Life expectancy at birth:total population: 48.09 yearsmale: 46.36 yearsfemale: 49.87 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.84 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:43,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisanimal contact disease: rabies (2004)
Nationality:noun: Somali(s)adjective: Somali
Ethnic groups:Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)
Religions:Sunni Muslim
Languages:Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 37.8%male: 49.7%female: 25.8% (2001 est.)
Government Somalia
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Somalia former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic
Government type:no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentaryfederal government
Capital:Mogadishu
Administrative divisions:18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool,Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe,Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, ShabeellahaHoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed
Independence:1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which becameindependent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland,which became independent from the Italian-administered UNtrusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday:Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June(1960) in Somaliland
Constitution:25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known asthe Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing
Legal system:no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in somelocalities
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note- a new Transitional Federal Government consisting of a 275-memberparliament was established in October 2004 but remains resident inNairobi, Kenya, and has not extablished effective governance insideSomaliahead of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI (since 24December 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by theTransitional Federal Assemblyelection results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader of the Puntlandregion of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional FederalAssembly
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assemblynote: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional FederalAssembly; the new parliament consists of 61 seats assigned to eachof four large clan groups (Darod, Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye)with the remaining 31 seats divided between minority clans
Judicial branch:following the breakdown of the central government, most regionshave reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular,traditional clan-based arbitration, or Islamic (Shari'a) law with aprovision for appeal of all sentences
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8May 1991); note - the TNG and other factions have representatives inWashington and at the United Nations
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests arerepresented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United NationsAvenue, Gigira, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APOAE 09831; telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157
Flag description:light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; bluefield influenced by the flag of the UN
Government - note:although an interim government was created in 2004 other governingbodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions ofthe country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, andtraditional clan and faction strongholds
Economy Somalia
Economy - overview:Somalia's economic fortunes are driven by its deep politicaldivisions. The northwestern area has declared its independence asthe "Republic of Somaliland"; the northeastern region of Puntland isa semi-autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion isriddled with the struggles of rival factions. Economic lifecontinues, in part because much activity is local and relativelyeasily protected. Agriculture is the most important sector, withlivestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% ofexport earnings, but Saudi Arabia's recent ban on Somali livestock,because of Rift Valley Fever concerns, has severely hampered thesector. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock fortheir livelihood, make up a large portion of the population.Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia'sprincipal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machinedgoods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector,based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely beenlooted and sold as scrap metal. Despite the seeming anarchy,Somalia's service sector has managed to survive and grow.Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most majorcities and offer the lowest international call rates on thecontinent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchangeservices have sprouted throughout the country, handling between $500million and $1 billion in remittances annually. Mogadishu's mainmarket offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronicgadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security.The ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however, haveinterfered with any broad-based economic development andinternational aid arrangements. In 2004 Somalia's overdue financialobligations to the IMF continued to grow. Statistics on Somalia'sGDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewedskeptically. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took anestimated 150 lives and caused destruction of properity in coastalareas.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.597 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 65% industry: 10% services: 25% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%
Unemployment rate:NA
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannotbe sensibly determined (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: NAexpenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA
Agriculture - products:cattle, sheep, goats; bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice,sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; fish
Industries:a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles,wireless communication
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:240.3 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:223.5 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Exports:$79 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Exports - commodities:livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal
Exports - partners:UAE 39.3%, Thailand 24.3%, Yemen 12.2%, Oman 4.7% (2004)
Imports:$344 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)
Imports - commodities:manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, constructionmaterials, qat
Imports - partners:Djibouti 30.1%, Kenya 13.7%, India 8.6%, Brazil 8.5%, Oman 4.4%,UAE 4.2% (2004)
Debt - external:$3 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$60 million (1999 est.)
