Capital:Riyadh
Administrative divisions:13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hududash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, AshSharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran,Tabuk
Independence:23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday:Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law thatarticulates the government's rights and responsibilities wasintroduced in 1993
Legal system:based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced;commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not acceptedcompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:adult male citizens age 21 or oldernote: voter registration began in November 2004 for partialmunicipal council elections scheduled nationwide for Februarythrough April 2005
Executive branch:chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz AlSaud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN binAbd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-AzizAl Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN binAbd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch andincludes many royal family memberselections: note - in October 2003, Council of Ministers announcedits intent to introduce elections for half of the members of localand provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the nationalConsultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a periodof four to five years; in November 2004, the Ministry of Municipaland Rural Affairs initiated voter registration for partial municipalcouncil elections scheduled nationwide for February through April2005
Legislative branch:Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairmanappointed by the monarch for four-year terms)
Judicial branch:Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC,PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Turki al-Faysal bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693 telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800 FAX: [966] (1) 488-3989 consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description:green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada orMuslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There isno god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a whitehorizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates tothe early twentieth century and is closely associated with the AlSaud family which established the kingdom in 1932
Economy Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls overmajor economic activities. Saudi Arabia possesses 25% of the world'sproven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter ofpetroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sectoraccounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% ofexport earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector.Roughly five and a half million foreign workers play an importantrole in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and servicesectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizingthe electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatizationof the telecommunications company. The government is encouragingprivate sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil andincrease employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population.Priorities for government spending in the short term includeadditional funds for education and for the water and sewage systems.Economic reforms proceed cautiously because of deep-rooted politicaland social conservatism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$310.2 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 4.2%industry: 67.2%services: 28.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:6.62 millionnote: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group isnon-national (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:25% (unofficial estimate) (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $104.8 billionexpenditures: $78.66 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:75% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens,eggs, milk
Industries:crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals,ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement,construction, fertilizer, plastics, commercial ship repair,commercial aircraft repair
Industrial production growth rate:2.8% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:138.2 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:128.5 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:9.021 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:1.55 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - exports:7.92 million bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:0 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:261.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:56.4 billion cu m (2002)
Natural gas - consumption:56.4 billion cu m (2002)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2002)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:6.339 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$51.5 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$113 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products 90%
Exports - partners:US 18.2%, Japan 14.9%, South Korea 9.5%, China 6.1%, Taiwan 4.5%,Singapore 4.1% (2004)
Imports:$36.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,textiles
Imports - partners:US 15.3%, Japan 9.8%, Germany 8.1%, China 6.6%, UK 5.7% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$23.62 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$34.35 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - donor:pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon;since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistanceto the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development inAfghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loansto Iraq
Currency (code):Saudi riyal (SAR)
Currency code:SAR
Exchange rates:Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2004), 3.745 (2003), 3.745(2002), 3.745 (2001), 3.745 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 March - 28 February
Communications Saudi Arabia
Telephones - main lines in use:3,502,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,238,200 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern systemdomestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, andfiber-optic cable systemsinternational: country code - 966; microwave radio relay to Bahrain,Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable toKuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain;satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 IndianOcean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:6.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:117 (1997)
Televisions:5.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sa
Internet hosts:15,931 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):22 (2003)
Internet users:1.5 million (2003)
Transportation Saudi Arabia
Railways:total: 1,392 kmstandard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines andsidings) (2004)
Highways:total: 152,044 kmpaved: 45,461 kmunpaved: 106,583 km (2000)
Pipelines:condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,191 km; oil5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
Merchant marine:total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,306,706 GRT/1,963,191 DWTby type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 12, container 4, passenger/cargo8, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 9foreign-owned: 14 (Egypt 2, Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 5, Singapore 1,Sudan 1, UAE 1, United Kingdom 3)registered in other countries: 54 (2005)
Airports:201 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 72over 3,047 m: 322,438 to 3,047 m: 131,524 to 2,437 m: 23914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 129over 3047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 72914 to 1,523 m: 39under 914 m: 12 (2004 est.)
Heliports:5 (2004 est.)
