroad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 17,135 kmpaved: 14,736 km (including 1,659 km of expressways)unpaved: 2,399 km (2002)
Waterways:210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
Merchant marine:total: 114 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 872,557 GRT/1,236,025 DWTby type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 38, chemical tanker 14, container 7,liquefied gas 9, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 9,roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 8foreign-owned: 97 (Australia 1, Belgium 6, Denmark 5, Germany 18,Greece 4, Iceland 1, Italy 11, Japan 8, Lebanon 1, Malta 1, Norway4, Spain 19, Switzerland 4)registered in other countries: 28 (2005)
Airports:65 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)
Military Portugal
Military branches:Army, Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Air Force(Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP), National Republican Guard (GuardaNacional Republicana) (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service was ended in 2004 (January 2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,435,042 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,952,819 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 67,189 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3,497.8 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Portugal
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asianheroin entering the European market (especially from Brazil);transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe;consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Puerto Rico
Introduction Puerto Rico
Background:Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island wasclaimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' secondvoyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rulethat saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and Africanslave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a resultof the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted UScitizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internalself government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voterschose to retain commonwealth status.
Geography Puerto Rico
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 9,104 sq kmland: 8,959 sq kmwater: 145 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:501 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountainsprecipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastalareas
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: arable land: 3.95% permanent crops: 5.52% other: 90.53% (2001)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane tothe Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best naturalharbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high centralmountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry;fertile coastal plain belt in north
People Puerto Rico
Population:3,916,632 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 22% (male 441,594/female 421,986)15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,228,583/female 1,337,066)65 years and over: 12.4% (male 211,283/female 276,120) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 34.23 yearsmale: 32.5 yearsfemale: 35.87 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.47% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:13.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.29 yearsmale: 74.35 yearsfemale: 82.43 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%,Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:Spanish, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.1%male: 93.9%female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Government Puerto Rico
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Ricoconventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:commonwealth associated with the US
Government type:commonwealth
Capital:San Juan
Administrative divisions:none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, AguasBuenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, LasPiedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, SanGerman, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, ToaAlta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
National holiday:US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day,25 July (1952)
Constitution:ratified 3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July 1952,effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system ofjustice
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but donot vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001)head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January2005)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of thelegislatureelections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for afour-year term; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be heldNovember 2008)election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD) elected governor;percent of vote - 48.4%
Legislative branch:bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be heldNovember 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004(next to be held November 2008)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House ofRepresentatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%,PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissionerto serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the USHouse of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections lastheld 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); results -percent of vote by party - PNP 48.6%; seats by party - PNP 1; LuisFORTUNO elected resident commissioner
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed oftwo sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices forall these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of theSenate)
Political parties and leaders:National Democratic Party [Celeste BENITEZ]; National RepublicanParty of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP(pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD(pro-commonwealth) [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]; Puerto Rican IndependenceParty or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces ofPopular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as theMacheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (commonwealth associated with the US)
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternatingwith white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearsa large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initiallyinfluenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with thecolors of the bands and triangle reversed
Economy Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbeanregion. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture asthe primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged byduty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms haveinvested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wagelaws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production andother livestock products as the main source of income in theagricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an importantsource of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 milliontourists in 1999. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to theslowdown in the US economy, and has recovered in 2004.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$68.95 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (2002 est.)
Labor force:1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:12% (2002)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.5% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.7 billionexpenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(FY99/00)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas, livestock products, chickens
Industries:pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:22.09 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.2% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:20.54 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:190,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Exports:$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverageconcentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners:US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2002est.)
Imports:$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2002 est.)
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:NA (2001)
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:1,329,500 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,211,111 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US byhigh-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed datacapabilitydomestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone serviceinternational: country code - 1-787, 939; satellite earth station -1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US
Radio broadcast stations:AM 72, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:2.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (19 relay stations) (2004)
Televisions:1.021 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pr
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):76 (2000)
Internet users:600,000 (2002)
Transportation Puerto Rico
Railways: total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 25,328 kmpaved: 23,665 km (including 426 km of expressways)unpaved: 1,363 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Las Mareas, Mayaguez, San Juan
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 36,728 GRT/37,048 DWTby type: roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2)registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:30 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)
Military Puerto Rico
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,Police Force
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Puerto Rico
Disputes - international: increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Qatar
Introduction Qatar
Background:Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformeditself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearlinginto an independent state with significant oil and natural gasrevenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economywas crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues bythe amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the currentAmir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coupin 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputeswith both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenuesenable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in theworld.