Currency (code):Somali shilling (SOS)
Currency code:SOS
Exchange rates:Somali shillings per US dollar - 11,000 (November 2000), 2,620(January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995)note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independentcountry not recognized by any foreign government, issues its owncurrency, the Somaliland shilling
Fiscal year:NA
Communications Somalia
Telephones - main lines in use:100,000 (2002 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular:35,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almostcompletely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions;private wireless companies offer service in most major cities andcharge the lowest international rates on the continentdomestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established inMogadishu and in several other population centersinternational: country code - 252; international connections areavailable from Mogadishu by satellite
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM inSomaliland (2001)
Radios:470,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4note: two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)
Televisions:135,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.so
Internet hosts:4 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000)
Internet users:89,000 (2002)
Transportation Somalia
Highways: total: 22,100 km paved: 2,608 km unpaved: 19,492 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Boosaaso, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu
Airports:60 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2438 to 3047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 54 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Somalia
Military branches:A Somali National Army was attempted under the interim government;numerous factions and clans maintain independent militias, and theSomaliland and Puntland regional governments maintain their ownsecurity and police forces
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,787,727 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,022,360 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$18.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Somalia
Disputes - international:"Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities to land-lockedEthiopia and establish commercial ties with regional states;"Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek support fromneighboring states in their secessionist aspirations and inconflicts with each other; Ethiopia has only an administrative linewith the Oromo region of southern Somalia and maintains allianceswith local Somali clans opposed to the unrecognized Somali InterimGovernment, which plans eventual relocation from Kenya to Mogadishu;rival militia and clan fighting in southern Somalia periodicallyspills over into Kenya; most of the remaining 23,000 Somali refugesin Ethiopia are expected to be repatriated in 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 375,000 (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition forresources) (2004)
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@South Africa
Introduction South Africa
Background:After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, manyof the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their ownrepublics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurredwealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the nativeinhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but weredefeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of SouthAfrica operated under a policy of apartheid - the separatedevelopment of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheidpolitically and ushered in black majority rule.
Geography South Africa
Location:Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Geographic coordinates:29 00 S, 24 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,219,912 sq kmland: 1,219,912 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and PrinceEdward Island)
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 4,862 kmborder countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km
Coastline:2,798 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Climate:mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, coolnights
Terrain:vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastalplain
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m
Natural resources:gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel,phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium,salt, natural gas
Land use:arable land: 12.08%permanent crops: 0.79%other: 87.13% (2001)
Irrigated land:13,500 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:prolonged droughts
Environment - current issues:lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive waterconservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacingsupply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urbandischarge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion;desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, MarineLife Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands,Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completelysurrounds Swaziland
People South Africa
Population:44,344,136note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,760,137/female 6,682,013)15-64 years: 64.5% (male 13,860,727/female 14,750,496)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 893,360/female 1,397,403) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 23.98 yearsmale: 23.12 yearsfemale: 24.86 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.31% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:21.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 61.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 65.6 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 57.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.27 yearsmale: 43.47 yearsfemale: 43.06 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.24 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:21.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5.3 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:370,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: South African(s)adjective: South African
Ethnic groups:black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5%(2001 census)
Religions:Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%,Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, other Christian36%, Islam 1.5%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001census)
Languages:IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%,English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2%(2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.4%male: 87%female: 85.7% (2003 est.)
