Dependency status:territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Departmentof Transport and Regional Services
Legal system:the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of theNorthern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Economy - overview: no economic activity
Transportation Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by theRoyal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
Transnational Issues Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Disputes - international:Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef;Australia closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian traditionalfishing and created a national park in the region while continuingto prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity
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@Atlantic Ocean
Introduction Atlantic Ocean
Background:The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans(after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, SouthernOcean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund(Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar(Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) areimportant strategic access waterways. The decision by theInternational Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 todelimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portionof the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south.
Geography Atlantic Ocean
Location:body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and theWestern Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates:0 00 N, 25 00 W
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 76.762 million sq kmnote: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait,Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, LabradorSea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of theScotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Area - comparative:slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US
Coastline:111,866 km
Climate:tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa nearCape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes canoccur from May to December, but are most frequent from August toNovember
Terrain:surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, DenmarkStrait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June;clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) inthe northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in thesouthern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-AtlanticRidge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 mhighest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sandand gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules,precious stones
Natural hazards:icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and thenorthwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have beenspotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; shipssubject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic fromOctober to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May toSeptember; hurricanes (May to December)
Environment - current issues:endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions,turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline offish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipalsludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and easternArgentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, LakeMaracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste andmunicipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, andMediterranean Sea
Geography - note:major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar,access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include theStrait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound(Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the AtlanticOcean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
Economy Atlantic Ocean
Economy - overview:The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavilytrafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and WesternHemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation ofnatural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of aragonite sands (TheBahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (CaribbeanSea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).
Transportation Atlantic Ocean
Ports and harbors:Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona(Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon(Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland),Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands,Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille(France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy),New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway),Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam(Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)
Transportation - note:Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways;significant domestic commercial and recreational use of IntracoastalWaterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexicocoast of US
Transnational Issues Atlantic Ocean
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
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@Australia
Introduction Australia
Background:Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asiaabout 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration inthe 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770,when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain.Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; theyfederated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The newcountry took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly developits agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a majorcontribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recentdecades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationallycompetitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD'sfastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due inlarge part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-termconcerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozonelayer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especiallythe Great Barrier Reef.
Geography Australia
Location:Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South PacificOcean
Geographic coordinates:27 00 S, 133 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 7,686,850 sq kmland: 7,617,930 sq kmwater: 68,920 sq kmnote: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:25,760 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:generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropicalin north
Terrain:mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 mhighest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m
Natural resources:bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium,nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas,petroleum
Land use:arable land: 6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares ofcultivated grassland)permanent crops: 0.04%other: 93.41% (2001)
Irrigated land:24,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires
Environment - current issues:soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising dueto the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing foragricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many uniqueanimal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeastcoast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened byincreased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limitednatural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, 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: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; populationconcentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; theinvigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor"affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the mostconsistent winds in the world
People Australia
Population:20,090,437 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.8% (male 2,038,809/female 1,943,563)15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,815,600/female 6,695,189)65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,145,274/female 1,452,002) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 36.56 years male: 35.74 years female: 37.4 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.87% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.39 yearsmale: 77.52 yearsfemale: 83.4 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.76 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:14,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Australian(s)adjective: Australian
Ethnic groups:Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%
Religions:Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001Census)
Languages:English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified5.8% (2001 Census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (1980 est.)
Government Australia
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australiaconventional short form: Australia
Government type:democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch assovereign
Capital:Canberra
Administrative divisions:6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, NewSouth Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia,Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia
Dependent areas:Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling)Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands,Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island
Independence:1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901