Military Saudi Arabia
Military branches:Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, NationalGuard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 7,648,999 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 6,592,709 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 247,334 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$18 billion (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:10% (2002)
Transnational Issues Saudi Arabia
Disputes - international:despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation of theSaudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under the 2000 Jeddah Treatyis almost complete; Yemen protests Saudi erection of aconcrete-filled pipe as a security barrier in 2004 to stem illegalcross-border activities in sections of the boundary; Kuwait andSaudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran;because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignmentof the boundary with the UAE is still unknown
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian Territories)(2004)
Illicit drugs:death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin,cocaine, and hashish; not a major money-laundering center, improvinganti-money-laundering legislation
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Senegal
Introduction Senegal
Background:Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia toform the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, theenvisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out,and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southernseparatist group sporadically has clashed with government forcessince 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating ininternational peacekeeping.
Geography Senegal
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates:14 00 N, 14 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 196,190 sq kmland: 192,000 sq kmwater: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,640 kmborder countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:531 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strongsoutheast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot,dry, harmattan wind
Terrain:generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources: fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 12.78% permanent crops: 0.21% other: 87.01% (2001)
Irrigated land:710 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almostan enclave within Senegal
People Senegal
Population:11,126,832 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.8% (male 2,404,461/female 2,360,167)15-64 years: 54.1% (male 2,901,689/female 3,122,854)65 years and over: 3% (male 161,173/female 176,488) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 18.15 yearsmale: 17.6 yearsfemale: 18.7 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.48% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:35.21 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:10.6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 55.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 59.17 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 58.9 yearsmale: 57.37 yearsfemale: 60.47 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:44,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,500 (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, malaria, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups:Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%,Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions:Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly RomanCatholic)
Languages:French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 40.2%male: 50%female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
Government Senegal
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Senegalconventional short form: Senegallocal long form: Republique du Senegallocal short form: Senegal
Government type:republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:Dakar
Administrative divisions:11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick,Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies,Ziguinchor
Independence:4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence wasachieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 7 January 2001
Legal system:based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislativeacts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits thegovernment's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Macky SALL (since 21 April 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister inconsultation with the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year termunder new constitution; election last held under prior constitution(seven-year terms) 27 February and 19 March 2000 (next to be heldFebruary 2007); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Abdoulaye WADE elected president; percent of votein the second round of voting - Abdoulaye WADE (PDS) 58.49%, AbdouDIOUF (PS) 41.51%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001,had 140 seatselections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals orCour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note - the judicial system wasreformed in 1992
Political parties and leaders:African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known asPADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party ofIndependence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP[Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (alsoknown as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-LaborParty Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front forSocialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; GaindeCentrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Partyor PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [MadierDIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition (acoalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE]; Union for DemocraticRenewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC,ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC,UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BAchancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Alan ROTHembassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakarmailing address: B. P. 49, Dakartelephone: [221] 823-4296FAX: [221] 822-2991
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and redwith a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band;uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy Senegal
Economy - overview:In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economicreform program with the support of the international donorcommunity. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal'scurrency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to theFrench franc. Government price controls and subsidies have beensteadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reformprogram, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually during1995-2003. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low singledigits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union(WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration witha unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. Senegalstill relies heavily upon outside donor assistance, however. Underthe IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries debt relief program,Senegal will benefit from eradication of two-thirds of itsbilateral, multilateral, and private sector debt.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$18.36 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.9% industry: 21.4% services: 62.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:4.65 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 70%
Unemployment rate:48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:41.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.572 billionexpenditures: $1.627 billion, including capital expenditures of $357million (2004 est.)