Government South Africa
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of South Africaconventional short form: South Africaformer: Union of South Africaabbreviation: RSA
Government type:republic
Capital:Pretoria; note - Cape Town is the legislative center andBloemfontein the judicial center
Administrative divisions:9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal,Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape
Independence:31 May 1910 (from UK); note - South Africa became a republic in1961 following an October 1960 referendum
National holiday:Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)
Constitution:10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by theConstitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by thenPresident MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3February 1997; it is being implemented in phases
Legal system:based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999);Executive Deputy President Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999);Executive Deputy President Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afive-year term; election last held 24 April 2004 (next to be heldApril 2009)election results: Thabo MBEKI elected president; percent of NationalAssembly vote - 100% (by acclamation)note: ANC-IFP is the governing coalition
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system ofproportional representation to serve five-year terms) and theNational Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by eachof the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has specialpowers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding ofcultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities); note -following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February1997 the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the NationalCouncil of Provinces with essentially no change in membership andparty affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilitieshave been changed somewhat by the new constitutionelections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces -last held 14 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC69.7%, DA 12.4%, IFP 7%, UDM 2.3%, NNP 1.7%, ACDP 1.6%, other 5.3%;seats by party - ANC 279, DA 50, IFP 28, UDM 9, NNP 7, ACDP 6, other21; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts;Magistrate Courts
Political parties and leaders: African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE, president]; African National Congress or ANC [Thabo MBEKI, president]; Democratic Alliance or DA (formed from the merger of the Democratic Party or DP and the Freedom Alliance or FA) [Anthony LEON]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president]; United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI,general secretary]; South African Communist Party or SACP [BladeNZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African National CivicsOrganization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president]; note- COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, C, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, NSG, ONUB, OPCW,PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE,UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Joyce Mosima MASEKELAchancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jendayi E. FRAZERembassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoriamailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg
Flag description:two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated bya central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms ofwhich end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a blackisosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrowyellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the greenband and its arms by narrow white stripes
Economy South Africa
Economy - overview:South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundantsupply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal,communications, energy, and transport sectors; a stock exchange thatranks among the 10 largest in the world; and a modern infrastructuresupporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centersthroughout the region. However, growth has not been strong enough tolower South Africa's high unemployment rate; and daunting economicproblems remain from the apartheid era, especially poverty and lackof economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. SouthAfrican economic policy is fiscally conservative, but pragmatic,focusing on targeting inflation and liberalizing trade as means toincrease job growth and household income.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$491.4 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $11,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 31.2% services: 65.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:16.63 million economically active (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:26.2% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 45.9% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:59.3 (1993-94)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):16.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $47.43 billionexpenditures: $52.54 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:45.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton,wool, dairy products
Industries:mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium),automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron andsteel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:5.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:202.6 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.5% hydro: 1.1% nuclear: 5.5% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:189.4 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:6.95 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:7.873 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:196,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:7.84 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-2.48 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$41.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery andequipment (1998 est.)
Exports - partners:US 10.2%, UK 9.2%, Japan 9%, Germany 7.1%, Netherlands 4% (2004)
Imports:$39.42 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientificinstruments, foodstuffs (2000 est.)
Imports - partners:Germany 14.2%, US 8.5%, China 7.5%, Japan 6.9%, UK 6.9%, France 6%,Saudi Arabia 5.6%, Iran 5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$11.68 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$27.01 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$487.5 million (2000)
Currency (code):rand (ZAR)
Currency code:ZAR
Exchange rates:rand per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002),8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications South Africa
Telephones - main lines in use:4.844 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:16.86 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: the system is the best developed and mostmodern in Africadomestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxialcables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable,radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; keycenters are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, PortElizabeth, and Pretoriainternational: country code - 27; 2 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:17 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:6 million (2000)
Internet country code:.za
Internet hosts:288,633 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):150 (2001)
Internet users:3.1 million (2002)
Transportation South Africa
Railways:total: 20,872 kmnarrow gauge: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (10,436 km electrified); 436km 0.610-m gaugenote: includes a 1,210 km commuter rail system (2004)
Highways:total: 275,971 kmpaved: 57,568 km (including 2,032 km of expressways)unpaved: 218,403 km (2002)
Pipelines:condensate 100 km; gas 1,052 km; oil 847 km; refined products 1,354km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay,Saldanha Bay
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,505 GRT/37,091 DWTby type: container 1, petroleum tanker 1foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)registered in other countries: 7 (2005)
Airports:728 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 144 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 51 914 to 1,523 m: 67 under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 584 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 300 under 914 m: 250 (2004 est.)