Legal system:based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) MichaelJEFFERY (since 11 August 2003)head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Mark VAILE (since 6 July 2005)cabinet: Prime Minister nominates, from among members of Parliament,candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the Governor General toserve as government ministerselections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the primeminister; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in asprime minister by the governor generalnote: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12from each of the six states and two from each of the two mainlandterritories; one-half of state members are elected every three yearsby popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory membersare elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve termsof up to three-years; no state can have fewer than fiverepresentatives)elections: Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held nolater than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9October 2004 (next to be called no later than November 2007)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty (for session beginning on 1 July 2005) - LiberalParty-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor Party 28,Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First Party 1; House ofRepresentatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Liberal Party-National Party coalition 87, Australian Labor Party60, independents 3
Judicial branch:High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointedby the governor general)
Political parties and leaders:Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Labor Party [KimBEAZLEY]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; AustralianGreens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; TheNationals [Mark VAILE]; One Nation Party [Len HARRIS]; Family FirstParty [Steve FIELDING]
International organization participation:ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,BIS, C, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA,PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMISET, UNTSO,UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEYchancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, NewYork, and San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: William A. STANTON, Charge d'Affaires ad interimembassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian CapitalTerritory 2600mailing address: APO AP 96549telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and alarge seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known asthe Commonwealth Star, representing the federation of the coloniesof Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the sixoriginal states and one representing all of Australia's internal andexternal territories; the remaining half is a representation of theSouthern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointedstar and four larger, seven-pointed stars
Economy Australia
Economy - overview:Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy, with aper capita GDP on par with the four dominant West Europeaneconomies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust businessand consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials andagricultural products are fueling the economy. Australia's emphasison reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other keyfactors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weakforeign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit upfrom $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, and to $13 billionin 2004. One other concern is the rapid increase in domestic housingprices, which have raised the prospect that interest rates will needto be raised to prevent a speculative bubble.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$611.7 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $30,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.4% industry: 28.2% services: 68.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:10.35 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 3.6%, industry 26.4%, services 70% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.1% (December 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $222.7 billionexpenditures: $221.7 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:17.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate:1.9% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:210.3 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 8.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:195.6 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:537,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:796,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:523,400 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:530,800 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:33.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:23.33 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-38.3 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$86.89 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery andtransport equipment
Exports - partners:Japan 18.6%, China 9.2%, US 8.1%, South Korea 7.7%, New Zealand7.4%, India 4.6%, UK 4.2% (2004)
Imports:$98.1 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 14.8%, China 12.7%, Japan 11.8%, Germany 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%,UK 4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$35.14 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$308.7 billion (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003),1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Australia
Telephones - main lines in use:10.815 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:14.347 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone inareas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellulartelephonesinternational: country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand,Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indianand Pacific Ocean regions) (1998)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:25.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:104 (1997)
Televisions:10.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:.au
Internet hosts:2,847,763 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):571 (2002)
Internet users:9.472 million (2002)
Transportation Australia
Railways:total: 54,439 km (3859 km electrified)broad gauge: 5,434 km 1.600-m gaugestandard gauge: 34,110 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified)narrow gauge: 14,895 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)dual gauge: 213 km dual gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 811,603 kmpaved: 314,090 km (including 18,619 km of expressways)unpaved: 497,513 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darlingriver systems) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km;oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne,Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney
Merchant marine:total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461 GRT/1,999,409 DWTby type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, container 1,liquefied gas 4, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8,roll on/roll off 5foreign-owned: 16 (France 1, Germany 3, Japan 1, Philippines 1,Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 7)registered in other countries: 35 (2005)
Airports:448 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 305 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 131 914 to 1,523 m: 139 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 143 1,524 to 2,437 m: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 112 under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)
Military Australia
Military branches:Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal AustralianNavy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command
Military service age and obligation:16 years of age for voluntary service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 4,943,676 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 4,092,717 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 142,158 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$16.65 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.7% (2004)
Transnational Issues Australia
Disputes - international:East Timor and Australia continue to meet but disagree over how todelimit a permanent maritime boundary and share unexploitedpetroleum resources that fall outside the Joint PetroleumDevelopment Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timordispute hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary withIndonesia (see also Ashmore and Cartier Islands dispute); regionalstates express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime indentification zone; Australiaasserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica (see Antarctica); in2004 Australia submitted claims to UNCLOS to extend its continentalmargin from both its mainland and Antarctic claims
Illicit drugs:Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiateproducts; government maintains strict controls over areas of opiumpoppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
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@Austria
Introduction Austria
Background:Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire,Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in WorldWar I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequentoccupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's statusremained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 endedthe occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbadeunification with Germany. A constitutional law that same yeardeclared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition forSoviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, someAustrians have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous,democratic country, Austria entered the Economic and Monetary Unionin 1999.
Geography Austria
Location:Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 83,870 sq kmland: 82,444 sq kmwater: 1,426 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,562 kmborder countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain andsome snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers withoccasional showers
Terrain:in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the easternand northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 mhighest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Natural resources:oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony,magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 16.91% permanent crops: 0.86% other: 82.23% (2001)
Irrigated land:457 sq km (2000 est.)