Public debt:55.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, greenvegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Industries:agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizerproduction, petroleum refining, construction materials, shipconstruction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:4.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:1.737 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.615 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Natural gas - production:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:50 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-518.8 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$1.374 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:India 14.4%, Mali 13.1%, France 9.8%, Italy 7.3%, Spain 6.6%,Guinea-Bissau 5.6%, Gambia, The 4.8% (2004)
Imports:$2.128 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:France 24.8%, Nigeria 11.9%, Thailand 6.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$820 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$3.476 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$362.6 million (2002 est.)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Senegal
Telephones - main lines in use:228,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:575,900 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: good systemdomestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxialcable and fiber-optic cable in trunk systeminternational: country code - 221; 4 submarine cables; satelliteearth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:361,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sn
Internet hosts:672 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:225,000 (2003)
Transportation Senegal
Railways: total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 14,576 kmpaved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expresswaysunpaved: 10,305 km (2000)
Waterways:1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2003)
Pipelines:gas 564 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Dakar
Airports:20 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 9over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 111,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Senegal
Military branches:Army, Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,183,343 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,300,502 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 124,096 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$107.3 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2004)
Transnational Issues Senegal
Disputes - international:The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem Senegalese citizensfrom the Casamance region fleeing separatist violence, cross borderraids, and arms smuggling
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 17,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists inCasamance region) (2004)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin andSouth American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicitcultivator of cannabis
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Serbia and Montenegro
Introduction Serbia and Montenegro
Background:The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; itsname was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Occupation by Nazi Germanyin 1941 was resisted by various paramilitary bands that fought eachother as well as the invaders. The group headed by Marshal TITO tookfull control upon German expulsion in 1945. Although Communist, hisnew government and its successors (he died in 1980) managed to steertheir own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for thenext four and a half decades. In the early 1990s, post-TITOYugoslavia began to unravel along ethnic lines: Slovenia, Croatia,Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were recognized as independentstates in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegrodeclared a new "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) in April 1992and, under President Slobodan MILOSEVIC, Serbia led various militaryintervention efforts to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republicsinto a "Greater Serbia." All of these efforts were ultimatelyunsuccessful and led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992.In 1998-99, massive expulsions by FRY forces and Serb paramilitariesof ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo provoked an internationalresponse, including the NATO bombing of Serbia and the stationing ofa NATO-led force (KFOR), in Kosovo. Federal elections in the fall of2000, brought about the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed VojislavKOSTUNICA as president. The arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001 allowed forhis subsequent transfer to the International Criminal Tribunal forthe Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to be tried for crimes againsthumanity. In 2001, the country's suspension from the UN was lifted,and it was once more accepted into UN organizations under the nameof the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Kosovo has been governed bythe UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since June1999, under the authority of UN Security Council Resolution 1244,pending a determination by the international community of its futurestatus. In 2002, the Serbian and Montenegrin components ofYugoslavia began negotiations to forge a looser relationship. Thesetalks became a reality in February 2003 when lawmakers restructuredthe country into a loose federation of two republics called Serbiaand Montenegro. The Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegroincludes a provision that allows either republic to hold areferendum after three years that would allow for their independencefrom the state union.
Geography Serbia and Montenegro
Location:Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albaniaand Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates:44 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 102,350 sq kmland: 102,136 sq kmwater: 214 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:total: 2,246 kmborder countries: Albania 287 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km,Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241 km, Croatia (south) 25 km,Hungary 151 km, Macedonia 221 km, Romania 476 km
Coastline:199 km
Maritime claims:NA
Climate:in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humidsummers with well distributed rainfall); central portion,continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriaticclimate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relativelycold winters with heavy snowfall inland
Terrain:extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains andhills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islandsoff the coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 mhighest point: Daravica 2,656 m
Natural resources:oil, gas, coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, antimony,chromite, nickel, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone,marble, salt, hydropower, arable land
Land use:arable land: 33.35%permanent crops: 3.2%other: 63.45% (2001)
Irrigated land:570 sq km
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially intourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgradeand other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastesdumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkeyand the Near East; strategic location along the Adriatic coast
People Serbia and Montenegro
Population:10,829,175 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.1% (male 1,014,443/female 943,702)15-64 years: 66.9% (male 3,610,646/female 3,632,365)65 years and over: 15% (male 699,446/female 928,573) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 36.79 yearsmale: 35.3 yearsfemale: 38.29 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.03% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:10.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 14.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.73 yearsmale: 72.15 yearsfemale: 77.51 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.67 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:10,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin
Ethnic groups:Serb 62.6%, Albanian 16.5%, Montenegrin 5%, Hungarian 3.3%, other12.6% (1991)
Religions:Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other11%
Languages:Serbian 95%, Albanian 5%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.4%male: 98.9%female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
Government Serbia and Montenegro
Country name:conventional long form: Serbia and Montenegroconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Srbija i Crna Goralocal short form: noneformer: Federal Republic of Yugoslaviaabbreviation: SCG
Government type:republic
Capital:Belgrade
Administrative divisions:2 republics (republike, singular - republika); and 2 nominallyautonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular - autonomnapokrajina); Kosovo* (temporarily under UN administration, per UNSecurity Council Resolution 1244), Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*
Independence:27 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY - now Serbiaand Montenegro - formed as self-proclaimed successor to theSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)
National holiday:National Day, 27 April
Constitution:4 February 2003
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Svetozar MAROVIC (since 7 March 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Svetozar MAROVIC (since 7 March 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Federal Ministries act as Cabinetelections: president elected by the parliament for a four-year term;election last held 7 March 2003 (next to be held 2007)election results: Svetozar MAROVIC elected president by theparliament; vote was Svetozar MAROVIC 65, other 47
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (126 seats - 91 Serbian, 35 Montenegrin -filled by nominees of the two state parliaments for the first twoyears, after which the Constitutional Charter calls for directelectionselections: last held 25 February 2003 (next to be held 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Serbian parties: SRS 30, DSS 20, DS 13, G17 Plus 12, SPO-NS 8, SPS8; Montenegrin parties: DPS 15, SNP 9, SDP 4, DSS 3, NS 2, LSCG 2
Judicial branch:The Court of Serbia and Montenegro; judges are elected by theSerbia and Montenegro Parliament for six-year termsnote: since the promulgation of the 2003 Constitution, the FederalCourt has constitutional and administrative functions; it has anequal number of judges from each republic
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party or DS [Boris TADIC]; Democratic Party of Serbia orDSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party of Socialists ofMontenegro or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]; Democratic Serbian Party ofMontenegro or DSS [Bozidar BOJOVIC]; G17 Plus [Miroljub LABUS]; NewSerbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Liberal Party of Montenegro or LSCG[Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Dragan SOC];Power of Serbia Movement or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC]; Serbian RadicalParty or SRS [Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO[Vuk DRASKOVIC]; Serbian Socialist Party or SPS (former CommunistParty and party of Slobodan MILOSEVIC) [Ivica DACIC, president ofMain Board]; Social Democratic Party of Montenegro or SDP [RankoKRIVOKAPIC]; Socialist People's Party of Montenegro or SNP [PredragBULATOVIC]note: the following political parties participate in elections andinstitutions only in Kosovo, which has been governed by the UN underUNSCR 1244 since 1999: Albanian Christian Democratic Party or PSHDK[Mark KRASNIQI]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [RamushHARADINAJ]; Citizens' Initiative of Serbia or GIS [SlavisaPETKOVIC]; Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo or PDAK [SabitRRAHMANI]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Ibrahim RUGOVA];Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Justice Party ofPD [Sylejman CERKEZI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP[Mahir YAGCILAR]; Liberal Party of Kosovo or PLK [Gjergj DEDAJ]; Ora[Veton SURROI]; New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [BislimHOTI]; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [Numan BALIC]; PopularMovement of Kosovo or LPK [Emrush XHEMAJLI]; Prizren-DragasInitiative or PDI [Ismajl KARADOLAMI]; Serb List for Kosovo andMetohija or SLKM [Oliver IVANOVIC]; United Roma Party of Kosovo orPREBK [Haxhi Zylfi MERXHA]; Vakat [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Political Council for Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac or PCPMB[leader NA]; Group for Changes of Montenegro or GZP [NebojsaMEDOJEVIC]
International organization participation:BSEC, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACICchancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933consulate(s) general: Chicago
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. POLT embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344 FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230 consulate(s): Podgorica note: there is a branch office in Pristina at 30 Nazim Hikmet 38000 Pristina, Kosovo; telephone: [381](38)549-516; FAX: [381](38)549-890
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red
Economy Serbia and Montenegro
Economy - overview:MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period ofeconomic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructureand industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economyonly half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of formerFederal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in October 2000, the DemocraticOpposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implementedstabilization measures and embarked on an aggressive market reformprogram. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000,a down-sized Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into theinternational community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and theEuropean Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A WorldBank-European Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June2001 raised $1.3 billion for economic restructuring. An agreementrescheduling the country's $4.5 billion Paris Club government debtswas concluded in November 2001 - it wrote off 66% of the debt - andthe London Club of private creditors forgave $1.7 billion of debt,just over half the total owed, in July 2004. The smaller republic ofMontenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbiaduring the MILOSEVIC era and continues to maintain its own centralbank, uses the euro instead of the Yugoslav dinar as officialcurrency, collects customs tariffs, and manages its own budget.Kosovo's economy continues to transition to a market-based system,and is largely dependent on the international community and thediaspora for financial and technical assistance. The euro and theYugoslav dinar are both accepted currencies in Kosovo. Whilemaintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with theEuropean Union and Kosovo's local provisional government toaccelerate economic growth, lower unemployment, and attract foreigninvestment to help Kosovo integrate into regional economicstructures. The complexity of Serbia and Montenegro politicalrelationships, slow progress in privatization, legal uncertaintyover property rights, scarcity of foreign-investment and asubstantial foreign trade deficit are holding back the economy.Arrangements with the IMF, especially requirements for fiscaldiscipline, are an important element in policy formation. Severeunemployment remains a key political economic problem for thisentire region.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$26.27 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.5% industry: 27.6% services: 56.8% (2004 est.)