Military South Africa
Military branches:South African National Defense Force (SANDF): Army, Navy, AirForce, Joint Operations, Joint Support, Military Intelligence,Military Health Service (2004)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; women have a longhistory of military service in non-combat roles - dating back toWorld War I (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 10,354,769 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,927,757 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 512,407 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3.172 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2004)
Military - note:with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule,former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forceswere integrated into the South African National Defense Force(SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete
Transnational Issues South Africa
Disputes - international:South Africa has placed military along the border to stem thethousands of Zimbabweans fleeing to find work and escape politicalpersecution; managed dispute with Namibia over the location of theboundary in the Orange River
Illicit drugs:transshipment center for heroin, hashish, marijuana, and cocaine;cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicitmethaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through variouseast African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana; attractivevenue for money launderers given the increasing level of organizedcriminal and narcotics activity in the region
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Southern Ocean
Introduction Southern Ocean
Background:A decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in thespring of 2000 delimited a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean -from the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, andPacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast ofAntarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which coincides withthe Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Southern Ocean is now the fourthlargest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean,Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean).
Geography Southern Ocean
Location:body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica
Geographic coordinates:65 00 S, 0 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the uniquedistinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totallyencircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water liesbetween 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica andencompasses 360 degrees of longitude
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 20.327 million sq kmnote: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the DrakePassage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, andother tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of the US
Coastline:17,968 km
Climate:sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degreesCelsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent andfrequently are intense because of the temperature contrast betweenice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south tothe Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhereon Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees southlatitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in theAtlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degreesCelsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage windsfrom the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter
Terrain:the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 meters over most of itsextent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarcticcontinental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edgelying at depths of 400 to 800 meters (the global mean is 133meters); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6million square kilometers in March to about 18.8 million squarekilometers in September, better than a sixfold increase in area; theAntarctic Circumpolar Current (21,000 km in length) movesperpetually eastward; it is the world's largest ocean current,transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100times the flow of all the world's rivers
Elevation extremes:lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the South SandwichTrenchhighest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields on thecontinental margin, manganese nodules, possible placer deposits,sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals -none exploited; krill, fishes
Natural hazards:huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smallerbergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 meterthick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with largeannual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored byglacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds andlarge waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October;most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue
Environment - current issues:increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarcticozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity(phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish;illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years,especially the landing of an estimated five to six times morePatagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely toaffect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidentalmortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfishnote: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strongcomeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries
Environment - international agreements:the Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreementsregarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to theseagreements specific to the Antarctic region: International WhalingCommission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south[south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degreeswest]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limitssealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine LivingResources (regulates fishing)note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resourceexploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front(Antarctic Convergence) which is in the middle of the AntarcticCircumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the verycold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to thenorth
Geography - note:the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America andAntarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the bestnatural definition of the northern extent of the Southern Ocean; itis a distinct region at the middle of the Antarctic CircumpolarCurrent that separates the very cold polar surface waters to thesouth from the warmer waters to the north; the Front and the Currentextend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of 60 degreessouth near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the far SouthAtlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly winds
Economy Southern Ocean
Economy - overview:Fisheries in 2000-01 (1 July to 30 June) landed 112,934 metrictons, of which 87% was krill and 11% Patagonian toothfish.International agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduceillegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01season landed, by one estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian andantarctic toothfish. In the 2000-01 antarctic summer 12,248tourists, most of them seaborne, visited the Southern Ocean andAntarctica, compared to 14,762 the previous year.
Transportation Southern Ocean
Ports and harbors:McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarcticanote: few ports or harbors exist on the southern side of theSouthern Ocean; ice conditions limit use of most of them to shortperiods in midsummer; even then some cannot be entered withouticebreaker escort; most antarctic ports are operated by governmentresearch stations and, except in an emergency, are not open tocommercial or private vessels; vessels in any port south of 60degrees south are subject to inspection by Antarctic Treatyobservers (see Article 7)
Transportation - note:Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal
Transnational Issues Southern Ocean
Disputes - international:Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), butArgentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assertclaims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in theSouthern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest inextending those continental shelf claims under the United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to include undersearidges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land ormaritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves(the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formalclaims exist in the waters in the sector between 90 degrees west and150 degrees west
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Introduction South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Background:The islands lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islandsand have been under British administration since 1908, except for abrief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, onSouth Georgia, was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station.Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route tohis ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged asuccessful rescue for the rest of his crew, stranded off theAntarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition andis buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists fromthe British Antarctic Survey. The islands have large bird and sealpopulations, and, recognizing the importance of preserving themarine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended theexclusive fishing zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.