Natural hazards:landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Environment - current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europewith many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major riveris the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlandsbecause of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
People Austria
Population:8,184,691 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.6% (male 656,058/female 624,574)15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,790,673/female 2,756,612)65 years and over: 16.6% (male 543,626/female 813,148) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 40.44 yearsmale: 39.3 yearsfemale: 41.61 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.11% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:8.81 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.74 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.92 yearsmale: 76.03 yearsfemale: 81.96 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.36 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:10,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Austrian(s)adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups:Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes,Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified2.4% (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%,unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)
Languages:German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia),Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: NA%female: NA%
Government Austria
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Austriaconventional short form: Austrialocal long form: Republik Oesterreichlocal short form: Oesterreich
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Vienna
Administrative divisions:9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark,Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Independence:1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 12 November 1918 (republicproclaimed)
National holiday:National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the StateTreaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation andthe passage of the law on permanent neutrality
Constitution:1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system:civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review oflegislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separateadministrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the adviceof the chancellorelections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-yearterm; presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be heldApril 2010); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president fromthe plurality party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosenby the president on the advice of the chancellorelection results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote -Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6%note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of FederalCouncil or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of thestates on the basis of population, but with each state having atleast three representatives; members serve a five- or six-year term)and the National Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members electedby direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: National Council - last held 24 November 2002 (next to beheld in the fall of 2006)election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP42.3%, SPOe 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17; seating as of May 2005 after splitwithin the Freedom Party: OeVP 79, SPOe 69, Greens 17, BZOe 11, FPOe7
Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; AdministrativeCourt or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court orVerfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Joerg HAIDER]; AustrianPeople's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party ofAustria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Partyof Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VANDER BELLEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent butprimarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber;OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; RomanCatholic Church, including its chief lay organization, CatholicAction; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party orOeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and othernon-government organizations in the areas of environment and humanrights
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN,EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG,UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNYchancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Viennamailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [43] (1) 31339-0, 31375, 31335FAX: [43] (1) 3100682
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy Austria
Economy - overview:Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standardof living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especiallyGermany's. The economy features up-to-date industrial andagricultural sectors. Timber is a key industry, 47% of the land areabeing forested. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreigninvestors attracted by Austria's access to the single Europeanmarket and proximity to the new EU economies. Slow growth in Europehas held the economy to 0.7% growth in 2001, 1.4% in 2002, 0.8% in2003, and 1.9% in 2004. To meet increased competition from both EUand Central European countries, particularly the new EU members,Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of theeconomy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and encouragemuch greater participation in the labor market by its agingpopulation. The aging phenomenon, together with already high healthand pension costs, poses fundamental problems in tax and welfarepolicies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$255.9 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $31,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.3% industry: 30.8% services: 66.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 3.45 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 4%, industry and crafts 29%, services 67% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.4% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:3.9% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 22.5% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $142.5 billionexpenditures: $146.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:64.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle,pigs, poultry; lumber
Industries:construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals,chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard,communications equipment, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:3.3% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:58.49 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.3% hydro: 67.2% nuclear: 0% other: 3.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:55.09 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:14.7 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:15.4 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:35,470 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:262,000 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:85.69 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:403 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:24.9 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-3.283 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$102.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper andpaperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles,foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 32%, Italy 8.9%, US 6%, Switzerland 4.8%, France 4.2%, UK4.2% (2004)
Imports:$101.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods,oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Germany 46.3%, Italy 6.8%, Switzerland 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$12.73 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$15.5 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $520 million (2002)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutionsof member countries; as of 1 January 2002, the euro became the onlylegal tender in EMU member countries, including Austria
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002),1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Austria
Telephones - main lines in use:3.881 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,094,500 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed and efficientdomestic: there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiberoptic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internetservices are availableinternational: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat; inaddition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals)(2002)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:4.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:.at
Internet hosts:387,006 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):37 (2000)
Internet users:3.73 million (2003)
Transportation Austria
Railways:total: 6,021 km (3,552 km electrified)standard gauge: 5,565 km 1.435-m gauge (3,430 km electrified)narrow gauge: 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 422 km0.760-m gauge (94 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 200,000 kmpaved: 200,000 km (including 1,645 km of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:358 km (2003)
Pipelines:gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,624 GRT/37,425 DWTby type: cargo 6, container 2foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2)registered in other countries: 19 (2005)
Airports:55 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 27 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Austria
Military branches:Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory military service obligation will be reduced from 8 months to 6 (June 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,914,800 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,550,441 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 48,967 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.497 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2004)
Transnational Issues Austria
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South Americancocaine destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Azerbaijan
Introduction Azerbaijan
Background:Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population- regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Unionin 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolveits conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakhenclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of itsterritory and must support some 571,000 internally displaced personsas a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and thepromise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleumresources remains largely unfulfilled.
Geography Azerbaijan
Location:Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran andRussia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates:40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 86,600 sq kmland: 86,100 sq kmwater: 500 sq kmnote: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and theNagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished byAzerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,013 kmborder countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivanexclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800km, est.)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain:large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it belowsea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, QarabagYaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi(Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use: arable land: 19.63% permanent crops: 2.71% other: 77.66% (2001)
Irrigated land:14,550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:droughts
Environment - current issues:local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (ApsheronPeninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to bethe ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severeair, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oilspills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxicdefoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave arelandlocked
People Azerbaijan
Population:7,911,974 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.4% (male 1,063,731/female 1,028,684)15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,533,762/female 2,665,381)65 years and over: 7.8% (male 245,758/female 374,658) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.53 yearsmale: 26.09 yearsfemale: 29 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.59% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:20.4 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 81.74 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 83.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 63.35 yearsmale: 59.24 yearsfemale: 67.66 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.44 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Azerbaijani(s)adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups:Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other3.9% (1999 census)note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakhregion
Religions:Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other1.8% (1995 est.)note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages:Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995est.)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.8%male: 99.5%female: 98.2% (1999 est.)
Government Azerbaijan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijanconventional short form: Azerbaijanlocal long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasilocal short form: noneformer: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:Baku (Baki)
Administrative divisions:59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar- singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika): rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, AgdasRayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu,Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, QazaxRayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, SamaxiRayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, XanlarRayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, YardimliRayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, ZardabRayonu: cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, LankaranSahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, SumqayitSahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari: autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi
Independence:30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president andconfirmed by the National Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term;election last held 15 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008);prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by thepresident and confirmed by the National Assemblyelection results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote -Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14%