Labor force:3.2 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Unemployment rate:30%note: unemployment is approximately 50% in Kosovo (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):14.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $9.773 billionexpenditures: $10.46 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:80% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks andweapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy(steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth,cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore,limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs,appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, andpharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:1.7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:31.64 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.9% hydro: 37.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:32.33 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:400 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:3.3 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:64,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:38.75 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:602 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:24.07 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-3.008 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$3.245 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials
Exports - partners:Italy 29%, Germany 16.6%, Austria 7%, Greece 6.7%, France 4.9%,Slovenia 4.1% (2004)
Imports:$9.538 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants,manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials
Imports - partners:Germany 18.5%, Italy 16.5%, Austria 8.3%, Slovenia 6.7%, Bulgaria4.7%, France 4.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$3.55 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$12.97 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$2 billion pledged in 2001 (disbursements to follow for severalyears)
Currency (code):new Yugoslav dinar (YUM); note - in Montenegro the euro is legaltender; in Kosovo both the euro and the Yugoslav dinar are legal
Currency code:CSD, EUR
Exchange rates:new Yugoslav dinars per US dollar - 64.1915 (official rate: 65)(2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Serbia and Montenegro
Telephones - main lines in use:2,611,700 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,634,600 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 381; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 113, FM 194, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:3.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: more than 771 (including 86 strong stations and 685 low-power stations, plus 20 repeaters in the principal networks; also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)
Televisions:2.75 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cs
Internet hosts:20,207 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):9 (2000)
Internet users:847,000 (2003)
Transportation Serbia and Montenegro
Railways: total: 4,380 km standard gauge: 4,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1,364 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 45,290 kmpaved: 28,261 km (including 374 km of expressways)unpaved: 17,029 km (2002)
Waterways:587 kmnote: Danube River traffic delayed by pontoon bridge at Novi Sad;plan to replace by summer of 2005 (2004)
Pipelines:gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bar
Merchant marine:total: 2by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1foreign-owned: 2 (Finland 1, Turkey 1)registered in other countries: 3 (2005)
Airports:44 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 4 (2004 est.)
Military Serbia and Montenegro
Military branches:Serbian and Montenegrin Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije i Crne Gore,VSCG): Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces (2005)
Military service age and obligation:19 years of age (nine months compulsory service) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 2,389,729 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 1,959,166 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 81,033 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$654 million (2002)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Serbia and Montenegro
Disputes - international:Kosovo remains unresolved administered by several thousandpeacekeepers from the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo(UNMIK) since 1999, with Kosovar Albanians overwhelmingly supportingand Serbian officials opposing Kosovo independence; theinternational community had agreed to begin a process to determinefinal status but contingency of solidifying multi-ethnic democracyin Kosovo has not been satisfied; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo refusedemarcation of the boundary with Macedonia in accordance with the2000 Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Serbiaand Montenegro have delimited about half of the boundary with Bosniaand Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 99,170 (Bosnia) 188,656 (Croatia)IDPs: 225,000 (mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999)(2004)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to WesternEurope on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Seychelles
Introduction Seychelles
Background:A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islandsended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence camein 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a newconstitution and free elections in 1993. The most recentpresidential elections were held in 2001; President RENE, who hadserved since 1977, was re-elected. In April 2004 RENE stepped downand Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president.
Geography Seychelles