Geography South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Location:Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, eastof the tip of South America
Geographic coordinates:54 30 S, 37 00 W
Map references:Antarctic Region
Area:total: 3,903 sq kmland: 3,903 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South GeorgiaIsland, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consistof some nine islands
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:NA km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the yearinterspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls assnow
Terrain:most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged andmountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep,glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are ofvolcanic origin with some active volcanoes
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m
Natural resources:fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with somesparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2001)
Irrigated land:0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions thatgenerally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are alsosubject to active volcanism
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, whichprovide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in the 20thcentury, live on South Georgia
People South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Population:no indigenous inhabitantsnote: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March2001, to be replaced by a permanent group of scientists of theBritish Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station onBird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited (July 2005est.)
Government South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Country name:conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islandsconventional short form: none
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina;administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who isconcurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing QueenELIZABETH II; Grytviken, formerly a whaling station on SouthGeorgia, is a scientific base
Legal system:the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; the senior magistratefrom the Falkland Islands presides over the Magistrates Court
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands coat of armscentered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features ashield with a golden lion centered; the shield is supported by a furseal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appearsabove the shield, and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAMPROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)
Economy South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Economy - overview:Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potentialsource of income from harvesting finfish and krill. The islandsreceive income from postage stamps produced in the UK, sale offishing licenses, and harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels.Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly.
Communications South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Telephone system: general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken
Radio broadcast stations:0 (2003)
Television broadcast stations:0 (2003)
Internet country code:.gs
Transportation South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Ports and harbors:Grytviken
Airports:none (2004 est.)
Military South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Disputes - international:Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and brieflyoccupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longerseek settlement by force
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Spain
Introduction Spain
Background:Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuriesultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequentfailure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions causedthe country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economicand political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II,but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). In thesecond half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role inthe western international community; it joined the EU in 1986.Continuing challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.
Geography Spain
Location:Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, MediterraneanSea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest ofFrance
Geographic coordinates:40 00 N, 4 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 504,782 sq kmland: 499,542 sq kmwater: 5,240 sq kmnote: there are 19 autonomous communities including Balearic Islandsand Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off thecoast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penonde Velez de la Gomera
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Land boundaries:total: 1,917.8 kmborder countries: Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km,Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
Coastline:4,964 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
Climate:temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudyalong coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy andcool along coast
Terrain:large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills;Pyrenees in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Natural resources:coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten,mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin,potash, hydropower, arable land
Land use:arable land: 26.07%permanent crops: 9.87%other: 64.06% (2001)
Irrigated land:36,400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluentsfrom the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality andquantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
People Spain
Population:40,341,462 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.4% (male 2,994,124/female 2,815,456)15-64 years: 68% (male 13,762,281/female 13,664,762)65 years and over: 17.6% (male 2,965,859/female 4,138,980) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 39.51 years male: 38.18 years female: 40.93 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.15% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:9.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.52 yearsmale: 76.18 yearsfemale: 83.08 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.28 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:140,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 1,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish
Ethnic groups:composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions:Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Languages:Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%; note -Castilian is the official language nationwide; the other languagesare official regionally
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.9%male: 98.7%female: 97.2% (2003 est.)
Government Spain
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Spainconventional short form: Spainlocal short form: Espana
Government type:parliamentary monarchy
Capital:Madrid
Administrative divisions:17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular -comunidad autonoma)and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas,singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares(Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria,Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Comunidad Valenciana,Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra,Pais Vasco (Basque Country)note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three smallislands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velezde la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish centralgovernment, are all located off the coast of Morocco and arecollectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas deSoberania)